Dos Ríos, Upala, Costa Rica Real Estate

Dos Ríos, Upala, Alajuela real estate is mostly about land. Dos Ríos is the sixth district of the canton of Upala, in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica, with a postal code of 21306 and an area of 219.2 km² (84.6 sq mi).

The only property type currently listed for sale is lots and land, so buying here usually means acquiring a parcel to hold, to build on or to farm. When there are enough listings, this page shows above what is offered by type and the typical prices.

Given that lots and land are what is listed, the buyer profiles that fit are fairly specific.

• Lot to build a home: for people who want to live in a rural district and plan a house on their own parcel.
• Land for farming or a small farm: the district is large, so parcels can suit agricultural use.
• Land held for the long term: a purchase can be a long-term investment, though without a building there is no rental income until something is built.

Buying a finished house to rent out is not an option the current listings point to.

The type listed in the zone is lots and land. For each parcel, look at a few practical points:

• Access: whether the parcel fronts a public road or depends on a right of way, and what the surface is like in the rainy season.
• Water and electricity: whether service exists at the boundary or must be brought in, and at whose cost.
• Terrain and boundaries: slope, flooding risk, and whether the markers match the plan.
• Use: whether the land is zoned for housing, farming or something else.

Ask the seller for every document before paying a deposit.

Dos Ríos is an inland district, not coastal, in the northern part of Costa Rica. It lies 41.9 km (26.0 mi) in a straight line from Upala, the canton seat, where the local municipality is based.

Downtown San José is 180.1 km (111.9 mi) away in a straight line. The nearest airport in the pack is Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), 44.1 km (27.4 mi) in a straight line. Those are map distances, so they show relative position only, not how long a trip takes.

• A title search at the National Registry (Registro Nacional): who owns the land and whether it carries mortgages, liens or annotations. Order it before investing.
• A registered survey plan (plano catastrado) that matches the title and what you see on the ground: boundaries, size and access.
• A land-use certificate (uso de suelo) from the Municipalidad de Upala and, where one exists, the canton's zoning plan, to confirm what can be built.
• Written water availability from AyA or the local ASADA, plus electricity, before buying to build. Building permits come from the local authority.
• Protection areas around springs and rivers (Forestry Law 7575), and whether the land lies inside or next to a protected wildlife area.
• Property tax (Law 7509) and municipal services paid up to date.

Dos Ríos borders the districts of Aguas Claras and San José, in the same canton. It also borders Cañas Dulces and Mayorga, in the canton of Liberia, and Santa Cecilia, in the canton of La Cruz.

Within the district, the official villages include América, Birmania, Brasilia, Chispero, Colonia and Encanto. Others are Gavilán, Jabalina, Laureles, Paraíso and San Luis. Check which one a parcel belongs to. Real travel time depends on the hour, the weather and the state of the road, so visit the parcel yourself before deciding.

A purchase usually starts by comparing several parcels and asking an agent who knows the area for the asking price and the seller's documents. Once you choose, a Costa Rican notary draws up the public deed and registers the transfer, and the transfer tax (Law 6999) applies. Ask for the full closing-cost breakdown before signing.

Have the title search and the survey plan reviewed before you pay anything beyond a reservation. Foreigners can own titled property in Costa Rica with the same rights as citizens (Article 19 of the Constitution), with the exceptions the law sets. Agencies and agents with listings in the zone appear further down this same page.