Ten Reasons To Rent Before You Buy Real Estate in Costa Rica

After over nine years of doing my retirement and relocation tours in Costa Rica I have watched with great joy and pride those who “get it” and make the transition to finding a better life than the one they left.

So far this is over 90% of the ones who have chosen to live here after their time with me. The 10% from my tour and the much larger group who did not take my tour fail so please allow me to share a few tips with you:

1. Weather: Try not to rush into buying something because it is such a great deal and “the weather is perfect.” Renting in an area will allow you to see if the weather is perfect for you during the dry and rainy season. Nearly all real estate sellers will tell you the “weather is perfect” all over the country.
2. Security: Please don’t rush into buying something because it is such a great deal and “this is the best and most secure area” in Costa Rica. Renting in an area will let you meet the neighbors (Ticos & Expats) to find out the reality of the actual costs and actual security of the area.
3. Comfort: Think before you rush into buying something because it feels so much like home with all of the convenient shopping and English speaking neighbors. Renting and spending time traveling around the country with an open mind to see if there are viable options that are completely unfamiliar to you will possibly open you to a much more rewarding lifestyle.



4. Scarcity: Do not rush into buying something because there is so little inventory of quality construction in desirable places. Renting allows time to discover options in many areas. Multiple listing systems (MLS) are only just starting to take hold in Costa Rica so the selection at the moment is pitiful and remember that many Ticos will not even use a Realtor, many good bargains require you to spend several months inquiring in areas that interest you.
5. Friendly Advice: Never rush into buying something because the first “friends” (usually found on the Bulletin Boards) who have lived in Costa Rica for a while appear to know a lot about what you need. The fact that someone has lived here for several years does not guarantee they know how you will adjust to the environment they are in.
6. Standards: Analyze carefully before you rush into buying a house because it was built to “American or Canadian standards.” This is meaningless for Costa Rica. Renting and doing extensive investigation will allow you to learn how different building systems can deliver the amount of space you decide you want at a price that works for your budget. Homes that are properly built to Costa Rica standards are much stronger than nearly all homes in the US and Canada due to the very strict earthquake requirements here. The state of the art building, roofing, plumbing, and electrical systems are all available from a quality builder. There are solar water heater systems available for $1,600 that will supply most single family homes all of the hot water they need for ZERO energy cost. Radiant energy barrier in the ceiling is usually not mentioned because it costs a little more but, it can make a huge difference in your daytime comfort level at altitudes below 4,000 feet.



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7. Hot Deal: Don’t rush into buying something because it seems like a good deal. Beach properties and some other highly promoted areas are full of these bargains. This is always subject to “if it is too good to be true, it probably is not”.
8. Health: Please do not rush into buying real estate until you know if the climate is right for you. We’ve heard people from Arizona claim the humidity caused them unacceptable breathing problems and renting in an area through both seasons will answer those questions for you.
9. Culture: You shouldn’t rush into buying something without really understanding “Tico time and Pura Vida.” Renting for a while will allow you to know if you really can be tranquilo when the true meaning of mañana is “not today”.
10. Disclosure: Don’t rush into buying something believing the seller or the Realtor is going to reveal any negatives in relation to the property. It takes time to find the warts.

Please see Scott Cutter’s excellent article at Ten Reasons Why Buying Real Estate in Costa Rica Can Be Smarter Than Renting.

You don’t have to rush, take your time! Costa Rica like all countries and people is evolving and you will not know what you really want until you have spent months expanding your network of friends and resources.

Many of my past guests who have rented before buying have really enjoyed the freedom to try different areas. The most common problem they have is finding quality rentals at reasonable prices. Some may never buy just to stay mobile.

Even at 72 years of age, I have not been to all of the possible retirement places in the world… I have been to and spent time in all of the areas of Costa Rica that are considered desirable and, after lots of hard miles, I am as happy as I want to be and I will never leave Costa Rica.

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Written by our friend George Lundquist, who is the founder of Costa Rica Retire on Social Security. If you are thinking of retiring in Costa Rica, you might want to consider the retirement tour that George offers, his goal is to share his experiences here with you to save you time and money!

For more information about renting a quality home in Puriscal before you consider buying one, please contact George using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.