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Hola to all! We are new to this site and hope you grizzled veterans will help us understand the real estate title process. My husband and I have just put a deposit on a house lot in Playa Grande. We are busy reading all the books and this website to make sure we understand the legal process involved in buying land, forming a corporation, and gaining legal title to land in Costa Rica.
Could someone take a minute and outline the steps for us, including the Spanish terms used in the land title registration process. Reading this website and Steve’s book has put the proverbial fear of God into to me that each step has to be done correctly and in a timely manner, so we want to stay on top of this process from afar without missing a step. Right now I am having trouble understanding the sequence of events. Any input will be much appreciated, and I promise to reciprocate once we become experienced real estate buyers. Muchisimos Gracias! Anne & Arthur
You are asking a VERY big question that I only began to answer in my 200+ page real estate book, perhaps you could ask something a bit more specific and we’ll see if we can help…
And you do have your own attorney here, right?
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comYes that was a big question I agree, and my problem right now is there is too much info rattling around in my head. What I will try to do is create an outline of the process on just one page and ask you folks to critique it. Sound okay? Anne
Anne, rather than relying upon the grizzledness of the veterans here, you need to put yourself into the hands of a knowledgeable Costa Rican attorney. Insist that everything be done exactly legally and by the book. Then, get a second attorney to review the work of the first.
Many or most people purchase land in the name of a Costa Rican corporation which they own. The corporation gets formed first; then the land acquisition is made in its name. If you follow that approach, which has a number of advantages, you must be certain that the corporate work, too, is done exactly correctly. Again, have a second attorney review the work of the first.
I think it’s much more important that you engage two good attorneys than that you fully understand a complex legal process carried out in a system you’ve probably never been exposed to and in a language you probably don’t speak fluently.
Anne, double ditto both David and Scott’s replies. There have been attorneys recommended here on this site, so you know they are competent to work with you. Also, if you don’t have Scott’s book, please go get it. it saved us much time and frustation.
Without a complete understanding of Spanish and the laws, you are gambling big time.
Wish you the very best of luck.
Gee GeeNot 1 lawyer, but 2 lawyers… see if 1 lawyer says the same as the other lawyer and don’t tell the lawyers who the other lawyer is.
Thanks for all your replies folks. I guess my original posting was confusing. What I was really looking for was a checklist that I could refer to as the paperwork rolls in so that I can triple check the lawyers work. I found a checklist in another book, so I am all set as long as our paperwork continues to come in. Pura Vida!
Do you know spanish – I think all the paperwork will be in Spanish so I’m not sure how you check it.
This issue is huge in the USA. Latinos buy houses, but they don’t know what they are signing, they have to trust since the paperwork is in english. They get ripped off when they buy a house, it is worse than dealing with car salespeople because there is a lot more that can be hidden in a mortgage.
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