Costa Rica - Housing, Finding
& Purchasing Retirement Real Estate Tips before
you actually make the purchase
Once you have found the property or home you like, there
are a few precautions you need to take.
Make sure you know the real value of the property.
Do not assume the seller or broker is trustworthy just because they speak English.
This is a common pitfall.
Make sure the property you are about to purchase in not part of a national park
or subject to restricted use. There are areas near Dominical,
for example, that abut a rainforest where it is forbidden
to cut any trees.
If you purchase raw land, be sure to get a soil sample and hire an engineer,
especially if your lot has been cut out of a hillside. We
know of one man who built a million-dollar home on a bluff
overlooking the beach. About a year later he had to spend
$100,000 to build a retaining wall because the rain started
to undermine his lot.
If you buy in a remote region make sure you can bring electricity to the land.
This can be expensive. Also check to see if the water supply
is good in the area.
Do not rely on a verbal contract if you decide to make an offer. Get everything
in writing.
Check out your neighbors. There is nothing worse than buying property and finding
out later that you have bad neighbors.
If buying in the city or near a major street, check the noise level. Make sure
there are no dancehalls, bars, rowdy neighbors or noisy
buses.
If you purchase a home, have an engineer make sure it is structurally sound.
Also, check the plumbing, wiring, roof for leaks, water
pressure and septic or sewage system.
If buying in the city it is extremely important to be familiar with the neighborhood
where you decide to buy. Make sure you are not buying in
a crime-ridden area. There are a few areas around San José
where you would not like to live. A good broker and doing
your homework can help you avoid this disaster.
From "The New Golden Door to retirement
and Living in Costa Rica" by Christopher Howard.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this article may be reproduced without written
permission of the authors and copyright owner.
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