Sámara, Nicoya, Costa Rica Real Estate

Sámara, Nicoya, Guanacaste real estate is what this page covers: a district in the canton of Nicoya, in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica. It is the fifth district of the canton, covers 109.3 km² (42.2 sq mi) and uses postal code 50205.

Buyers here look at houses, lots and land, and buildings. A purchase is a long-term investment, so it helps to understand the zone first and then compare what is listed.

The listings point to three kinds of buyer. Someone who wants a home to live in will focus on houses. Someone who wants to build will compare lots and land, looking at size, access and services before anything else.

A third profile is buying to rent out later, which is a way of investing in property. Houses are also listed for rent in the district, so a buyer can see how that kind of property is offered. Treat any rental income as a possibility, not a promise, and check it with a local agent. Buildings suit those who want a property with more than one use, subject to what local rules allow.

• Houses: check the condition of the roof, walls and plumbing, how the property is reached, and whether water and electricity are connected and in whose name.
• Lots and land: check boundaries against the survey plan, legal access, water availability and the slope of the ground.
• Buildings: ask what use the building is registered for, what condition it is in, and whether its current use matches what the municipality allows.

When there are enough listings, this page shows above how many of each type are for sale.

Sámara is a coastal district in Guanacaste, on Costa Rica's Pacific side. That makes the coastal rules in the checks below relevant to some properties.

In a straight line, the canton seat, Nicoya, is 23.4 km (14.5 mi) away. Downtown San José is 160.9 km (100.0 mi) away in a straight line. The nearest airport in the pack, Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), is 75.9 km (47.2 mi) away in a straight line.

• A title search at the National Registry (Registro Nacional) to see who owns the property and whether it has mortgages, liens or annotations.
• A registered survey plan (plano catastrado) that matches the title and what you see on the ground.
• A land-use certificate (uso de suelo) from the Municipalidad de Nicoya, plus the canton's zoning plan where one exists.
• Written water availability (AyA or the local ASADA) and electricity before buying a lot 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. The first 50 metres are public and the other 150 are only granted as municipal concessions, not owned outright.
• Property tax (Law 7509) and municipal services paid up to date.

Sámara borders Nosara, Belén de Nosarita and Puerto Carrillo, which belongs to the canton of Hojancha. Inside the district, the official neighbourhoods are Mala Noche and Matapalo.

Real travel time depends on the hour and on the state of the road, so it is worth driving the route to a property at the time of day you would normally use it before deciding.

A purchase usually starts with comparing several properties and their asking prices. A local agent can help with that, and agencies and agents with listings in the zone appear further down this same page.

Hire an independent Costa Rican notary, who completes the transfer by public deed. The transfer tax is set by Law 6999, so ask for the full closing-cost breakdown before signing. Run the title search and compare the survey plan with the land before paying a deposit. Foreigners can own titled property with the same rights as citizens (Article 19 of the Constitution), with the exceptions the law sets.