Buying a Lot At Costa Rica

Useful Real Estate Tips

Many people view beautiful land with building lots available for sale here in Costa Rica. Some have stunning mountain and valley views, others have incredible ocean views, and some have both. It is easy to get caught up in the natural beauty that is Costa Rica. Here are few tips when considering a lot purchase, whether a "standalone" lot, or a lot in a planned community.

- Find out whether the lot is titled and before you give the seller a down payment, have a qualified attorney do a title search to ensure it is indeed owned by the seller.

- If the lot is in a community with other lots, find out where other homes will be and how close they will be to yours. In particular, ask about whether other homes--which may not be built for some time will block your views.

- Ask for a soil study to be conducted (it's usually inexpensive) to ensure the lot will actually support your structure!

- Find out how close your property/lot is to a natural springs and/or river. There are restrictions on how close you can build to a spring or river.

- Ask the seller (or developer) where the electricity (and other utilities) is relative to the lot and if it is not present already, when will it be available and who pays to bring it to your home.

- Ask whether the electricity will be underground or above ground and where the poles will be.

- Understand where internal roads and your driveway will likely be, particularly if you are buying in a planned community.

- Learn about the status of trees on your property to know if they can be cleared or not.

- If the area you are in is sometimes windy, find out the optimal place to put your home on the lot to avoid wind.

- Ask if others have already purchased lots near you and get a sense of the types of neighbors you may have.