Discovering Costa Rica

Housing The majority of the international companies are within the greater metropolitan area, which is formed mainly by the west side of San José, and areas of other provinces such as Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago. This is the area where most of the transnational corporations have set up their headquarters. Housing is found at a variety of levels and prices in these areas. San José is a very active rental market; good properties are in and out of the market in a week or two. There is no multiple listing service (MLS), and properties can be listed with several realtors at the same time. There are no real estate restrictions for internationals; the law contemplates equal rights for nationals and internationals, which means that there are no special conditions for the acquisition or rental of properties in the country. Home Finding As is the case with almost any real estate transaction, finding a real estate broker is an important step in the process if you’re looking for a property in Costa Rica. Lease terms are negotiated through a broker. Property in Costa Rica can be purchased in one person’s name, jointly, or in the name of a corporation. It is very common in Costa Rica for individuals to buy property in the name of a corporation in which they own all shares. Interest and/or title to real property are registered in the property section of the National Registry (Article 460 of the Civil Code). Most real estate in Costa Rica has a titled registration number known as the Folio Real, and the property records database can be searched with this number, by name index or ID number. + Three bedrooms are the most common properties found. Nevertheless, some one and two bedrooms can also be found, with some four/five bedroom as of lately + A very small percentage of available properties are fully furnished. Landlords are rarely open to negotiate the electrical appliances to be included in the rent unless there is a significant increase in the monthly rent + Properties shown might need some negotiating over repairs + Condominium complex buildings usually have 24-hour security guards, nice grounds with pools, sports courts, barbecue grills, gyms, playgrounds, and more Helpful Hint: With over 360 hotels located throughout the country, Costa Rica also provides a wide spectrum of possibilities to rest and relax.

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Discovering Costa Rica