Costa Rica guides
Straight talk on buying, renting, and living in Costa Rica. What things cost, where people actually settle, and how the process really works.
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.
What $200,000 Actually Buys in Costa Rica in 2026 (Hint: Not the Beachfront)
A consultant who has bought and sold here since 2014 breaks down where $200,000 still works, where it stopped working, and the water-letter trap nobody mentions.
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.
Build New or Buy Resale in Costa Rica? My Build Ran 22 Months and 28% Over Budget
After twelve years here, one build, and several resales bought and sold, here is the honest math on new construction versus resale in Costa Rica.
SA or Your Own Name? I've Held Costa Rica Property Both Ways. Here's the Math
The corporation costs about $500 a year and the probate you're avoiding can cost $10,000, so the right answer depends on which property you're buying and how you'll use it.
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.
Pérez Zeledón in 2026: Where $220,000 Still Buys a House, Land, and a Mountain View
San Isidro del General and the villages around it are the last real value belt in southern Costa Rica, and here is what that actually looks like on the ground.
Pre-Construction Condos in Costa Rica: 8 Risks the Sales Office Won't Mention
I've watched towers stall, titles arrive a year late, and deposits vanish into developer accounts, so here is the pre-construction risk list I actually use with clients.
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.
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.
Want to Buy in Costa Rica? Rent for 12 Months First. Here's How to Actually Find That Rental.
The best long-term rentals in Costa Rica rarely make it online, so here is how expats really find them, what they cost in 2026, and what your lease should say.
The 45-Minute Rule: How Liberia's Airport Prices Every Beach House in Guanacaste
Twelve years of watching LIR's route map grow taught me one thing: in Guanacaste, drive time from the runway sets the price, and everything else is decoration.