A very common question I receive when people begin looking at making the move to Costa Rica is, “Should I rent or should I buy a house in Costa Rica“? People make the point that you should rent in Costa Rica for a while, to make sure you like it before you buy. There is obviously some merit to this and of course each person has a different opinion.  Personally, I have always been a firm believer in home ownership as that is the American Dream, right?  

I have owned many properties in my life, buying my first house at 23 years old. I have never wanted to rent a property for quite a few different reasons.  First of all, it isn’t MY property.  So I can’t do what I want.  I can’t paint it the color I like, build the BBQ I need, or plant the landscaping I want to see every day.  I am at the mercy of the owner and must live by their rules.  Now, if the owner happens to be a great guy, who is very flexible, then that might work out ok.  But what if the owner isn’t easy to deal with?  We have all heard the horror stories of crazy landlords and I have never wanted to put myself in that situation.  I have owned every property I have ever lived in, and I also own the real estate that my businesses operate on.

This is one of the most common questions I get – ‘What about shipping to Costa Rica?’, and my answer is always the same; it depends. Many of the homes that are for sale, come fully furnished, turnkey ready to go and there are also incredible interior decorating services and furniture companies who can handle everything for you on this end. Many people want to just rid themselves of all their “junk” they have accumulated in their life, and start fresh here in paradise, showing up like I did with a suitcase full of Tank Tops and Flip Flops and a pocket full of cash. Others just can’t fathom parting with family heirlooms or lifelong trinkets or have an entire home of relatively brand new furniture that they want to bring along in their move to Costa Rica.

Cars are generally about 30% more in Costa Rica than the USA, yet still substantially less than many other countries in the world, as there is an import tax on vehicles. The older the vehicle, the higher the percentage, as Costa Rica does not want a bunch of broken down, Katrina flood cars, sitting on the side of the road like you see in Belize or Mexico. So unless it is your “baby”, and you have to have it with you, my advice is to sell your cars at home and buy them here. You can purchase every type of vehicle in Costa Rica that you can anywhere else, as there is every type of dealership imaginable. There are also fantastic used car dealers close by who have great reputations for selling very reliable cars and SUVs at reasonable prices. I can send you more info on those if you ask me. But some people just have to have their old Jeep CJ7 or classic convertible mustang, or their vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle and nothing is going to convince them otherwise.

So these will have to be decisions you will make, when the time comes. But relax; you are in good hands if you do decide that shipping to Costa Rica is right for you. There are a few reputable companies here in Costa Rica who can deliver your goods door to door, with no stress, no delays and no issues.  Ship Costa Rica is a company that many of my clients have engaged, with everyone being a happy camper on this end. You can contact the owner directly at barry@shipcostarica.com and he can give you an exact quote for your individual needs. Tell him I sent you and he will take extra good care of you.

Also, another excellent company is OCEANICA.  www.oceanica.ws

Another option to ship your car to Costa Rica is A1 Auto Transport  https://www.a1autotransport.com/ship-car-to-costa-rica.php

If you are looking to freight forward smaller size shipments, there are logistic companies as well. I have shipped my music collection, home theater and exercise equipment and it went very smoothly. I used a company call H.A Logistica.

www.ha-logix.com

There are of course other companies that you can use, and my only advice to you is to ask them for references from satisfied clients. Call these people up and confirm they had a good experience before hiring them for their services.

But whether you the choose the shipping to Costa Rica option or not, do yourself a favor. JUST COME. You won’t regret it.

Pura Vida