Have you ever dreamed of living in a tropical paradise where, as the song says, “the weather is fine and the life is easy?” For many people, Costa Rica appears to be that place and Costa Rica condos are their natural target. Perhaps, along with 1.5 million or more North American and European tourists a year, you have had the chance to enjoy the beaches, surfing, big game fishing, mountains, volcanoes, rivers, and tropical forests of this beautiful country. Situated between the sandy beaches on its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, Costa Rica also boasts numerous national parks and reserves throughout the country where protected bird, mammal, and reptile species live in Eden-like environments that bring tourists back again and again.

As a result, Costa Rica real estate is a popular item for investors, especially condos as rental properties and/or for personal use, with eventual re-sale or conversion to a full time retirement home. However, maybe you are ready to retire now and take advantage of Costa Rica’s low cost of living, temperate tropical weather, and possess a marvelous home for children, grandchildren, and old friends to visit.

If you come to Costa Rica, chances are that you will land at Juan Santamaria International Airport outside the capital city of San Jose on the central plateau and nearly equidistant from the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Well known for its surf, rain forests, and Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Limon is about 75 miles east of the Caribbean coast. The old coffee shipping port of Puntarenas on the Pacific coast likes about 90 km to the west.
You can stop at Puntarenas or veer off to the Pan-American Highway and go northeast to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for some of the most incredible views in the world, but a guided Canopy Tour through the rainforest is an absolute must. On the other hand, you can go northwest to the national parks near Liberia, or the beaches Tamarindo and Coco on the Gulfo di Papagayo, known for its year-round deep-sea fishing.

If you head south, you can follow the oddly shaped province of Puntarenas (“Sands Point” in Spanish) stretching along the Pacific coast to the Panamanian border. Along the way are the beaches of Jaco and Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest but among the most popular national parks in the country. In this park, visitors can take travel paths from the amazing beaches to the rainforst and mountain terrains.
Continuing south to Rincon and Puerto Juarez on Gulfo Dolce, you will find the dense, rich green jungle of Corcovado National Park standing as an unspoiled showcase of tropical nature. Incredibly, these are still only a fraction of Costa Rica’s attractions that full or part time residents can enjoy all year.

All these towns and surrounding areas boast Costa Rica condos for sale at prices that, compared with the Northeastern and Pacific coasts of the United States, can be a bargain. Actually, the area around San Jose has a such a low cost of living that it would cost substantially more to live in a middle class suburban neighborhood in the U.S or even Canada. Besides condos in Costa Rica, the country offers other real estate investments such as time-shares, single-family homes, and even working farms. Though they are not the most expensive approach, condos in Costa Rica are likely the best investment and/or retirement realty.

With the country so small, you can live in San Jose or its suburbs and enjoy the amenities and culture of a modern city and visit the attractions of the rest of the country. In the suburbs of San Jose, ,000 or less can buy a very nice condo. However, if you opt for Costa Rica beachfront property or a mountain retreat, these properties are still available for much less than similar, choice properties in North America. Coastal properties often cost less than 0,000 and Costa Rica beachfront property will start under 0,000.
Residency requirement have relaxed restriction with minimal proof of income and the status cards are easily renewable every two years. Costa Rica does not tax foreign residents on income earned outside of the country and most importantly the Costa Ricans, or Ticos, are friendly and welcoming to foreigners.

Between the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean in Central America, lies the Republic of Costa Rica (Spanish for Rich Coast). The advancing country is the recent subject of many people looking for Costa Rica real estate for retirement and investment, because of its beauty, recreational and economic opportunities. It also is home to the largest percentage of national parks and protected lands. In addition, Costa Rica offers a very high quality of life with its reasonable living expenses and well-built infrastructure.

Buying Costa Rica real estate will not cost much more than if you were buying the same type of property in the USA. The market in Costa Rica for empty lots to build on, or existing homes is fairly close to comparable United States properties. Regardless of your choice for the type of Costa Rica real estate you desire, from beach front, condos or luxury, your price will not be much different for the same type of property in the USA.

Buying Costa Rica real estate might seem like a difficult and expensive task to accomplish. In reality, it is quite simple and that fact has encouraged many people to buy Costa Rica real estate, in addition to the lower cost of living.

This cost of living is seen in the residents as well, since the average native earns about $500/month, which is sufficient to survive with a few luxuries. In comparison, the same lifestyle in the USA would require quite a bit more. The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 1/2 of that in the United States. An income of $1500 in Costa Rica will allow a person to live well above the average and afford luxuries not available to them in the USA. This is the very reason many Americans and Canadians have chosen to purchase Costa Rica real estate and retire there.

Costa Rica real estate is divided into seven regions, and each region offers many different perks. Costa Rica has more than a dozen National Parks scattered throughout the country, featuring a variety of recreation such as horse back riding, hiking and biking. Additionally, there are numerous water sports such as fishing the crystal blue waters, exploring the coral reefs, surfing and whitewater rafting the wild tropical rivers. Of course, camping and sightseeing neighboring countries such as Panama and Nicaragua are also opportunities for adventure.

If you get homesick and want to take a visit back home or bring friends to your new estate, Costa Rica has 2 International Airports with connections all over the world. Additional transportation in the country is by Taxi, usually a few dollars anywhere and by Bus. Although some people who have bought their Costa Rica real estate and moved here, have brought their car along with them

As with any major investment, when buying property in Costa Rica, it is important to do your due diligence.

Focus on getting facts and information about all the steps of your transaction. This means you need to understand what exactly you are buying, what the purchase includes and what the limitations (if any) are. In many countries, there are restrictions on building heights, setbacks, and other construction details which a buyer needs to be aware of before committing to purchasing and building there.

While the Internet has made real estate investing and land purchasing easier, it is wise to approach any large transactions from a perspective of information gathering and fact-finding. Never buy homes or land without visiting them for yourself.

It can be tempting to try and purchase a beautiful piece of land from the Internet pictures, but you can make a grave mistake if you end up paying for land, or a home, or some property which is not what you actually take ownership of at the completion of the sale.

Some areas in Costa Rica can not be built upon, but since there are few regulations on who can sell land; the unwary buyer may end up purchasing land which can never be built on. This is why doing your due diligence is vitally important when investing in Costa Rica.

It is important, also, to work with professionals who know the details of investing in this country. Select a company or individual who has experience in this area, who has successfully sold to other happy customers, and, who, ideally, has purchased property in the country him or herself. Keep looking until you find someone with whom you work well, and don’t hesitate to get expert advice and ask a lot of questions.

The more you know, the better prepared you will be to make a good decision.