A step-by-step legal guide to buying property in Costa Rica as a foreign buyer — due diligence, contracts, ownership structures, and the closing process.
Costa Rica is one of the world’s most popular destinations for foreign real estate investment—and one of the most welcoming. In most cases, foreigners enjoy the same property ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens, with no residency requirement and no restriction on owning titled property.
The buying process is straightforward. What catches buyers off guard is rarely the process itself—it’s what wasn’t checked before closing. A title issue. A zoning restriction. A beachfront property that turns out to be a concession rather than titled land.
Most of these problems are preventable with proper legal due diligence.
Step 1: Define Your Goals
Start by deciding what you’re buying and why.
A vacation home, rental property, retirement residence, or commercial investment each raises different legal and tax considerations.
Ask yourself:
The answers will help determine the best ownership structure from the outset.
Step 2: Conduct Legal Due Diligence
This is the most important step.
Before you commit, your lawyer should verify:
Beachfront property deserves particular attention. Concession property can be an excellent investment, but it is legally different from owning titled land and comes with additional restrictions.
Step 3: Review the Purchase Agreement
The Purchase and Sale Agreement sets out the purchase price, deposit, closing date, payment terms, and each party’s obligations.
Have it reviewed before signing. A translation explains the language; a lawyer explains the legal effect.
Step 4: Choose the Right Ownership Structure
Foreign buyers may purchase property personally, through a Costa Rican corporation, or through a fiduciary trust.
The best option depends on your investment goals, liability concerns, and estate planning—not simply on what is most common.
For a full comparison of the options, see our guide on [choosing the right legal structure in Costa Rica].
Step 5: Complete the Closing
Property transfers are completed before a Costa Rican Notary Public, who is also a licensed attorney.
Our founder serves as both your attorney and Notary Public, allowing the legal advice and transfer documents to be handled by the same professional.
After signing, the deed is registered with the National Registry. Ownership becomes legally effective upon registration, not when the documents are signed.
Step 6: Understand Your Ongoing Obligations
Property ownership also comes with continuing responsibilities, including:
These obligations are generally straightforward—but easier to manage when planned for in advance.
Working With Us
Most real estate problems can be avoided before closing.
We help foreign buyers with legal due diligence, contract review, ownership structuring, and closing, ensuring your purchase is legally secure from start to finish.
Our founder is a Canadian-born Costa Rican attorney and Notary Public who advises clients in plain English while working within the Costa Rican legal system every day.
Thinking about buying property in Costa Rica?
We offer a complimentary consultation to answer your questions, explain the buying process, and help you understand what to check before you commit.
Clear legal advice before you buy can save significant time, expense, and uncertainty later.
[Book your complimentary consultation here]