Tips before you actually make the purchase
Once you have found the property or home you like, there
are a few precautions you need to take.
- Make sure you know the real value of the property.
- Do not assume the seller or broker is trustworthy just because they speak English.
This is a common pitfall.
- Make sure the property you are about to purchase in not part of a national park
or subject to restricted use. There are areas near Dominical,
for example, that abut a rainforest where it is forbidden
to cut any trees.
- If you purchase raw land, be sure to get a soil sample and hire an engineer,
especially if your lot has been cut out of a hillside. We
know of one man who built a million-dollar home on a bluff
overlooking the beach. About a year later he had to spend
$100,000 to build a retaining wall because the rain started
to undermine his lot.
- If you buy in a remote region make sure you can bring electricity to the land.
This can be expensive. Also check to see if the water supply
is good in the area.
- Do not rely on a verbal contract if you decide to make an offer. Get everything
in writing.
- Check out your neighbors. There is nothing worse than buying property and finding
out later that you have bad neighbors.
- If buying in the city or near a major street, check the noise level. Make sure
there are no dancehalls, bars, rowdy neighbors or noisy
buses.
- If you purchase a home, have an engineer make sure it is structurally sound.
Also, check the plumbing, wiring, roof for leaks, water
pressure and septic or sewage system.
- If buying in the city it is extremely important to be familiar with the neighborhood
where you decide to buy. Make sure you are not buying in
a crime-ridden area. There are a few areas around San José
where you would not like to live. A good broker and doing
your homework can help you avoid this disaster.
If you want more information contact Prime
Costa Rica real estate and retirement properties or
call toll free 1 888 581 1786. |
