| There are many different kinds of properties and | | | | Ingenieros, the architect and the ministerio de |
| many different places where you could be looking | | | | Salud before buying. If the developer cannot |
| to purchase, but in every place there should be | | | | show you the signed off documents, then think |
| certain things in common. It is my goal here to | | | | twice before buying. Do not just assume |
| provide you with some basic information that | | | | everything is ok simply because the development |
| may help you to know what to look for (and | | | | is pretty or costs a lot of money. |
| what to check) before you buy a property | | | | Construction is of Good Quality |
| overseas. | | | | Make sure that you know how the building was |
| No duplicate title or claim on the property | | | | built. This is important because there are many fly |
| Every country will have a different name for the | | | | by night developers who buy cheap materials and |
| organization which has information on who has | | | | skimp on things like rebar because it's costly. You |
| legal title to the house/condo/ land about which | | | | need to ask what number of rebar they used and |
| you are inquiring. In the United States the county | | | | how much has been used. You need to know if |
| in which the property resides has information | | | | the walls are concrete or drywall. You need to |
| about the legal owner of that property. In Costa | | | | know if the structure is concrete or if its metal |
| Rica, the Registro Nacional has all the information | | | | beam. You need to know if the development has |
| about who has legal title to a property. Each | | | | a seismic foundation (in earthquake prone areas) |
| property is assigned a 'Folio Real' which is a unique | | | | or if it's built to hurricane standards (in a hurricane |
| number, and the current owner as well as the | | | | prone area). Check things like wall thickness |
| ownership history is recorded in the Registro | | | | between units, how many and where are the |
| Nacional every time there is movement on a | | | | supporting beams. Do not just pay attention to |
| property. If you are buying property in Costa | | | | pretty little details like paint or cabinet knobs. |
| Rica, you need to make sure that the person or | | | | Those do not matter. |
| enterprise selling you the property is actually the | | | | Access to Telephone and Internet |
| owner. You can verify this yourself with the | | | | Unless you want to get away from it all and not |
| Registro Nacional in San Jose, or you can use a | | | | have a phone or internet, it is important that the |
| reputable attorney to investigate the property. In | | | | property you buy comes ready for phone service |
| either case, you or your attorney must check the | | | | and internet service. A lot of times you will have |
| Registro Nacional. | | | | trouble getting either service, most likely because |
| Water Issues | | | | the provider doesn't provide service in that area |
| When buying property in Costa Rica you MUST | | | | or simply because it's a government run |
| make ABSOLUTELY SURE that water will not be | | | | monopoly that is grossly inefficient. However, |
| an issue. This is especially true if you are | | | | your job is to make sure that the property is |
| interested in buying an undeveloped parcel of land. | | | | CAPABLE of receiving these two services. |
| The community you are looking in will have what | | | | If possible, buy a furnished unit or house |
| Costa Rican's call an asada... A&A. these are | | | | The reason I'm suggesting this is because in most |
| small, local groups which control water rights. You | | | | countries outside the United States, your supply is |
| need to check with the A&A for your area | | | | limited to some degree. In Costa Rica, you have a |
| to find out who is or will be supplying water to | | | | good selection of nice furniture, but its not as |
| the property you are interested in. If you do not | | | | easy as jumping in your car, driving 3 blocks to |
| speak Spanish, contact a reputable attorney for | | | | the nearest furniture store and finding exactly |
| this specific purpose. Do not simply take the | | | | what you like at a reasonable price. In Costa Rica, |
| seller's word for it that the property has water. | | | | you will have look, and that takes time and effort. |
| They might be as honest as can be, but they | | | | Time and effort are in short supply if you come |
| could be mistaken, too. You must know for a | | | | only for a few weeks to vacation and have fun. |
| fact that the property has water or where the | | | | There are many fine furniture stores, but there's |
| water will come from. | | | | always something. The furniture is nearby, |
| The Development, House or Condominum | | | | beautiful but way too expensive. Or the sofa you |
| complex has obeyed all the survey and | | | | like is in San Jose, the table is in Sarchi, the beds |
| engineering laws. | | | | are in Palmares and the rest of it is imported |
| I have heard and seen cases where some | | | | from Bali, but costs a lot of money. My advice is |
| developments were built encroaching on a public | | | | buy a home that is already furnished. If it isn't |
| street or where a condo swimming pool was built | | | | furnished, make arrangements with the seller to |
| on an adjacent lot not owned by the developer. | | | | furnish it. You will spare yourself a LOT of |
| You can easily make sure that the Condo you are | | | | heartache. |
| buying has been signed off by the Colegio de | | | | |