On the other hand a little one bedroom, one bath shack sitting in the middle of downtown Boston might be worth a small fortune. So you can see that the location is of the utmost importance when you are considering a piece of real estate to invest in.

The same thought process holds true when you are considering buying real estate in Costa Rica. Costa Rica property has been returning at very high levels, since investment first began there.

Like in any other situation, you should ask yourself, “what makes the location of a piece of real estate a must have? The answer is fairly simply really. The value is based on nothing more than the desirability factor. Desirability is individual and is really hard to nail down.

Property that is totally undesirable to one person might be just the next person’s dream-come-true. And this phenomenon is true for real estate investors and for home buyers and for renters. It is true for all aspects of the real estate market.

The main point for any real estate investor to consider first is what their strategy will be for making money from the investment. The profit strategy determines whether the location of the property is good or bad and buying is only half the equation.

For example: If you are planning to purchase a property with the intention of just waiting for the market to go up, prime real estate is probably the very best choice. Locations near newly developing areas or close to entertainment centers would be ideal because there is a good chance the property will rise in value without too much extra work.

On the other hand, if you are planning to invest in a property with the intention of renting it and making a monthly income from it, you might be better off to look into urban properties. Urban properties wouldnt always be considered prime real estate but they are prime rental properties. What these properties may lack in space or amenities, they make up for by being very close to the action.

And we can’t forget the real estate investors who are handy with their hands. These kinds of investors enjoy renovating, and will buy properties below market value. They can make repairs and renovations to rundown properties themselves, sell it for a great deal more than their purchase price and make a very nice profit. These kinds of investors find that the location which works best is in a neighborhood made up of medium priced homes.

There are many factors that real estate investors consider when they are deciding which property to invest in. Knowing what kind of investor you are, and what your profit strategy is for the investment will help you decide where and how to find the perfect property in the perfect Costa Rican location.

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.