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.
The Caribbean Coast Is Costa Rica's Last Cheap Beach. It's Cheap for a Reason.
Puerto Viejo and the Talamanca coast sell for a fraction of Guanacaste prices, and after twelve years in this country I can tell you exactly where that discount comes from.
New Build or Resale in Costa Rica? I've Done Both and One Cost Me 19 Months
After a decade of buying, building, and selling houses here, here is the honest math on new construction versus resale in Costa Rica.
Beachfront vs Ocean-View in Costa Rica: Same Sunset, Double the Price, and You Might Not Even Own the Land
After 12 years of buying and selling here, I'll tell you why I steer most clients 400 meters uphill from the sand.
New Build vs Resale in Costa Rica: What 12 Years and Two Builds Taught Me
A relocation consultant who has built twice and bought resale three times breaks down the real costs, timelines, and the water-letter trap that stalls new construction.
The 200-Meter Rule: Why Most Costa Rica Beachfront Is Leased, Not Owned
A consultant who has bought and sold on both sides of the maritime zone line explains concessions, titles, and the paperwork that separates them.
Vacant Land in Costa Rica Can Get Expensive Fast: Squatters, Taxes, and Title Fraud in 2026
Absentee owners in Costa Rica can protect land, but only if someone is watching the property, checking the title, and paying the boring bills on time.
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?
Can a foreigner actually get a mortgage in Costa Rica in 2026? Yes, but don’t count on it
Foreign buyers can get financing in Costa Rica, but bank mortgages are slow, document-heavy, and often denied, so you need a backup plan before you fall in love with a property.
7 title checks I make at Costa Rica’s Registro Nacional before a buyer pays a dollar
Forged deeds, fake sellers, bad powers of attorney, and missing escrow money are real risks in Costa Rica, so title verification has to happen before emotion takes over.
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.
Tamarindo Is Priced Like a San Diego Suburb. Here's Where Buyers Went in 2026
Twelve years of watching Guanacaste prices taught me one thing: the smart money left Tamarindo two years ago, and it went to five specific places.
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.