Costa Rica Realtor
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due diligence

13 guides on this topic

A notary in Liberia, Guanacaste reads a printed escritura across a wooden desk while a couple follows along on a translated copy

The Notary Will Read Your Deed Aloud in Spanish. Here's How Not to Sign Blind.

Costa Rican law requires every closing to happen in Spanish, and after 12 years and multiple purchases here, I can tell you the language is the cheap problem to solve.

Sep 21, 2026
A rental sign on a gated street in Rohrmoser, San José with apartment buildings and parked cars after afternoon rain

Long-Term Renting in Costa Rica in 2026: 11 Ways to Avoid Losing Your Deposit

Costa Rica long-term rentals can be messy because there is no single official rental portal, and that gap is exactly where Facebook scammers make money.

Sep 7, 2026
An inspector checking a rusted metal laminate roof on a concrete block house outside Atenas, Alajuela, with coffee-covered hills in the background

What a $500 Home Inspection in Costa Rica Catches, and the Six Things It Never Will

There's no inspector license here, no seller disclosure, and the report stops at the property line, so here's where your inspection money actually works.

Aug 3, 2026
A weathered green ASADA water storage tank on a steep hillside above Platanillo, Costa Rica, with black PVC lines running downhill through pasture toward a farm gate

No Water Letter, No Building Permit: The Question That Kills More Rural Land Deals Than Bad Title

Costa Rica's state owns every drop of water on your land, and if you don't verify the well concession or ASADA letter before closing, you may own beautiful acreage you can never legally build on.

Aug 1, 2026
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
Buyer signing a property transfer deed at a notary office in Heredia, Costa Rica, with a plano catastrado survey map spread across the desk

How Long Does It Take to Close in Costa Rica? 45 Days If Nothing Breaks

The 30-day closing your agent promised is real only when the title is clean and the money is ready, so here is the stage-by-stage timeline from someone who has sat on both sides of the table since 2014.

Jul 20, 2026
A plano catastrado survey map and printed certificación literal spread on a notary's wooden desk in downtown Alajuela, Costa Rica, with a highlighter marking the folio real number

The $6 Title Check Every Costa Rica Buyer Should Run First

What the Registro Nacional actually shows you, when a $1,750 title insurance policy is worth it, and the due diligence steps that matter more than either.

Jul 19, 2026
AyA water meter beside a gravel road and fenced building lot near Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica

The One Water Letter That Can Kill a Costa Rica Land Deal in 2026

Before you fall in love with a lot in Costa Rica, ask one blunt question: will AyA or the ASADA actually give you water?

Jul 7, 2026
Hand-painted SE VENDE sign wired to a rusty gate in front of an empty lot near Atenas, Costa Rica, with coffee plants and green hills behind it

Costa Rica Has No MLS. That's Why the Same House Shows Up at 3 Prices

A relocation consultant who's bought and sold here since 2014 explains why listings are fragmented, why prices don't match, and what actually protects buyers instead.

Jul 6, 2026
A lawyer reviewing property documents at Registro Nacional in Costa Rica.

Skip the Surprises: 5 Blunt Facts About Title Insurance in Costa Rica

Title insurance isn't just another expense in Costa Rica - it's your safety net against property nightmares.

Jun 28, 2026
Tropical hillside homes overlooking a Pacific bay in Costa Rica at golden hour

The Complete Guide to Buying Property in Costa Rica

Everything foreigners need to know about titled land, maritime-zone concessions, due diligence, corporate structures, and closing costs before signing anything.

Jun 25, 2026
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