First, I had to narrow my search. I couldn’t scour the whole country in just three weeks and I wanted enough time in a chosen area to get a true “feel” for it.

Now, I’m basically a water-ocean-diver-sailor kinda guy. But as much as I love the sea and pristine beaches, I didn’t want to live in a sticky, humid climate day in, day out.

So I honed in on the Central Valley region with its small towns, higher elevations, verdant rolling hills and consistently cooler temps. Life is full of little trade-offs, so living inland was a small price to pay for year-round comfort. The coast will always be there, and it’s only a short hop away for a weekend escape.

Next, I started pestering my in-country contacts, some stemming from the plethora of helpful articles out there, about each town. Opinions are like belly buttons: everybody has one. Escazú is sophisticated, upscale, expensive and full of expats; Heredia is cosmopolitan, charming, packed with international students; Atenas has the best climate; Sarchí is artsy-craftsy and laid back; Alajuela is a congested non-destination; Grecia is cleaner and less congested, and on and on. So where to start?

I picked Atenas, famed for supposedly having the “best climate in the world.” I didn’t want to stay in gritty San José upon arrival, just close enough for meetings with my immigration lawyer, shipping agent, and a chance to pick Scott Oliver’s brain in-person.

Footnote here: it pays to start nurturing in-country contacts well in advance of an exploratory trip. Their local knowledge is absolutely invaluable way before you arrive, and will save you a lot of grief and frustration. They are a critical resource, and more than happy to share advice.

My plan was to bus into San José, and after a week I’d rent a car to hit the towns that had the most potential. From Atenas the ride is under an hour and costs a whopping $2. Buses are frequent and cover the whole country. I soon got so used to the system and cheap fares that I abandoned the car rental plan and traveled by bus, taxi and bummed rides the entire trip.

I saved $750, plus I gained the real “feel” for Tico life that I sought. The courtesy and well-groomed appearance of my fellow passengers impressed me.

In Atenas, I met up with Realtor Dennis Easters who immediately impressed me as being highly professional, knowledgeable, and candidly straightforward. We set up a time to view some homes featured on his site.

Let’s pause here to mention a key point. Namely, the more accurately you can define your house criteria — the must-haves and can’t tolerate — the easier your search will be for you and your real estate agent. The more you help him/her by refining the criteria, the quicker you’ll find what you’re looking for with minimal wasted time, effort and frustration.

My criteria was simple: a countryside location, yet near a town; no noisy, close neighbors with barking dogs; large yard; two bedrooms; single level; recent, solid construction (no fixer-upper); and close proximity to nature. A panoramic view was not de rigueur. In addition to being my home, the house would be a base for my adventurous family and friends who always wanted to experience the natural wonders of Costa Rica.

Of the houses Dennis showed me, one had potential but didn’t totally zing me. Others were tempting but beyond my means. I decided to check out Grecia, just a half hour away.

How I found the place in Grecia went like this. A friend of a friend in the Bahamas had a friend in Esparza, Costa Rica. We linked up. The Esparza friend had a finca in Cartago, east of San José, and invited me to see it. Available homes in the area were too rich for me, but one of his friends was a Realtor who knew a real estate agent in Grecia: Brooke Bishop.

Brooke is an American who has been selling homes for six years. I checked her listings and — lo and behold! — the first page had a home within my budget that instantly zinged me. Two others were intriguing, but one was in negotiations. I jumped in Brooke’s SUV and off we went.

As we toured the house, which was being rented out, I soon realized that Brooke was a pro to the core. Meticulous and prepared, she knew the property inside-out in great detail, and had ready answers for my blitz of questions. The more I looked and probed, the more I knew this could work: it fit my criteria to a T.

Over the next couple weeks Brooke lived up fully to her reputation of being “very honest and with the utmost integrity.” It was a true pleasure working with her as we covered every aspect of the whole procedure: negotiations with the owner, meeting the local lawyer, formation of an LLC to protect the buyer and avoid probate — all tactfully handled without any pressure, just sensible options for how to make the deal happen. And with an infectious sense of humor, no less!

1. How I Found My New Home in Costa Rica: Research, Spanish and luck. Part III/III
2. How I Found My New Home in Costa Rica: Research, Spanish and luck. Part II/III
3. How I Found My New Home in Costa Rica: Research, Spanish and luck. Part I/III

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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.