Purchasing Real Estate Abroad

Whether you're buying an investment, your retirement home or relocating, the following resources are a great source of information. Use this information to help guide your decision and answer your questions regarding the area, the real estate market, the process of buying in a foreign country and much more!

Costa Rica Law
In the United States, the legal system is based on Common Law. Civil Law is used in Costa Rica. This distinction is important to make in regard to how judges make decisions and how contracts are written. Civil Law is more restricted with less interpretation by the judges. Written contracts in Costa Rica are of a simpler form than their stateside counterparts. Contracts include only what the law does not already state. Under Common Law, contracts are more specific and detail oriented since they must allow for as little interpretation as possible.

Sunset in Jaco

 Property Rights
Costa Rica's laws and constitution, based on a well-developed tradition of Democratic government, include secure property rights for the private ownership of land. These laws are extended equally to foreigners as well as residents. Neither citizenship, nor residency, or even a presence in the country is required for land ownership. There are almost no restrictions to the ownership of land in Costa Rica, with the exception of direct beach front property. Few countries in the world welcome foreigners so well, and have laws that allow for, and protect, the property rights of foreign investors the same as citizens. Costa Rica's open door policy to foreign investment combined with secure property rights has made it a number one pick for foreign Real Estate investment.