Good Property Investment in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country comprising of a group of islands in the Central American region. San Jose is the capital of this beautiful country. When Christopher Columbus discovered this land in the year 1502, he was right in naming this country Costa Rica in Spanish which translates to “rich coast” in English. This country is a land of captivating beauty. The exuberant greenery and the bewitching landscape attract the people to this beautiful country.

The beauty of Costa Rica is very enchanting and captivating. This country was so long unexplored and unexploited. However, as more and more tourists pour into this pleasant country, its fame is spreading far and wide. Almost every tourist who visits this country carries with him/her the dream of buying property in Costa Rica.

There are numerous reasons why Costa Rica is becoming a preferred choice for property investment. Costa Rica is a land beyond just sensuous beaches, picturesque landscape, lush greenery and majestic mountains. It is a land of happy and content people. The natives of Costa Rica, also referred to as “ticos”, are warm and friendly in nature.

Property investment in Costa Rica is vast and varied. There are various kinds of properties for people to invest in. Depending on their interests and budgets they can freeze on the property to purchase. There are properties ranging from beach front homes to upscale residential properties to commercial establishments and mountain side properties. It is up to the investor to make the choice. Some of the places in Costa Rica which are most suited for investment are Heredia, Alajuela, Puerto Viejo and Punta Uva.

There are many reasons why people should look towards this country for investing in property. First of all, this country has an amazing countryside, lovely beaches, rich and bountiful flora and fauna and relatively untouched nature which makes this place a great option for investment. Secondly, Costa Rica is considered to be one of the safest places, though crime thrives in certain parts of this country. Costa Rican government is one of the oldest democratic governments in Central America.

Property investment in Costa Rica is a great thought; however, certain precautionary measures have to be borne in mind in order to avoid getting the raw side of the deal. The most important aspect is to understand and accept the fact that the Costa Rican real estate is a two tiered market. The Costa Ricans quote different prices for the same property to the “ticos” (natives) and the “gringos” (foreigners). Most of the ticos have an assumption that the gringos are all very rich people and hence they tend to quote a price nearly twice the price quoted to a tico. Hence, you need to negotiate well with the ticos to ensure you get a good price for the property.

Though Costa Rica offers a lot of benefits of living here, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind while planning to invest in property in Costa Rica. Costa Ricans tend to think that “gringos” or foreigners who are investing in property in their country have a lot of money stacked in their bank accounts. Hence, the real estate in Costa Rica is a two tiered market. The “ticos” (native Costa Ricans) quote different prices for the same property to “ticos” and “gringos”. Gringos are most often quoted a higher amount. This is one important point to bear in mind while investing in property in Costa Rica.

The final aspect to consider before investing in property here is to decide on the legal status. Costa Rica offers the status of “pensionado” to a gringo who has a monthly income of at least $600. They offer the status of “rentista” to a gringo who can show a monthly income of $1000 continuously for the past five years. The status should be renewed once every two years.