Why you want to use a real estate agent in Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s real estate market is on the rise again and foreign investors are heading to the popular Central American country for retirement or a simpler place to live, or to invest in a Costa Rica vacation home or other property investment. The good news is that foreigners can legally own property in Costa Rica.

Even the savviest home buyer should pause before entering into a real estate deal in a foreign country. There is no way to know everything you need to without years of on-the-ground experience. Whether you are interested in purchasing land, a home, condo or commercial property in Costa Rica, you want to be informed to make the best decisions. This is where you need a professional Costa Rica realtor.

Buying or selling a property anywhere can be a challenge if you are on your own. Buying property in Costa Rica has the added challenges of a different system and language from North America, for instance. Although Costa Rica is considered one of the best Latin American countries regarding foreign investment and ownership rights, there are still things to look out for. Do your property homework, and with a good professional realtor by your side, you’ll be enjoying your new home or life adventure in no time.

Why you should use a real estate agent in Costa Rica

1) You get access to scores of listings, and someone helping you select the right properties to see based on your requirements and interests. In Costa Rica there is no MLS (multiple listing service), which is a centralized, national database of all real estate for sale. If you use a professional Costa Rica real estate agency, you will have access to a diversified portfolio of properties for sale – including properties not yet listed for sale or actively advertised (“pocket listings”). This is especially true in Costa Rica where for sale signs are not commonly used.


2) Real estate agents know the history of a home or property, the location, neighborhood, town and region.

3) You can obtain recommendations for reputable professionals for home and property inspections. Your real estate agent can help you to coordinate these.

4) Real estate agents can help you negotiate a fair purchase price, along with financing, terms, date of possession, and the inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings or equipment. Statistics show that realtors can typically negotiate and save you more money than negotiating on your own.

5) Professional real estate agents will work with a reputable lawyer who specializes in real estate transactions and title searches, and is completely bilingual with experience working with foreign clients.

6) A real estate agent can lead you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly, so that you come to the closing table with no surprises.

7) Working with a professional realtor helps to alleviate much of the stress involved in purchasing a new home or property. A realtor can help you connect utilities, arrange moving services, purchase furniture, and introduce you to the local community, among other things.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN ATENAS, COSTA RICA

In beautiful Atenas, Costa Rica, the real estate agency Pure Life Development of Atenas specializes in Atenas homes for sale, Costa Rica properties for sale and Costa Rica vacation homes. Atenas, Costa Rica realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras are experts in buying and selling real estate in Costa Rica, land development and home construction in Costa Rica.

Both Easters, a licensed realtor from Florida and real estate professional for 22 years, and his Costa Rican partner Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras are certified with the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate. They have been successfully helping customers find new homes in Atenas, Costa Rica for 10 years.

Article by Shannon Farley

15 Tips to Prepare Your Home in Costa Rica for Rainy Season

Rainy season in Costa Rica is here, and with it, changes in weather and the environment that can potentially wreak havoc on your home in Costa Rica if you’re not prepared. These 15 simple tips from Atenas, Costa Rica realtors Pure Life Development will help you stay safe, dry and protected this time of year.

1. Clean your roof gutters. Dry season winds have probably blown a lot of leaves, dirt and debris into your roof gutters. If you don’t clean them thoroughly, the first big rain could cause an overflow, leading to roof damage, leaks, or breaking your gutters.
   
2. Clean your ground drainage gutters. Rain in Costa Rica can range from soft steadily falling drizzle to torrential “the-end-of-the-world-is-near” downpours. You want to make sure all run-off is being diverted away from your house and not going to cause flooding.
   
3. Trim those trees hanging over your roof. Wind and the extra weight of water from rain can cause limbs to break, which could damage your roof or parked car.
   
4. Fix your roof leaks. After the first hard rains, you’ll know if you have any roof leaks. Get them fixed as soon as possible so they don’t expand and become an even bigger problem.
   
5. Clean slippery surfaces. The increase of humidity causes mildew to grow. To avoid dangerous slips and falls on your driveway and pathways to your house, wash them regularly with a power washer to take off any green slime. You can also sprinkle lime powder (calcium hydroxide – called “cal” in Costa Rica) to kill off the mildew.
   
6. Paint, varnish and seal. Protect the outdoor surfaces of your home from inclement weather. Use anti-corrosive paint for metal gates and railings; and varnish to seal wood.
   
7. Buy battery back-ups. You will want to connect all of your fragile electronics – flat screen TV, DVD player, computer, iPod or iPad, high-tech cappuccino maker, etc. – to UPS battery back-ups with surge protection, or at the very least a surge protection powerstrip. Lightning storms and electrical outages are as common in Costa Rica as rice and beans. If a lightning storm is happening close to where you live, it’s better to unplug everything for complete protection until the storm passes.
   
8. Remember your pets. Have a safe and dry place for your pets to go during rain storms.
   
9. Watch your pool PH. Extra rain and the acid in rain (Costa Rica is a volcanic country) can throw off your pool’s PH, causing the water to turn green. During rainy season, check your pool’s PH frequently and consult with your pool supplies store for help.
   
10. Fumigate around your house. When the rains bring Costa Rica back to life that includes the millions of insects that seem to hatch overnight. Fumigating around the perimeter of your home (natural or otherwise) will help keep the critters out of your living space. There also are many natural remedies for controlling the leaf cutter ants that like to voraciously destroy your garden this time of year.
    
11. Avoid dengue fever. Make sure not to have any standing water in your garden or around your property (buckets, unused flower pot plates, etc.) to avoid breeding places for mosquitoes, which can carry dengue fever in Costa Rica.
    
12. Turn off irrigation systems. If you have irrigation systems on timers, you can turn them off during rainy season to avoid wasting water.
    
13. Bring in the garden furniture. Outdoor patio furniture and cushions are best brought in under cover to not get ruined by excess moisture.
    
14. Buy rain gear. New door mats help keep your floors clean. Having an umbrella stand by the front door keeps track of your umbrellas so you always have one when you need one. Owning a pair of rubber boots in Costa Rica is a must.
    
15. Use a dehumidifier. A great method of battling humidity is to use a commercial dehumidifier or GoldenRod dehumidifiers in closets. Or if you have air-conditioning, run it an hour a day to remove moisture.

LIVE IN ATENAS, COSTA RICA



In beautiful Atenas, Costa Rica, Pure Life Development of Atenas specializes in Atenas homes for sale, Costa Rica properties for sale and Costa Rica vacation rentals. See this video for an idea of what it would be like to live in Atenas, Costa Rica or to visit on vacation.

Article by Shannon Farley