Yes. Foreigners have the same property ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens, with the exception of certain concession properties in the Maritime Zone. You may own property in your personal name, jointly, or through a corporation.

No. Costa Rica does not have a centralized MLS. Listings are fragmented, so most buyers rely on reputable agents with wide network access and a strong understanding of local values.

Yes. In Costa Rica, all property transfers are performed by attorneys who are also notaries. Your attorney conducts due diligence, verifies title, checks for liens or annotations, drafts the agreement, and registers the transfer.

Yes. A properly drafted Power of Attorney allows your attorney to sign closing documents on your behalf. Many overseas buyers purchase this way once they have reviewed due diligence and, ideally, visited the property at least once.

No. Residency is not required. Foreigners can fully own property whether they live in Costa Rica full-time or only visit periodically.

Clarify your budget, choose your target regions, work with a trusted agent, and request basic documents (property certification and plano) before making any offer. Serious buyers move to a written offer and let their attorney begin due diligence early.

A plano is the registered survey showing boundaries, access roads, easements, and lot size. Your attorney verifies that the plano matches the land being sold and that there are no boundary conflicts or missing access.

Yes. Inspections are not mandatory, but highly recommended. A professional inspection can reveal structural issues, humidity or drainage problems, outdated electrical work, and other hidden costs.

Due diligence includes title checks, lien and annotation searches, zoning verification, access confirmation, water availability confirmation, reviewing the plano, HOA rules for condos or gated communities, and confirming municipal compliance.

Liens (hipotecas) and annotations (anotaciones) are registered claims or legal notices on a property. They can include mortgages, lawsuits, or other restrictions. These must be understood and resolved before closing unless specifically structured into the deal.

At a minimum: a recent property certification from the National Registry, the plano catastrado, zoning or land-use confirmation (Uso de Suelo), water source documentation, and any HOA regulations if the property is part of a condominium or gated community.

Closing costs usually total about 3.5%–4.5% of the purchase price and include transfer tax, registry stamps, notary/legal fees, and registration costs. Buyer and seller can negotiate how they are shared.

Escrow is strongly recommended for secure transactions. A licensed escrow company holds purchase funds and only releases them once all conditions are satisfied at closing. This protects both buyer and seller.

The notary reviews the deed, verifies parties and authority, confirms payment instructions, collects signatures, and files the transfer with the National Registry. Once recorded, the buyer becomes the new registered owner.

Once due diligence is complete and documents are ready, closing can usually be completed within 1–3 weeks. Complex titles, corporate structures, or special zoning situations can add more time.

In Costa Rica, the notary is a lawyer authorized to draft and record public deeds. They are responsible for preparing the transfer deed, ensuring compliance with local law, registering the transaction, and handling the formalities of the property transfer.

The main forms are: fee simple (full ownership), condominium ownership, concession land within the Maritime Zone, and corporate ownership where a corporation holds title and you own the shares.

Foreigners can participate in concession holdings, but cannot be majority shareholders in the concession-holding entity. Legal advice is essential before purchasing any concession property on or near the beach.

Yes, several international providers offer title insurance in Costa Rica. It is not mandatory but can add extra protection and comfort for foreign buyers.

Municipal property taxes are low—0.25% of the registered municipal value, which is usually below true market value. Many owners are pleasantly surprised by the low yearly holding costs.

Yes, there is a luxury home tax above a certain government valuation threshold. The tax is progressive and recalculated periodically, so your attorney or accountant should check whether your property qualifies.

Yes, capital gains tax is generally 15% on the profit from the sale of a property. Primary residences may qualify for special treatment; ask your attorney or accountant for current rules.

Yes. Corporations pay annual corporate tax and must keep legal records up to date. Many foreigners still use corporations for structuring and estate planning, but you should discuss the pros and cons with your advisors.

You’ll find condos, single-family homes, townhomes, villas, gated-community homes, rural fincas, and beachfront properties. Options range from entry level to ultra-luxury.

Key points include legal access, zoning, water availability, electricity, topography, existing easements, and whether the property fits your intended use (home, rental, commercial, or subdivision).

Yes, as long as zoning allows it and you can secure water, a building permit, and proper access. For larger projects, water letters and environmental approvals become critical.

Often yes. They typically offer security, amenities, controlled access, and predictable maintenance — ideal for lock-and-leave living and for many rental markets.

Yes. Demand remains strong for vacation rentals, long-term rentals, commercial assets, and land in strategic growth areas. With proper due diligence and realistic expectations, many investors see solid long-term results.

The Central Valley (San José and surroundings) is strong for full-time living and long-term rentals. Guanacaste and the Central Pacific are popular for tourism and vacation rentals, and the Southern Zone attracts higher-end eco and luxury buyers.

Yes. Short-term rentals are common in tourist areas. You should consider local regulations, HOA rules, noise policies, and realistic occupancy rates when running projections.

Risks include market fluctuations, changes in demand, delays in permitting or infrastructure, natural events, and currency movements. Working with experienced local professionals and running conservative numbers helps manage these risks.

Select an agent, gather documentation, set a realistic price, launch marketing, negotiate offers, sign a purchase agreement, and close through an attorney-notary who transfers title to the buyer.

Your agent prepares a comparative market analysis (CMA) comparing your property with recent sales and active listings in the area. In a market without an MLS, accurate pricing is critical.

Typical seller costs include real estate commission, legal fees, potential capital gains tax, and any pending HOA, municipal, or utility balances that must be cleared before or at closing.

If you don’t live in Costa Rica full-time, a property manager is highly recommended. They handle marketing, guest/tenant communication, check-ins, maintenance, and local logistics so your property doesn’t become a second job.

Long-term rental management often ranges around 10% of rent. Short-term and vacation rental management typically ranges from about 15% to 25% depending on services like marketing, concierge, and cleaning coordination.

Yes. Written contracts are important for both short-term and long-term rentals and should clearly define terms, payment, deposits, and responsibilities. Long-term leases follow specific Costa Rican tenancy laws.

Yes. Many buyers use private, real estate–backed loans to complete purchases quickly or to bridge until they qualify for longer-term financing. These loans are secured by the property you are buying or by another titled property you own.

GAP’s private lenders generally lend up to about 50% of a conservative, professional appraisal. This applies to home equity loans, commercial property loans, construction loans, and certain development projects.

Most real estate–backed private loans arranged through GAP fall in a range of roughly 12%–16% annually, depending on collateral, leverage, loan size, and complexity. For details on home equity loans, you can review GAP Equity Loans’ page here:
Costa Rica Home Equity Loans.

Yes. A common strategy is to unlock equity from an existing home, condo, or income property and use those funds as a down payment or full purchase price on a new property. You can learn more about how this works on GAP Equity Loans’ site:
Home Equity Loans in Costa Rica.

Yes. GAP’s network can finance titled commercial properties such as hotels, apartment buildings, mixed-use projects, and other income assets. For more detail, see:
Commercial Loans in Costa Rica.

Yes. Construction loans release funds in draws as work progresses and are secured by the land plus improvements. Learn more here:
Construction Loans in Costa Rica.

Project funding applies to larger developments such as residential communities, condo towers, hotel projects, or mixed-use centers. Loans are secured by the real estate and supported by permits, budgets, and feasibility work. For a deeper dive, see:
Project Funding in Costa Rica.

Shovel-ready means your development land has key permits in place (land use, environmental viability where needed, water letter, CFIA-approved plans, municipal building permit, and INS worker insurance). Shovel-ready projects can often be funded faster. Details here:
Shovel-Ready Funding in Costa Rica.

If you’re interested in earning passive income from first-lien, real estate–backed mortgages in Costa Rica, visit:
GAP Investments
for detailed lender FAQs, example loan structures, and information on yields and risk management.