Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
FAQ about Costa Rica Real Estate
Costa Rica Real Estate: Real Estate Rules & Regulations: Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about buying Real Estate in Costa Rica.
Jul 9, 2006, 14:57

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Costa Rica Beach Front Property
Costa Rica Real Estate: Rules & Regulations: When buying beachfront properties, be aware that Costa Rica’s coastline is all public. By law, the first 50 meters above the mean high tide line are inalienable public, define by what is known as the 50-meter line. No one can restrict access or have a totally private beach.
Jul 9, 2006, 14:34

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Costa Rica Real Estate: Property Tax
Costa Rica Real Estate: Real Estate Rules & Regulations: The municipality collects municipal government property tax. It is 0.25% of the registered value of the property.
May 5, 2006, 09:23

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Leases and Rental of Property
Costa Rica Real Estate: Great care must be taken when leasing to others in Costa Rica, as it may not be legal to increase rents or to remove tenants from the property. A rental agreement can be either verbal or written. The property management division of Casa Canada Group can help you here.
May 5, 2005, 21:24

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Property Transfer Real Estate Costa Rica
Real Estate Property Tax Costa Rica: There is a tax of 1.5% of registered value for the transfer of Costa Rica property. Total government tax, registration and stamp fees will run about 2.5% of the registered value of the Real Estate property.
May 5, 2005, 21:22

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Municipal lease land - 150-meter zone Costa Rica Real Estate
Real Estate Costa Rica: In the majority of Costa Rica, the next 150 meters from the 50-meter zone is regulated by the municipality, and can only be leased, never owned. For a foreigner to lease this land, a Costa Rican must show as owner of more than 50% of the company doing the leasing.
May 5, 2005, 21:16

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Costa Rica Mortgage Financing
Mortgage Financing Costa Rica Real Estate: Real Estate Rules & Regulations: Mortgage financing from banks is slow and bureaucratic. It can take up to a year to get a mortgage approved, particularly with the state banks. Expect continual delays, requests for additional information over many months and very high “commissions” or legal fees from banks. Fees and commissions can be as high as 10% of the loan amount, so while low interest rates may be advertised, check carefully into the total package of costs.
May 5, 2005, 09:27

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Deposits on Costa Rica Real Estate
Costa Rica Real Estate: Real Estate Rules & Regulations: Deposits on Costa Rica Real estate are not common in Costa Rica. When a deposit is given to a lawyer or realtor, the money usually goes into his or her personal account, as trust accounts as known in North America do not exist.
May 5, 2005, 09:21

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Costa Rica Real Estate Title
Costa Rica Real Estate: Real Estate Rules & Regulations: Most land in Costa Rica is titled. Good lawyers will check to ensure it has good title, or for a minimal fee it can be checked in the ARCR office where computers are connected to the land registry.
May 5, 2005, 09:19

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Costa Rica Real Estate: Frontiers
Costa Rica Real Estate: Buying Costa Rica Real Estate: Only Costa Rican citizens can purchase land within two kilometres of the national frontiers.
May 5, 2005, 09:18

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Squatters Costa Rica Real Estate
Costa Rica Real Estate: Real Estate Rules & Regulations: Squatters (precaristas in Spanish) are people who move onto a piece of property which they do not own, live there for a year or sometimes less and improve the property by working the land and/or constructing a dwelling, may establish a legal right to live there by “right of possession”.
Feb 5, 2005, 09:26

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Costa Rica Real Estate: Options and Contracts
Costa Rica Real Estate: Real Estate Rules & Regulations: Options to buy and sell properties are legal, but cannot be registered at the Registry of Properties as a real right affecting a property.
May 5, 2004, 09:22

Costa Rica Real Estate : Rules & Regulations
Restrictions on Beach Front Property
Costa Rica Real Estate: Rules & Regulations: The first 50 meters of Costa Rica Real Estate from high tide at the beach is public property.
Feb 4, 2004, 09:15