Guanacaste, Costa Rica Real Estate

Guanacaste real estate covers one of the seven provinces of Costa Rica, in the northwest of the country, with an area of 10206.2 km² (3940.6 sq mi). It is made up of 11 cantons and has a Pacific coastline. Buyers here look at homes, lots, farms and commercial property, and a purchase is usually a long-term decision tied to how the buyer plans to use the land.

The mix of listings points to several buyer profiles. Some people buy a house or condo to live in, whether full time or for part of the year. Others buy a lot to build on, which calls for more planning. Farms suit buyers who want working land or a large property.

Buying to rent out later is also possible with houses, apartments and commercial spaces, and that counts as investing, so it helps to define the goal before comparing properties.

The province lists houses, apartments or condos, lots and land, farms, commercial spaces, warehouses and buildings. Each needs a different review.

• Houses: structural condition, roof, water supply and legal access.
• Apartments or condos: monthly fees, what they cover and the building rules.
• Lots and land: access, water, electricity and what can be built.
• Farms: boundaries, water sources and road access.
• Commercial spaces, warehouses and buildings: permitted use, parking and loading access.

Guanacaste is a coastal province on Costa Rica's Pacific side, in the northwest. Because it is a large province, location varies a lot between cantons: some areas are on the coast and others are inland. The pack has no distances for the province as a whole, so compare each property with the canton where it sits.

When there are enough listings, this page shows above what is listed by type and typical prices, which helps you compare areas.

• Before investing, order a title search at the National Registry (Registro Nacional): owner, mortgages, liens or annotations.
• A registered survey plan (plano catastrado) that matches the title and the boundaries, size and access on the ground.
• A land-use certificate (uso de suelo) from the local municipality and the canton's zoning plan, where one exists.
• Written water availability (AyA or the local ASADA) and electricity before buying land to build; building permits come from the local authority.
• The maritime-terrestrial zone (Law 6043): the 200-metre strip from the ordinary high-tide line has 50 public metres, and the other 150 are only granted as municipal concessions. Check whether the land falls inside it.
• Condominium bylaws and proof that fees are paid (Law 7933) for apartments or condos.

The province is made up of 11 cantons: Abangares, Bagaces, Cañas, Carrillo, Hojancha, La Cruz, Liberia, Nandayure, Nicoya, Santa Cruz and Tilarán. Each has its own municipality, so rules, permits and taxes depend on the canton where the property is.

Distances within the province can be long, and real travel time depends on the hour and the road. Visit the area at different times of day before deciding. The dry and rainy seasons also change road and access conditions.

A purchase usually starts with a local agent who knows the canton and can show comparable properties. Compare several listings of the same type before making an offer. A Costa Rican notary prepares the public deed and registers the transfer, and the transfer tax (Law 6999) applies, so ask for the full closing-cost breakdown before signing.

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.