Costa Rican Property: What to Know Before You Buy

Posted at February 9, 2009

Costa Rica is the idyllic place to invest in real estate. Homes for sale in Costa Rica are a virtual bargain: most of them are located in regions with great possible growth in the future and are offered at reasonable prices. Moreover, the laws administering homes for sale in Costa Rica are clear and leave little room for confusion, which can happen quite often when buying lands in foreign countries.

But, first things first: before deciding to buy homes for sale in Costa Rica, remember that Costa Ricans dont live like most US citizens do. No, this is not saying belittling things about Costa Ricans. It is just that Costa Ricans have a different way of life than you may be used to and in order to minimize the culture shock when you decide to buy homes for sale in Costa Rica, it is important that you learn a few things about how Costa Ricans live.

The most important thing to remember when buying homes for sale in Costa Rica is that Costa Ricans place low to no value on the following things:

* Kitchens: Kitchens are a must in homes for sale in Costa Rica, yes, but it is usually the maids who do the cooking. Opposite from the United States, entertaining and gathering do not occur in the kitchen.

*Pantry: Costa Ricans eat simple meals, freshly prepared- so there is no need to store a lot of food.

* Formal dining rooms: Costa Ricans often invite only family members to their homes so they have no need for a formal dining room.

* TV in each bedroom: Families typically watch the same program together so it would be unusual to find a TV in each bedroom.

*Hot water: Cool showers rule the day here, given that Costa Rica is a tropical country. The bathrooms usually have cold showers. Hot water is not found in the kitchen either.

* Large master suite: In homes for sale in Costa Rica, the bedrooms are just places where you sleep. Forget about having a nice and cozy hiding place where you can lounge for days.

* Finishes: Costa Ricans spend most of their days and nights outdoors. You will find people living in cheap homes but driving a Mercedes to work. Nice looking homes are not that important to them since they hardly invite strangers to their homes.

* Garden and Yard: Homes for sale in Costa Rica do not usually have these, especially if the home you are considering is located in the city. City people just do not have the time to maintain a garden or a yard. What they have instead is a quinta, which is a small cottage in the countryside where city people go to when they need some leisure.

If you are looking for the simple life, focused on beauty, nature, and the outdoors, you will love the Costa Rican lifestyle.