Is it safe to buy real estate in Costa Rica?

The answer is Yes, But make sure you do your homework first. It can be almost like buying property in your home country if you use common sense. However the price for property in Costa Rica is now more expensive then in the USA.
All you have to do is follow the advice below and you should be able to purchase property and minimize the chances of something bad happening.

1. Have a good time-tested reliable attorney
2. Make your attorney is 100% bilingual so that you can understand every step of the process of purchasing property.
3. Have your attorney do the proper “due diligence.” Attorneys who handle real estate transactions can do this to ensure you are making a safe purchase.
4. Don’t be an impulsive buyer. Also take your time and DO your homework.
5. DO NOT trust people just because they are from the States, Canada, England or any other English-speaking country. Over the years I have come across many English-speaking scoundrels. So be careful!
6. Read all of the guidebooks about purchasing real estate in Costa Rica. There are three at the present time. They will give you a basic understanding of the how the local real estate scene works. Be wary of any real estate guidebook that continuously hypes the services of its author. Finally, remember no book should take the place of a good broker and lawyer.

The basic rights of all citizens in Costa Rica are respected by its society which has a well-developed tradition of democratic government. More importantly for foreigners, those same rights are extended in equal measure to all residents of the country.
The facts of life are that the differences in the legal system and ways of doing business in Costa Rica discriminate against those who do not understand them. Unfortunately, there are people who would use that lack of understanding to their advantage. Therefore, anyone wishing to make their home or otherwise invest in Costa Rica, faces a greater possibility of risk in their decision making process than they would in familiar circumstances. That is why you need to hire a Costa Rica Attorney.

Real Estate Lawyers in Costa Rica

S&R Lawyers

San Jose, Costa Rica

Law Firm with a Complete Scope of Legal Services in Costa Rica

+506 25201122The firm S&R Lawyers organized through the company S&R Lawyers Ltd., is the result of the joint initiative of two founding partners, whose professional experiences converged into the organization and founding of a company that has a team of multidisciplinary work, focused in offering...
Law Firm's Overview 

LexNova, Asesores Juridicos

San José, Costa Rica

Full-Service Law Firm in San José, Costa Rica

+506 2524-2471LexNova, Asesores Juridicos is a full service law firm, client service oriented with fully bilingual well experienced lawyers. We have specialized lawyers in Labor Law, Immigration Law, Real Estate Law, Intellectual Property, Employment, Commercial Business, Family and all lawyers...
Law Firm's Overview 

Facio & Cañas

San Jose, Costa Rica

Legal Services in Costa Rica

+506 22565555Facio & Cañas was founded in 1942 by a group of attorneys who shared a deep commitment to high ethical standards and quality professional services. Today, because of their commitment, Facio & Cañas is the largest and most prestigious law firm in Costa Rica.
Our attorneys participate...
Law Firm's Overview 

Pacheco Coto

San Jose, Costa Rica

Pacheco Coto, founded in 1939, is one of Costa Rica's oldest and most reputable law firms. It is widely recognized for its solid international experience and for maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards. Its echelon of lawyers is composed by professionals from three...

Other Offices: Guanacaste
Law Firm's Overview 

• AC Law

  San José, Costa Rica

  Litigation, Real Estate, Consumer, Corporate and Traffic Law

   +1 506 88665034

• Alfredo Fournier & Asociados

  San Jose, Costa Rica
   (506) 233-6086Alfredo Fournier-Beeche established Alfredo Fournier & Asociados in 1962. It is a general, full-service legal firm, serving corporate, institutional and individual clients. The firm has a prominent reputation in international business transactions and foreign investment in Costa Rica, advising...

• André Tinoco Abogados - Lexincorp Central America

  San José, Costa Rica

  Central American Law Firm with Regional Service in all 5 Jurisdictions

   +506 22833070André Tinoco Abogados (ATA), a law firm in Costa Rica, was established in 1988 and developed to a high quality full services specialized Law Firm based in San José, Costa Rica, covering all fields of law. In 2008 ATA joined Lexincorp-Central American Law Firm, with offices in Costa Rica, El...

• Arias & Muñoz

  Guanacaste, Costa Rica

  Full Service Law Firm in Central America

   +506 26669777Arias & Muñoz is unique in Central America, for it operates as a single firm rather than as an alliance of firms and currently has eight, fully-integrated offices in five countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It has become, today, not only a solid, but also an...
  Other Offices: San José

• Arturo Blanco Law

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Real Estate, Litigation Law Firm, Estate Planning and Probate

   +506 22832020I provide personalized legal services to foreign investors and developers who want to secure their investment and avoid local pitfalls.

• Asesores Legales en Propiedad Industrial

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Real Estate, Commercial, Patent and Trademark Registration in San Jose, Costa Rica

   +506 22219058Articles     

• Batalla Lawyers

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Customs, Admiralty, Environmental, Corporate Law and Litigation

   +506 2280 8880

• BLP Abogados

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Fully integrated law firm focused in business advice in Costa Rica

   506 2205-3939With over 40 lawyers, BLP Abogados offers multidisciplinary services and is the only fully integrated law firm focused in business advice in Costa Rica. BLP Abogados was created based on the conviction that legal advisers must become true business partners to their clients. Over the years, every...

• Bufete Morera & Morera

  Heredia, Costa Rica

  Intellectual Property and Computer Law Firm

   506-237-29-38BUFETE MORERA & MORERA offers its top quality legal field formed by professionals and specialized experts in assisting and offering solutions for the exercise, exploitation and litigation of Computer Law, Industrial Property and Intellectual Property Rights.

• Burke Law Firm

  San Rafael de Heredia, Costa Rica

  Real Estate Law

   +506 2 267 6645

• C&S Law Group

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Attorneys at Law

   +506-2291-6593

• Carter Law Firm

  San José, Costa Rica

  Real Estate & Business Law Firm

   +506 2576646

• Central Law

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  IP, Banking, Corporate & Business Law, Investment and Real State Law Firm

   +506 22247800Central Law is the only regional law firm in Central America and the Caribbean, with eleven offices in seven countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Dominican Republic. ; The distinctive characteristic of Central Law is multinational organization that allows...

• Cordero & Cordero Aboagdos

  Liberia, Costa Rica
   202 742 2778

• Gallardo & Gallardo

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Full Service Law Firm in San Jose Costa Rica

   +506 22225654Costa Rica personaliced nation wide full service, legal advisory through the website and e-mail for overseas customers, more than 25 years of service and experience.

• GLC Abogados

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Foreign Advisory Legal Firm in Costa Rica

   +506 2 524 0932GLC is the premier legal & business consulting firm in Costa Rica. Founded in 1999, GLC was created to provide individuals and businesses with comprehensive investment solutions. Our web site is designed to help you to easily navigate through our main services and informational pages on Costa Rica...

• GLC Abogados Consortium

  san jose, Costa Rica

  Foreign Advisory Law firm in San José, Costa Rica

   506 2524-3176GLC Abogados Consortium LLC S.A. is an experienced full service Costa Rican law firm which specializes in protecting the interests of individuals and companies that conduct business in Costa Rica. Our qualified team of Costa Rican attorneys at law has a clear understanding of the local legal and...

• KPMG Abogados

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Corporate Law, Tourism and Real Estate, Government Contracting

   (506) 204 3222

• Larbeck Consultores

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Intellectual Property Law Firm

   +506 22227526Intellectual Property Law; Patent Law; Trademarks; Corporate law; Notary services

• LBA Abogados

  San José, Costa Rica

  Real Estate, Trusts, Contracts, Corporate, Banking & Finance Law

   +506 2280 5656

• Megamarks, S.A.

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Intellectual Property Lawyers

   +506 22576761

• Montejo & Associates

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Real Estate and Corporate Law

   506 224 5757

• Nassar Abogados, Attorneys at Law

  San José, Costa Rica

  Full Service Law Firm in Central America

   +506 2257 2929With over 25 years of experience, NASSAR ABOGADOS upholds a longstanding tradition of legal consulting and services designed according to first-class quality standards. Our success, and the international recognition we receive comes from the excellent work of our professionals, their positive...

• Niehaus Abogados

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Real Estate, Immigration and Tourism Law Firm

   (506) 224-8282

• Oller Abogados

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Corporate, Financial & Foreign Investment Law Firm

   (506) 257-1290Oller Abogados makes your business is our business: A long-standing family tradition within the business world, not limited to the view point of an advocate, helps us direct our legal advice towards the success of your ventures. Loyalty, ethics and understanding, we abide by those innate values and...

• Pacheco Marin & Asociados

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Inmigration Law Experts & Real Estate

   (506) 255 1592

• Robles Oreamuno

  San José, Costa Rica

  Real Estate & Corporate Law Firm in Costa Rica

   +506 22482250The firm was originally established in 1968 by Antonio Robles Oreamuno† and Rolando Laclé Castro under the name of Robles-Laclé. Since 1997 a group of its members, lead by Mr. Robles Oreamuno, who devoted his career to both the private practice of law and the public service in the government,...

• Shadid & Associates, Attorneys at Law

  Heredia, Costa Rica

  Investment Lawyers in Costa Rica

   (506) 2560-0560

• SPC Legal International Services LLP

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Central American Law Firm Offering a Full Range of Legal Services

   +506 22577414SPC Legal International Services LLP (SPC Legal) is a Central American law firm with headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica. ; Our legal firm was founded in 1989 under the principle of creating an innovative, client-oriented firm, which is more responsive to the client''s needs. We seek efficiency...

• Vargas Barguil & Associates

  San Jose, Costa Rica

  Real Estate, Banking and Securities Law Firm in Costa Rica

   +506 222-5029

• Weinstok Abogados

  San Jose, Costa Rica
   +506 256 5060