If you can’t afford to buy a house in the United States or Canada, prices for decent homes in Costa Rica begin at about $50,000 with financing available for new homes if you become a resident. In 2003 we purchased a new $85,000 home in Heredia with 80 percent financing. Our payments are about $560 monthly on a 15-year, 7.0 percent loan—$150 less than we used to pay for rent in Rohrmoser. The monthly payment includes a life insurance policy that pays off the loan in full in the event of death of the owner.

You do not have to be a resident of Costa Rica to own property and you are entitled to the same ownership rights as citizens of Costa Rica. Ownership of real estate in Costa Rica is fully guaranteed by the constitution to all foreigners.  This means your purchase here can be fully secured and safe. 

Due to its natural beauty, favorable investment climate, the Baby Boomers  and stable government Costa Rica has become one of the top five emerging real estate markets in the world. Big players like Wall-Mart and Steve Case, the founder of AOL On-Line, City Bank and general electric have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Costa Rica in Costa Rica. The Hollywood crowd has even discovered the country’s wonders. Mel Gibson just bought a 27 million dollar ranch.

So if the big players are willing to investing large sums of money, you the country is a sure bet.

To find out more about investing profitably in Costa Rica real estate see www.costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com (enlace). Also read Chapter 2 of  Christopher Howard’s “The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica” (enlace) and his forthcoming “Official Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica.”