Condos and Apartments for Sale in Costa Rica

• Condominium regime. Costa Rica has a condominium law; confirm the unit is registered as a finca filial.
• Fees and reserves. Ask for last year's accounts and any special assessments.
• Rental rules. Short-term letting may be restricted.
• Water and backup power.
• Developer reputation and completion of amenities in off-plan projects.
• Earthquake design and building age.

Foreigners can buy condos on the same terms as Costa Ricans, using a lawyer to run the title search and register the deed. Costs include transfer tax and stamp duties, and ongoing condo fees. Read the Costa Rica buying guide and the financing page.

An apartment in the Central Valley is a daily-living purchase: you want good access to San José, schools, hospitals and a secure building. A beach condo is a lifestyle purchase: you want walking distance to the sand, a pool, and ideally a management company that rents and cleans the unit when you are away. The two have different risks. In the Valley, traffic and noise matter most; on the coast, humidity, salt air and seasonality drive maintenance costs. Spend time in both before deciding, and visit the beach complex in the green season to see how it looks when occupancy is low. Ask existing owners whether the developer delivered the promised amenities.

Always see the unit at different times of day, test the water pressure and check mobile signal and internet speeds. Ask the developer or administrator for the minutes of the last owners' meeting and for proof that the building insurance is in force.