If you are purchasing a residential home from a Builder/Developer or having a home custom built, the Costa Rica Civil Code in Article 1185, provides you with a Statutory Guaranty of five years from the date of delivery, for defects in materials and workmanship, attributable to the Architect or the [...]
As a foreigner, constructing your own home in Costa Rica will present some unique challenges. First and foremost, if you are coming from the United States or Canada and don’t speak fluent Spanish, the issue of language will be paramount. You won’t be able to bring your own English speaking [...]
When entering into a property purchase transaction, the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the initial formal legal document that binds the Parties to the transaction, deserves the undivided attention of the Parties, but particularly that of the Buyer and the Buyer’s Lawyer. When a Seller offers a property for sale, there [...]
In Costa Rica, all naturally occurring sources of fresh water are the property of the State. The regulation of use and distribution of fresh water is controlled entirely by the State, through the State Water and Sewer Regulator (AyA), a Community Water and Sewer Association (ASADA), which is under the [...]
This is a question, which may appear to have a very obvious answer. However, the manifestation of the inquiry required in Costa Rica is much more extensive than a would-be property purchaser may first envision. The majority of properties offered for sale in Costa Rica are offered by Sellers during [...]
In various legal transactions, you will often hear Lawyers bandy about the term “due diligence”, particularly when it comes to property purchase transactions, property rental transactions, when purchasing a business, or when purchasing a used vehicle. It is important to note, that the depth of the due diligence investigation required [...]
What Are the Considerations for Purchasing Pre-Construction (Pre-Sales) Properties in Costa Rica? In Costa Rica, there is currently a residential construction “boom” and the offerings for Pre-Sales property purchases by Developers is abundant, particularly in the beach tourist-oriented areas and in the Central Valley, in or close to the San [...]
What is the Difference in the Due Diligence Required when Buying a Building Lot? When you purchase a completed home, issues such as the correct zoning, the availability of utilities, and access, are most likely not to be in issue. Your main concerns will be to obtain a reliable Home [...]
You may believe that Costa Rica, as a tropical country, with a bountiful rainfall in the wet season, would have no issues related to the supply of potable water. Unfortunately, in many parts of the country, this is not the case. Your concern for the availability of potable water will equal, if not [...]
