The Buying Process
Types of Properties
Stand-Alone Homes
In Costa Rica, there are an abundance of stand-alone homes. Costa Rican culture, much like the U.S. values private ownership and opportunities for individual investment in land and real estate. In more socialistic nations, communal living and apartments are very standard. While that type of environment can be found in Costa Rica, the influx of North American retirees and expatriates has brought with them the value of owning your own land and home.
Along the Pacific Coast, many American style mansions overlooking the ocean and rainforest mountains can be found. Building rules and restrictions are very low and utilities are readily available to homes in most municipalities. Taxes and codes are very loose, for it is the home owner that dictates the value of their home or any improvement to it or the land.
Security systems, care takers and grounds keepers are easy to find in Costa Rica. These services alleviate some of the concerns regarding squatting and other property rights infringements. Because the main push in this new frontier for real estate has been U.S. influenced, much like our frontier days, large plots with stand-alone homes are many foreign real estate investor's dream when the look to buy Costa Rican real estate. With the infrastructure and services to maintain a second home or retirement property of this nature, stand-alone homes are very popular in Costa Rica.
