Buying real estate in Costa Rica can be a rewarding experience, on both a financial and personal level. Purchasing property in Costa Rica is always a good investment.

The big fluctuation in property taxes that you see in the United States, for example, doesn’t happen in Costa Rica.

Prices either go up, probably at least 10 percent per year, or at worst stay the same, and when the market is bad, property doesn’t go down in value, you just have a harder time selling. The turnover slows down.

In the last decade land prices have probably skyrocketed the most along the country’s Pacific coast, tripling in some areas.

To reside in Costa Rica North Americans can stay legally for up to 3 months. Then to satisfy honour on both sides, one must then leave for a period of 72 hours, and then return to the country for another 3 months.

If the 3 month period is overstayed, a travel agency can arrange payment of a small fine and prepare travel documents required to leave the country for the required 72 hours.

Most nationalities may enter Costa Rica without a tourist visa but everybody must have a valid passport.

Tourists can own vehicles, property, businesses, and generate income from self-employment.

To buy property it is recommended that you have an attorney who is reliable and trustworthy. Request your attorney to conduct a title search at the Registro Publico (Public Registry) for the property you want to buy.

By law all properties must be registered in the registry.