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First, determine where you want to live. Do you dream of retiring to a hammock on the beach? Do you have children who will be attending classes? Do you want to be near the services and amenities of the city? Do you want to mix with the locals or make friends who are expatriates too?

Once you have an idea of where you'd like to live, you should locate a reputable Realtor that specializes in that area. They will talk with you to determine your expectations and budget, then show you suitable properties. This will save you time, as many properties advertised in the local papers are not suitable for expatriates since they are built for Costa Ricans who have completely different priorities and needs. A good Realtor will help you avoid common pitfalls and help you stay away from properties you may have trouble reselling later.

Your Realtor will help you negotiate a price for the property and explain the title transfer process to you. If you do not already have a good lawyer, they can recommend attorneys who have done a good job for their clients in the past and who can help you with other legal matters.

Title transfer runs at about 2.75% of the property value, including legal fees. Often, the property is registered at a lower (nominal) value in order to save on fees. Some properties are sold within holding companies, so no transfer tax exists. Of course the attorney charges his fees based on the actual purchase price.

Registration is done at the National Registry ('Registro nacional'), normally it takes 6 - 10 weeks. Costa Rica uses the Torrens system. Every transaction relating to property must be registered in the Registro. Any leins, mortgages or easements to the property must appear in the Registry in order to be valid, so once the property is registered in your name, you don't need to worry about any later claims to the property.

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Information courtesy of American-European Real Estate Costa Rica. Visit their website to find prices and photos for 400+ properties in the most popular areas of Costa Rica.

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