San Antonio, Belén, Costa Rica Real Estate

San Antonio, Belén, Heredia real estate covers the first district of the canton of Belén, in the province of Heredia, Costa Rica. It is also the canton seat, has the postal code 40701 and spans 3.6 km² (1.4 sq mi). It is a small, compact district, so what is for sale is mostly built property, along with some land. Listings include houses, apartments or condos, lots, farms and commercial properties. A purchase here is a long-term investment in an area close to the capital.

The mix of listings points to several buyer profiles. Someone relocating can look at houses or apartments and condos to live in. Those who want to build can compare lots and land, and a few buyers look at farms. Others buy to rent out later, since houses, apartments, commercial spaces, offices and warehouses are all listed for rent in the zone, and buying to rent is a way of investing. Businesses can look at commercial spaces, warehouses and buildings.

When there are enough listings, this page shows above what is listed by type, which helps you see where supply is concentrated.

• Houses: check the condition of the structure, roof and plumbing, and whether the registered plan matches the built area.
• Apartments or condos: ask for the bylaws, the monthly fees and whether they are paid up.
• Lots and land: confirm legal access, boundaries, water and electricity.
• Farms: look at access, water sources and what use the land allows.
• Commercial spaces, warehouses and buildings: verify the permitted use, parking and loading access, and the utilities.

San Antonio is in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, and it is not coastal. In a straight line, it is 13.6 km (8.5 mi) from downtown San José and 3.0 km (1.9 mi) from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). That is useful for anyone who travels often or wants the capital within reach. As the seat of the canton of Belén, it is also where the canton's main local services are based.

• Run a title search at the National Registry (Registro Nacional) to see who owns the property and whether it has mortgages, liens or annotations.
• Get a registered survey plan (plano catastrado) and check that it matches the title and what you see on the ground.
• Request a land-use certificate (uso de suelo) from the Municipalidad de Belén and review the canton's zoning plan, which says what can be built.
• Confirm that property tax (Law 7509) and municipal services are paid up to date.
• For apartments or condos, read the bylaws and get proof that fees are paid (Law 7933). For lots or farms, get written water availability from AyA or the local ASADA, plus electricity, before building.

San Antonio borders Uruca (canton of San José), San Rafael (canton of Escazú), Pozos (canton of Santa Ana), San Rafael (canton of Alajuela), La Ribera and La Asunción. Several of these belong to other cantons, so the area connects with different parts of the Central Valley.

Inside the district, the official neighbourhoods include Chompipes, Escobal, Labores, San Vicente and Zaiquí. Real travel time between them and to nearby districts depends on the hour and the road, so visit at the times you would normally travel.

A purchase usually starts by comparing similar properties and working with a local agent. Before signing, your lawyer or a Costa Rican notary should run the title search, check the survey plan and explain the closing costs. The transfer is made by public deed before a notary and pays the transfer tax (Law 6999), so ask for the full cost breakdown first. Foreigners can own titled property 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.