Many foreigners moving to live in Costa Rica will be coming from countries such as the U.S. and Canada. In those Countries, the general application and the Policy of Enforcement of the Law and Regulations is relatively close to that which is written in the Statutes and Regulations where the [...]
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 [...]
Costa Rica uses the Roman Civil Law Legal System, which is the Legal System used by the majority of countries in continental Western Europe and Latin America. It is a more formal and document-oriented Legal System than the English Common Law Legal System which is used in the majority of [...]
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, particularly for those living in Costa Rica. However, the manifestation of the inquiry required in Costa Rica is much more extensive than a prospective first time property purchaser may first envision. The majority of properties offered for [...]
What is the Property Purchasing Process in Costa Rica? Many of you reading this blog will have purchased a property in other jurisdictions, particularly in Canada or the United States. The general flow of the property purchasing process in Costa Rica is very similar to that in these other jurisdictions, [...]
How Does the Residential Renting Process Work In Costa Rica? Renting a residential property in Costa Rica is governed, primarily, by the provisions of the Tenancy Law (Ley General de Arrendamientos Urbanos y Suburbanos). Rental Contracts are considered as being Long Term Rental Contracts. The only exception to this, is [...]
What are the Most Common Forms of Holding Real Property Interests in Costa Rica? In Costa Rica, the three common forms of holding real property interests are Registered Title Properties, Right of Possession Properties, and Concession Leasehold Properties. Each of these three real property interests has distinct characteristics and should [...]
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 [...]
