Costa Rica law: Costa Rica real-estate guides

Dry-season hillside lot with survey stakes and a distant Pacific view near Santa Cruz, Guanacaste

Can Foreigners Own Land in Costa Rica? Yes, With Two Real Exceptions

A consultant who has bought and sold here since 2014 on what foreign buyers actually own, where the maritime zone bites, and the water problem nobody mentions.

Jul 29, 2026

A Costa Rican notary signing a property transfer deed in a bound protocolo book at a San José law office, with passport copies and a folio real printout on the desk

Buying Costa Rica Property Without Flying Down: The $260 Document That Makes It Legal

A consultant who has closed remote Costa Rica deals since 2014 explains the poder especial, apostilles, escrow rules, and the mistakes that stall closings for weeks.

Jul 25, 2026

A dirt road near Playa Matapalo in Guanacaste with beach homes set back from the sand and a municipal coastal zone sign

The $415,000 beachfront mistake: titled land vs concession property in Costa Rica

Many foreign buyers learn too late that beachfront “ownership” in Costa Rica often means a capped, revocable government concession, not titled land.

Jul 7, 2026