Costa Rica Property - 8 things I wish I had known before I bought.

Costa Rica Property - 8 things I wish I had known before I bought.

Costa Rica Property - 8 things I wish I had known before I bought.




  1. Location location location

Your experience in Costa Rica changes dramatically depending on where you are. Jaco, Tamarindo, Coco, Manuel Antonio, Dominical all have dramatically different lifestyles, people and weather.


  1. Liberia airport

Liberia is a major international airport in Costa Rica, but little known. Flights here from most major North American cities will save you hours on the road. It is only an hour’s shuttle to Tamarindo


  1. Anything administrative is a big headache Costa Ricans love ‘making easy difficult’. 

Anything to do with banks, utilities, phone service will drive you nuts when you set things up. Bring plenty of patience and a big smile. Once you get over the set up, everything seems to work quite painlessly.


  1. You don’t need to learn Spanish, but it helps 

I have friends who have lived in Costa Rica for 25 years and never learned Spanish. You don't need to, is the truth, but those that make the effort are richly rewarded by a whole new group of local friends, and big smiles from the locals who appreciate the effort.


  1. Rainy season isn’t that rainy. 

Rainy season isn't that rainy. Actually sometimes it is the best time to be in Costa Rica.


  1. Choose your realtor carefully

There is no MLS in Costa Rica, and no real estate license requirement. So choose your realtor carefully. A great one will save you money and find you an amazing, hassle free property. The opposite is true too!


  1. Bring your smarts

Don’t drop your guard because you are in the tropics. I hear crazy stories of visitors who put all their trust in people they have just met on the beach. Use reputable lawyers, inspectors and property managers.


  1. Crime

Take common sense precautions. There i s petty theft, if you leave belongings

in your car, or unattended on the beach. Fortunately violent crime is extremely rare.


  1. Bonus- watch the video to find out !

This is my number one pleasant surprise that I found out after I moved here. Watch the video to find out what it is!

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While my computer is still running here, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for your help during our stay.
When we first came to your office, we were in dire straights and in desperate need of assistance. Andrea was extremely compassionate, spoke with candor, and had a "can do attitude" that was of immense help.
In addition, Andrea has put us in contact with Steve, with whom we are working, preparing to view a little property that might be just what we are looking for at this particular time.
In addition, having gotten to know Andrea personally as well as professionally has been our great pleasure. I wanted to let you know what a tremendous asset she is to your company. She is a great treasure -- a one in a million.

Tina Parker, Costa Rica

Laurel and Tony,
The both of you were fantastic with us throughout the property search and purchase process. As we had mentioned, two other attempts to find thorough, attentive, responsive agents to work with in Tamarindo were failures. I expect that we are more work to deal with than many others as we asked a lot of thorough and analytical questions and expected responses to all of them. You two never failed to deliver. The organization and execution of our condo shopping trip in January was excellent and the fact that you two devoted 2 full days to us, around our schedule, to get this deal done was key to our success. The selection of properties that Laurel planned out, including a few places above and below our target zone helped us to refine our interests. We truly appreciated your interest in our success. This could easily have been very stressful for us, and yet, it wasn’t. Thank you very much.
As a side note, when we walked into the Coldwell Banker office randomly with no appointment in November had we not found your office staff patient and accommodating from the start we would have simply walked on to the next agency. Your staff deserves special mention for getting us interested in the agency to begin with.
We will give you some advance notice before we make our first trip down so that we can plan to get together for lunch or dinner. We are tentatively planning on somewhere in the last 2 weeks of May, as soon as our son gets out of school for the summer.

Dan Batliner, Costa Rica

We had so much fun at Buena Vista. Thanks for arranging that with Memo.
I also want to say many thanks for all that you have done. We have enjoyed Costa Rica and I have found you so helpful with everything and a pleasure to deal with that it was a very stress free vacation. When I do come back here hopefully you will still be doing what what you do.
Our last couple of days will be spent enjoying the sunshine and eating at great restaurants. Sincerely,

Tara, Kevin and Roy., Costa Rica

We are- UNHAPPILY- home safe. Would much rather be back in Tamarindo. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING you did to make our stay a joy ! We look very much forward to seeing you on our next trip to Costa Rica. PURA VIDA !

Steve Perry, Costa Rica
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