Know any Realtors in Costa Rica?
Jun 1st, 2008, 05:03 PM
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Know any Realtors in Costa Rica?
My husband and I are scouting other countries for a vacation/retirement home and are interested in looking around Costa Rica when we visit in January. We're mainly interested in the area around M.A. Any recommendations for Realtors who could show us around?
Jun 2nd, 2008, 08:42 PM
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I live in Costa Rica, and one day I met a guy who WASN'T selling real estate. At least, that is what he told me, but then he dragged out this huge portfolio full of photos and I became a little suspicious. So maybe I am the only person in Costa Rica who doesn't sell real estate in Costa Rica. I really, truly believe that this may be the case!
Every single piece of property in Costa Rica is for sale. Do you like the Casa Presidencial? Make an offer!
Over half of the properties for sale in Costa Rica have "problems with the deed." What kind of problems? You have no idea - but you will find out once you've bought it.
Believe me when I tell you that you do not have the slightest idea of what questions to ask when you are considering purchasing real estate here. They are not the same questions you would ask at home. This is not Kansas. Only a fool - yes, an utter fool - would consider purchasing real estate in Costa Rica until they have lived here for at least one year. I am as serious as a heart attack about this!
Culture shock is real, and those properties that you will be looking at and considering buying are owned by foreigners who paid too much and then realized they made a terrible mistake. Want to join them?
C'mon down! There really is a sucker born every minute. You can be one of them!!!
Every single piece of property in Costa Rica is for sale. Do you like the Casa Presidencial? Make an offer!
Over half of the properties for sale in Costa Rica have "problems with the deed." What kind of problems? You have no idea - but you will find out once you've bought it.
Believe me when I tell you that you do not have the slightest idea of what questions to ask when you are considering purchasing real estate here. They are not the same questions you would ask at home. This is not Kansas. Only a fool - yes, an utter fool - would consider purchasing real estate in Costa Rica until they have lived here for at least one year. I am as serious as a heart attack about this!
Culture shock is real, and those properties that you will be looking at and considering buying are owned by foreigners who paid too much and then realized they made a terrible mistake. Want to join them?
C'mon down! There really is a sucker born every minute. You can be one of them!!!
Jun 2nd, 2008, 10:19 PM
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raderbarbarian.............
You gave me my laugh for the week!
You are so right..I'm one of those suckers, but I've been nipped in more places than Costa Rica. I guess I just can't get the hang of it. I think if I was ever to do it again I wouldn't. And it's not the Ticos, it's those greedy Gringos! If the Americans had never invaded CR it would be such a wonderful place, wouldn't it?
You gave me my laugh for the week!
You are so right..I'm one of those suckers, but I've been nipped in more places than Costa Rica. I guess I just can't get the hang of it. I think if I was ever to do it again I wouldn't. And it's not the Ticos, it's those greedy Gringos! If the Americans had never invaded CR it would be such a wonderful place, wouldn't it?
Jun 3rd, 2008, 02:38 AM
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When we were in MA, we were dining at a restaurant, and each table had a beautiful, glossy brochure on it advertising some swanky new condos going up. We're not close to retirement age, but were curious - the price was $750,000 each!
Jun 3rd, 2008, 04:49 AM
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Well said, Rader and joeschmoe--I think that all the time. If only everyone hadn't starting coming down here. If only it had just been me! LOL!
Latitude 9 in Manuel Antonio--ask for Lisa and Harry. She used to be a regular on Fodors. Guess they got too busy (it's crazy with all the property selling going on!) for her to do that anymore!
Latitude 9 in Manuel Antonio--ask for Lisa and Harry. She used to be a regular on Fodors. Guess they got too busy (it's crazy with all the property selling going on!) for her to do that anymore!
Jun 3rd, 2008, 07:15 AM
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We had a funny experience at Latitude 9. Mango Moon did not have any internet access, and we needed to keep in contact with our real estate agent, so the owner sent us to Latitude 9! We thought it was some kind of internet cafe, and we got there and said we'd like to use the internet, and they told us they were a real estate company, but you know? They let us use it! Seriously nice people. They said that as long as we were there that we might as well log in. I felt very weird about the entire thing, but they were incredibly accommodating. Just imagine if you were truly interested in real estate!
Jun 3rd, 2008, 05:53 PM
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Lisa at L9 was very helpful when we were planning our Bocas del Toro leg a couple of years ago. While in Manuel Antonio a couple of weeks before we went to BdT, we met her and Harry for drinks one night. Very nice couple. Also, she found out where we were staying ahead of time and had our fridge stocked with all kinds of goodies (including yogurt drinks and such for our little one) when we arrived. Looking back, maybe she was hoping we'd be looking into Real Estate, but I don't think so--just genuinely nice. The subject of real estate hardly come up over drinks other than to talk about the increase of it in recent years.
