Frequently Asked Questions (Page 2)
Who pays the sales commission?
The most common way that Realtor commissions are paid is by the vendor, seller or owner at closing. The buyer or purchaser does not have to pay any commission when buying property in Costa Rica, unless they specifically agreed to do so.
What if I find a property by myself and need assistance to purchase?
There are many things to consider before buying a property in Costa Rica beyond a few pictures on a website and the price. We can help you to determine if the property you desire truly meets ALL your needs and your expectations. We also constantly research the market to help you determine if the asking price is in line with the rest of the market.
Our services go beyond selling you a property. We can make recommendations on a variety of services by reputable professionals that will help you throughout your real estate transaction both before and after you purchase your property. These services include but are not limited to: attorneys, contractors, insurance agents, property management, internet providers, pool contractors and additional services you will find useful.
There are so many real estate websites in Costa Rica, how do I choose a good agent?
Personal recommendations from friends are always good. If that is not available to you then the website is your first introduction to an agent. The website should look professional and not contain old and outdated information. The website should include enough information to give you a good perspective on what is involved in buying real estate in Costa Rica. The information should be balanced and not all fluff. The agent should specialize in a particular area and not be all over the map. If the agent is listing hundreds of properties this is an indication that he is not familiar with all his listings and is just playing a numbers game in the hopes of making money.
When you make an inquiry does the agent get right back to you and answer your questions adequately? Does the agent own property in Costa Rica? Does the agent own a car? Does the agent have residency in Costa Rica? The more established the agent is in this country the better he should be at understanding the market and the laws. This is not a full proof way to find a good agent but they are things to consider.
Protected Properties
There are some areas in Costa Rica that are protected. This means that you can not build or develop this property. There are all sorts of stories where buyers were sold land only to find out the land is protected by the government. They were not allowed to do anything with their new investment. Please be aware of this and don’t take anyone’s word that the property you are buying is okay for development. The more rural your property the more likely this could happen.
Your real estate agent should have an attorney that investigates properties for these types of issues before they list properties on their site.
Water
There are many issues with water allocation as new developments start springing up. Water resources can come from the public water system or from your property. People are being sold properties that promised water as part of the basic infrastructure only to find out that the public water system does not have the resources to extend water to new developments. Buyers have also been told that they can drill wells for water not knowing that water in their area is very difficult to find if even available at all.
Do your research or make sure your real estate agent fully investigates this issue before you buy. Don’t believe you will have easy access to water just because someone said you would.
What if I don’t see a property that I like on this website?
We at Southern Zone Real Estate are committed to helping you find the property that is right for you. We will work with you to define what your needs are in order to find you the right property. Once we understand what you are looking for we will use our vast resources to try and locate your “Dream Property”. We will also let you know if we cannot help you and do our best to guide you in the right direction. We know your time is valuable and we will not string you along with false promises just to make a buck. Your satisfaction is what builds our business, not your money.
What if I can’t find the answer to a question on your website?
Although we have done extensive research and invested many hours to offer you a comprehensive site of information on the real estate market in Costa Rica, we realize that we cannot possibly answer everyone’s questions. Please feel free to contact us directly by e-mail with your questions and we will do our best to answer them or guide you to the appropriate source for your answer. If we think the question has a broad appeal we will include it in this section.
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