Updated: September 30, 2021

Well, it is time again for another boring Costa Rica Real Estate Market Update. In case you had your head in the sand the last year and a half you would know that the real estate market in Costa Rica has been completely affected by the global pandemic.  We were first busy feeding our less than fortunate friends and then dealing with closed borders and hesitancy to travel even though the borders have been completely open for over a year.  If you would rather read about the lighter side of life in Paradise then just stop reading here.  Those of you interested in the real estate side of my life; please read on.

Over the last 5 or so months the real estate market has been very strong.  This has made some people forget the year or so before that sales were well below normal averages.  So lets keep this in context.  Before this whole mess started in early 2020 we were on track for our best year in 10 years. I tell people that the pent up demand for the last 18 months has been concentrated into 5 months and while sales have been great don’t expect them to sizzle like they have forever.  Don’t get me wrong I still believe that more and more people want to own a property outside of North America as a haven to relax and escape their hectic lives.  And more and more people have decided they want to live and work in a place that offers great weather and good infrastructure for themselves and their families.

The pandemic made so many companies and individuals realize that they can work remotely from anywhere on the planet. This has created another completely new set of buyers, who would rather punch the clock from paradise, than from their home in North America. Many owners who were vacation renting their homes, have taken them out of the rental market, and are now occupying those properties themselves.

Tourism and airport entries have rebounded to pre pandemic levels into the Liberia Airport – now called Guanacaste Airport (LIR) – with many foreigners returning to their second homes and others coming for the first time.  Vacation rentals are again booming, giving many buyers a feeling of confidence, as they invest in the real estate sector of Costa Rica. The FIRE SALES are long gone, and we are running out of inventory. This is fueling a surge, as people are feeling the fear of losing out. Many of the homes that were on the market before the pandemic started are sold and many of the spec homes are also sold with the next batch of homes being built at significantly higher prices.  For those interested in building, there are still some great deals to be had, but they too, are disappearing quickly. If you find your dream lot, my advice is to jump on it, as it probably will not be here on your next visit.

Also, many retirees, who might have been contemplating other Latin American countries, now realize the extreme risks and inherent dangers of living in those places. Costa Rica is still the safest country south of Texas and the most stable democracy in the region.  On September 15 2021 we celebrated 200 years of Independence. Wow, what an accomplishment, something very few countries in the world are able to brag about.  With massive hurricanes still being an issue in the Caribbean, our calm weather and consistent climate keeps pulling more and more buyers away from there and headed our way. We just keep rocking and rolling.

Probably the most enjoyable part about living here is seeing how many people are making this their full-time home. Our community keeps expanding, as retirees are making this their permanent residence. What is truly exciting, is seeing how many YOUNG people, are moving here; many families with children, in their 20’s and 30’s. They have the entrepreneurial spirit and are taking advantage of the new work from home reality and taking it to a whole new level in Costa Rica.  What a great lifestyle, to be able to work and live in paradise, put your children in first class bilingual schools, and in your free time, being able to soak up everything this amazing little country has to offer. I moved here when I was 38. I still wish I came at 25.

I would encourage all of my clients, that if you are thinking about making the leap and investing in paradise, I would do it sooner than later, as we have definitely seen a clear shift from a Buyer’s to a Seller’s market. Hope to see you down here soon.

Below are current properties available in alphabetical order.  Click on the photos or description for full property details.  Please contact me directly with any questions.

Pura Vida.          

“Come On Down Baby”

BAYPOINT 5 Condo – 3 Bed, 3.5 Bath, Garage, Pool – $499,000

Casa Feliz – 4 Bed, 4 Bath, Pool, Gym – $749,000

Casa Colonial Cacique – 3 Bed, 2 Bath, Pool – $299,000

Casa Golf Mar Vista – 4 Bed, 4.5 Bath, Guest House, Pool, Garage – $825,000

Casa Jardin Escondido – 2 Bed, 2 Bath – $165,000

Casa Los Altos Cacique – 3 Bed, 3 Bath, Pool – $649,000

Casa Roco del Mar Pacifico – 4 Bed, 4 Bath, Pool, Garage – $998,000

Coco Cabana – 8 Unit Apartment Complex – $569,000

Hermosa Breeze Condo – 2 Bed, 2 Bath – $241,000

Las Brisas Playa Hermosa Condo 5.2 – 3 Bed, 2 Bath – $349,000

Las Palmas 6 Plex – 2 Bed, 2 Bath Luxury Condos – $239,000

Pacifico C 507 – 2 Bed, 2 Bath, Ocean View – $195,000

Casa Grande Pacifico Lot 47 – 6 Bed, 7 Bath, Pool, Garage – $1,250,000

Pacifico L 106 – 2 Bed, 2 Bath – $269,000

Pacifico L 1104 – 2 Bed, 2 Bath – $259,000

Large Vacation Villa Pacifico Lot 103 – 6 Bed, 6.5 Bath, Pool – $1,150,000

Villa La Cima Pacifico Lot 71 – 4 Bed 4.5 Bath, Pool, Garage – $1,595,000

Pacifico Lot 88 – 3 Bed, 3.5 Bath, Pool, Garage – $879,000

Casa Terrazas Pacifico Lot 92 – 4 Bed, 4 Bath, Pool – $609,000

Villa Toscana Pacifico Lot 135 – 3 Bed, 2.5 Bath, Pool, Garage – $559,000

Skyfall Pacifico Lot 104 – 5 Bed, 5 Bath, Pool. Garage – $1,250,000

Tropical Dreams 11 – 2 Bed, 1.5 Bath, Roof Top Terrace – $189,000

Veintimiglia 3 – 1 Bed, 1 Bath – $56,950

Villa Brisas Vista Marina – 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, Pool, Garage – $409,000

Villa Setar VRGCC Lot 53 – 4 Bed, 5 Bath, Pool – $459,000

Villa Vino Vista del Pacifico – 3 Bed, 3.5 Bath, Pool, Garage – $599,000

Villa Vista Bahia Laguna Vista – 4 Bed, 4.5 Bath, Pool – $835,000

Villa Luxe Gaviota del Mar – 2 Bed, 2 Bath – $290,000

Michael D Simons
Co-Owner/Broker

You will see all kinds of information on the internet about financing property in Costa Rica.  Many websites tell you that they have financing options available through the National or Local banks.  I have been selling real estate in this country since 2003 and only a handful of my clients have been able to obtain a loan with a Costa Rican bank. 

It’s not that you can’t get a loan, it’s that most foreigners, after reviewing all the documents and costs, don’t take the loan.  First off, it is very difficult to qualify for a loan if you are not a permanent resident of this country.  The paperwork is mind-boggling and the banks do not operate with the efficiency that you are used to in the USA or Canada.  It can take months for an answer which is usually NO anyway.  Second, the fees are very high; usually, 3 to 5 % higher than a traditional loan in North America and the closing costs are as much as 3% of the loan, on top of the normal closing costs.

So when most buyers see these numbers, they change their minds and search for an alternate way to purchase their little piece of paradise.  One of the reasons Costa Rica is so stable, in my opinion, is because they don’t lend money.  We all know that the problem with the USA was the banks’ poor lending practices.  In the history of this country, not one single bank has ever failed.  That is an amazing statistic.  It’s because they don’t frivolously lend money, and they almost NEVER lend money to foreigners.  As a client of mine from Tallahassee says, “you gotta pay to play”.