Buying & Due Diligence

The process, the taxes, and the documents that protect you.

Buying & Due Diligence
Costa Rica vs Mexico vs Panama: Where Should You Buy Beach Property?
The three countries North Americans shortlist for a beach purchase, compared on the thing that matters most: how you actually hold the property, and what protects you after closing.
6 min read
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Buying & Due Diligence
Property Taxes in Costa Rica: The 0.25 Percent Answer
Annual property tax in Costa Rica is 0.25 percent of registered value, one tenth of what many US owners pay at home. What that actually covers, the Luxury Home Tax on top, and the taxes people forget.
4 min read
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Buying & Due Diligence
What Percent of Costa Rica's Beachfront Is Actually Titled?
Industry estimates put fully titled oceanfront at roughly 3 to 5 percent of the coastline. No official statistic exists, and the reason the true number is that small is written into one 1977 law.
4 min read
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Buying & Due Diligence
Can Foreigners Buy Beachfront Property in Costa Rica?
Yes, with one giant asterisk that sits in the first 200 meters from the high-tide line. The maritime zone, the 49 percent rule, and the three ways foreigners actually own near the beach.
5 min read
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Buying & Due Diligence
How Escrow Works When Buying Property in Costa Rica
The one rule that protects every foreign buyer here: money only moves through licensed escrow. What escrow is in Costa Rica, the exact sequence, and the red flags that should end a deal.
5 min read
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Buying & Due Diligence
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Costa Rica: The Reddit Checklist
Ten questions that separate professionals from salespeople in an unlicensed market. Built from what the Reddit threads keep repeating, and from what I see on the inside.
5 min read
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Communities & Towns

Deep guides to the gated communities and beach towns of this coast.

Communities & Towns
Mar Vista (Flamingo/Brasilito) Real Estate and Community Guide
Mar Vista's residential areas, clubhouse, onsite school and infrastructure between Brasilito and Flamingo, per the developer's published materials - with construction and HOA questions to verify.
4 min read
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Communities & Towns
Tamarindo Park Real Estate: A Buyer's Guide to the New Community
What the Tamarindo Park developer publishes about the Hilltop phase, Richard Müller homes, sustainability commitments and amenities - and the documents buyers should request in a young development.
4 min read
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Communities & Towns
Senderos Tamarindo: Property, Amenities and Location Guide
What the Senderos development publishes about its homesites, Natural Modern architecture, Puerta de Sal beach club and location above Tamarindo - plus what buyers should request before offering.
4 min read
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Communities & Towns
Hacienda Pinilla Communities and Amenities: The Complete Buyer's Guide
Every amenity, beach and property type inside the 4,500-acre Hacienda Pinilla resort south of Tamarindo - compiled from the resort's own published materials, with the questions buyers should verify before purchasing.
4 min read
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Communities & Towns
Reserva Conchal Real Estate: Residential Communities, Golf and Beach Club Guide
The seventeen residential communities of Reserva Conchal, the golf course, Beach Club, Westin and W hotels, and the questions buyers should verify before purchasing - sourced from the resort's official materials.
4 min read
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Communities & Towns
Las Ventanas de Playa Grande: Community and Property Guide
The nine subdivisions, private water system and amenities of Las Ventanas de Playa Grande, per the community's published materials - with the HOA and building questions buyers should verify.
4 min read
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Market & Investment

Prices, comparisons and honest numbers from the local market.

Market & Investment
Flamingo vs Conchal vs Potrero: Choosing on the Luxury Corridor
Three towns share ten minutes of coastline and split the luxury market three ways: marina energy, resort polish, and quiet value. Which one fits depends on questions most buyers never get asked.
5 min read
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Market & Investment
Tamarindo vs Playa Grande: Which Side of the Estuary Should You Buy On?
Two beaches, one estuary between them, and completely different ownership experiences. How to decide between Tamarindo's walkable rental engine and Playa Grande's protected quiet.
5 min read
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Market & Investment
How Much Does a House in Tamarindo Cost? (2026 Prices)
Real 2026 numbers: condos from ~$200K, homes from ~$400K, ocean-view estates past $2M — and the two factors that move Tamarindo prices most.
6 min read
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Market & Investment
Is Guanacaste Real Estate a Good Investment in 2026?
An honest look at appreciation, rental yields, the drivers behind the boom, and the risks worth knowing before you buy in Guanacaste.
7 min read
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Market & Investment
What Vacation Rental Income Really Looks Like in Guanacaste
Occupancy, nightly rates, expenses, management, and the rules — a realistic picture of short-term rental income in Guanacaste.
6 min read
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Market & Investment
Tamarindo vs. Nosara: Which Should You Buy Real Estate In?
The two most talked-about markets in Guanacaste are fundamentally different places. Here is how to know which one is yours.
6 min read
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Living in Guanacaste

Schools, residency and what daily life here actually looks like.

Living in Guanacaste
Schools in Guanacaste: A Guide for Relocating Families
Every international, bilingual and private school in Guanacaste — IB, Montessori, Waldorf and bilingual — plus the things that actually decide it: the drive, the waitlist, and why there are no school ratings in Costa Rica.
8 min read
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Living in Guanacaste
Best Airbnb in Tamarindo
Eight private villas above town, one infinity pool, and the kind of ocean view that ends the scroll. Book your stay — or own a piece of this coast.
El Chante · Tamarindo
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Living in Guanacaste
How Americans and Canadians Can Get Residency in Costa Rica: The Complete 2026 Guide
The three residency paths — Pensionado, Rentista, and Inversionista — what each costs, how healthcare and taxes actually work, and how buying property fits in. From someone who went through the process himself.
12 min read
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