Frustrated with getting Utilities Connected in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Getting utilities connected in Costa Rica can be a frustrating process, especially for newcomers unfamiliar with the country’s bureaucracy and service delays. Buying a property in Costa Rica is a relatively simple process. However, the challenges to getting utilities connected often begin with the language barrier, as most communication with…
8 Unusual things housekeepers in Costa Rica do
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes This week, I want to share some interesting habits of housekeepers in Costa Rica—things that might seem unusual to us, who come from different backgrounds but habits that are entirely normal to them. These actions stem from cultural differences and unique lifestyles, which expats must understand before hiring a housekeeper…
Do you think I can sell my Cariari home for a million dollars?
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Sellers often ask me, “What can I sell my Cariari home for?” The Costa Rica real estate market is quite vibrant. Like other markets, it can move up or down quite suddenly, as many have witnessed. Nonetheless, prices of properties here don’t move much most of the time. There are…
27 Perks of Living in Atenas
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Did you know there are a ton of perks of living in Atenas, Costa Rica? What was a quiet little village is now one of the largest retirement destinations in Costa Rica. Don’t get scared; only a few thousand retirees live in Atenas, I’m sure you can handle that! There…
How to Purchase Property with Cryptocurrency
You can purchase real estate in Costa Rica with cryptocurrency like bitcoins; you only need to know how to do it. At GoDutch Realty, we have found the legal solution. It’s legal in Costa Rica to trade crypto, own the currency, and provide crypto-related services because no law currently prohibits these activities. Nonetheless, cryptocurrencies are…
11 Ideas That Will Help To Sell Your Home In Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes You can avoid making mistakes by following these 11 ideas to help sell your home in Costa Rica. Selling a house can take years for different reasons. So, what can you do as a seller to sell your house as fast as possible? The short version is to clean up…
Do you need a Tourist Visa or Residency to live in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes U.S. Citizens and Canadians do not need a tourist visa or residency card to enter Costa Rica as tourists; they only need a valid passport. Most Europeans do not need a visa to enter our country either. They’re lucky because Costa Ricans need a visa to go to their countries…
Costa Rican weather and temperatures: what you need to know
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes I’m sure you already know that the Costa Rican weather is one of the country’s most attractive advantages. Nonetheless, you might not know that the weather and temperatures can change tremendously from one village or town to another. A friend sent me some very cold-looking photos of snow-covered roads, rooftops,…
Premium Costa Rica Home Purchase Advice by Buyer
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes I have some home purchase advice that I’m sure you’ll like. My wife and I learned a lot when we bought our home in Costa Rica, and I’d like to share this advice with you. I am TicoNuevo and moved to Costa Rica in 2013. This is one of the…
Legal Obligations when Owning a Corporation in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Did you know you have certain legal obligations when owning a corporation in Costa Rica? Corporations are used to do business and often to hold property. For many years, lawyers have recommended that foreigners use a corporation to own property in Costa Rica for liability reasons. Money laundering laws have…
Why does Costa Rica not have a good real estate MLS?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Costa Rica has never really had a well-functioning real estate MLS system. Real estate licensing is not mandatory in our beautiful country. This is why the two existing real estate boards have never been able to create one. Although, maybe it will happen soon… What is a good real estate…
An Overview of Internet Service in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes Internet service in Costa Rica has been available for many years now. It might not be what you are used to and might not be at the same cost, but it is available almost everywhere, especially with the Starlink option now. Of course, before you buy a home from us,…
Active Adult communities in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Are you looking for active adult communities in Costa Rica? Then it would help if you read this blog to understand how different our retirement market is from the U.S. and Europe. I often get emails from clients in the US and Canada looking to retire in another country. They…
The Indigenous Games
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Did you know there are The Indigenous Games in Costa Rica? When Tribal Elders recognized that many of their young indigenous members had a poor perception of their future and had few or no goals, a solution was sought. It was from that exploration that the Asociación De Mujeres Indígenas…
How can sellers prepare for a buyer needing a bank mortgage?
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes When selling to a local buyer, there is a good chance that the seller will purchase with bank financing. If you want a smooth process and do not get stuck with unknown procedures, follow the recommendations in this article. If only one real estate agent is involved, especially a Godutch…
Having Patience is Mandatory for Expats in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes I’m pretty sure that a Tico or Tica came up with the saying, “Patience is the mother of all virtues.” The Spanish word for patience is “paciencia,” which is easy to learn; start practicing now. In my first years of living in Costa Rica, I was always surprised to learn…
The wrong approach when looking for property on your own
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Many foreign buyers make the wrong approach when looking for a property on their own in Costa Rica. This mostly happens because they want to save themselves the realtor’s commission or they don’t believe the realtor’s expertise is necessary. Unfortunately, there are many pitfalls when buying a property in a…
How to pack your dishes when moving to Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Do you really want to pack your dishes when moving to Costa Rica? What makes you think you want to bring your dishes? I can only imagine what else you’re going to bring with you. You must really adore your dishes, but if you insist, here is how you can…
Geriatric Care in Costa Rica: Addressing the Needs of an Aging Population
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes As the population of older adults continues to grow worldwide, the demand for quality geriatric care in Costa Rica becomes increasingly important. In Costa Rica, a country known for its natural beauty and welcoming communities, efforts to meet the healthcare needs of its aging population are gaining momentum. This article…
Is Costa Rica paradise or hell?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Costa Rica is hell for a lot of people that I know of. They tell me all the time: Hell, it’s beautiful here – hell, the food is excellent here – hell, the women are beautiful here – hell, I’m having a great time; Costa Rica is paradise. via GIPHY…
Shopping at the Puriscal Farmers Market
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Ah, it’s Saturday morning, my day for shopping at the Puriscal Farmers Market. It’s 7:30 as I head into Puriscal for my weekly visit to the feria (farmers market). I prefer going early before the large crowds arrive, so I still have time to attend to clients to show a…
Pet culture and stray dogs in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Until recently, dogs were not part of most families in Costa Rica, nor was there any pet culture at all. Now, almost everyone has one or more pets at home. Some years ago, people were complaining that in their condominiums, dog owners wouldn’t clean up the poop their dogs leave…
All About Costa Rica Property Tax
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes The annual Costa Rica property tax runs from the 1st of January until the 31st of December. You can pay the property tax quarterly. The percentage of the yearly property tax is 0,25%, as regulated by Law 7509. The correct way of calculating the Costa Rica property tax or impuesto…
What’s up with the Corporation Tax Costa Rica this year?
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes If you own an active or non-active corporation, you will want to know how much corporation tax Costa Rica (in Spanish: impuesto a las personas jurídicas) must be paid this year. The 2023 corporation tax 2023 must be paid before January 31st, 2024. Those who fail to comply with this…
What makes Living in Escazu Unique?
Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes Do you know what makes Escazu unique? Living in Escazu is different than it is elsewhere in Costa Rica, anywhere, really. I moved to Escazu in the 80s, when we had cows and horses in the streets. Now, living in Escazu is comparable to urban living in other parts of…
Parking your car in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes You’d say, “What is so difficult about parking your car”? It seems simple, but let me tell you a few things. It might save you from getting a ticket, having your tag taken, or getting your car scratched all over. Once you move to Costa Rica and drive your own…
Back home we do things differently
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes So, you did things differently back home? Well, guess what? They do things differently in Costa Rica than you are used to. Who says that the way you do things is the correct way? I see expats get mad too often in the grocery store, the bank, the hospital, the…
What NOT to pack when you move to Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes What and what not to pack when you move to Costa Rica? Probably half the stuff you plan to pack you do not need. But there are other things that you don’t see the need to bring but you might kick yourself in the head later. The title of this…
Costa Rica escrow and real estate closing
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes What is Costa Rica escrow, and why should you use escrow for a real estate closing? Is it really necessary? The Costa Rican authorities don’t want you to purchase a property with a wheelbarrow full of money. For many years, cash purchases happened all the time. Worldwide, authorities want more…
9 More Crucial Points NOT to become an Unhappy Seller
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes When selling your property, it’s crucial to NOT be an unhappy seller. An unhappy seller usually turns into an angry seller, which makes the sale of their property almost impossible. After writing this article about the 5 crucial keys to NOT being an angry seller, I have come up with 9…
How to bring your dog when moving to Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes How to bring your dog to Costa Rica, just like Ticonuevo did many years ago. Ticonuevo moved to Grecia in 2012 and shared his experiences on moving here on Ivo’s blog. The amazing thing is that in all those years, since 2013 when he wrote this, really nothing has changed…
In Costa Rica we drive over the dead – speed bumps
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes We have speed bumps in Costa Rica, lots of them. And often won’t even see them until you hit them at full speed. In Spanish, they call them “muertos”. The translation of un muerto is a dead person, but it is also a speed bump. I know, it’s a strange…
How we measure properties in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Did you know we might measure properties in Costa Rica differently than you do? It depends on which measurement system you were educated in. When in school, you might have learned to measure properties in yards, inches, square feet, and acres. In our beautiful country, all that is no good,…
Learn Basic Spanish before you Move to Costa Rica
Estimated reading time: 4 Minutes This picture got your attention, didn’t it? Well, that was exactly my intention. Further down the page, I posted another one for the ladies. They say that you learn basic Spanish best with a native. I can only confirm that affirmation because that’s what I did. Most people don’t pay…
How to show your house when you have pets
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Do you have a house in Costa Rica for sale, and do you have pets? Are your pets like a nice and cute Doberman that scares the hell out of most people? Or maybe a scary poodle that bites you in the ankles when you turn around? A lot of people…
Is moving to Costa Rica with a dietary problem or a disability a good idea?
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes Are you afraid to move to Costa Rica because you have a dietary problem or are disabled? Don’t be, although you should know a few things about it. I’ve tried to cover this important topic in this blog. I’m sure you’d like to cover this before you take the important…
Does Costa Rica have security issues or not
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Why is there so much razor wire everywhere? It seems there are security issues in Costa Rica, or not? Many clients ask if Costa Rica has security issues when they start their due diligence. Usually, that is because they see so much razor wire and bars everywhere. Most cities and…
How important are nearby amenities in your home purchase?
Estimated Reading Time: 13 Minutes Often homebuyers in Costa Rica forget to check on nearby amenities before they fall in love with a house. Are nearby amenities important to you? Or is lots of sunshine enough for you when you move to Costa Rica? Are you unsure whether you’d like to live in the Central Valley…
All About The Property Sale Proceeds
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Did you know that Law 8204 can freeze your property sale proceeds if you cannot show the origin of the funds? The sale proceeds are the funds received by a recipient from the sale. You might think, “What do I care where the buyer got the money.” But, unfortunately, you…
Top 11 Places to Visit Before Retirement in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Before retirement in Costa Rica, you must determine if our country is your best choice. Only by doing your homework, you’ll learn which country fits your requirements to retire to. Before you travel, you can visit this site for the Costa Rica safety report. Once you have decided Costa Rica…
13 Important Rules when Hiring a Maid or Caretaker in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Having your doubts about what to do when hiring a maid or a caretaker in Costa Rica? Imagine never having to clean your house yourself again! Or doing the laundry and ironing shirts and pants when you have a day off. Stop worrying about cleaning the windows, doing the yard,…
Squatter Rights in Costa Rica – how to stop it from happening
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Yes, squatter rights exist in Costa Rica. Absent landowners sometimes complain about it. Once you have squatters on your property, getting rid of them is difficult. Is it a risk to purchase a property anywhere in Costa Rica and lose this property to squatters? Here is what you can do…
Why is Zoning so important when purchasing real estate?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Do we have zoning? Imagine buying a property and finding out later that you’re not allowed to construct, or install the business that you had in mind? In my opinion, that is a great reason to investigate first. Before you purchase real estate in our beautiful country, you first want…
How to be the Perfect Home Seller
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Last week, I showed clients of another agent a property I recently listed and found the perfect home seller. This was probably the first time in my real estate career that I met a seller who really cared about her property, making an effort to want a buyer to fall…
6 Reasons for NOT paying household employees once a month
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Did you know that you’ll all be better off when you pay your household employees every week instead of by the month? Most of the time, I find new topics for my blogs while being with clients shopping for a home in Santa Ana. This time, my clients and I…
Oops it looks like the buyers agent made a mistake
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes Are you planning to hire a buyers agent? Then you need to read this blog, as it will explain how important it is you hire an experienced one. It is not so important whether this agent is a licensed agent or not. In Costa Rica licensing is not mandatory. Unfortunately…
Costa Rica English language churches and religious services
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes There is a large population of English-spoken expats in Costa Rica looking for English-language churches and religious services. I was born and raised a Catholic and I believe in God, though I stopped going to church many years ago. But I learned to respect the beliefs of everyone else. So…
Moving to a New Country | 8 Tips to Settle In
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Many think that moving to a new country is the hardest part, but how difficult is it to settle in? Moving abroad takes guts, organization, and a lot of hard work. When moving to Costa Rica, you’ll have to plan a zillion things like, what to take and what to…
4 Secrets To Convincing Your Spouse To Move To Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes With these 4 secrets to convincing your spouse to move to Costa Rica, I expect to make thousands of future expats happy. When I published Brooke’s article 4 Secrets for a happy living in Costa Rica on my Linkedin, William Robison suggested I write an article so he can convince…
Retirement in Costa Rica is way different than in Florida
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes It’s a fact that retirement in Costa Rica is way different than it is in Florida. The reason for this blog is to show those who plan their retirement in the tropics that Florida and Costa Rica are two different worlds. Your lifestyle should indicate where to retire. I was…
Christmas traditions in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Christmas traditions in Costa Rica are probably not what you are used to. You can prevent culture shock by learning what Ticos do during the Christmas holidays and where they go. Christmas Eve in Spanish is Nochebuena. Adjusting to another culture is one of the most challenging things to do…
How to Deal With Pre-Construction Changes And Get It Right
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Pre-construction changes are probably the most difficult ones to make when buying a home. You’re dreaming about moving into that brand-new home or condo soon and then it turns out it isn’t as great as you had imagined. For a real estate developer or a builder, a client who changes…
28 Solutions to Cons of Living in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 12 Minutes I always see blogs from realtors about all the great and positive things. Most sugarcoat their reporting, but I see never one that shows the cons of living in Costa Rica. I am well known for giving it straight up, although some don’t like it. I think Costa Rica is…
Costa Rican punctuality, also known as Tico Time
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Costa Rican punctuality, or the so-called Tico Time, will be an essential part of your lifestyle as soon as you live in Costa Rica. Tico Time is being comfortable with NOT being on time for a date, a meeting, or an appointment. This means the person is taking the liberty…
11 Reasons for NOT hiring a realtor when selling property
Estimated Reading Time: 2 Minutes Today I wanted to publish Victoria’s reasons for not hiring a realtor when selling your property in Costa Rica. We should always give you the good and the bad about everything, the reason for publishing these comments. We already know that there are people who think there is no value…
Retirement Fund Prohibitions when you buy Costa Rica real estate
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes There are a few retirement fund prohibitions when using your IRA or 401(k) to purchase real estate that you should know about. Many retirement fund owners don’t even know you can buy real estate in Costa Rica with your self-directed IRA (Individual Retirement Account) or your 401(k) (Retirement Savings Account).…
Why is treating Ticos like shit not right
Amazingly, you’d be surprised how many “gringos” treat Ticos like shit. Because they’re stupid, they’re ignorant, they’re uneducated, dumb, or idiots. First, Ticos are not like that; even if they were, you should be ashamed of yourself if you’re one of the name-callers. I know I shouldn’t use bad language, and I apologize for the…
Do not change your new environment too much when moving to Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Many people looking to relocate or retire to another country change for the attraction of a new environment. Of course, when you’ve lived all your life with cold winters, you dream of a life on the beach. But does the beach offer you a new environment that you can live…
10 Reasons to hire a realtor when you purchase Costa Rica real estate
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Some buyers looking to buy a property in Costa Rica do not want to hire a realtor. Instead, they prefer to purchase FSBO, which is very understandable, but a mistake. First, it’s essential to know that this word is a registered trademark. Very few real estate agents can call themselves…
How retirees in Costa Rica communicate with back home
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes There are lots of retirees in Costa Rica, and in some way or another, they all communicate with their children, grandchildren, and friends back home. Technology changes faster than you want if you’re over 60 years old. I know because it drives me crazy already, and I’m computer savvy. My…
15 Benefits of Urban Living in Escazu
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes To make it easier for you to decide if urban living in Escazu is a better lifestyle choice for you than other parts of the country, I have come up with 15 benefits. When I moved to Costa Rica in 1980, Escazu was the most attractive community for expats. In…
Is Tap Water in Costa Rica safe to drink and affordable?
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes When newcomers ask me if they can drink tap water in Costa Rica, I cannot just tell them a simple yes or no. I do drink the water from my water dispenser on my refrigerator. That’s more because it’s cold than I worry about water quality. My wife buys bottled…
3 Easy To Use Plants For Your Indoor Garden
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes The sustainable path that Costa Rica has built itself upon has created a springboard for astonishing biodiversity. According to iNews, the country is one of the most biodiverse locations anywhere on the earth – despite only accounting for 1.3% of it. This makes the nation one of the most exciting…
Let’s compare Escazu and Atenas lifestyle
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes If you plan to move to the Central Valley, you want to know if the Escazu or Atenas lifestyle is for you and your family. There is a huge difference between living in Atenas and living in Escazu. Those who live in Atenas wouldn’t live for anything in the world…
13 Tips for the Costa Rica Rainy Season
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Would you like to break an arm or a leg walking into a Costa Rican shopping mall when it rains? I bet you don’t. The rainy season, or the green season as we, the marketing specialists, call it, is a phenomenon to have respect for. When it rains in Costa…
9 Tips to efficiently run private real estate without any hassle
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes If you’re an investor who wants to make money with private real estate in Costa Rica, it’s essential to understand how to manage a property correctly. Real estate is one of the best opportunities to receive an additional income, apart from your regular job. However, as a rental property owner,…
Why Concrete Patio is the Best Choice for Homeowners
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Do you know why a concrete patio is a perfect choice for homeowners? You probably know already that when it rains, it pours here. Many areas of Costa Rica have clay topsoil, which drains poorly. When it comes to outdoor living spaces, few options compare to a concrete patio. Not…
9 Habits that Help you Save Money
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Life has become extremely expensive, but there are ways to save money. The pandemic led to high inflation. As a result, you might want to start thinking of how to save money to have enough available balance at the end of the month. The cost of living has gone up…
International Schools in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes If you’re moving to Costa Rica with your children, you want to know all you can about the international schools and the educational system here. The country has a reputation as a place where families can go to give their children a taste of living in a different culture and…
5 Crucial Keys to NOT be an Angry Seller
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Sometimes, a lovely person becomes an angry seller that realtors don’t want to work with/for. It is surprising what selling a house can do to very nice people. I’ve told you about this perfect seller before. I love working with motivated sellers. I know; it’s like looking for the perfect…
Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Did you know that Costa Rica is a top scorer on the Happy Planet Index? And that we’ve been so, every year, since 2006? Costa Rica has scored #1 on this Happy Planet Index (HPI) from 2007 until 2019; you can download an excel sheet with all the HPI details:…
Do property sellers accept almost half the asking price?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Information floating on the internet seems to give property buyers the impression that property sellers in Costa Rica accept half the asking price. Is this true? Some buyers express that they find the prices all over the place. Well, yes, prices are sometimes all over the place. And that can…
Costa Rica Home Buying Guide for Foreigners
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes I decided to create a home buying guide so you can get the max out of Costa Rica’s laid-back feel and lifestyle. Quite a few foreigners end up wanting to call Costa Rica home. Property in Costa Rica is still very affordable, and property isn’t hard to buy. There are…
How Can Future Expats Go Native In Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Are you a future ex-pat ready to move to Costa Rica and do you want to go native? Then you better read this. Often, those who plan to move to Costa Rica don’t want to live in a gringo neighborhood. They really want to live amongst the local population. I…
6 Super Tips That Unlock the Secret To Selling Your Home Online
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Are you selling your home and listing it on a variety of real estate listing websites? Then, you must read this post to avoid some common mistakes. These mistakes can prevent you from selling your property quickly and at a fair price. Although many real estate sites provide an excellent…
The Best Types of Home Water Filters That Don’t Require Plumbing
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Water filters are the go-to means for keeping a clean water supply in a home in Costa Rica. You’ll find the most incredibly well-tasting water in most locations in the country. But during the rainy season, your water supply might not be as expected. Unfortunately, some homeowners avoid water filters…
6 Passive Ideas to Stay Busy after Retirement in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes We have come up with some passive ideas, so you can be busy after retirement and still make some extra income. Sitting at your pool all day will last only so long. Many of those who have worked hard their whole life and suddenly have too much time on their…
Why Costa Ricans have two last names instead of one
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Did you know that Costa Ricans have two last names? When born, children are registered in the civil register with the father’s surname first and the mother’s as the second surname. If you come from a non-Latin American country, it’s hard to figure out why Costa Ricans have two last…
11 Free Apps that will make living in Costa Rica easier
Estimated Reading Time: 10 Minutes Looking for free apps you can use in Costa Rica? If you’re a tourist or an English-speaking resident, this blog should interest you! You’ll be surprised how much assistance these free apps can give you in Costa Rica. Many of us now live with our phones in hand, all day…
Is buying a house with bank financing and no money down possible?
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Can you possibly buy a house with bank or owner financing and no money down in Costa Rica? Is that possible? The short answer is no unless you do it illegally. And believe me, it happens. I recommend against it. If you are selling your house and a buyer or…
5 Ways to Ensure a Fair Sales Price for Your Property
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes One of the foremost concerns when selling your property is getting a fair sales price. It’s likely that you’ve lived in that house for years and invested quite a lot in making it a beautiful and comfortable place. In short, that property has both monetary and sentimental value; it’s only…
Should I trust the home inspector I hire when I buy a house in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Can you trust the home inspector to do a good job when you buy a home in Costa Rica? Will he be on your side? A client asked me that question some time ago, which left me speechless. I know that she is reading this blog. And I want her…
5 Common Realistic Listing Price Objections on Costa Rican property
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Property owners in Costa Rica are often not realistic about the listing price of their property; so I decided to publish the five most common listing price objections. Listing a Costa Rican property for sale can be a lot more complicated than you think, no matter if you’re a motivated…
Homes are sold As-Is in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes Did you know that in Costa Rica homes are sold “As-Is”? In every country real estate laws are different and Costa Rica is no exception. The purchase of property is handled differently in Florida than it is in France, or in Thailand. I have seen hundreds of different purchase sale…
Will you feel at home as much when you rent instead of buying?
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Should you first rent instead of buying so you can feel at home? First, do your due diligence before you do anything at all! You might read someplace that you should rent first before you buy. This works for some but doesn’t for everyone. And there are reasons for that.…
How to dress and live without stress in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Costa Ricans still dress quite conservatively in public, although they are not as prudish anymore as they used to be. Costa Rica is not that 3rd world country where I moved to in 1980 anymore. Although, of course, television and foreign influence have opened their minds tremendously. But there are…
Bring Furniture to Costa Rica or Buy New After Arrival?
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes I often get the important question “do I bring furniture with me or should I buy new when I arrive there”? The answer can go both ways; it depends on a few things. Once you have the correct information, you can decide to bring furniture or not much more manageable.…
3 Useful Homebuyer Tips for Financing a Home
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Homebuyers often have different challenges to overcome, the reason we like to give you these 3 useful homebuyer tips. Unfortunately, foreign buyers need to be aware of the fact that you need to be a resident to obtain home financing in Costa Rica. I’ve seen a couple of banks who…
10 Most Read Live in Costa Rica blogs 2021
Estimated Reading Time: 11 Minutes These are the most read live in Costa Rica blogs 2021, of a total of 615 published since 2010. It all started when I realized how many questions our website visitors ask that I could respond to easier by writing a blog about it. The hard part of writing a…
Eat Tamales at Christmas time in Costa Rica | you must try it
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Have you tried tamales made in Costa Rica yet? Unfortunately, we’re not making any tamales for Christmas anymore; my wife is on a diet. And tamales make her fat, she says. So I guess I’ll have to buy a couple of factory-made tamales in the grocery store. For many years,…
How to keep the good Costa Rica information from the bad
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes There is a fantastic amount of old information available online. But, how do you know if an online article or blog gives you excellent and up-to-date Costa Rica information or if it’s outdated? Google sends me messages when somebody writes a blog or an article about Costa Rica real estate,…
Aguinaldo or Christmas bonus in Costa Rica is obligatory
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes In most countries around the world, employees do not receive a Christmas bonus – Aguinaldo in Spanish. For your information: it is mandatory to pay the Aguinaldo – Christmas bonus to all your employees during the first 20 days of December, even if they work only a few hours a…
Discover how to cook the different Tico vegetables with imagination
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes This week, we had the monthly ARCR seminar, part of the Christopher Howard’s Live in Costa Rica Tour. Elizabeth, one of the participants, asked me about Dutch cooking, and we ended up talking about vegetables and Tico Cooking. So I thought to re-publish this article. In 2015, I felt an…
The neglected house for sale in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes Does a neglected house sell quickly? Let’s find out now! Dick and Jane del Valle – Springfield called me to check out their house for sale. They needed help in getting the house priced right because they already have moved to another country. Their 20-year old son is living in…
17 Questions to ask when buying a rural home in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 10 Minutes Buying a rural home in Costa Rica sounds like an exciting plan, but is it so easy? Now, with Covid, some are looking to buy in a rural area. Others even go a step further: off the grid, Costa Rica has a varied topography. The Central Valley has smooth hills…
Tolerance is the #1 Virtue needed to Move to Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes No matter where you live in the world, you need tolerance to live in peace and harmony with your neighbors. Therefore, if you want to move to Costa Rica, YOU have to adapt to the local culture and not the other way around. To be able to adapt, you will…
Checkin’ Out Costa Rica on Suicide Showers and other things to avoid
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Suicide Showers, Surfer Hotels, and Other Things to Avoid on Your First Trip to Costa Rica. Unless you want to go native and adapt to your new home country. In this blog, I’m trying to cover things you may not hear or read before you visit Costa Rica for the…
Checkin’ Out Costa Rica | Getting Around
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Getting around this relatively small nation is pretty straightforward, but you should know a few things. Costa Rica has more than its share of national parks, outdoor activities, beaches, wildlife, laidback lifestyles, and many cultural activities. You should be aware that driving times and speed limits are slower than you…
Checkin’ Out Costa Rica | Part 1
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes We decided to start checkin’ out Costa Rica; this was in 2013. We have settled in our little community and still love it here. As stated in my last blog, “Movin’ On,” we were committed to an exploration holiday to La Suiza Centroamericana. The plan was to get to know…
All About Costa Rica vehicle restriction or tag day
Estimated Reading Time: 9 Minutes I was updating this blog about vehicle restriction or tag day and realized that the government started implementing this restriction on the 6th of April, 2013 for the first time. So, it’s about time for an update, especially with all the Covid restrictions. For a realtor, before Covid started, vehicle…
How to handle culture shock way before moving to Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes Would you like to learn how to handle culture shock when you move to Costa Rica? Did you know that culture shock is good for you? Honestly, I didn’t either. George Santayana explains in his article that you should try culture shock to keep the mind nimble, kill prejudice, and…
A Beginner’s Guide to Flipping Houses in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Flipping houses is a financially helpful pastime that isn’t done that often in Costa Rica. Nonetheless, in some specific areas of Costa Rica, flipping houses may soon become a very profitable business. Although it can be an expensive business to start on, the payoff can be hundreds of thousands of…
Why Resort Communities like Nativa Resort are Not Successful
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes There are reasons why resort communities like Nativa Resort in Garabito not to be thriving. There are quite a few abandoned residential communities along the coast of Costa Rica. Sonesta One Jaco, Columbus Heights, and Costa Esterillos are just a few in the Central Pacific coastal area. Some were sold…
6 Lifestyle Changes that influenced Residential Construction in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Residential construction in Costa Rica has changed quite a bit in many ways over the last 25 years. This is due to changes in the way of living, the climate, and construction materials. When shopping for a house, of course, you have your expectations of how your house should look…
A Former Expat about Life in Costa Rica in the 90’s
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes I have thought about writing to you to say how much our life in Costa Rica meant to us. First of all, I want to tell you about another special experience we had there. When we moved down to Costa Rica, I purchased two Isuzu Troopers to take with us. …
4 Important Tips for Successful Real Estate Investment
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes For a successful real estate investment in a foreign country, and to keep it successful, there are a few things we want to have a good look at. To keep a financial investment secure, and without having to predict what will happen in the near future, you have to understand…
3 Important Tips to Achieve An Off The Grid Costa Rican Dream
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Are you planning to live off the grid? This can be a rewarding way to live, but it isn’t always an easy transition if you have always lived in a traditional neighborhood. Costa Rica is the environmentalist’s dream home, yet putting your roots down in the Central American nation isn’t…
6 Benefits of waking up early in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Waking up early morning is horrible for many of us unless you’re a farmer. Normally, people who live in a colder climate go to bed late and wake up late. Some have a really hard time adjusting to that when they move to Costa Rica! Nonetheless, when you live in…
Can You Search For Public Property Records in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Quite often I receive an email from someone looking for property records. Sometimes it’s the wife of someone who believes her husband bought a beach condo in Costa Rica for his lover. More often a loved one passed away and for some reason, the heirs suspect they own a property…
3 Must-Have Items and Virtues for New Residents in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Costa Rica is a marvelous place to live; however, there are 3 items new residents cannot do without. The Switzerland of Central America, as Costa Rica is known, is a place where it feels like every day is a vacation. With a population growth rate of 1.48% per year, more…
4 Common House Shopping Errors and How to Avoid Them
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Buyers make loads of house shopping errors, especially when they come from another country. I’m sure that first making this big decision of moving to Costa Rica and then making costly mistakes when buying a house in your new home country, is not What you are looking for. I’m also…
How Long Should You Live in a House Before Selling Again?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes In many countries, it is pretty common for homeowners to live in a house for five to seven years before selling. It’s rare a house is a “forever” house. The truth is, if you are like most people, when you purchase a house, you only plan to stay for a…
Should a realtor disclose a smoker’s house?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes A non-smoker will notice immediately a smoker’s house, from the moment of entering. Also, a strong smell of Febreze, air fresheners or other fragrances could mean that the seller is trying to mask an odor. The other day, when we arrived, the seller was sitting up front, waiting for us…
Obtain Investor Status in Costa Rica by Using Retirement Funds
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Did you know that you can get a foot in the door by investing in Costa Rica using your retirement funds? Of course, there are some rules. But most think their IRA or 401(k) can only be used to invest in stocks and bonds or in real estate in the…
Due diligence before you purchase property in Costa Rica
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Of course, everyone says they have done their due diligence before they buy a property. Unfortunately, many think they do. They end up buying in the wrong place and say it’s everyone’s fault, except their own. This happens more often than you think. That’s one of the reasons I always…
Costa Rica on Ethical Traveler Top 10 in 2021
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Ethical Traveler keeps supporting countries working to maintain strong environmental, human rights, and eco-tourism values. This nonprofit organization, Ethical Traveler, started placing Costa Rica in its Top 10 in 2011 of the best ethical destinations worldwide. Costa Rica did it again in 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Ethical…
5 Best Places for Buying a House in Chicago
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Are you moving back to Chicago and buying a house there? Even though it’s pretty cold in Chicago, some expats have reasons for moving back. I’ve had quite a few clients moving from Chicago to Costa Rica over the years. Kathy D. Peterson even wrote about her experiences. Kathy has…
Tree Upkeep In Your Costa Rican Garden
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes If you have a garden, no matter where in Costa Rica you have your home, tree upkeep is indispensable. There are over 2,300 different species of trees in Costa Rica, including the national tree, the Guanacaste. This tree is also known as the monkey-ear tree. With the average temperature between…
4 Things to Know Before Buying a New House
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Are you buying a new house? From a real estate developer? Buying or selling a new house in Costa Rica is no easy task for a common man. It’s an everyday routine for a real estate agent, but it takes the savings of a lifetime for a buyer. One little…
5 Best Seafood to Try in Costa Rica
Do you enjoy seafood as much as I do? Before I moved to Costa Rica, I was strictly a meat person. I would kill for a medium-rare steak! When I married Nina, who is a seafood person, I was introduced to the world of seafood. And I really never went back. When straddling both the…
7 Ways to deal with bad neighbors in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes In this blog, I’m not going to solve the problems you have with bad neighbors. I’ve heard complaints from readers, who often forget that back home there are bad neighbors too. Everywhere! Hence the decision of writing this blog, so you can pick any of the 7 ways to deal…
A Condo in Costa Rica well explained
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes What is the definition of a condo in Costa Rica? To many, it’s not very clear. However, we have a wide selection of condominiums for sale. Therefore, I invite you to learn more about them. In other countries, a condominium is often something different than it is in Costa Rica.…
What is a Soda in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes The definition of a soda in Costa Rica is different from soda in North America. The word soda has different meanings here, but they are easy to tell apart. Quite often, expats move to Costa Rica without taking the time or making the effort to learn the language of the…
2 Powerful Reasons Your Business Should Use Solar Energy
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes If you have a business anywhere in Costa Rica, you could be using solar energy. As a business owner, your success relies on giving your customers what they want. Their needs are what puts you in business and make you thrive as a company. Did you know that over 80%…
Property Management: 7 Ways To Do It Right
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Property management can be an exciting and rewarding career. Whether you have your own property management business or you simply manage properties for a particular company, it comes with a lot of responsibilities and demands. In order to succeed, it is important to know what is expected of you and…
Why do most homes in Costa Rica do not have an open floor plan?
Have you ever wondered why large single-family homes in Costa Rica do not have an open floor plan? They always have the kitchen enclosed, unless they’re built for expats. You’ll find larger homes with an open kitchen only in Atenas and the beach areas. There are several reasons for this. I think it’s all a…
Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Right For Your Costa Rican Home?
Have you thought about using vinyl plank flooring in your home? Costa Rica is characterized by the beautiful balance between indoor and outdoor living. Spacious verandas, large glass sliding doors, and nature-inspired flooring are just a few features that blur the line between life within homes and their outdoor spaces. For many homeowners in Costa…
What is dar en el clavo in Costa Rica
To nail it – dar en el clavo – is usually a miracle in Costa Rica, especially when dealing with a governmental institution. Things always turn out differently than you expected. Oh, and don’t expect them to be logical. Their logic is quite different from yours. When you finally think you figured it out, next…
What is a Media Naranja or half an Orange in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes In Costa Rica, the ideal person to spend the rest of your life with is “la media naranja” or half an orange. According to Plato’s story the banquet in the Symposium, Aristophanes narrates that in the beginning, the human race was almost perfect, and they were spherical like oranges.…
What Can a Horse Lover and a Casino Fan Expect in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes Are you a horse lover or do you love to bet on horse racing? Then Costa Rica has plenty of great options for you. Not every horse lover can afford to live on a horse farm. For those who do, check out our horse property listings now. Costa Rica has…
International Money Transfer Companies option for real estate purchase
A money transfer is key to any international real estate transaction. It’s no secret that traditional banks are dinosaurs in the modern economy. Although banks still have an important function in our society, tons of fintech start-ups have begun providing financial services. Although they provide these services in a more modern and efficient way. When…
Where To Get a 24-hour Covid 19 Test In Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes We receive questions about a 24-hour Covid 19 Test from clients every day. Visitors from the U.S. are not confident about flying to Costa Rica so because they don’t know where to get the test before flying back into the United States. At GoDutch Realty, we do all we can…
Strange habits – Stories by a Former Expat in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes In Costa Rica, people have sometimes strange habits. They do a lot of things differently. When people ask me about Costa Rica, I talk all day, especially about strange habits. I just thought about a few more interesting things about living there and the house. We always thought the home…
Costa Rican real estate company prepares for retirees moving to Costa Rica in 2021
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Press Release – GoDutch Realty, a real estate company in Costa Rica, with a large market segment in the U.S. retirement market, is gearing up for retirees moving to Costa Rica in 2021. Customarily, the year after election year in the United States is a great year for Costa Rica.…
10 Most Read Live in Costa Rica blogs 2020
Estimated Reading Time: 10 Minutes The best part about writing blogs for those who want to live in Costa Rica is that thousands of people read them. These blogs are the reason we receive so many visitors to our website. And, they assist our agents in answering all these questions you ask. Just like last…
7 Ways To Make Wooden Furniture Last Longer in the Tropics
Wooden furniture from Sarchi is quite commonly found in expat homes in Costa Rica. Nowadays, you’ll find many artificial materials in the market like plywood, partex board, etc. Those materials have gained a place in the furniture industry, but none could replace the appeal of wooden furniture. Especially being a homeowner, you’ll want most of…
Get rid of collectibles and war trophies before showing appointments
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Do you have collectibles or war trophies all over your house? Having a tough time selling your house? Is there a slight chance you are shocking the buyers with your collectibles or war trophies? You’ll be surprised how often that happens. A while ago, I received a surprising call from…
Who Are Costa Rica´s Greatest Sporting Icons?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes As a country of sports lovers, it is no surprise to see that Costa Rica has its fair share of Sporting Icons. There might not have been many ‘Ticos’ in NFL, NBA, or MMA Odds by BetAmerica. However, in soccer, there are plenty of names, as it’s the sport that…
The Art of Doing Nothing in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Doing nothing is pretty easy in Costa Rica. I know a lot of people who spend their entire day doing nothing or idling. When I want to do nothing, which almost never happens, I just sit on my terrace and enjoy the weather. A friend gave me the idea of…
10 Important Lease Agreement Data Tenants Need to Pay Attention To
The rules for a lease agreement in Costa Rica are not as simple as you might think. I’ve seen 3-page and 10-page lease agreements. But if at one point during the lease there is a problem between the parties, there is no simple solution. Costa Rica courts are not known for being speedy. A lawyer…
Please do not leave a message – Voicemail in Costa Rica
I hate voicemail. Please don’t leave a message, call me back later. You can also send me an email, a message on Whatsapp, or even on Messenger. But don’t leave a voicemail, please! Oh, and I’m not complaining, I’m just saying. Communications are supposed to get easier, but are they? I’m not even a real…
Buying Atenas Property During Covid19 with GoDutch Realty
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes My husband and I were considering relocating to Costa Rica after one visit. So we signed up with Christopher Howard for a retirement tour of 10 days in January 2019. As part of the tour, we attended an extremely informative two-day seminar with ARCR. There, we were introduced to Ivo…
Travel to Costa Rica from Virginia during Covid19 in September 2020
My husband James and I recently had to travel to Costa Rica from Virginia as tourists. And I thought I would share my experiences and tips that might help others. This is a reminder that these processes are evolving and should only get easier as time goes by. At this time to enter Costa Rica…
Clever Ways To Decorate Your Home With An Aquarium
I know, you usually wouldn’t think of decorating your home in Costa Rica with an aquarium. That’s probably because Costa Rica’s natural beauty is a major draw for people moving here. And we have 763 miles of coastline, so we’re surrounded by an aquarium! When decorating your own property in Costa Rica, incorporating tropical fish…
10 steps on how to buy a building lot in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 9 Minutes Not necessarily you need to have an eccentric taste to prefer to buy a building lot for your future custom house in Costa Rica. Even the budget for that future house should not matter. There are other more important things to take into account. There are various reasons for wanting…
Leasing VS Buying Commercial Property – Pros and Cons
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes When starting a business in Costa Rica, you’ll need to make the decision of leasing or buying commercial property. The question is to buy or to lease? This may be a simple question. Nonetheless, it has posed a dilemma for many small business owners just starting a new venture or…
5 Amazing Places to Settle Down in Costa Rica
When moving to Costa Rica you’d want to settle down in one of the most amazing places, right? A nice aspect regarding Costa Rica is that it is a fairly small country. This implies that you can get to pretty much anywhere in a few hours. Costa Rica is split up into five regions: Central…
3 Considerations When Buying Renovation Property in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Before you purchase a renovation property, there are a couple of considerations you should take into account. The minimum cost of constructing a Costa Rican house from scratch is about $750 per square meter, according to American-European. Depending on your budget, you might think it cheaper to just buy a secondhand…
7 Ways to Get American Products to Your Door in Costa Rica
Some expats do miss access to American products once they’ve moved to Costa Rica. Expats who live in the beach areas often find a drive into the valley not worth the hassle. Shopping around for days to NOT find the American products you’re looking for doesn’t make sense. Others ask around on Facebook groups, such…
5 Important Things You Should Do After Buying a House
After buying a house, but there are some things you need to do soon after you have bought your property. Buying a new home, whether this is your first or ‘umpteenth’ investment, is an exciting experience. You can look forward to starting your new life in a house that you have dreamed about for so…
De pura guava o de chiripa for lucky people en Costa Rica
I feel I’m a lucky guy every day when I wake up. It’s another day in Paradise. Of course, sometimes I do feel unlucky. But that only happens when my wife’s car was hit by a taxi. Or when my internet connection doesn’t work for 3 days. There are also days that I’m just lucky.…
8 Reasons why your property in Costa Rica has not sold in 7 years
Buyers usually ask how long a property is for sale and why it has not sold. And why it takes so long in Costa Rica, while in some other places property sells in a matter of days. I wrote this article originally for the real estate section of The Tico Times. On request, I am…
GoDutch Realty es mucha galleta
I love galletas – cookies, I hope you do too. Because you know, GoDutch Realty is mucha galleta! To be mucha galleta, you have to be not only skilled, capable, and shrewd, but also competent. Fortunately, that is not hearsay. We can prove that many clients agree that we, at GoDutch Realty, are mucha galleta.…
3 Red Flags that will make you run from buying a property
Buying a home is like a love affair, you don’t want to see any red flags. Some buyers don’t realize that a love affair can turn into a money pit easily. An experienced realtor usually knows when buyers fall in love with a house as soon as they walk in. In my opinion, it’s important…
5 Reasons to pay attention to Tree Maintenance on your property
Not paying attention to the tree maintenance on your property before the rainy season starts can do a lot of damage. Costa Rica is a diverse country of plants and is home to about 1900 different species of trees. Many of them know how to thrive in Costa Rica’s tropical climate and fertile soil. The…
8 Reasons to move back after relocation to Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Why do people move back after relocating to paradise? There are quite a few good reasons to relocate to Costa Rica. Try adventure, sunshine, lower cost of living, being happy, a better lifestyle, to mention a few. But what are the reasons to move back again? It is either a…
The Psychology of Pricing a Property for Sale
Do I think there a science or psychology to pricing a property intelligently when you’re motivated to sell? Yes, I definitely do! In general, property in Costa Rica takes way too long in selling. Why is that? There are many reasons for a property not to sell for years. In this article, I will cover…
We Love Paying a Referral Fee for sending customers to us!
Of course, we love paying a referral fee. It’s an important ingredient in our real estate business. In my 30+ years of being a real estate broker, I’ve had people referring for a fee coming out of my ears sometimes. Everybody wants a share of the real estate commission in exchange for a name and…
Same-sex couples health coverage at CAJA approved
Same-sex couples health coverage through CAJA is now possible. Although Costa Rica is way behind on some human rights issues like the “in vitro” case, the CAJA has been able to make a huge change in its rules and regulations. On November 19, 2014, the CAJA or C.C.S.S. (Social Security system in Costa Rica) approved…
3 Landscape Tips For The Rainy Season In Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Rainy seasons can get rough in Costa Rica, so I’d like to give you 3 simple landscape tips to follow. Because this year’s season starts, it is vital to prepare for the many changes that could occur in your landscape. Yes, your plants and lawns love water. But too much…
Building a private road in Atenas
Most people never build a private road in their lives, but mine deserves telling about it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to write about our continuing efforts constructing a new home in Atenas. While our custom home construction project moved forward, we saw the need for a new design and construction…
Carport or Garage – Which suits your home best?
Only those who move from another tropical country understand why a carport or garage is so important. For a buyer who comes from another country, it is essential to understand the importance of a carport or a garage. That’s because if you have a car(s) in the tropics, you will want it under roof. Because…
7 Top Things to Do in San Jose Costa Rica
Though many would think that San Jose Costa Rica is not exciting, there are many things to do. Often, vacationers go straight to the beaches, or the national parks. So they don’t get even close to visiting San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. Many travelers flying to Costa Rica think they arrive in…
The Central Valley farmers markets and other ferias
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes There are many ferias in the Central Valley, but are they all farmers markets? When people talk about going to the market, we assume this is the farmers market. Well, there are many different types of markets. The farmers market is probably the most visited because it’s every week. Any…
What is El Güiri Güiri in Costa Rica
I’ve never been able to pronounce güiri güiri well. You probably won’t either. My wife makes fun of me when I try. That’s because you have to be able to roll your r’s. We Dutch have a hot potato in our throat, it’s an impossible task to pronounce güiri güiri correctly. In Costa Rica, güiri…
Traditional food of Costa Rica or Comida Tipica
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes You might think that the only traditional food in Costa Rica is Gallo Pinto. But Gallo Pinto is not the ONLY traditional food they have. The Spanish words traditional Costa Rican food is comida tipica Costarricense. Rice, corn, and beans are the main ingredients, but there are many vegetables here…
15 Tico Driving Habits – Driving in Costa Rica is different
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Driving habits are different because most drivers in Costa Rica probably don’t have the discipline you might have. Learn about Costa Rican driving habits before you move to Costa Rica. In my opinion, the reason is that the Latin-American mindset when driving is different. Some might think I’m trying to…
How to Boost Air Quality in Costa Rican Office Buildings
While Costa Rica is often known for its amazing air quality, the country still experiences pollution in some areas. This pollution exists mainly in the cities and is largely due to emissions from transportation. Therefore, the quality of the air inside office buildings should be a priority for anyone looking to install their new business in…
Have a good look at affordable Grecia home rentals
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes The word is out! Grecia home rentals are among the most affordable in the Central Valley. It seems like lots of US citizens are running from something. YES, you can find Grecia home rentals for around $500 – $600/month already. Our agents don’t make much money on it, but you…
Fish tacos and more in Taco Bar
I just updated this blog about Taco Bar that I published in November 2012. Taco Bar now offers 4 locations: Playa Jacó, Escazú, Santa Ana, y Pinares. They are open during the Coronavirus emergency but check on their Facebook if you’d like to order. Every time I go to Jaco Beach, I need to stop…
What is Bajarse los Pantalones in Costa Rica
Bajarse los Pantalones is to give in on a dishonorable negotiation. If someone has lowered his pants when he accepts conditions that are clearly unfavorable to him. Now, that we’re in a tremendously difficult market right now. But don’t feel bad. Is there a lot of competition in your price range? Or is your property…
The Tica Zone
The Tica Zone, by author Allen Dickinson, was published in El Residente recently. I wanted my readers to also enjoy this beautiful story. Thanks Allen, for allowing me to share it. “You’re traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries…
All About U.S. Tax When You Retire in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes For many retirees and soon-to-be retirees, the idea of retiring in Costa Rica, although appealing, can often get complicated because of the U.S. tax implications. So, before you say goodbye to your neighbors, take into account these vital U.S. tax considerations: 1. Pension Income How will your move abroad affect…
Using Ceramic Tiling in Costa Rican Home Designs Creatively
A very affordable way of updating your older home in Costa Rica is using ceramic tiling. Selling a 40-year-old home in Costa Rica is not as easy as some think it is. The younger generations want to live in a condo. Either way, you are likely to consider renovations to enhance style and functionality, depending…
Articles about Costa Rica – A Writing Gig during Corona Virus?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes The Covid-19 outbreak obliges some of us to re-invent ourselves and writing articles can be an option. Do you enjoy writing and do you have lots of interesting information about Costa Rica to share with others? Maybe this is the time to get started. Why? Link building is an…
Dealing with home financing in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Are you dealing with home financing in Costa Rica or will you be soon? Then you will find this a very useful blog. Purchasing a home is a huge responsibility, especially if you think you can afford it but can’t find any home financing. Often, future expats start shopping for…
How to write an application essay for a Costa Rican college
Are you moving to Costa Rica so you can go to a Costa Rican college? An application essay is a crucial part in the admission of students a Costa Rican colleges as well as it is in other parts of the world. The importance of the essays is well known and it proves to be…
40 Smart Steps to Take before Renting a Home in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 11 Minutes Now you probably say “40 smart steps to take before renting a home”? Why so many? You would think that renting a home in Costa Rica is easy. It is when you already live in the country, and if you speak Spanish, it’s a piece of cake. But when you’re…
The 10 things I hate most about bad landlords
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes A reader suggested I should do a blog about bad landlords. Recently, I did a blog on the 9 things I hate most about tenants in Costa Rica. Thanks, Molly for your suggestion. The fact is that no matter if you rent in Costa Rica or elsewhere, you’ll find bad…
How to Write a Resume for the Company from Costa Rica
Do you know how to write a resume that hits a home run? I bet you don’t! Getting a job in another country can be a daunting task. When the country in question is Costa Rica, it becomes twice as hard. However, working in Costa Rica promises one an encounter with an intriguing culture and…
What is amarrar el perro in Costa Rica
Amarrar el perro is to tie down the dog. But in Costa Rica, amarrar el perro is something that might happen to you if you’re not careful: Someone you know asks for a loan but will never pay it back. There is a good reason for not making that loan. The reason is that you…
23 Awesome Mortgage Tips for a Property Purchase in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes If you are looking to make a property purchase you’ll love the mortgage tips. In fact, using these mortgage tips will save you time, money, and effort. When you go to view houses on sale, the seller’s agent may make the buying process seem easy and straightforward. If the price…
Los Chiles Visa Renewal Border Run
I went on my first border run to the Tablillas crossing, better known as Los Chiles. Many of my clients need to go on the 90-day border run. Usually, that’s because they have not received their residency papers yet. Generally, when you come into the country, they give you a 90-day visa. Once that is…
5 Costa Rican Vacation Essentials to Pack
To spend your vacation with no worries, it’s important to think about your vacation essentials. Costa Rica is a land of many wonders. From nature and welcoming people to adventurous activities, good food, and plenty of heritage and culture, there is something here for every visitor. Moreover, the fact that the country shares a coastline…
Inactive corporations in Costa Rica must declare assets in 2021
In December 2019, the Costa Rica Tax office published a resolution that starting 2021, existing inactive corporations must declare their assets. This must be done between January 1st and March 15th, 2021. New corporations will have to do this starting 2020 but let your attorney worry about that when he/she constitutes a new corporation for…
What is guácala en Costa Rica?
When the food is awful, you say guácala. But when it’s great you say esta riquísimo! The word guácala means horrible, disgusting, distasteful, yuck, dreadful, gross or nasty. Even if you’ve never had anything like it, and they serve you a Gallo Pinto, don’t say guácala. Just tell the host or anfitrión, no, pero muchas…
10 Most Read Live in Costa Rica blogs 2019
It’s amazing how many people have enjoyed our bi-weekly Live in Costa Rica blogs 2019. What’s even more important is that blogs written 6 years ago get so much attention. Imagine that #10 was written in 2012. The #1 blog even had 32 views per day during 2019! I still enjoy writing Ivo’s blog and…
5 Important hurdles when doing business in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Do you think you can survive doing business in Costa Rica? Well, it’s easy for some, but for others, it’s more difficult than they think. Of course, nobody wants to talk about how difficult it can be to do business in Costa Rica. But here we do because we want…
What does Pura Vida mean – Where does it come from?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes As soon as you arrive in Costa Rica, you’ll hear the words, Pura Vida, all the time. Keylor Navas, the famous Costa Rican goalkeeper uses Pura Vida all the time. Costa Rica might be famous for its nature, the beaches, and its coffee, but everyone is learning about Pura Vida.…
11 Reasons to live on a Costa Rican golf course
I’m not a golf player myself, but would I live on a Costa Rican golf course? From a real estate investor’s point of view, yes, I would. I’m also quite sure my wife would love a Costa Rican golf course as her landscaped backyard. Studies show that only 30% of the residents of a golf…
Warning: Chris Schoo of Dutch Grecia Realty is NOT GoDutch Realty
Watch out, Chris Schoo of Dutch Grecia Realty doesn’t belong to our real estate organization. He is not our friend, partner or employee. The only thing we have in common is that he carries the Dutch Nationality and that he works in the same city as Brooke Bishop. Why this warning? Because we have a…
8 Common condominium bylaw restrictions in Costa Rica
Thinking of buying or renting a condominium in Costa Rica? Then you should know about some of the condominium bylaw restrictions first. Maybe there are restrictions that won’t allow you the living comfort as expected. Bylaws are very important when you live in a condominium. Actually, they can give you a lot more living comfort…
Costa Rica looking forward to $400 million casino resort for tourism and real estate boost
A casino resort is normally a big-time real estate investment involving millions of dollars. The latest such mega casino establishment to grace the gambling world will not be inaugurated in Las Vegas or Macau. It will be inaugurated right here in Costa Rica. A $ 400 million project known as Casino City Caribe is currently…
Would you prefer Guaro or a Chiliguaro?
You’ll ask “what’s Guaro? And what’s Chiliguaro?”. Well, it all started with simple guaro. Guaro is a sugar cane – made clear liquor, similar to aguardiente. It was once the moonshine of Costa Rica. Now, it’s fabricated by the state-owned FANAL or Fabrica Nacional de Licores, in Grecia. It is marketed with the name Cacique…
Smart Guide for buying property stress-free in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes Buying property stress-free is like being a mom raising your first kid. It’s almost impossible to keep it stress-free unless you know what you’re doing. Just like parenthood, becoming a homeowner is wonderful, but challenging at first. But most of all, it’s exciting. If you know what you’re doing. It’s…
10 ways to beat the urge of buying property in the wrong place
Buying in the wrong place can change your life tremendously. Honestly, I’ve met people who have wanted to hang themselves, because of it. I’ve written a blog about that before. Unfortunately, I get listing requests from people who purchased in the wrong place all the time. Of course, they are desperate to sell! You have…
What is Qué Polada in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes If you want to get along with your Tico neighbors, you really don’t want to commit una polada. You don’t want those Tico neighbors or friends to think that you are a person of little culture and education. Because then you’ll be a polo. Polada = stupidity, an act of…
10 Types of Expats in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Which type of expats in Costa Rica do you belong to? I saw an interesting survey about types of expats worldwide on InterNations. In 2018, Costa Rica scored # 7 on the best expat destinations. That’s pretty awesome if you see that we’re #7 out of 68 countries. Of course,…
Awesome Costa Rican hand painted area rugs by Laurel
Most area rugs in Costa Rica have a problem with the humidity. Stop worrying about the area rugs in your house. You can now stop putting those beautiful area rugs away when you have guests coming in with wet feet. Traditional fabric rugs with fiber don’t hold up well in the tropical weather. And imagine…
Meet your Marijuana friendly Real Estate Broker in Costa Rica
Yes, there is a marijuana friendly real estate broker in Costa Rica: me. I saw this article about Denver residential real estate agent Bob Costello. He launched a Marijuana friendly real estate broker advertising campaign in January 2014. That’s when the state of Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational use by adults 21 and over. Great…
All about kissing and greeting in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Let me tell you all about kissing and greeting in Costa Rica. Not that I’m a kissing expert… But I do know that people kiss a lot more in Costa Rica than you might be used to. The title of this blog should really be “how do people in Costa…
Costa Ricans always smell good
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Costa Ricans smell good, at any time of the day. Costa Rican men and women alike, always smell good, as opposed to some other varieties of humans. Now, you will probably say that you always smell good too and that you’re not a Costa Rican. That means you’ve either been…
What is so special about Atenas valley view building lots?
Did you know that Atenas valley view building lots are incredibly special? Let me tell you all about it, so you’ll fall in love, just like so many others before you. Atenas real estate is pretty well known to expats. That’s because they say Atenas has the best climate in the world. If you’re looking…
61 Clubs in Costa Rica for when you are bored stiff
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes Single people often need to be a member of clubs in Costa Rica to stay entertained. Couples have each other but often have nothing in common. So they still need to be a member of clubs to have a good time. (last updated on 7/26/2019 – we now have 75…
7 Reasons we live in a gated community or condominium in Costa Rica
Often, clients ask why it is necessary to live in a gated community or a condominium in Costa Rica. In other countries, residents are used to living in a neighborhood. Of course, we also have neighborhoods in Costa Rica, just like you do. And just like you, we have safe and dangerous neighborhoods. In most…
The mangoes at my Atenas rental home are keeping me awake
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes I read the complaint “the mangoes are keeping me awake”. This complaint was from a client who had signed an agreement on an Atenas rental home. Strange, I thought, I never have any heartburn when I eat mangoes. I get it from pineapple but not from mango. When I read…
12 Insane Factors That Reduce Home Value
Sellers often forget to take into account the insane factors that reduce home value. I know, sellers don’t have any control over many of those factors. Therefore, I’d like to show you both external and internal factors that reduce home value. It happens that the situation around your house changes, for some reasons. Maybe you…
5 Experts you need when doing a fixer upper in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes I have described in another blog why doing a fixer upper in Costa Rica is not so easy. Nonetheless, doing a fixer upper can be a profitable investment project, if you do all the right things. Sometimes, the perfect home for you can be in that older neighborhood that you…
When the seller backs out of the property sale?
It’s time to tell you what can happen when a seller backs out of the property sale. In another blog, I’ve covered what happens when the buyer backs out of a property sale in Costa Rica. Today, we’ll turn things around. A real estate deal can be scary as hell, for both sides. Some people…
What is hasta el copete in Costa Rica?
When you are totally over your head in work, you can say “estoy hasta el copete de trabajo”. Then Ticos will understand you perfectly well. When you’ve had enough food, you can say estoy hasta el copete de la comida. Also, being totally fed up with someone’s behavior, you say estoy hasta el copete de…
The cost of groceries Costa Rica vs USA 2019
In this blog, you’ll find the comparison of the cost of groceries Costa Rica versus the cost of groceries in Florida 2019. Diego Xavier, an expat in Costa Rica since 2014, shared this tremendous information recently on Facebook. I’d like to thank Diego Xavier, for allowing me to use this incredible comparison between the cost…
Reflections of a home invasion victim
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes We were victims of a professional, well-planned home invasion. It is everyone’s worst fear of any crime because it happens in your home while you are there. The criminals were in our home for over an hour looking for a safe and money that was not there. This is not a…
6 Reasons why 5 bedroom homes are impossible to sell
Lately, we have been receiving quite a few requests to sell 5 bedroom homes. The problem is, they’re impossible to sell. Unless the price is extremely attractive! There are several reasons why these 5 bedroom homes in Costa Rica are impossible to sell. Unless they’re a large luxury beach home that caters to the rich…
Cheap Central Valley homes under $175,000
Are you looking for cheap Central Valley homes? Then you have arrived at the right place: GoDutch Realty. Real estate prices in Costa Rica have gone up so much that it is difficult to find any Central Valley homes under $175,000 anymore. BUT, you just need to know where to look. At GoDutch Realty, we…
7 Expenses that lower profits on Rental Investment Property
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Are you planning to invest in a rental investment property in Costa Rica? Then you first want to know what profit you can make on this investment, right? The profit in rental investment property depends on many factors. As you know, income is important, but profit is what makes the…
Everything about sales tax on real estate sales and rentals
Do real estate agents have to charge sales tax on real estate rentals and sales in Costa Rica? Do tenants now have to pay sales tax on top of their rental? Many real estate agents and their clients are not very clear about the sales tax on real estate sales in Costa Rica, so let’s…
What Means No Me Toquen El Pito in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes If you say no me toquen el pito in Costa Rica, make sure you’re sitting in your car. If you are not, this can become quite a misunderstanding, especially if you are a male. Tocar el pito means honking. Another way to say honking is tocar la bocina or tocar la…
Is it time for a price reduction on your property?
If your property in Costa Rica has been on the market for 3 months or more, it’s probably time for a price reduction. Has it been sitting for a while without a buyer? Often, I hear sellers say “my agent is not doing anything”. Or “I haven’t had a showing in months”. Well, it’s time…
View home listings by other realtors
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Jim asked about how realtors work in CR. Do real estate agents only show you their own home listings? Don’t they show home listings from other agents? Is it possible to use a realtor that will show you everything in a certain area even if it’s not listed by them?…
25 Things That Are Different in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Let me show how different things can be in Costa Rica. I am going back to an old theme here, but the culture of Costa Rica is a constant source of amazement to me. Here are a few differences I have observed. In Costa Rica, there are many things different…
How to recognize the different police forces in Costa Rica
policemenTheWhen you move to Costa Rica, you should know how to recognize the different police forces, know what they do and recognize them. As you all know, Costa Rica has not had an army since Pepe Figueres abolished it on December 1st, 1948. The country needed a police force that came under the command of…
What is qué vaina in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Qué vaina is one of those expressions your landlord might use when you complain about a leak in the roof. Or when your coffee maker stopped working and you’re asking for another. In this case, the translation is “what a problem”. But. instead of qué vaina, it is also possible…
What is Digital Signature for corporations and why is it needed?
Firma Digital is a digital signature, which is used for making or signing an electronic document using the technology known as public-key cryptography. It allows you to digitally sign a document. Only as such will a document be received and accepted by the Costa Rican government or finance agency. The card is personal, and meant…
Is an unfinished house difficult to sell in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes An unfinished house in Costa Rica is as difficult to sell as a rented house. I don’t even know why I sometimes make the mistake of accepting to list an unfinished house anymore. I rarely do because I know they’re almost impossible to sell. Most of the time, it is…
11 Important Expat recommendations and experiences
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Can you learn from other expat recommendations and their experiences? Of course, you can, those expat recommendations will help you tremendously to learn what they did right and wrong. So it won’t happen to you. A couple of weeks ago, I published an article Why Bill does not consider Costa…
8 Dumb responses from homeowners on why they are selling
I have decided to give sellers 8 dumb responses from homeowners they should NOT use if they’re really motivated to sell. First of all, I always recommend sellers to not even be at home when the agent is showing the property. But, I understand how difficult that is. It’s even harder to keep your mouth…
Why Bill does not consider Costa Rica for retirement
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Bill, a subscriber on Ivo’s blog, does not consider Costa Rica for retirement anymore. Future retiree Bill (I changed his name), has been a reader since January 2015 and has read 30.5% of our weekly blogs. This is more than the average subscriber. His email, asking me to unsubscribe him.…
Can the buyer back out of the property purchase?
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Are you afraid the buyer can back out of the property purchase? Don’t be! Just make sure you take the necessary steps it can’t happen. Or, if it does, you’ll be paid well for your efforts. If a buyer has put in an offer, and the seller has agreed to…
Are bathrooms in Costa Rica different?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Are bathrooms in Costa Rica different than they are in your home? Maybe you expect to find a different bathroom in Costa Rica than you are used to? It’s important to learn all you can about bathrooms before moving to another country, isn’t it? Some might think that in Costa…
Best Indian food in Costa Rica Taste of India506
Looking for the best Indian food in Costa Rica? Then read on. Taste of India506 is an incredibly good choice if you enjoy the taste of Indian food in Costa Rica. Located in Escazu Village, just southeast of the Escazu toll on highway 27. Their phone number is, for any reservations 2208 8879, and you…
Pull a cake – Jalarse una torta
Have you ever tried to pull yourself a cake or jalarse torta? That doesn’t make a lot of sense in English, but it does in Spanish. You really wouldn’t want to pull yourself a cake, believe me. That’s why learning a new language can be so difficult for many. You cannot just translate word for word…
Can someone steal your property in Costa Rica?
Can they steal your property in Costa Rica? Yes, they can! Sadly enough, it happens. Charles emailed me this question a week ago: Can someone steal your property in Costa Rica? A great question, which needs an even better answer! It’s sad this happens, and it’s bad for our business. We assist buyers and sellers…
10 Important Tenant Requirements and Frequently Asked Questions
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes I always try to keep track of important tenant requirements, so we can include them in the listings. For years, we didn’t pay attention to the fact that people who moved to Costa Rica wanted to bring their pets. Now we included “pets allowed” in our listings. We learn as…
Can Canadian home buyers purchase property in Costa Rica?
A common question from Canadians is if Canadian home buyers can purchase property in Costa Rica or not? Our friendly partner in Vancouver Canada strawhomes.com often mentions property in Costa Rica is on the tips of their buyers’ tongues. Extended winters have led to an increase in Canadians affected with SAD. But the north’s frosty…
New condo towers in Costa Rica offer a change of lifestyle
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Life in the suburbs is changing, tremendously, with new condo towers everywhere. I remember like yesterday, that we had cows and horses in the street a while ago. Jeez, time flies. And the world has changed so much. And Costa Rica is now a whole different world than the one…
What does Tuanis mean and how to greet in Costa Rica
When you live in Costa Rica, you’ll hear the word tuanis quite a bit. You’ll hear tuanis used by the younger population, it’s a “cool” word to use. It’s a word that you wouldn’t use in a business meeting or with your doctor unless you grew up together or are drinking buddies. Tuanis is a…
How to check Costa Rica property title yourself
GoDutch Realty’s real estate agents all check property title before listing a Costa Rica property for sale. But, we still like to share our knowledge with buyers and sellers, so you understand better what we do for you. Many of you do not speak or read Spanish and it is not too easy to know where…
How much are sales commission and other fees to list a property?
A property seller asked what the sales commission and fees are to list and sell a property. The seller’s second question was: what happens if an outside source provides a buyer. So I’m taking advantage of these questions and put it all in one blog. All GoDutch Realty agents charge 5% sales commission at closing.…
Can household mold in Costa Rica affect your health?
If you live in Seattle, WA and you have a mold problem, you can just call a specialist to eradicate this household mold problem. If you live in Costa Rica, and you have a household mold problem, you’re in trouble. The reason is that there are no household mold specialists in Costa Rica. Does that…
How important is a clean house on closing day?
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Wondering how important a clean house on closing day is? Often, everyone involved in a real estate closing overlooks this because everyone is too busy. Many sellers move out on the closing day, so they don’t have to stay in a hotel the night before the closing. So everything…
Why is the rooster so important in Costa Rica?
Did you know that a rooster is a very important animal in Costa Rica? Wherever you turn, you’ll hear people talk about the rooster. I’m sure you all know about Gallo Pinto (no, not Pinto Gallo Kathy!) and más Tico que el Gallo Pinto if you follow my weekly blogs. If you’re a good Catholic, you’ll…
How important is a real estate for sale sign on a property?
Should you place a real estate for sale sign on your property when selling, or not? When selling your property, you want people to know it’s for sale, right! In most countries, you’d list your property with only one agent. Then, that agent will place a real estate for sale sign in your yard or on the…
Costa Rican Coffee – What Makes It So Special?
Have you ever wondered what makes Costa Rican Coffee so special? In terms of coffee production, Costa Rica is way down the list. But when we talk about quality, this small country can hold its own against any origin you care to name. A long history – a head start on the neighbors Costa Rica…
7 Disasters absent property owner can suffer for not having a property manager
Having property in another country and being an absent property owner is not so easy. Worse, it can easily turn into a disaster. Just yesterday, someone called me to tell me his story about having to pay an attorney a “ridiculous amount of money” to recover lost property. Of course, this absent property owner didn’t…
Plaza Tempo Escazu gourmet plaza – a huge variety of international cuisine
Today, I’d like to tell you all about Plaza Tempo Escazu Gourmet Plaza. It has been a while since I’ve recommended any restaurants. The last time, I recommended a restaurant, I recommended you to Go Fish, which I still like a lot. Escazu has always been an amazing place for wining and dining. There are…
12 Reasons to buy a second home in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes How far are you willing to go to buy a second home? Some people drive for days to get to their second home and don’t realize that it is quicker to fly to Costa Rica. How would it be to own a vacation house or a condo in Costa Rica?…
Why is the property location a carefully kept secret in Costa Rica
Every day, we receive emails from buyers asking for the property location. Coming from a foreign buyer, this is a pretty normal question. But in Costa Rica, real estate agents refuse to divulge the property location. They won’t until they have a chance to show you the property and register you as their client with…
What does chaineado mean in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes You won’t be able to prevent culture shock by learning how to use chaineado, but it is quite a good start. I have not been able to find proof that chainear comes from the English verb “to shine”. There are some references that in chainear is also used in Chicano,…
6 Weird reasons your home is not getting showings
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Homes in Costa Rica do not sell in 72 hours, and you can count on not even getting showings during the first couple of days. I’ve written about the reasons a property doesn’t sell quite often. If nobody even shows your property, it will never sell. You’d like buyers to…
Real estate vocabulary that does not exist in Costa Rica
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes Quite a large real estate vocabulary does not exist in Costa Rica. Ask a real estate agent in Costa Rica about A HUD loan, a Fannie Mae, a dual agency, or a spring cleaning and they won’t know what you’re talking about. As you probably know, real estate is not…
Annoying behavior by buyers during the showing appointment
Selling your home and you don’t want to put up with buyer’s annoying behavior during the showing appointment? Then leave before the agent arrives with the client. Most sellers in Costa Rica have the bad habit to stay at their home during a showing appointment. I allow sellers to say hi at the door when…
Is my crystal ball too fuzzy to predict a sales price?
Sellers sometimes think I own a crystal ball. When listing a home for sale, sellers always ask me to predict a sales price. When I give them a number, they don’t like it. Why do you think I get that reaction? If I’d own a crystal ball, I would be filthy rich and we would…
Can you buy a home with a pool in Atenas within your budget or not?
Do you want to know if you can afford to buy a home with a pool in Atenas? You really don’t need a lot more money to buy a home with a pool in Atenas than one without a pool, did you know? Before I started this article, I was researching online about why people…
Ticos are all family
Some way or other, Ticos are all family. Just like Smith is a very common last name in the U.K. and in the U.S., Rodriguez, and Vargas are the most common last names in Costa Rica. When you marry a Rodriguez, your first born might be number 102,498 of the Rodriguez clan. There is a…
Does a 24-7 real estate agent exist in Costa Rica?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes I call myself a 24-7 real estate agent. But am I really? It’s 9:30 pm and my phone rings. The phone number is from Miami, Fl., so I answer. The caller asks if it’s too late to call. Pretty nice of him. Almost nobody who calls after business hours asks…
How can property sellers handle multiple offers?
It does not happen very often, but once in a while, our agents receive multiple offers on a property. The Costa Rica real estate market behaves very differently than other markets. As you probably know, real estate agents here also behave differently. Everything is different in Costa Rica than it is elsewhere and so are…
Why do sellers increase the listing price when the property does not sell?
When in a bad market, and a property doesn’t sell, some sellers want to increase the listing price. Is it smart to increase the listing price, even in a good market? What do other sellers think about this idea? A seller, Kellyfoota, answered a question on the Houzz forum: Is raising the price on your…
9 Benefits of owning a Cariari single story home
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes When you get older, the knees cooperate much less, as do some other joints. That’s probably when it’s time you need to buy a Cariari single story home. Why in Cariari might you ask? Well, there are quite some good reasons and even more benefits to buying a Cariari single…
Flipping Fixer Uppers seems like a good investment – is it really?
Flipping fixer uppers might seem like an interesting business in Costa Rica. Buying a cheap home that needs TLC, revamping it, and reselling at a much higher price seems simple to do. In some countries, there are people who make a living by flipping houses. Generally, the most difficult part of this business is finding…
I want to work in Costa Rica – am I allowed to?
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes Some want to work in Costa Rica, and it seems to be very attractive just to jump on a flight to San José and get a job in paradise. Is it that easy? There are over 275 high-tech multinationals in Costa Rica. Can you get a job with them? Or…