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Real Estate Overview
Certainly isn't difficult to find yourself enchanted by the natural beauty of Costa Rica is a timeless and wonderful country to enjoy. Costa Rica has rolled out the welcome mat for foreigners and once here, it would not be unusual to find yourself captivated by the dream of living here or owning a vacation property. Visitors immediately feel at home in Costa Rica and rightfully so. Costa Rica is truly a beautiful, peaceful, and an enchanting country.

Owning a vacation property, a second home, or buying a new full time residence, even engaging a development, or starting a business in Costa Rica, seems to almost always strike the minds of foreigners visiting here.

Understandably so! Costa Rica is not only a beautiful place to live, but real estate represents an excellent and secure investment opportunity for foreigners and the timing couldnt be better (2008).

Property ownership in Costa Rica is not much different from the United States. Foreigners and Costa Rican Nationals enjoy equal property ownership rights (title) and privileges without prejudice of any kind. Completely non-discriminatory laws & Constitution! Unlike Mexico, and most other foreign countries where foreign ownership of property is restricted, foreigners making the decision to purchase property in Costa Rica can rest assured they will have full title and ownership with secure title registration of such ownership.

On beach front however, land proprietary rights are structured a little differently and these proprietary rights are often misunderstood in these beachfront areas. A person can have secure, proprietary rights on beachfront property. Yes indeed you can! Costa Rica Property Sales can offer the expertise and legal guidance to assist you in these beachfront areas. It is important to note that most ocean front property will be under what is referred to as government concession land.

There are however, a few property exceptions to this rule (beachfront with title), as some properties may have had title registered prior to 1972. However, and as a general rule of thumb, finding titled beachfront property will be a rare occurrence.

To elaborate on this topic and give you all an overview, historically speaking in 1972 the government decreed legal parameters that regulated ownership rights within these ocean front property/land areas. These new rules if you will; encompassed all property along Costa Ricas entire coastline. These legal parameters and decree established (in laymans terms), that:

All ocean front property/Costa Rica's coastline, would have a public and inalienable zone and access to it which would always remain accessible to the public. All beaches and access to them would remain public forever! No new development or any new fixed structures would be permitted in this zone. This zone is commonly referred to as, the 50 meter inalienable zone, and measures 50 meters inland from mean high tide. This is the inalienable 50 meter zone.

The law further states that the next 150 meters inland from this 50 meter marker called a mojon, (pronounced Mohone) will be a land area that can be developed, but with certain construction guidelines, ecological sensitivity, and specified zoning. This 150 meter area is referred to in legal terms as the Maritime Zone (Zona Maritima Terrestre). Basically all the government did is decree that we will let you build on our beaches, but according to a zoning plan. This zoning plan is called a Plan Regulador (regulatory plan) and where this plan exists in the coastal property areas, construction is permitted in accordance with the zoning parameters set forth within this regulatory plan. If ever you are considering purchasing property in this beachfront area, it is important and highly advisable that a qualified professional help you in understanding the construction zoning and provisions in this property area. Costa Rica Property Sales can provide you with that expertise.

Note: Typically these ownership rights are granted in the form of a proprietary lease/concession to a Costa Rican corporation or Costa Rican national for 20 year renewable intervals most commonly and is/can be renewed for another 20 years provided no pertinent conditions by which the concession contract was granted have been violated. These proprietary rights traditionally have 20-year renewal intervals however, these renewal intervals can vary in duration from region to region in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica must have been preparing for a tourism boom! Hats off to Costa Rica for taking these steps!

One has to agree, it was prudent on behalf of the Costa Rican government to take measures to preserve the environment, the animal life and habitat, by imposing low impact development parameters along Costa Rica's beautiful, tropical jungle coastline.

This little guy, and his jungle neighbors' lives depend upon us being responsible in our development practices. We must never forget that this is their home and we are guests in their fragile world!