Buying A Home In Costa Rica – Be Cautious

July 3rd, 2009 by Mel B | Filed under finance.

You should try finding your home in Costa Rica if you are an ardent admirer and worshipper of nature. If you like to be awakened with the softness of the breeze caressing your face or if you like to just lie down on the shore with moonlight for company, then, you should look for buying your dream home in the Central American country, Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is a Spanish name which means “Rich Coast” when translated to English. This country is made up of a group of breathtakingly beautiful islands in the Pacific Ocean. The country is aptly named Costa Rica because it does have a strikingly lovely coastline since it is located in the isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

The lure of the lovely coastline and lush greenery is tough for anyone to resist. Hence, a lot of non Costa Ricans dream of finding their home in this country. An added advantage is also the climate which is mild and temperate throughout the year which makes living here a pleasure. The prices of houses here are also not very high. However, people who intend to find their home in this place should be cautious since there are chances of getting duped at times. In this article, we mention a few aspects to keep in mind while buying a house in Costa Rica.

While finding your home in Costa Rica, you might find properties that do have any titles present. This may be because some families claim it to be their own since they have occupied that property for generations without knowing who the original owners of the property are. Exert caution while buying such properties since they have no official owners.

The people of Costa Rica speak Spanish. Not many of the locals are conversant in English. Hence, it is beneficial to know the language. Also, knowledge of the local laws and procedures is important in order to avoid any hassles while buying your house. If you are do not know the language well or are not aware of the laws and procedures, then, you should take help of a native of Costa Rica to help you buy the property.

A lot of homes of Costa Rica have been in existence for a long time. Hence, the probability of a house being 12-15 years old or more is higher. You need to verify the right age of the house before purchasing it since some old houses in Costa Rica have concerns with water heaters and the wood sidings going rotten.

If you have decided to purchase a house which is about 10 to 15 years old, then, you need to ensure that the property does not have any plumbing issues. This can be done by asking for a hydrostatic test to be performed on the property. This test will determine if there are any leaks in the sewer pipes with the help of a high tech pipe camera.

If you are a foreigner, looking to find your home in Costa Rica, then it is recommended that you engage the services of a trusted local. This is because people in Costa Rica who are interested in selling their property quote different rates for the natives of Costa Rica and the foreigners who want to buy a house. Hence, if you are interested in getting a very good deal on the property then entrust the job to at trusted local.

About the Author:

Tags:

Leave a Reply