BUYING PROPERTY IN COSTA RICA!

BUYING PROPERTY IN COSTA RICA!

Jaco Beach Real Estate

Costa Rica real estate Buyers tips, info and legal advice from CR Beach Investment Real Estate, famous for being “uncompromisingly honest.”
UPDATE: FEB. 22, 2022 
Thanks for visiting our SMART Buying Property blog page, because now is the time while we still have a VERY few properties left, as the past 10 months there has been a “buying frenzy.” .   Check with your favorite airlines because there are still a few deals out there! Also know we regularly update our info regarding rules and regulations set by the Costa Rican government and the U.S. Embassy.

YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CR BEACH’S CONSUMER PROTECTION:
How we protect you when buying Costa Rican property?
1. We use a Costa Rica-Central Bank licensed Escrow company; your funds are released only with your signed permission!
2. After you receive your lawyer’s Due Diligence property report, you may cancel the sale & receive your full deposit back, minus only the lawyers’ (up to $500) Due Diligence research fee:

 SUPER QUICK ANSWERS TO YOUR FAQ’S:
1.Yes you, can buy any Costa Rica property with the exact same rights as a Costa Rican,  (except for the “Zona Maritima or concession zone” properties, and we’ll tell you why, further below).  
2.Costa Rica has a very modern, digital online computerized system for registering properties, called the Registro Nacional, and everybody has the right to research all registered properties-it’s kind of complicated, but google has videos that can explain it really well. 
3. Despite a few bad apples here, we do have some great attorneys, and trustworthy realtors who will help you get the best deal possible, while your money is being protected with U.S. style Escrow services regulated by the Costa Rican Central Bank system (SUJEF).  REMEMBER, Money does not leave Escrow without your authorization. PLUS my Intent to Purchase Agreements even contain a BUYERS’ remorse clause….
4. RECENTLY UPDATED:   Almost all properties (homes-land-businesses-vehicles) WERE put into a corporation for a variety of reasons, your protection from lawsuits; easier to sell or transfer the property; and other reasons of privacy.HOWEVER DUE TO RECENT CHANGES REGARDING “INACTIVE” CORPORATIONS, MAYBE A CORPORATION IS NOT THE BEST WAY FOR YOU!  PLEASE DISCUSS with your attorney!.
5. Realtors don’t have to be licensed yet, but soon they will be, and in conjunction with the two existing Realtor associations, the CCCBR and the CRGAR. Many of us also adhere to the Rules of Ethics as promoted by the National Association of Realtors USA. (Mine is International Realtor ® Certificate of Membership #061212737 National Association of REALTORS®)
6. All the scary stuff of buying property in Costa Rica happens when the Buyer doesn’t use a real estate professional nor a recommended attorney.  After more than 26 years here, we know which professionals you can trust, as our experience has taught us to be very selective.
7. Ever since the beginning of 2017, the purchase process here has become a little more difficult in following the Escrow agreement procedures, thanks to the process called Apostille. Now the good news is that it’s a lot easier to get an Apostille stamp from your nearest Secretary of State’s office than it used to be when you had to find the nearest Costa Rican consulate and pray that they were open. The Apostille stamp certifies that the notary public that stamped your other Escrow requested documents is an officially licensed Notary, and each U.S. Secretary of States’ offices which stamp the official document are always open except for U.S. holidays.More info is contained below, but feel free to call OR email us with any of your questions,  We’ll be glad to help! We also recommend for online legal advice: Roger Peterson:  https://costaricalaw.com/  

in Costa Rica: 011-(506) 4702-0808  TRY WHATSAPP, ITS FREE & EASY, +1 (506) 8388-5055 We also have Skype: crbeachjeff_

Do I Really Need To Use A Realtor Or Broker In Costa Rica? Of course, the answer is yes!   Costa Rica is not the 51st U.S. state, but a fiercely proud independent country with their own system of laws and ways of doing things. Just because you remember some high school spanish and have the courage to drive in a foreign land, should not give you the confidence that you can  find “deals” on your own. 
When you hear about the “gringo price” and the “locals” price,  of course thats true if you are trying to find a property on your own, by driving around a neighborhood. Of course, the “local” in every country on this planet will tell you, the foreigner in a big fancy car, the highest price they can think of in that moment, just to see your reaction.  
Also know this, usually, the better deal is from the foreign seller that needs that cash, now.  We know exactly what you should be paying, and will fight for the lowest price possible. Many a Seller trying to list their property for a “dream price” has left our office shaking their head after hearing Jeff’s famous, “that price is not even close to reality, sorry, I can’t offer it for that price.” 

Should i Use a San Jose Real Estate Brokerage for Properties for the beach?  Would you call a San Francisco realtor if you wanted property in Los Angeles? It’s the same thing here. Locals know the areas, the great advantages, and the conditions to watch out for. 
We know that you worked hard for your money, and we want to see you make a wise investment with us, as well as your friends and relatives, too!!!   We will help you select the perfect property, attorney and other experts, assist with financing, and provide you with realistic price comparables and “no bull” market analysis. We can enlighten you to the realities of Costa Rican bureacracy, assist in the discoveries of the hidden treasures found amongst us, but most importantly we will protect your investment–this is why you use a local realtor–especially CR Beach Investment Real Estate.  

Can A Foreigner Buy And Sell Property In Costa Rica?
Ownership of real estate in Costa Rica by foreigners is fully guaranteed by the Costa Rican constitution. In addition, foreigners enjoy the same ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens, regardless of whether the property is placed in the name of a corporation or in the name of an individual. The only exception to this is in regards to concession lands, which will be discussed later.

Step By Step Through The Purchase Process and how CR Beach protects you more than other real estate companies:
These are the basics that a purchaser follows when buying a property in Costa Rica:
1. Sign a Letter of Intent (aka Intent to Purchase Agreement) which contains the basic facts of the property; the price you are offering; a few details about the Buyers; time elements of the deal, and as many specifics to the deal known at the time. Signatures of Buyers and Sellers must be on the last page, initials on the previous pages, which will then be presented to the Escrow company and your Attorney. 2. If you are in Costa Rica, we suggest you make a small deposit via cash or even credit card, usually $500 to show the Seller you are serious and to take it off the market (usually for 5-10 days after you have returned home.) This $500 is given to your Attorney to initiate the Due Diligence process and later this will be a credit in your Closing Costs.  Any questions:call tollfree 888-782-1119.3. Wire Transfers are part of the process established by the “real” Escrow Company (REGULATED by Costa Rica’s Central Bank Approved Financial Authority SUJEF currently www.STLA.net  ).
ATTENTION: As of 2015: There are many more requirements as established by SUJEF prior to the Escrow company being permitted to send you the wire instructions. 
a. There has to be a signed Intent to Purchase Agreement by both Seller and Buyer for them to start. b. They require proof of funds and completion of a form called KYC: Know Your Client,  and this paperwork must be completed prior to the Escrow company sending you the wiring instructions.  Please remember that wire transfers from the U.S. or Canada typically take 2-3 business days AND please include the extra fees that the banks charge here for receiving them $35-$50 per transfer.*NO FUNDS WILL EVER BE RELEASED FROM ESCROW WITHOUT YOUR SIGNED AUTHORIZATION!
4. We will introduce you to our area’s most respected Attorneys, who will speak and write in English, and they will be happy to converse with you regarding any legal matters you may have, from the purchase of property, to the choice of corporation type, to residency requirements. Best online legal info is: www.costaricalaw.com   5. When you are comfortable with the lawyer, and you have correctly filled out all the documents required to open up the Escrow Account,  you will be sent wiring instructions as ONLY THEN can your funds be wired into Costa Rica to the authorized Escrow Account opened by the prestigious Scotiabank.
6. Due Diligence will then be initiated and generally takes from 1 week to 10 days, only rarely does it take 2 weeks or longer.   The DD will include complete Title and Corporation research, performed by your Lawyer.
In Costa Rica, all notaries must be attorneys, and are registered with the Bar Association, (Colegio de Abogados).

 7.  CR Beach always protects you by giving you up to 36 hours from receiving the Due Diligence report, to decide to if you wish to continue with your purchase.  For any reason, if you decide to not continue with the purchase, you will be charged only the $500 (negotiable!) for the Lawyer’s legal fees, and be required to provide a banking address for your refund if other funds were submitted.  You must send an email stating your intentions!8. Closing will then occur after you have seen the Closing costs detailed by the Escrow company; proof of the receipt of the final transfer of funds; then the actual Closing where the complete explanation of all documents are explained to you in English or Spanish; the execution of transfer deed, and if the corporation is being transferred to the Buyers there is the endorsement of shares,  and the change of officers form.In the not too common sale where the Seller is financing a portion, there will be a  mortgage deed and the complete list of the future required payments. These days either the Sellers or the Buyers do have the option to not be present in Costa Rica for the closing, but they will have to have appointed a Power of Attorney to someone who will sign on their behalf.  These documents authorizing the POA are signed first in front of a Notary Public in the country where the Buyer/Seller resides, then scanned back immediately and later sent by Fedex/UPS to Costa Rica.9. Your lawyer will submit all paperwork to the Public Registry (Registro Nacional) and then in about 9-12 weeks, you will receive official title. CR Beach will ensure that you are protected, every step of the way!  

How Much Are The Closing Costs?
 The old custom was for the Buyer and Seller to share equally in the closing costs, because in many cases, to reduce legal fees, the buyer and seller used the same attorney.For the years up to 2013, if the Seller was providing a clean, easily transferable corporation, the Buyer was responsible for paying the closing costs, because the Seller had provided his “value” or financial contribution to the transaction, this was always less than 2%. Not any more! This all changed starting in 2013 BUT MOST RECENTLY, JULY 1ST, 2019:The 2012 Costa Rica Property Transfer Tax Law provides that all new real estate transfers will be subject to a 1.5% transfer tax. In addition, when the property is transferred and recorded in the National Registry, additional fees for registration and “stamps” will be added to the closing costs as well, .08%. This means that if you want 100% complete “peace of mind” you can pay $550-$900 for a new corporation, plus the extra .08% of the selling price to the National Registry and place the property in a brand new corporation.This is the #1 method to protect yourself from any legal liabilities that might be the responsibility of the prior corporation, and i agree!Thus, the total cost of a real estate closing transaction will be somewhere around 2.3% of the selling price for the Buyers and about 2% for the Sellers (plus Sellers pay the real estate commission + the 13% tax on that commission-negotiable?), with the Buyer paying extra fees for the cost and registration of the new corporation, and wire transfer fees and escrow. This can all be negotiated however, as when certain times the Seller stands firm with his selling price, and says, “I will agree to this price but you pay all closing costs, I will pay only the realtor’s commission.”  Some realtors are making the Purchase price offer to include the Buyers paying all the closing fees, and there are some smart negotiating tactics reasons for this.     Also important to note is that if the Seller is financing any portion of the sale, or the Buyer has miraculously secured bank financing (extremely difficult especially for foreign buyers), then the Buyer IS responsible for paying ALL closing costs.Thus for the Buyers to get the best possible price, we now recommend making anall cash offer, as this can save you from 10-25% off the purchase price!

How Is Title Transferred?
What Legal Documents will the Buyer receive?When buying property in Costa Rica, property is transferred from seller to buyer by executing a transfer deed ( escritura ) before a lawyer-notary, except when merely transferring shares of a corporation, which has become the norm HOWEVER, this all changed in January 2013. Unlike common law countries, such as the United States and Canada, where the role of the notary is limited to authenticating signatures, in Costa Rica the public notary must be an attorney!  They have extensive power to act on behalf of the state as they draft and interpret legal documents, and authenticate and certify the authenticity of documents.Once a transfer deed is accepted for registration, the Public Registry will return the original document with all the documentary stamps affixed to it and properly sealed. Assuming no defects in the transfer deed, it should be registered by the Public Registry within 25 to 60 days after presentation. Your completed transaction package will be provided to you by your attorney and will contain: 
A) Due diligenceB) Transfer deed c) Corporate books and by-laws d) Certificate of incorporation e) Escrow disbursements) New title certificate. Please note, that as required by Costa Rican law, all documents (except the Due Diligence report), will be in Spanish. However you can pay extra and your lawyer can get those documents translated into English (or French, German, Mandarin, or Portugues!) 

How Much Are The Yearly Property Taxes?
 Frankly, this is one of those fantastic reasons to buy property in Costa Rica!  Property taxes (Municipal Taxes) are supposed to be only ¼ of 1% of the declared value. Thus for every $100,000, the property tax is supposed to be only $250 ANNUALLY. But it’s usually less-except for those in luxury tax zones.Unfortunately the Costa Rican government is not receiving what they should for property taxes, usually because of pre-registered values and the neighbors pressure to “not rock the boat.”  Coincidentally this percentage is about the same to purchase home-owners insurance, and yet many choose NOT to have it.Be aware that a new luxury tax was approved in the wealthier areas of CR, and levied at about the same one fourth of one percent, yet, this doesn’t seem to be very well enforced.
This year the law says that its only for the construction of a home worth more than $234,000 after depreciation. If the home has that value, then the land is added to the amount and the tax is figured from there. IN some cases, this would mean an annual property tax of $2000 of homes worth over $800,000.  This tax is administered at the municipal level and can be paid quarterly.  The type of property, location and other factors contribute to the calculation of this tax and MUST be shown to be fully paid immediately prior to transferring title.

What About Capital Gains Taxes?
There are new laws since July 1st, 2019 regarding paying taxes for properties that show personal capital gain tax. Please consult an attorney as its not as bad as it seems. Lots of exemptions…..

Who Pays The Sales Commission?
The most common way is that the Seller pays the commission to the realtor/broker at closing and typically 5 but up to 7%. The buyer or purchaser does not have to pay any commission when buying property in Costa Rica, UNLESS you have chosen this method with your Broker, and he acts 100% as a “Buyers Agent” and provides you with a Buyers’-Broker’s Agreement.  There are advantages to this strategy (as an honest broker, i am happy to do this) as many times the Seller wants to know exactly how much will go into his pocket, or the Seller thinks because he will never be in Costa Rica again, he will skip out on paying. Be aware that if the Seller skips out, they may find that the actual sale can be blocked at the Registro Nacional, and thus will lose (or have blocked) 100% of the expected funds, (versus only the 3-7% they had previously agreed to pay out.
The Seller is responsible also for a 13% tax on the commission that was paid, (since 2013) and this is in lieu of a “capital gains tax” the CR government has been trying for years to impose.The sales tax (impuesto de ventas) or value-added tax (VAT) is 13%. ONLY calculated over the real estate commission, not over the sales price of the property. It is always paid by the SELLER, (Ley de Impuesto General sobre las Ventas: Ley 6826, Articles: 1.n – 2.d – 3.c)  Just remember, overall, taxes in Costa Rica are a lot cheaper than the U.S. !!!

Can I Have The Title Of Property In My Own Name?
The decision to have the property that you are buying in Costa Rica in your own personal name or in the name of a corporation is strictly up to the investor. To put it in the name of a corporation is very common; it can offer benefits of asset protection, anonymity for the actual owner, and makes title transfer easier and these days, a little cheaper.  However since new laws of July 2019, many property purchasers are now putting the title in their own name, and this will save them some money, yearly! A valid passport for 2-4 representatives (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer-all can be foreigners) is the only requirement for a foreigner to form a corporation in Costa Rica; the cost ranges from $600-$900 in most cases. More corporation info will be found on this website or costaricalaw.com  

Can I buy or need Title insurance in Costa Rica?   
SHORT ANSWER: no,Costa Rica used to have “title insurance providers”   (Stewart Title, Chicago Title companies and some others) but these companies were ruled to be unnecessary and illegal about 2011.  The success of Costa Rica’s new Registro Nacional with its’ improved and fully digital changeover starting in 1997, meant that all attorneys, could use this modern Costa Rican Registro Nacional system faster and more accurately to confirm that a property had clean title with proper ownership. The main Registro Nacional is located in Zapote, San Jose with many branches throughout Costa Rica.   In the event that adjustments are needed for any given title, these alterations must be recorded at any Registro Nacional. The Public Registry report (Informe Registral)  that most anybody can now access, provides detailed information on the property, including the name of the title holder, boundary lines, tax appraisal, liens, mortgages, recorded easements, and other recorded instruments that would affect title.  Of course for accurate Due Diligence, the corporations that almost always own the property are thoroughly investigated in a different government entity. Please note: Stewart Title used to offer title insurance in Costa Rica, and stopped around 2011.We highly applaud and recommend their evolvement into a legitimate excellent Escrow services provider STLA, Secure Title Latin America     https://stla.net/offices/secure-title-latin-america-costa-rica-office/   This is who most intelligent lawyers/realtors are using to protect their Buyers’ funds because it’s not easy to get an Escrow account to be approved, (proving that all funds are from legitimate sources), CR Beach protects you with the Escrow service because: NO BUYERS’ FUNDS can be released without the Buyers’ signed approval of the closing statement. They have been great and we are so thrilled that they have added a small branch office in Jaco!

Do I Need To Have Residency To Purchase  Property?
No, it is not necessary to have residency to buy property in Costa Rica. You can buy with your tourist status. Living here is another matter, as a foreigner and tourist you have to leave the country for 72 hours once every 3 months in order to renew your legal status in Costa Rica. Some of the foreigners without residency enjoy traveling and visiting Nicaragua or Panama for a couple of days, or go back home for a short trip,  or discover more of Central America in order to renew their visa.There are many forms of residency available, we can help you to contact an attorney who can assist you in determining what residency status would work for you. If you plan on living here year round, you will find it easier if you have legal residency.  There are several ways to find a good Residency lawyer, just ask!
How Can I Get Residency In Costa Rica?   There are several ways to get a residency here, with different types, such as Pensionado, Rentista or Inversionista. It depends on your individual situation; we recommend consulting a lawyer regarding residency.For all residency requirements and updates we highly recommend: such as:  www.arcr.net  or   www.residencyincostarica.com   and there are others too.The easiest? way is to fall in love and marry a Costa Rican. They recently have changed the divorce laws, so now, its no longer  3 years before one can file for the divorce.
The government has cracked down a little on obvious “fake” marriages, so if you are serious, we suggest meeting your “soul mate” thru the few reputable and legit Costa Rican “introductory services” . Residency requirements include paying the “Caja.”When you apply for CR residency you are required to join CAJA and pay into the government health care system. The fee is determined by your monthly income minus expenses, your age, and how they feel at the time? It is a reasonable price for an medical emergency, but I would not count on it as your primary medical system. I pay to see private doctors who are fairly inexpensive, as compared to cost in California, U.S., and usually we all get very good medical care for our needs. If you have preexisting conditions, fortunately that doesn’t even matter to CAJA, just need to pay into the system every month and then wait and wait and wait. My recommendation is what i did, join Blue Cross-Blue Shield, that they sell here, and my agent is Freddy Obando.  I also recommend Freddy, (excellent English) for home & auto insurance.

What Are The Regulations Regarding “Zona Maritima or “Concession zone” Beach Front Properties?
A very controversial subject, as many realtors won’t tell you upfront if its in the Concession Zone or in Spanish> Zona Maritima.  When buying property located on or very close to Costa Rica’s beaches, you should be aware of the following:In ALL of COSTA RICA, the first 50 meters (for linear feet x 3.28=164 feet) from the mean tide mark CANNOT LEGALLY be built on by anybody, anywhere in the country, as it is considered public beach.
An estimated 93-95% of Costa Rican beaches fall under a category known as the Maritime Zone Law, (Zona Maritima). Thus to the first 50 meters or 164 feet add another 150 meters or 492 feet.   This 150 meters is subject to the Maritime Zone Law and the ICT administers the granting of Concessions. There are some disputed properties whose owners claim that since the property was registered prior to 1973, in which case it has full title and can be transferred as such and called “titled to the 50 meter line”). 
 Concession property operates as a leasehold agreement with the Costa Rican ICT, (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) and the local Municipality and we strongly urge caution when purchasing this type of property.   We at CR Beach will sell you “concession land” ONLY after you show us a letter, email, or quick note from your attorney stating that you have been advised about any potential risks.
The ICT is also responsible to declare the tourist or non-tourist areas at the maritime zones. At this point it is important to clarify that only private people or companies from Costa Rica may develop tourism projects in maritime spaces, as well as those foreign companies whose 50 percent of its capital belongs to Costa Rican citizens.

Restrictions when approving a concession on public land:
Article 47 of the Maritime-Terrestrial Law establishes, in general, the people or companies that cannot receive a concession:
– Foreigners who haven’t resided in the country for at least five years
– Companies (sociedades anónimas) with bearer shares
– Companies or entities domiciled abroad
– Entities founded in the country by foreigners
– Entities whose shares, quotas or capital (more than 50 percent) are in hands of foreigners. In other words, you as a foreign investor CANNOT OWN MORE THAN 49% OF  THE CORPORATION THAT PURCHASES THE CONCESSION LAND!
The management of a concession requires the work of legal experts, as before applying to a maritime zone concession, a rigorous research of the land is required, especially in areas without a Plano Regulator included in the Law 6043.   Besides, all the Costa Rican municipalities handle a different regulatory plan, so the paperwork to apply for each concession can vary.
The fact is that after having lived in Costa Rica for over 28 years, i have witnessed major multi-million dollar hotel projects that really are built on concession land throughout Costa Rica, (4 Seasons, Hilton, W hotels, Riu 2 hotels) without any problems, thus it must not be that risky if you have deep pockets for lawyers….All in all, an investment in shoreline property regulated by the Maritime Zoning Law requires extra caution and thorough investigation.  Like how many nights can an owner of a concession zone condo be allowed to stay in their condo during a calender year? Yes that’s part of the regulations!
 There are ambiguities that exist within the written law, so that as regulations are created and amended, rights to property may also change, so remember your rights are not as well respected when compared to major hotel chains who received double the length of concession zone time limits! I have seen the ICT take away 500m2 of beachfront from a small hotel, in Playa Hermosa, in 2010,  thus all the warnings I am providing to you!
Even if you get a concession, there are no guarantees that the concessions will be renewed or that the price of the concession or the yearly canon will be within reason. The fact remains that you are not purchasing property, you are leasing it and you must be willing to accept that risk.  

Costa Rican Corporate Structures:  Types Of Legal Business Organizations
There were changes made in 2019/2020, so consult your attorney!)  Thanks to Roger Peterson for his  “excellent current  legal internet advise” check out: www.costaricalaw.com  or others on google, for information that is no more than 1 year old.  
Purchase Of Land Through Costa Rican Corporations I used to have lots of info here, but now I insist you ask an attorney because there have been lots of changes in the past 2 years, and besides, thats what you pay them for!

What Does It Cost To Build In Costa Rica?We have known people to pay as low as $58 per square foot and as high as $150 a square foot.  I say, on average $100 sq.ft, but if you speak spanish, then knock off 10% and if you have building experience then knock off other 5%. (or vice-versa).Building Versus Buying An Existing Home? Depends on the market. Now it’s cheaper to buy built, in a majority of cases, unless you are an experience builder that can construct multiple units for resale purposes. 

What’s The Process To Build?  There is a licensing body for architects and engineers, Colegio de Ingenieros y Arquitectos, which sets standards for fees should you decide to build. These prices however are not chiseled in concrete! Of course it is much easier to buy property already established, but if you must build, it is strongly advised that you have prior building experience, speak some Spanish, or have a solid recommendation for either the construction company or an architect.   Costa Rica offers a wide  availability of good quality construction materials, reputable contractors and construction companies. Most construction meets or exceeds California’s seismic codes, due to the low price of concrete. Hardwoods  and imported tile are cheaper than the U.S. and laborers are plentiful from Nicaragua.  There are many builders we can recommend, with proven track records.)

The following is from www.costaricalaw.com who we endorse as highly reputable:All architects and engineers in Costa Rica must be licensed by the Costa Rican Association of Engineers and Architects (olegio Federado de Ingenieros y Ingenieros y Arquitectos-CFIA). This governing body establishes the fee schedule that can be charged by its members. Most fees are based upon a percentage of the value of the construction project.
According to the regulations of the CFIA (Reglamento para la Contratación de Servicios de Consultoría en Ingeniería y Arquitectura), the involvement of a licensed architect/engineer in a construction project is separated into two phases. Phase 1 is construction plans and permits and Phase 2 is control and execution.  Preliminary studies (estudios preliminaries): 0.5 percent. These studies may or may not be required, depending on the scope of the project.
Preproject design (anteproyecto): 1.0 to 1.5 percent. Generally, during this stage, the architect/engineer will meet with the client in order to discuss the client’s construction requirements. With this information, the architect/engineer will prepare drafts of the proposed construction project for review by the client. These drafts should include site planning and preliminary work drawings. When you contract for this service be sure you agree with your architect/engineer before hand on what he or she is going to provide for you.

Construction plans and technical specifications (planos de construcción y especificaciones técnicas): 4.0 percent. This is one of the most important steps in the overall construction project since execution of the project will depend upon the quality and accuracy of your construction plans. Once you and your architect/engineer have agreed on the layout and design of the project, she or he will begin drafting the plans. In Costa Rica, a complete set of plans should include a site plan, distribution plan, elevation and transversal and longitude perspectives, roof design and drainage, design of footings and support beams, structural plans, electrical design, mechanical and sanitary system design, as well as a plan that details all of the interior finishings of the construction.Budgeting (presupuesto): 0.5 percent for global budgeting; 1.0 percent for itemized budgeting. Here the architect/engineer prepares a materials list based upon your construction plans and prepares a construction budget for you. 

Construction Permits–Another View of the Construction Process:Phase 1. Construction plans and permits. This phase is further subdivided into several distinct professional services that can be provided to the client by the architect/engineer. The percentages cited below are those that the CFIA has established as minimum chargeable fees.Supervision (Dirección técnica): 5 percent. This requires more direct involvement by the architect/engineer in the day-to-day operation of the project.Administration (Administración): 12 percent. Here, the architect/engineer takes complete responsibility for the execution and completion of the project.The option you choose will depend upon the type of project involved, the reliability of your builder/general contractor, and the amount of time you are willing to dedicate to the construction project. All told, phases 1 and 2 can range from 9 percent to 18 percent of the estimated value of the construction project, depending on the amount of services required. It is common practice to negotiate fees with the Architect AND engineer. Most, of course, will be eager for your business and, depending on the scope of the project will be willing to work out an agreement tailored to your particular needs. Otherwise, have your Attorney do the negotiating for you to ensure that you will get the best agreement possible.

Before you sign any contract, be sure that you understand the fee structure and know exactly what is and is not included in the fee and clearly define the responsibilities that your architect/engineer are going to assume. Do the same thing with your general contractor and any subcontractors.

ALL FEES ARE NEGOTIABLE!!!Before you purchase a lot with the intent of building on it, you should conduct some preliminary studies on the property to ensure that there won’t be a problem obtaining a building permit.

Due Diligence studies include:
1. Determine if the lot has basic services such as water, electricity, telephone, and drainage.2. Determine there are no restrictions placed on the lot that could result in the denial of a construction permit. It will not be enough to check the Public Registry. You should also check the local Muni first, especially by someone, lawyer or architect, who has communication Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte) for future road construction projects; the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud); the National Institute of Housing and Urban Development (Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo) and the municipality where the property is located (municipalidad).3. Investigate if there are any environmental regulation that may effect your construction project, such as national wildlife refuges and areas deemed protected by the forestry Law. (see MINAE and SETENA below).Requests for construction permits are filed with the Permit Reception Office (Oficina Receptora de Permisos de Construcción), which is a centralized office that houses government representatives from MOPT (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes-roads), INVU (Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo- housing), ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad-telephone), AYA (Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados-water), SNE (Servicio Nacional de Electricidad-electricity), CFIA (Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos), and the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud).For a single family home that measures more than 70 m2 (735.2 ft.2), the applicant must provide the following documentation: four copies of the construction plans, four copies of the property cadastre plot plan (Plano catastrado), four copies of the permit checklist (hoja de comisión), two copies of your property deed (escritura), one copy of the consulting contract with your architect/engineer (contrato de consultoria), an approval from the water company (AYA) regarding availability of water, and one copy of your electrical design plan approved by SNE. Condominium projects, commercial construction, and urbanization projects all carry additional requirements for obtaining construction permits.In addition to these requirements, you will need to request a building permit from the municipality in which the property is located.

By law it is the municipality that is delegated the responsibility to ensure that all constructions comply with building regulations (Article 1, Construction Law). You can, therefore, expect periodic visits to your construction site by the municipal building inspector, who must certify that the construction is proceeding according to code.We don’t mean to scare you with the above information, but to be well informed will eliminate future problems. We are experiencing a building boom currently, so it is possible to follow procedures and get things done right.Phase 2. Control and execution. This stage involves the actual construction and project supervision. The regulations authorize three kinds of supervisory tasks, each of which requires a larger time investment from the architect/engineer. Inspection (Inspección): 3 percent of total construction value.
Here your architect/engineer will visit the construction site at least once a week and will inspect it to ensure that the plan specifications are being followed by the general contractor. They will also verify the quality of the materials being used and review invoices being presented by the general contractor. We don’t mean to scare you with the above information, but to be well informed will eliminate future problems. CR Beach will help ensure you have the greatest chance for success in Costa Rica. Who are MINAE and SETENA?Minae is the Ministry of Energy and the Environment which governs and enforces the environmental laws in effect here in Costa Rica. Minae is entrusted with protecting ecosystems and species and can be called upon to file denuncias or legal charges in cases of environmental damage by Costa Ricans and foreigners alike. Indeed, in Costa Rica, Article 50 of the Constitution gives all HUMANS the right to enjoy a healthy and balanced natural environment and provides that the STATE or government will guarantee and preserve this right for all.  All permits for cutting trees and general aspects of land use are delimited by MINAE in accordance with these environmental laws. Therefore, if your property contains primary or secondary jungle, rivers, streams or springs, your use is strictly limited and should be investigated with authorities in your area to avoid serious civil and criminal penalties. Moreover, if any of these trees are rivers or springs are situated on steep mountain slopes, the laws governing construction are different.
MINAE works in conjunction with local Municipalites as well as with SETENA, the Technical Environmental Secretary charged with evaluating environmental impact incurred with all development projects. You need a Technical Study or Estudio Technico to move forward with any kind of development or construction activity, and there are private companies that can assist you with these studies, check www.deppat.com.
Many properties are part of a Municipal Zoning Plan or Plan Reguladora. In this case, your local Municipal government can tell you if a plan exists for your area, OR IS IN THE WORKS, and give you any regulations set forth therein. Any activities carried out on your property must be permitted by the zoning plan. Moreover, if your property is in a coastal zone or Zona Maritima, you must request special permits from the Municipal government as well from the Tourism Institute (ICT) to carry out any kind of construction or tourism activity.  Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE)Information Office Headquarters www.minae.go.cr/      https://www.minae.go.cr/setena/  SETENA PHONE NUMBER: 2234-3367  EMAIL: setena@minae.go.cr    FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: https://www.tramites.go.cr/  

Can I Use IRS 1031 Exchanges or IRAs For Costa Rica Real Estate?  
Yes, for those U.S. citizens who are sophisticated investors looking for unique real estate investment avenues, we recommend that you consult with your tax professional for the best strategies tailored to your specific needs.

KNOW YOUR CLIENT laws were first passed in 2009 Regarding Client information legally required to be provided to Banks, Escrow and Insurance Companies:  Still in effect today!  INS – which is still the only Costa Rican state sponsored insurance company operating in this country – has integrated a Compliance Office, with a full-time staff to make sure of full compliance, because the consequences are expensive if a financial institution is found to be in non-compliance!  INS is now getting serious. Their first objective is to improve, update and complete a data base of its clients, known as Base Unificada de Clientes, or “BUC”. To do this, it has ruled that as of July 1st, 2009, applications for new insurance or applications to modify existing policies must attach a form “Información del Cliente” OR KNOW YOUR CLIENT, without which INS simply will not process applications. Excepted are the simpler one-shot policies, such as Flight insurance, Students’ insurance, Traveller’s Accident insurance, etc. The form is detailed, and requires from the client the usual identity and contact information. If the client is a corporation, the information is required of the corporation itself and also of the person representing the corporation (“apoderado”), whose power-of-attorney (“personería”) must be attached.  The form must be signed by the client or the legal representative, if a corporation. Must attach:- Copies of the client’s and signer’s ID’s.- Proof of address (light, phone, or water bill)- Proof of income and sources of income.- “Personería” of the signer (for corporations.)Once a client has complied by filling out the “Información del Cliente” the Know Your Client form and providing the additional info, hopefully there will be no more disclosure requirements from that client for a while.

ONE MORE PIECE OF ADVICE:
When you consult a U.S. attorney and/or accountant regarding THEIR thoughts about YOUR purchasing a property in Costa Rica, please make sure they ARE FAMILIAR with buying properties in foreign lands or better yet, Costa Rica, regarding your future taxes, or expense write-offs,or especially Trusts-Wills-Inheritances. If they aren’t experienced in this area, please get a personal recommendation from them for someone that is. 

BE PREPARED but please consider this:
Costa Ricans are very proud of their country, their laws, their heritage & reputation; and legalities that exist in the U.S. may not have any legal relevance here.  This is the same reason why U.S. Banks cannot provide loans on Costa Rican properties.
This is a great country of laws in a different system than the U.S., (Costa Rica Civil Law vs U.S. Common Law) so don’t even think about suing someone here nor even verbally threatening to sue, because people will look at you and smile, thinking, “oh these poor naive tourists”, lol…  

It’s important you find a great attorney here, recommended by either your realtor or your Embassy, and if necessary, hire three to get a definite answer!!!
Pura Vida!

Jaco Beach Real Estate

CONTACT US:
TEL in Costa Rica:  4702-0808 (011 country code, 506 area code)
WHATSAPP  +1 (506) 8388-5055 at no charge 
SKYPE: crbeachjeff      Email: jeff@crbeach.com

NEW INFO ON SAVING A LIFE FROM A HEART ATTACK!

NEW LIFE-SAVING INFO: From Dr. Patrick Teefy, Cardiology Head, Nuclear Medicine Institute University Hospital, London Ont.
Everyone SHOULD send this to at least 10 people they know!

  1. Let’s say you’re going home after an unusually hard day on the job.You’re really tired, upset and frustrated.
  2. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to drag out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don’t know if you’ll be able to make it that far.
  3. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.
  4. HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE?
    Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.
  5. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously.
    A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.
    A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

6 . Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs & coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it to regain a normal rhythm.
In this way, heart attack victims can get help or to a hospital.

  1. Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!

LEARN THESE WORDS:

EASY TO LEARN SPANISH TO SAVE MONEY & ENJOY COSTA RICA EVEN MORE!

To greatly enhance your time in Costa Rica, we strongly suggest learning these words. The Costa Ricans will be even more super friendly and more “discount” agreeable when they know that you are at least trying to speak “Español.”

You already know a whole bunch of words in spanish, so use those words as guides to pronounce the vowels: (“a” is always like in taco; “i” always like in si’; “o” always like in no; “e” always like in day; “u” always like in burrito or boo!
You have no excuse, its a helluva lot easier than English!

And no, adding “O’s” after English words does not help the Ticos to understand you any better. Neither does raising your voice and gestering wildly proclaiming, “why don’t you speak American?” (yes I actually have heard this, twice!).
An easy way to learn Spanish is either with Rosetta Stone, Duo Lingo; or google it….

One more thought: The use of the term “Gringo” is not negative as in other latin countries, its just a descriptive term, like gordo-fat, flaca-skinny, etc…

Have fun!
To learn Spanish for Costa Rica, we suggest you study diligently the words below.

Costa Rica – co-sta-ree-ca–Please pronounce the name of this country correctly. The “O” in spanish is ALWAYS “oh”. And who lives in Costa Rica? Ticos=males and Ticas=females, Gringos, Gringas, Chinos, Chinas, Latinos, Latinas, etc…..

¡Buenas! – bwe-nas – The simple, buenas is a standard greeting, and may be used morning, noon, or night, on the street, entering a store, everywhere. The “A” in Spanish is ALWAYS pronounced like the “A” in mama.

¿Hola, Cómo Está? – o la, co mo eh sta? -Hi or hello, how are you?

¿Muy bien, Gracias, y usted? mooee bee “n” , gra si ahs, ee oos-ted or ee two? – I’m fine thanks, and you? The ee two is for previously known people, or much younger than you.

¿Cuánto vale? – kwan-to val-eh – How much does it cost? In Mexico, and sometimes here, “cuanto cuesta”

¿Tiene cuartos? – T’yen-neh kwar-toes – Do you have any hotel rooms?

¿CUÁNTO? – kwan toe – How much? (Look as shocked as possible when hearing the answer!)

Pura Vida – Poo-ra Vee-da – this is the super famous Costa Rican phrase, and the answer to almost any question or comment. Usually as a greeting or replying to , “como esta” (how are you?)

CERVEZA cer-vey-sa is more commonly used by Costa Ricans, and hooray Jaco has lots of places to try Costa Rican excellent “micro brews” and we even have our own Micro brewery called “Puddlefish”, with great beers and excellent food. (Most Gringos order Imperial their first trip before trying the more “sophisticated” & expensive Bavaria –gold, light or dark, Another popular local beer is Pilsen or Bohemia and lately lots of European imports ). Ba-va-ree-a por fah-vor – I’d like a ……… please.

Taxi – Taxi Look for the officially licensed ones with meters called “maria” And know that its ok to ask to if they have a meter, Say “tiene maria?” when entering a cab. Tea n nay Ma ree a…..

¿Dónde está el banco? – Don-day es-tah el ban-co – Where is the bank? (don’t faint when you see the lines on payday at national banks. Go to the many private banks that exist.)
¿Dónde puedo cambiar plata? – Don-day pweh-do cam-bee-ar pla-ta – Where can I change money? (YOU MUST BRING YOUR PASSPORT TO CHANGE EVEN $20 AND OF COURSE BANKS PAY THE HIGHEST RATE!)

¿Dónde puedo comprar….? – Don-day pweh-do com-prar – Where can I buy….?

Si, yo quiero comprar una Hermosa bungalo de Jeff de CR beach. – See, joe kee yay ro com-prar oona Hermosa Bungalow de Jeff de CR Beach – Yes, I want to buy an Hermosa bungalow from Jeff of CR beach!

¿El menú, por favor? – el may new, por fa-vor – Menu, please?

¿La cuenta, por favor? – la kwen-ta por fa-vor – Check, please? (followed by funny hand scribbling movement!)

¿El bano, por favor? – el ban-yo por fa-vor – Bathroom please ALSO: Ser VEE cios Por fa vor

¡No molesta me! – no may mo-les-ta – Don’t bother me! Also “Sale” sa lay sa lay

¡Qué linda! – kay leen da – how pretty!

Está bien. – ess-ta byen – It’s fine or it’s ok

Hasta Luego. – ahs-ta luway-go – See you later. (used much more than adios)

Ciao or Chao. – Chow- Bye (lately more popular than hasta luego)

Con Mucho Gusto! – Con moo-cho goo-sto – My pleasure. (used instead of your welcome)

Que dicha! or Ay, que dicha! – eye, kay deecha- That’s great. (Effective with sarcasm!)

Drivers: please remember that traffic signs that read before a bridge “Ceda” means “yield right of way” –you have to stop! Also one cool thing here is the blinking of the brights to signal traffic cop or caution ahead.

Pedestrians BE CAREFUL: please remember to look both ways, because unlike many places in the States, YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS here!!!

For Cellular phone users: Messages like “su llamada no se puede ser tramitada en esto momento” (your call cannot be completed at this time) are frequent. Placing a call to a known number sometimes obtains the message “el numero marcado no corresponde a ningun de nuestros clientes” (the number called does not correspond to any one of our subscribers) is another frequent message received by callers.
The messages are produced when the cellular phone being called is within an area that is not functioning or has poor coverage.

Click on the Spanish words in blue to hear them spoken.

A — always pronounced ah, as in mama
E — always pronounced as a long A as in “play” or Chile (CHI lay)
I –always pronounced ee, as in feet, bee

O –always pronounced as oh. Its CO sta Rica, never
ever Casta Rica,
U –always pronounced oo, as in too, pool.

B –Similar to the English ‘b’ but less between vowels it is pronounced very softly so that the lips touch only slightly.
C –As in English, before a, o and u it is pronounced as a K, as in can Costa Rica
Before e or i the c is pronounced as an s as in cent.

CC — Pronounced very similar to the cc in accident

D — Similar to the English ‘d’ in ‘bed’

G — Before A, O or U it is pronounced as the G in get
— Before E or I it is pronounced like the English H but more emphatic.

H — Always silent in Spanish. Hotel is pronounced otel

J Always pronounced like the English H but more emphatic

LL Always pronounced like J in Joe (Spanish example: yo )

ñ — This Spanish character is pronounced NY as in canyon

R — Slightly trilled
When it is the first letter of a word it is strongly trilled.

RR — Always strongly trilled except in Costa Rica

V –In Spain and many parts of South America there is no difference between the ‘v’ and the ‘b’

Y -pronounced as the English Y except when it stands alone (y is Spanish for and) then it is pronounced ee as in tree

Z — In South America the ‘z’ is pronounced as the English S; in

QUE — pronounced kay

QUI –pronounced kee as in keep
)
GUE — pronounced ge as in guest, and get

GUI — pronounced gee as in geese
GUA– guacamole, anyone? (sometimes soft g, like wuacamole…

The remaining letters are pronounced as they are in English with only very slight variations.

Helpful Words and Phrases
INTRODUCTIONS AND GREETINGS

I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Vargas. Quisiera presentarle al señor Vargas. kee-SYEH-rah preh-sehn-TAHR-leh ahl seh-NYOHR VAHR-gahs
Pleased to meet you. Encantado. ehn-kahn-TAH-doh
A pleasure. Mucho gusto. MOO-choh GOOS-toh
I am Ramon Diaz.

Soy Ramon Díaz. soy Ramon Díaz
This is my wife. Es mi esposa. ehs mee ehs-POH-sah
·colleague. ·colega. ·koh-LEH-gah
How are you? Cómo está usted? KOH-moh ehs-TAH oos-TEHD?
Fine, thanks. And you? Bien, gracias. Y usted? BYEHN, GRAH-syahs. Ee oo-TEHD?
Where do you live? Dónde vive? DOHN-deh VEE-veh?
I live in the United States. Vivo en los Estados Unidos. VEE-voh ehn lohs ehs-TAH-dohs oo-NEE-dohs

MAKING FRIENDS
It’s so good to see you. Un gusto verle. oon GOOS-toh VEHR-leh
Would you like a drink? Le gustaría una bebida? leh goos-tah-REE-ah OO-nah beh-BEE-dah?
With pleasure. Con gusto. kohn GOOS-toh
Cheers! ¡Salud! sah-LOOD!

Gladly. Con mucho gusto. kohn MOO-choh GOOS-toh
TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

Do you speak English? Habla usted inglés? AH-blah oos-TEHD en-gles?

I speak a little Spanish.
Hablo un poco de español.

 AH-bloh oon POH-koh deh ehs-pah-NYOHL

Can you understand me? Me comprende? meh kohm-PREHN-deh?
Please repeat that. Puede repetir eso? PWE-deh rreh-peh-teer EH-soh?
Can you write that? Me lo escribe? meh loh ehs-KREE-beh?
How do you say…..in Spanish? Cómo se dice…..en español?
KOH-moh seh DEE-seh…..ehn ehs-pah-NYOHL?

Could you translate this? Puede traducir esto? PWEH-deh trah-doo-SEER EHS-toh?Numbers
0 zero cero
1 one uno (m), una (f)
2 two dos
3 three tres
4 four cuatro
5 five cinco
6 six seis
7 seven siete
8 eight ocho
9 nine nueve
10 ten diez
11 eleven once
12 twelve doce
13 thirteen trece
14 fourteen catorce
15 fifteen quince
16 sixteen dieciséis
17 seventeen diecisiete
18 eighteen dieciocho
19 nineteen diecinueve
20 twenty veinte
21 twenty-one veintiuno
22 twenty-two veintidós
30 thirty treinta
31 thirty-one treinta y uno
40 forty cuarenta
50 fifty cincuenta
60 sixty sesenta
70 seventy setenta
80 eighty ochenta
90 ninety noventa
100 one hundred cien
101 one hundred and one ciento uno
200 two hundred doscientos
300 three hundred trescientos
400 four hundred cuatrocientos
500 five hundred quinientos
600 six hundred seiscientos
700 seven hundred setecientos
800 eight hundred ochocientos
900 nine hundred novecientos
1,000 one thousand mil
2,000 two thousand dos mil
1,000,000 one million un millón
2,000,000 two million dos millones

Days of the Week
Monday lunes
Tuesday martes
Wednesday miércoles
Thursday jueves
Friday viernes
Saturday sábado
Sunday domingo
Spanish Days of the Week Flash Cards (requires a Java enabled browser)

Months
January enero
February febrero
March marzo
April abril
May mayo
June junio
July julio
August agosto
September septiembre
October octubre
November noviembre
December diciembre
Spanish Months Flash Cards (requires a Java enabled browser)

Eating
napkin servilleta
fork tenedor
spoon cuchara
knife cuchillo
plate plato
water agua
bread pan
butter mantequilla
tea té
coffee café
salt sal
pepper pimienta
Back to top

Colors
black negro
blue azul
brown marrón, café
green verde
grey gris
orange naranja, anaranjado
pink rosado
purple violeta, morado
red rojo
white blanco
yellow amarillo
Back to top

Family
husband esposo, marido
wife esposa
children niños
son hijo
daughter hija
father padre, papá (informal)
mother madre, mamá (informal)
brother hermano
sister hermana
grandfather abuelo
grandmother abuela
uncle tío
aunt tía
nephew sobrino
niece sobrina
cousin primo (m), prima (f)
brother-in-law cuñado
sister-in-law cuñada
father-in-law suegro
mother-in-law suegra
son-in-law yerno
daughter-in-law nuera
Back to top

Directions
left Izquierda
right Derecha
far Lejos
near Cerca
street Calle
avenue Avenida
north Norte
south Sur
east Este
west Oeste

The Guide to Costa Rican Spanish by Christopher Howard M.A.

Words That Don’t Need Translating
There are literally thousands of Spanish words that are easy to understand for English speakers. All you have to do is concentrate on the English within these words and pronounce them with a Spanish accent.

Easy Words:

banana – banana

chocolate – chocolate

color – color

doctor – doctor

hotel – hotel

idea – idea

natural – natural

radio – radio

taxi – taxi

diccionario – dictionary

dieta – diet

moderno – modern

música – music

béisbol – baseball

café – coffee, cafe

comercial – commercial

especial – special

estúpido – stupid

familia – family

fotografía – photography

limón – lemon

minuto – minute

nervioso – nervous

noviembre – November

operación – operation

Refrigerador(a) – refrigerator

teléfono – telephone

vaccación – vacation

¡Buenos días!
bway-nohs dee-ahs
Hello! / Good morning! ¡Buenas tardes!
bway-nahs tard-ays
Good afternoon! ¡Buenas noches!
bway-nahs noh-chays
Good evening! / Good night!
¡Hola! / ¡Chao!
oh-lah / chow
Hi! / Bye! Adiós.
ah-dee-ohs
Good bye. Por favor.
por fah-bor
Please.
Hasta luego.
ah-stah loo-ay-go
See you later. Hasta pronto.
ah-stah prohn-toh
See you soon. Hasta mañana.
ah-stah mahn-yahn-ah
See you tomorrow.
(Muchas) Gracias.
(moo-chahs) grah-see-ahs
Thank you (very much). De nada.
day nah-dah
You’re welcome. Bienvenidos
byen-veh-nee-dohs
Welcome
Lo siento
loh see-ehn-toh
I’m sorry Con permiso / Perdón
kohn pehr-mee-soh / pehr-dohn
Excuse me / Pardon ¡Vamos!
bah-mohs
Let’s go!
¿Cómo está usted?
koh-moh ay-stah oo-sted
How are you? (formal) ¿Cómo estás?
koh-moh ay-stahs
How are you? (informal) ¿Qué tal?
kay tahl
How’s it going?
Bien / Muy bien
bee-ehn / moy bee-ehn
Good / Very good Mal / Muy mal / Más o menos
mahl / moy mahl / mahs oh may-nohs
Bad / Very bad / OK Sí / No
see / noh
Yes / No
¿Cómo se llama usted?
koh-moh say yah-mah oo-sted
What is your name? (formal) ¿Cómo te llamas?
koh-moh tay yah-mahs
What is your name? (informal) Me llamo…
may yah-moh
My name is…
Mucho gusto. / Encantado.
moo-choh goo-stoh / en-cahn-tah-doh
Nice to meet you. Igualmente.
ee-guahl-mehn-tay
Same here. Señor / Señora / Señorita
sayn-yor / sayn-yor-ah / sayn-yor-ee-tah
Mister / Mrs. / Miss
¿De dónde es usted?
day dohn-day ehs oo-sted
Where are you from? (formal) ¿De dónde eres?
day dohn-day eh-rehs
Where are you from? (informal) Yo soy de…
yoh soy day
I’m from…
¿Cuántos años tiene usted?
quahn-tohs ahn-yohs tee-ay-nay oo-sted
How old are you? (formal) ¿Cuántos años tienes?
quahn-tohs ahn-yohs tee-ayn-ays
How old are you? (informal) Yo tengo _ años. yoh tayn-goh ahn-yohs
I am __ years old.
¿Habla usted español?
ah-blah oo-sted eh-spahn-yol
Do you speak Spanish? (formal) ¿Hablas ingles?
ah-blahs een-glehs
Do you speak English? (informal) (No) Hablo…
noh ah-bloh
I (don’t) speak…
¿Entiende usted? / ¿Entiendes?
ehn-tyen-deh oo-sted / ehn-tyen-dehs
Do you understand? (formal / informal) (No) Entiendo.
noh ehn-tyen-doh
I (don’t) understand. Yo (no lo) se.
yoh noh loh seh
I (don’t) know.
¿Puede ayudarme?
pweh-deh ah-yoo-dar-meh
Can you help me?
Claro que sí
klah-roh keh see
Of course

¿Cómo?
koh-moh
What? Pardon me?
¿Dónde está / Dónde están… ?
dohn-deh eh-stah / dohn-deh eh-stahn
Where is … / Where are … ? Aquí
ah-kee
Here. Hay / Había…
eye / ah-bee-ah
There is / are… / There was / were…
Cómo se dice _ en español? koh-moh seh dee-ceh on eh-spahn-yol
How do you say __ in Spanish? Qué es esto?
keh ehs ehs-toh
What is that?
¿Qué te pasa?
keh teh pah-sah
What’s the matter (with you)?

No importa.
noh eem-por-tah
It doesn’t matter. Qué pasa?
keh pah-sah
What’s happening? No tengo ninguna idea.
noh tehn-goh neen-goo-nah ee-deh-ah
I have no idea.
Estoy cansado / enfermo.
eh-stoy kahn-sah-doh / ehn-fehr-moh
I’m tired / sick. Tengo hambre / sed.
tehn-goh ahm-breh / sed
I’m hungry / thirsty. Tengo calor / frío.
tehn-goh kah-lohr / free-oh
I’m hot / cold.
Estoy aburrido.
eh-stoy ah-boo-ree-doh
I’m bored. No me importa.
noh meh eem-por-tah
I don’t care. No se preocupe.
noh seh preh-oh-koo-peh
Don’t worry
Está bien.
ehs-tah bee-ehn
That’s alright. Me olvidé.
meh ohl-vee-deh
I forgot. Tengo que ir ahora.
tehn-goh keh eer ah-oh-rah
I must go now.
¡Salud!
sah-lood
Bless you! ¡Felicitaciones!
feh-lee-see-tah-see-oh-nehs
Congratulations! ¡Buena suerte!
bweh-nah swehr-teh
Good luck!
Te toca a ti.
teh toh-kah ah tee
It’s your turn. (informal) ¡Callate!
kah-yah-teh
Shut up! Te amo.
tay ah-moh
I love you. (informal and singular)

YOU ARE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK IN YOUR ABILITY TO USE (or butcher)SPANISH!
LOOK HOW SIMILAR THE SPANISH WORDS ARE TO ENGLISH!

Other Spanish Words

Agressor (m) aggressor, assailant

Agricultura (f) agriculture

Alarma (f) alarm

Alcohol (m) alcohol

Alergia (f) allergy

Alternativa (f) alternative, choice, option

Altitud (f) altitude

Ambición (f) ambition, inspiration

Antecedente (m) antecedent, preceding

Animosidad (f) animosity, ill will

Antena (f) antenna

Antidoto (m) antidote

Antiséptico (m) antiseptic

Aparición (f) apparition, ghost, appearance

Apartamento (m) apartment

Apetito (m) hunger, appetite

Aplauso (m) applause

Aplomo (m) assurance, confidence, self-possession, serenity, aplomb

Apología (f) apology

Apreciación (f) appreciation, approval

Aprehensión (f), aprension (f) apprehension

Aprobación (f) approbation, approval, consent

Aptitude (f) aptitude, capacity

Arbitración (f) arbitration

Ardor (m) ardor, ardour

Aristocracia (f) aristocracy

Aritmética (f) arithmetic

Aroma (f) aroma, scent, perfume

Arresto (m) arrest, imprisonment

Arsenal (m) arsenal

Arte (m) art; skill

Arteria (f) artery

Artillería (f) artillery

Artista (m, f) artist

Aspiración (f) aspiration, ambition

Ataque (m) attack, fit

Atención (f) attention

Atlas (m) atlas

Atleta (m, f) athlete

Atracción (f) attraction

Autor (m) author

Avance (m) advance, progress, headway

Avenida (f) avenue

Aviación (f) aviation

Bacteria (f) bacterium

Balanza (f) balance, scale

Balota (f) ballot

Banana (f) banana

Banda (f) band; ribbon, seal, gang, group, party

Banquero (m) banker

Banquete (m) banquet

Base (f) base, basis, foundation

Basquetbol (m) basketball

Beligerante (m, f) belligerent

Benedición (f) benediction

Bloque (m) block (of stone, wood, etc.)

Brevidad (f) brevity

Brutalidad (f) brutality

Cacto (m) cactus

Cadáver (m) corpse

Cafeína (f) caffeine

Cafetera (f) coffee pot; woman café owner

Calibre (m) caliber; bore, gauge (of a gun)

Calma (f) calm, quiet

Canal (m) canal, channel

Candela (f) candle

Candidato (m) candidate

Candidatura (f) candidacy

Candor (m) candor

Canibal (m) cannibal

Canoa (f) canoe

Capacidad (f) capacity

Capital (m) capital, funds

Capital (f) capital city

Capitán (m) captain

Captura (f) capture

Caramelo (m) caramel

Caravana (f) caravan

Carnaval (m) carnaval

Catedral (f) cathedral

Categoria (f) category

Causa (f) cause

Caverna (f) cavern, cave

Cavidad (f) cavity

Celebración (f) celebration

Cementerio (m) cemetery

Cemento (m) cement

Censor (m) censor

Censura (f) censure, criticism

Cerámica (f) ceramics, pottery

Ceremonia (f) ceremony

Ciclón (m) cyclone

Cientifíco (m) scientist

Claridad (f) clarity

Clasificación (f) classification

Cláusula (f) clause

Cliente (m, f) client, customer

Clima (m) climate

Clínica (f) clinic

Coca (m) coca

Cocaína (f) cocaine

Cocodrilo (m) crocodile

Coincidencía (f) coincidence

Colaboración (f) collaboration

Colección (f) collection

Colon (m) colon

Colonia (f) colony

Columna (f) column

Combate (m) combat

Combinación (f) combination

Combustión (f) combustion

Comedia (f) comedy

Comentario (m) commentary

Cometa (m) comet

Comisión (f) commission

Comité (m) committee

Compasión (f) compassion

Competidor (m) competitor

Cómplice (m, f) accomplice

Comportamiento (m) conduct, behavior, comportment

Composición (f) composition

Comprensión (f) understanding, comprehension

Compresión (f) compression

Compromiso (f) compromise

Comunicación (f) communication

Comunidad (f) community

Comunión (f) communion

Concentración (f) concentration

Concepción (f) conception

Concepto (m) concept

Concesión (f) concession

Conclusión (f) conclusion

Condición (f) condition

Condimento (m) condiment, seasoning

Conducta (f) conduct

Confederación (f) confederation, alliance, league

Conferencia (f) lecture; conference; meeting

Confesión (f) confession

Confidencia (f) confidence

Confidente (m) confident

Confirmación confirmation

Conflicto (m) conflict

Conformidad (f) conformity

Confusión (f) confusion

Congregación (f) congregation, assembly

Congreso (m) congress, assembly

Conjugación (f) conjugation

Conjunción (f) conjunction

Conmoción (f) commotion

Conservación (f) conservation

Consideración (f) consideration

Consolación (f) consolation

Consorte (m, f) consort

Constitución (f) constitution

Construcción (f) construction

Cónsul (m) consul

Consulado (m) consulate

Contacto (m) contact

Contemplación (f) contemplation

Continente (m) continent

Contingencia (f) contingency

Continuación (f) continuation

Continuidad (f) continuity

Contracción (f) contraction

Contradicción (f) contradiction

Contraste (m) contrast

Contrato (m) contract

Contribución (f) contribution

Control (m) control

Controversia (f) controversy

Contusión (f) bruise, contusion

Convención (f) convention

Conveniencia (f) convenience

Convento (m) convent

Conversión (f) conversion

Convicción (f) conviction

Convocación (f) convocation

Convulsión (f) convulsion

Cooperación (f) cooperation

Coordinación (f) coordination

Copia (f) copy

Coral (m) coral

Cordialidad (f) cordiality, friendliness, warmth

Corporación (f) corporation

Corrección (f) correction

Correspondencía (f) correspondence

Corrupción (f) corruption

Cosmético (m) cosmetic

Costa (f) coast; cost

Coyote (m) coyote

Cráter (m) crater of a volcano

Creación (f) creation

Credito (m) credit

Credo (m) creed

Crisis (f) crisis

Cristal (m) crystal; glass, mirror; lens

Criterio (m) criterion

Cuantía (f) quantity

Cubo (m) cube

Culminación (f) culmination, climax

Cultivación (f) cultivation

Cultura (f) culture

Cupón (m) coupon

Curiosidad (f) curiosity

Custodia (f) custody

Cheque (m) check, bank check

Chocolate (m) chocolate

Danza (f) dance

Debate (m) debate, dispute

Debilidad (f) debility, weakness

Década (f) decade

Decencia (f) decency

Decisión (f) decision

Declaración (f) declaration, statement

Decoración (f) decoration

Deducción (f) deduction

Defecto (m) defect, fault

Defensa (f) defense

Deficiencia (f) deficiency

Déficit (m) deficit, shortage

Definición (f) definition

Definido definite (pp of definir)

Deformación (f) deformation

Deformidad (f) deformity

Delegación (f) delegation

Delegado (m) delegate

Delineación (f) delineation

Demanda (f) demand; petition; question

Democracia (f) democracy

Demostración (f) demonstration, proof, explanation

Denominación (f) denomination; name, title, description

Dentista (m) dentist

Departamento (m) department

Depósito (m) deposit

Depresión (f) depression

Descripción (f) description

Deserción (f) desertion

Designación (f) designation; appointment

Designio (m) design, plan, purpose

Desilusión (f) disillusion, disappointment

Desinfectante (m) disinfectant

Desinterés (m) disinterestedness, unselfishness, impartiality

Desobediencia (f) disobedience

Desparación (f) desperation

Destino (m) destiny, fate

Destrucción (f) destruction

Detective (m) detective

Detectivo (m) detective

Detención (f) detention, arrest, stop, halt, delay

Determinación (f) determination

Detonación (f) detonation

Devoción (f) devotion; piety; attachment

Diagrama (m) diagram; graph

Dialecto (m) dialect

Dialogo (m) dialogue

Diametro (m) diameter

Diarrea (f) diarrhea

Dictador (m) dictator

Dieta (f) diet; assembly

Diferencia (f) difference

Difusión (f) diffusion

Dignatario (m) dignitary

Dignidad (f) dignity

Digresión (f) digression

Diligencia (f) diligence

Dimensión (f) dimension

Dinámica (f) dynamic

Dinamita (f) dynamite

Dínamo (m) dynamo

Dinastía (f) dynasty

Diplomacia (f) diplomacy; tact

Dirección (f) direction, course; advice, guidance

Directorio (m) directory, directive

Disciplina (f) discipline, training

Discordia (f) discord

Discreción (f) discretion

Discrepancia (f) discrepancy

Discusión (f) discussion

Diseminación (f) dissemination

Disensión (f) dissension

Disenteria (f) dysentery

Disgusto (m) displeasure; unpleasantness; annoyance; quarrel; grief; disgust

Disociación (f) dissociation, separation

Disolución (f) dissolution

Dispersión (f) dispersion, dispersal

Disposición (f) disposition, arrangement

Disputa (f) dispute

Distancia (f) distance

Distinción (f) distinction

Distracción (f) distraction

Distribución (f) distribution

Diván (m) divan, sofa

Divergencia (f) divergence; difference (of opinion)

Diversidad (f) diversity

Diversión (f) amusement

Dividendo (m) dividend

División (f) division

Divorcio (m) divorce

Doctrina (f) doctrine

Documento (m) document

Dogma (m) dogma

Doméstico (m) house servant, (a) domestic

Dominación (f) domination, rule

Domicilio (m) home, dwelling, domicile

Donación (f) donation; grant

Drama (m) drama

Duplicidad (f) duplicity

Durabilidad (f) durability

Duración (f) duration

Economía (f) economy

Ecuador (m) equator

Educación (f) education

Efecto (m) effect, result

Eficiencia (f) efficiency

Elasticidad (f) elasticity

Elección (f) election; choice

Elector (m) elector, voter

Electricidad (f) electricity

Elefante (m) elephant

Elegancia (f) elegance, grace

Elemento (m) element

Elevación (f) elevation, height

Elevador (f) elevator, hoist

Eliminación (f) elimination, removal

Elucidación (f) elucidation, explanation

Emanación (f) emanation, flow

Embargo (m) embargo, restriction on commerce

Emblema (m) emblem

Emigración (f) emigration

Emigrante (m, f) emigrant

Eminencia (f) eminence; height

Emoción (f) emotion

Energía (f) energy

Enigma (m) enigma, riddle, puzzle

Entusiasmo (m) enthusiasm

Enumeración (f) enumeration, counting

Epidemia (f) epidemic

Episodio (m) episode

Época (f) epoch

Equilibrio (f) equilibrium, balance

Erosión (f) erosion

Erudición (f) erudition, learning

Erupción (f) eruption

Escorpión (m) scorpion

Esencia (f) essence

Espacio (m) space

Especialidad (f) specialty

Especie (f) species; kind; sort

Espécimen (m) specimen, sample

Espectáculo (m) spectacle

Especulación (f) speculation

Especulador (m) speculator

Esplendor (m) splendor

Esterilidad (f) sterility

Estima (f) esteem

Estimación (f) esteem, regard, valuation

Estipulación (f) stipulation

Estrategía (f) strategy

Estructura (f) structure

Estuco (m) stucco

Eternidad (f) eternity

Etiqueta (f) etiquette

Evacuación (f) evacuation

Evento (m) event

Evidencia (f) evidence

Evolución (f) evolution

Exceso (m) excess

Excitación (f) excitement

Exclamación (f) exclamation

Excremento (m) excrement

Excursión (f) excursion, tour, outing

Excusa (f) excuse

Exhibición (f) exhibition

Existencia (f) existence

Éxodo (m) exodus

Expansión (f) expansion

Expectación (f) expectation

Expedición (f) expedition

Experiencia (f) experience; experiment

Experimento (m) experiment, trial

Explicación (f) explanation

Exploración (f) exploration

Explosión (f) explosion

Explosivo (m) explosive

Exportación (f) exportation

Exprés (m) express

Expresión (f) expression

Expulsión (f) expulsion

Extensión (f) extension

Extracto (m) blackmail

Extravagancia (f) extravagance

Extremidad (f) extremity

Factor (m) factor; element

Facultad (f) faculty, ability

Fama (f) fame

Fantasía (f) fantasy, imagination

Fascinación (f) fascination

Fase (f) phase aspect

Favorito (m) favourite

Favor (m) favour, kindness, help, aid

Fenómeno (m) phenomenon

Fervor (m) fervor

Figura (f) figure, shape, form

Filtro (m) filter

Flexibilidad (f) flexibility

Forma (f) form, shape, figure, manner

Formación (f) formation

Formalidad (f) formality

Formula (f) formula

Fotografia (f) photograph, photography

Fortuna (f) fortune, fate

Fracción (f) fraction

Fractura (f) fraction, break, crack

Fragmento (m) fragment

Fraude (m) fraud

Fricción (f) friction

Funeral (m) funeral

Furia (f) fury, rage

Furor (m) fury, rage, anger, frenzy

Galeria (f) gallery, corridor

Gas (m) gas, vapor

Gema (f) gem, jewel

Generación (f) generation

Generalidad (f) generality

Generosidad (f) generosity

Germen (m) germ

Gerundio (m) gerund, present participle

Gimnasia (f) gymnastics

Gimnasio (m) gymnasium

Glaciar (m) glacier

Globo (m) globe, sphere; world

Gloria (f) glory

Glosario (m) glossary

Graduación (f) graduation

Guarda (m, f) guard

Guardián (m) guardian

Habitante (m) inhabitant, resident

Hangar (m) hangar

Harmonia (f) harmony

Hemisferio (m) hemisphere

Heroismo (m) heroism

Honor (m) honour

Horizonte horizon

Horror (m) horror; atrocity

Hospital (m) hospital

Humor (m) humor; mood

Idea (f) idea

Idealismo (m) idealism

Identidad (f) identity

Ignición (f) ignition

Ignorancia (f) ignorance

Iluminación (f) illumination

Ilusión (f) illusion

Ilustración (f) illustration

Imaginación (f) imagination

Imitación (f) imitation

Impaciencia (f) impatience

Impedimento (m) impediment

Importancia (f) importance

Imposibilidad (f) impossibility

Imposición (f) imposition

Impostor (m) impostor

Impresión (f) impression

Impulso (m) impulse

Impureza (f) impurity

Inacción (f) inaction, inactivity

Inactividad (f) inactivity

Inauguración (f) inauguration

Incentivo (m) incentive

Incidente (m) incident

Incisión (f) incision

Inclinación (f) inclination

Incompetencia (f) incompetence

Inconveniencia (f) inconvenience

Incremento (m) increment

Indecencia (f) indecency

Indicación (f) indication

Indice (m) index; catalogue

Indiferencia (f) indifference

Indignación (f) indignation

Indignidad (f) indignity

Industria (f) industry

Inexperiencia (f) inexperience

Infección (f) infection

Inferioridad (f) inferiority

Infinidad (f) infinity

Inflamación (f) inflammation

Influencia (f) influence

Influenza (f) influenza, grippe, flu

Información (f) information

Infraccion (f) infraction

Infusión (f) infusion

Ingratitud (f) ingratitude

Ingrediente (m) ingredient

Injuria (f) affront, insult; harm, damage

Inmensidad (f) immensity

Inmersión (f) immersion, dip

Inmigrante (m, f) immigrant

Inmigración (f) immigration

Inmoralidad (f) immorality

Inmunidad (f) immunity

Innovación (f) innovation

Inocencia (f) innocence

Inscripción (f) inscription, registration

Insensibilidad (f) insensibility

Insinuación (f) insinuation, intimation

Insistencia (f) insistence, persistence

Insolencia (f) insolence

Inspección (f) inspection

Inspector inspector

Inspiración (f) inspiration, inhalation

Instalación (f) installation

Instancia (f) instance

Instante (m) instant

Institución (f) institution, establishment

Instituto (m) institute

Instrucción (f) instruction, education

instrumento (m) instrument

insuficiencia (f) insufficiency, deficiency

Insulto (m) insult

Insurgente (m, f) insurgent

Insurrección (f) insurrection, uprising, revolt

Integridad (f) integrity

Intelecto (m) intellect

Inteligencia (f) intelligence

Intención (f) intention

Intensidad (f) intensity

Interés (m) interest

Interferencia (f) interference

Interin (m) interim

Interjección (f) interjection

Intermisión (f) intermission

Interpretación (f) interpretation

Intérprete (m, f) interpreter

Interrogación (f) interrogation

Interrupción (f) interruption

Intersección (f) intersection

Intervalo (m) interval

Interventión (f) intervention

Intestino (m) intestine

Intimación (f) intimation, hint

Intimidad (f) intimacy

Intriga (f) intrigue; scheme, plot

Introducción (f) introduction

Intuición (f) intuition

Inundación (f) inundation, flood

Invasión (f) invasion

Invención (f) invention

Inventario (m) inventory

Inventor (m) inventor

Inversión (f) inversion; investment

Investigación (f) investigation

Investigador (m) investigator

Invitación (f) invitation

Ironía (f) irony

Irreverencia (f) irreverence

Irrigación (f) irrigation

Irritación (f) irritation

Jarra (f) jar, vase, pitcher

Jesuita (m) Jesuit

Jirafa (f) giraffe

Jungla (f) jungle

Jurisdicción (f) jurisdiction

Jurisprudencia (f) jurisprudence, law

Justicia (f) justice, court of justice

Justificación justification

Kilogramo (m) kilogram

Labor (f) labor, work

Laboratorio (m) laboratory

Laguna (f) lagoon

Lapso (m) lapse

Laurel (m) laurel

Lava (f) lava

Legislación (f) legislation

Legislature (f) legislature

Lesión (f) wound, injury

Léxico (m) lexicon, dictionary, vocabulary, glossary

Libelo (m) libel

Libertad (f) liberty

Licencia (f) license

Limitación (f) limitation

Límite (m) limit, boundary

Liquidación (f) liquidation, settlement (of an account)

Liquido (m) liquid

Localidad (f) location

Lógica (f) logic

Longevidad (f) longevity

Lotería (f) lottery, raffle

Lunático lunatic

Lustre luster

Magia (f) magic

Magnificencia (f) magnificence

Magnitud (f) magnitude

Majestad (f) majesty; dignity

Malicia (f) malice; wickedness

Mandato (m) mandate; order, command

Manera (f) manner, way, mode

Manipulación (f) manipulation

Manifestación (f) manifestation

Manual (m) manual, handbook

Manufacturero (m) manufacturer

Manuscrito (m) manuscript

Marca (f) mark

Margen (m, f) margin, border; river bank

Masa (f) mass

Máscara (f) mask

Mason (m) mason

Matemáticas (f) mathematics

Materia (f) matter; material; subject

Maternidad (f) maternity, motherhood

Matrimonio (m) matrimony, marriage

Matriz (f) matrix, mould, form

Máxima (f) maxim, rule, proverb

Medalla (f) medal

Mediación (f) mediation

Mediador (m) mediator

Meditación (f) meditation

Melodía (f) melody

Mélon (m) melon

Memorándum (m) memorandum, note: memorandum book, note book

Memoria (f) memory

Mentalidad (f) mentality

Menú (m) menu

Mérito (m) merit

Metáfora (f) metaphor

Metalurgia (f) metallurgy

Meteoro (m) meteor

Meteorología (f) meteorology

Metro (m) subway, metro

Microbio (m) microbe

Microscopio (m) microscope

Migración (f) migration

Milicia (f) militia

Mineral (m) mineral

Miniatura (f) miniature

Minoridad (f) minority (in age)

Minuta (f) minutes; memorandum

Minuto (m) minute

Miriada (f) myriad

Miseria (f) misery

Misión (f) mission

Moción (f) motion

Moda (f) mode, custom, style, fashion

Modelo (m) model, copy, pattern

Modestia (f) modesty

Modificación (f) modification

Molde (m) mold, cast

Monarca (m) monarch

Monarquía (f) monarchy

Monólogo (m) monologue

Monopolio (m) monopoly

Monotonía (f) monotony

Montaña (f) mountain

Monumento (m) monument

Moral (f) moral, ethic

Moralidad (f) morality

Mosaico (m) mosaic

Mosquito (m) mosquito

Mostacho (m) mustache

Motivo (m) motive

Motocicleta (f) motorcycle

Motor (m) motor

Multiplicación (f) multiplication

Multiplicidad (f) multiplicity

Multitud (f) multitude

Munición (f) ammunition

Musculatura (f) muscles

Músculo (m) muscle

Museo (m) museum

Nacionalidad (f) nationality

Náusea (f) nausea

Neutralidad (f) neutrality

Noción (f) notion, idea

Noticia (f) notice, information; news

Oasis (m) oasis

Obediencia (f) obedience

Objeción (f) objection

Objectivo (m) objective

Obligación (f) obligation, duty, bond

Obscenidad (f) obscenity

Obscuridad (f) obscurity

Observación (f) observation

Obsesión (f) obsession

Obstrucción (f) obstruction

Ocupación (f) occupation

Ocasión (f) occasion, opportunity

Océano (m) ocean

Ocupante (m, f) occupant

Ocurrencia (f) occurrence, event

Ofensor (m) offender

Omisión (f) omissión, oversight, neglect

Operacion (f) operation

Opinión (f) opinion

Oportunidad (f) opportunity

Oposición (f) opposition

Opresión (f) oppression

Opresor (m) oppressor

Optimismo (m) optimism

Órbita (f) orbit

Organización (f) organization

Ornamento (m) ornament

Orquesta (f) orchestra

Oscilación (f) oscillation

Ostentación (f) ostentation

Overoles (m) overalls

Pacto (m) pact, agreement

Palacio (m) palace

Parafina (f) paraffin

Parálisis (f) paralysis

Parasol (m) parasol

Parcela (f) parcel of land

Parque (m) park

Parte (f) part, share

Partición (f) partition, division

Participante (m, f) participant

Ración (f) ration; allowance

Radiador (m) radiator

Radio (m) radius; radium; radio

Radiografía (f) radiography, x-ray photography, x-ray pictures

Ranchero (m) rancher

Rancho (m) ranch, small farm

Reacción (f) reaction

Realidad (f) reality

Realización (f) realization

Recepión (f) reception

Recital (m) recital (music)

Recluso (m) recluse, hermit

Recomendación (f) recommendation

Recompensa (f) recompense

Reconciliacion (f) reconciliation

Recreación (f) recreation

Rectángulo (m) rectangle

Rectitud (f) rectitude, uprightness

Recuperación (f) recovery

Reelección (f) re-election

Referencia (f) reference

Refinería (f) refinery

Reflector (m) reflector

Reflexión (f) reflection

Reforma (f) reform

Refracción (f) refraction

Refrigeración (f) refrigeration

Régimen (m) regimen

Regimiento (m) regiment

Región (f) region

Regulación (f) regulation

Regularidad (f) regularity

Relación (f) relation

Religión (f) religion

Remuneración (f) remuneration

Reporte (m) report, news

Representación (f) representation

Represión (f) repression, control, restraint

Reprimenda (f) reprimand, rebuke

Reproducción (f) reproduction

Reptil (m) reptile

República (f) republic

Republicano (m) republican

Repugnancia (f) repugnance, disgust

Reputación (f) reputation

Reserva (f) reserve, reservation

Reservación (f) reservation

Resignación (f) resignation

Resistencia (f) resistance

Resolución (f) resolution

Respecto (m) respect

Responsabilidad (f) responsibility

Restauración (f) restoration

Restitución (f) restitution

Resto (m) rest

Restricción (f) restriction

Resumen (m) resume

Reunión (f) reunion; meeting

Revelación (f) revelation

Revolución (f) revolution

Rifle (m) rifle

Rigor (m) rigor

Rival (m) rival, competitor

Ruina (f) ruin, destruction, downfall

Rumor (m) rumor, report

Saco (m) sack, bag

Sacrificio (m) sacrifice

Sacrilegio (m) sacrilege

Sagacidad (f) sagacity

Salario (m) salary, wages

Saliva (f) saliva

Salutación (f) salutation, greeting

Salvación (f) salvation

Sanatorio (m) sanatorium

Sanción (f) sanction

Sarcasmo (m) sarcasm

Sargento (m) sergeant

Satélite (m) satellite

Sátira (f) satire

Satisfacción (f) satisfaction

Sección (f) section

Secreción (f) secretion

Secretario (m) secretary

Secta (f) sect

Secuencia (f) sequence

Sedativo (m) sedative

Seducción (f) seduction

Segmento (m) segment

Selección (f) selection

Senado (m) senate

Senador (m) senador

Sensación (f) sensation

Separación (f) separation

Serenidad (f) serenity, calm

Sermón (m) sermon

Sesión (f) session; meeting; conference

Severidad (f) severity

Sexo (m) sex

Significación (f) meaning, significance

Silencio (m) silence, pause

Simbolismo (m) symbolism

Símbolo (m) symbol

Simpatía (f) sympathy

Simplicidad (f) simplicity; candor

Sinceridad (f) sincerity

Situación (f) situation, position

Socialisto/a (m,f) socialist

Sociedad (f) society, partnership, company, firm

Solemnidad (f) solemnity

Solicitud (f) solicitude

Solidaridad (f) solidarity

Solución (f) solution

Son (m) sound

Submarino (m) submarine

Subordinado (m) subordinate

Suburbio (m) suburb

Sucesión (f) succession, heirs

Sucesor (m) successor

Sugestión (f) suggestión, hint

Suma (f) sum; addition

Sumario (m) summary

Sumisión (f) submission

Superioridad (f) superiority

Superlativo (m) superlative

Superstición (f) superstition

Suplemento (m) supplement

Suscripción (f) subscription

Suspensión (f) suspension

Talento (m) talent, ability

Tarta (f) tart

Taxi (m) taxi

Telescopio (m) telescope

Tenacidad (f) tenacity

Tenis (m) tennis

Terminación (f) termination

Territorio (m) territory

Terror (m) terror

Testamento (m) testament; Hill

Testimonio (m) testimony

Texto (m) text; quotation; text book

Tigre (m) tiger

Timidez (f) timidity, shyness

Tipo (m) type, class; model

Tónico (m) tonic

Tono (m) tone; tune; key, pitch

Tópico (m) topic, subject

Torpedo (m) torpedo

Total (m) total

Totalidad (f) entirely, whole

Toxina (f) toxin

Tracción (f) traction

Tractor (m) tractor

Tradición (f) tradition

Tragedia (f) tragedy

Tren (m) train

Triángulo (m) triangle

Tribulación (f) tribulation, trouble

Tribunal (m) tribunal; court of justice

Tributario (m) tributary

Trimestre (m) quarter, period of 3 months

Tumor (m) tumor

Tumulto (m) tumult

Túnel (m) tunnel

Tutor (m) tutor, guardian

Uniformidad (f) uniformity

Unión (f) union

Universo (m) universe

Uso (m) use

Vacación (f) vacation

Vacancía (f) vacancy

Valle (m) valley

Valuación (f) valuation, appraisal

Vanidad (f) vanity

Vapor (m) vapour, steam, mist

Variación (f) variation

Vasto (adj) vast

Vegetación (f) vegetation

Vehículo (m) vehicle

Velocidad (f) velocity

Vena (f) vein

Ventilación (f) ventilation

Veracidad (f) truthfulness

Versión (f) versión; translation

Verso (m) verse

Vestibula (m) vestibule, lobby

Veto (m) veto

Vibración (f) vibration

Victima (f) victim

Victoria (f) victory, triumph

Vigor (m) vigor

Violación (f) violation

Violin (m) violin

Virgen (f) virgin

Visa (f) visa

Visión (f) vision, sight

Vitalidad (f) vitality

Vivacidad (f) vivacity, brightness, liveliness

Vocación (f) vocation

Voltaje (m) voltage

Volumen (m) volume

Votación (f) voting

Yarda (f) yard (unit of measure)

HOW TO BUY PROPERTY WISELY IN COSTA RICA!

Jaco Beach Real Estate

Costa Rica real estate Buyers tips, info and legal advice from CR Beach Investment Real Estate, famous for being “uncompromisingly honest.”
UPDATE: JULY 15, 2021 
Thanks for visiting our Wise Buying Property blog page, because now is the time while we still have a few properties left, as the past 6 months there has been a “buying frenzy.” .   Check with your favorite airlines because there are still a few deals out there! Also know we regularly update our info regarding rules and regulations set by the Costa Rican government and the U.S. Embassy.

YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CR BEACH’S CONSUMER PROTECTION:
How we protect you when buying Costa Rican property?
1. We use a Costa Rica-Central Bank licensed Escrow company; your funds are released only with your signed permission!
2. After you receive your lawyer’s Due Diligence property report, you may cancel the sale & receive your full deposit back, minus only the lawyers’ (up to $500) Due Diligence research fee:

 SUPER QUICK ANSWERS TO YOUR FAQ’S:
1.Yes you, can buy any Costa Rica property with the exact same rights as a Costa Rican,  (except for the “Zona Maritima or concession zone” properties, and we’ll tell you why, further below).  
2.Costa Rica has a very modern, digital online computerized system for registering properties, called the Registro Nacional, and everybody has the right to research all registered properties-it’s kind of complicated, but google has videos that can explain it really well. 
3. Despite a few bad apples here, we do have some great attorneys, and trustworthy realtors who will help you get the best deal possible, while your money is being protected with U.S. style Escrow services regulated by the Costa Rican Central Bank system (SUJEF).  REMEMBER, Money does not leave Escrow without your authorization. PLUS my Intent to Purchase Agreements even contain a BUYERS’ remorse clause….
4. RECENTLY UPDATED:   Almost all properties (homes-land-businesses-vehicles) WERE put into a corporation for a variety of reasons, your protection from lawsuits; easier to sell or transfer the property; and other reasons of privacy.HOWEVER DUE TO RECENT CHANGES REGARDING “INACTIVE” CORPORATIONS, MAYBE A CORPORATION IS NOT THE BEST WAY FOR YOU!  PLEASE DISCUSS with your attorney!.
5. Realtors don’t have to be licensed yet, but soon they will be, and in conjunction with the two existing Realtor associations, the CCCBR and the CRGAR. Many of us also adhere to the Rules of Ethics as promoted by the National Association of Realtors USA. (Mine is International Realtor ® Certificate of Membership #061212737 National Association of REALTORS®)
6. All the scary stuff of buying property in Costa Rica happens when the Buyer doesn’t use a real estate professional nor a recommended attorney.  After more than 26 years here, we know which professionals you can trust, as our experience has taught us to be very selective.
7. Ever since the beginning of 2017, the purchase process here has become a little more difficult in following the Escrow agreement procedures, thanks to the process called Apostille. Now the good news is that it’s a lot easier to get an Apostille stamp from your nearest Secretary of State’s office than it used to be when you had to find the nearest Costa Rican consulate and pray that they were open. The Apostille stamp certifies that the notary public that stamped your other Escrow requested documents is an officially licensed Notary, and each U.S. Secretary of States’ offices which stamp the official document are always open except for U.S. holidays.More info is contained below, but feel free to call OR email us with any of your questions,  We’ll be glad to help! We also recommend for online legal advice: Roger Peterson:  https://costaricalaw.com/  

in Costa Rica: 011-(506) 4702-0808  TRY WHATSAPP, ITS FREE, EASY, +1 (506) 8388-5055 We also have Skype: crbeachjeff_

Do I Really Need To Use A Realtor Or Broker In Costa Rica?Of course, the answer is yes!   Costa Rica is not the 51st U.S. state, but a fiercely proud independent country with their own system of laws and ways of doing things. Just because you remember some high school spanish and have the courage to drive in a foreign land, should not give you the confidence that you can  find “deals” on your own. 
When you hear about the “gringo price” and the “locals” price,  of course thats true if you are trying to find a property on your own, by driving around a neighborhood. Of course, the “local” in every country on this planet will tell you, the foreigner in a big fancy car, the highest price they can think of in that moment, just to see your reaction.  
Also know this, usually, the better deal is from the foreign seller that needs that cash, now.  We know exactly what you should be paying, and will fight for the lowest price possible. Many a Seller trying to list their property for a “dream price” has left our office shaking their head after hearing Jeff’s famous, “that price is not even close to reality, sorry, I can’t offer it for that price.” 

Should i Use a San Jose Real Estate Brokerage for Properties for the beach?  Would you call a San Francisco realtor if you wanted property in Los Angeles? It’s the same thing here. Locals know the areas, the great advantages, and the conditions to watch out for. 
We know that you worked hard for your money, and we want to see you make a wise investment with us, as well as your friends and relatives, too!!!   We will help you select the perfect property, attorney and other experts, assist with financing, and provide you with realistic price comparables and “no bull” market analysis. We can enlighten you to the realities of Costa Rican bureacracy, assist in the discoveries of the hidden treasures found amongst us, but most importantly we will protect your investment–this is why you use a local realtor–especially CR Beach Investment Real Estate.  

Can A Foreigner Buy And Sell Property In Costa Rica?
Ownership of real estate in Costa Rica by foreigners is fully guaranteed by the Costa Rican constitution. In addition, foreigners enjoy the same ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens, regardless of whether the property is placed in the name of a corporation or in the name of an individual. The only exception to this is in regards to concession lands, which will be discussed later.

Step By Step Through The Purchase Process and how CR Beach protects you more than other real estate companies:
These are the basics that a purchaser follows when buying a property in Costa Rica:
1. Sign a Letter of Intent (aka Intent to Purchase Agreement) which contains the basic facts of the property; the price you are offering; a few details about the Buyers; time elements of the deal, and as many specifics to the deal known at the time. Signatures of Buyers and Sellers must be on the last page, initials on the previous pages, which will then be presented to the Escrow company and your Attorney. 2. If you are in Costa Rica, we suggest you make a small deposit via cash or even credit card, usually $500 to show the Seller you are serious and to take it off the market (usually for 5-10 days after you have returned home.) This $500 is given to your Attorney to initiate the Due Diligence process and later this will be a credit in your Closing Costs.  Any questions:call tollfree 888-782-1119.3. Wire Transfers are part of the process established by the “real” Escrow Company (REGULATED by Costa Rica’s Central Bank Approved Financial Authority SUJEF currently www.STLA.net  ).
ATTENTION: As of 2015: There are many more requirements as established by SUJEF prior to the Escrow company being permitted to send you the wire instructions. 
a. There has to be a signed Intent to Purchase Agreement by both Seller and Buyer for them to start. b. They require proof of funds and completion of a form called KYC: Know Your Client,  and this paperwork must be completed prior to the Escrow company sending you the wiring instructions.  Please remember that wire transfers from the U.S. or Canada typically take 2-3 business days AND please include the extra fees that the banks charge here for receiving them $35-$50 per transfer.*NO FUNDS WILL EVER BE RELEASED FROM ESCROW WITHOUT YOUR SIGNED AUTHORIZATION!
4. We will introduce you to our area’s most respected Attorneys, who will speak and write in English, and they will be happy to converse with you regarding any legal matters you may have, from the purchase of property, to the choice of corporation type, to residency requirements. Best online legal info is: www.costaricalaw.com   5. When you are comfortable with the lawyer, and you have correctly filled out all the documents required to open up the Escrow Account,  you will be sent wiring instructions as ONLY THEN can your funds be wired into Costa Rica to the authorized Escrow Account opened by the prestigious Scotiabank.
6. Due Diligence will then be initiated and generally takes from 1 week to 10 days, only rarely does it take 2 weeks or longer.   The DD will include complete Title and Corporation research, performed by your Lawyer.
In Costa Rica, all notaries must be attorneys, and are registered with the Bar Association, (Colegio de Abogados).

 7.  CR Beach always protects you by giving you up to 36 hours from receiving the Due Diligence report, to decide to if you wish to continue with your purchase.  For any reason, if you decide to not continue with the purchase, you will be charged only the $500 (negotiable!) for the Lawyer’s legal fees, and be required to provide a banking address for your refund if other funds were submitted.  You must send an email stating your intentions!8. Closing will then occur after you have seen the Closing costs detailed by the Escrow company; proof of the receipt of the final transfer of funds; then the actual Closing where the complete explanation of all documents are explained to you in English or Spanish; the execution of transfer deed, and if the corporation is being transferred to the Buyers there is the endorsement of shares,  and the change of officers form.In the not too common sale where the Seller is financing a portion, there will be a  mortgage deed and the complete list of the future required payments. These days either the Sellers or the Buyers do have the option to not be present in Costa Rica for the closing, but they will have to have appointed a Power of Attorney to someone who will sign on their behalf.  These documents authorizing the POA are signed first in front of a Notary Public in the country where the Buyer/Seller resides, then scanned back immediately and later sent by Fedex/UPS to Costa Rica.9. Your lawyer will submit all paperwork to the Public Registry (Registro Nacional) and then in about 9-12 weeks, you will receive official title. CR Beach will ensure that you are protected, every step of the way!  

How Much Are The Closing Costs?
 The old custom was for the Buyer and Seller to share equally in the closing costs, because in many cases, to reduce legal fees, the buyer and seller used the same attorney.For the years up to 2013, if the Seller was providing a clean, easily transferable corporation, the Buyer was responsible for paying the closing costs, because the Seller had provided his “value” or financial contribution to the transaction, this was always less than 2%. Not any more! This all changed starting in 2013 BUT MOST RECENTLY, JULY 1ST, 2019:The 2012 Costa Rica Property Transfer Tax Law provides that all new real estate transfers will be subject to a 1.5% transfer tax. In addition, when the property is transferred and recorded in the National Registry, additional fees for registration and “stamps” will be added to the closing costs as well, .08%. This means that if you want 100% complete “peace of mind” you can pay $550-$900 for a new corporation, plus the extra .08% of the selling price to the National Registry and place the property in a brand new corporation.This is the #1 method to protect yourself from any legal liabilities that might be the responsibility of the prior corporation, and i agree!Thus, the total cost of a real estate closing transaction will be somewhere around 2.3% of the selling price for the Buyers and about 2% for the Sellers (plus Sellers pay the real estate commission + the 13% tax on that commission-negotiable?), with the Buyer paying extra fees for the cost and registration of the new corporation, and wire transfer fees and escrow. This can all be negotiated however, as when certain times the Seller stands firm with his selling price, and says, “I will agree to this price but you pay all closing costs, I will pay only the realtor’s commission.”  Some realtors are making the Purchase price offer to include the Buyers paying all the closing fees, and there are some smart negotiating tactics reasons for this.     Also important to note is that if the Seller is financing any portion of the sale, or the Buyer has miraculously secured bank financing (extremely difficult especially for foreign buyers), then the Buyer IS responsible for paying ALL closing costs.Thus for the Buyers to get the best possible price, we now recommend making anall cash offer, as this can save you from 10-25% off the purchase price!

How Is Title Transferred?
What Legal Documents will the Buyer receive?When buying property in Costa Rica, property is transferred from seller to buyer by executing a transfer deed ( escritura ) before a lawyer-notary, except when merely transferring shares of a corporation, which has become the norm HOWEVER, this all changed in January 2013. Unlike common law countries, such as the United States and Canada, where the role of the notary is limited to authenticating signatures, in Costa Rica the public notary must be an attorney!  They have extensive power to act on behalf of the state as they draft and interpret legal documents, and authenticate and certify the authenticity of documents.Once a transfer deed is accepted for registration, the Public Registry will return the original document with all the documentary stamps affixed to it and properly sealed. Assuming no defects in the transfer deed, it should be registered by the Public Registry within 25 to 60 days after presentation. Your completed transaction package will be provided to you by your attorney and will contain: 
A) Due diligenceB) Transfer deed c) Corporate books and by-laws d) Certificate of incorporation e) Escrow disbursements) New title certificate. Please note, that as required by Costa Rican law, all documents (except the Due Diligence report), will be in Spanish. However you can pay extra and your lawyer can get those documents translated into English (or French, German, Mandarin, or Portugues!) 

How Much Are The Yearly Property Taxes?
 Frankly, this is one of those fantastic reasons to buy property in Costa Rica!  Property taxes (Municipal Taxes) are supposed to be only ¼ of 1% of the declared value. Thus for every $100,000, the property tax is supposed to be only $250 ANNUALLY. But it’s usually less-except for those in luxury tax zones.Unfortunately the Costa Rican government is not receiving what they should for property taxes, usually because of pre-registered values and the neighbors pressure to “not rock the boat.”  Coincidentally this percentage is about the same to purchase home-owners insurance, and yet many choose NOT to have it.Be aware that a new luxury tax was approved in the wealthier areas of CR, and levied at about the same one fourth of one percent, yet, this doesn’t seem to be very well enforced.
This year the law says that its only for the construction of a home worth more than $234,000 after depreciation. If the home has that value, then the land is added to the amount and the tax is figured from there. IN some cases, this would mean an annual property tax of $2000 of homes worth over $800,000.  This tax is administered at the municipal level and can be paid quarterly.  The type of property, location and other factors contribute to the calculation of this tax and MUST be shown to be fully paid immediately prior to transferring title.

What About Capital Gains Taxes?
There are new laws since July 1st, 2019 regarding paying taxes for properties that show personal capital gain tax. Please consult an attorney as its not as bad as it seems. Lots of exemptions…..

Who Pays The Sales Commission?
The most common way is that the Seller pays the commission to the realtor/broker at closing and typically 5 but up to 7%. The buyer or purchaser does not have to pay any commission when buying property in Costa Rica, UNLESS you have chosen this method with your Broker, and he acts 100% as a “Buyers Agent” and provides you with a Buyers’-Broker’s Agreement.  There are advantages to this strategy (as an honest broker, i am happy to do this) as many times the Seller wants to know exactly how much will go into his pocket, or the Seller thinks because he will never be in Costa Rica again, he will skip out on paying. Be aware that if the Seller skips out, they may find that the actual sale can be blocked at the Registro Nacional, and thus will lose (or have blocked) 100% of the expected funds, (versus only the 3-7% they had previously agreed to pay out.
The Seller is responsible also for a 13% tax on the commission that was paid, (since 2013) and this is in lieu of a “capital gains tax” the CR government has been trying for years to impose.The sales tax (impuesto de ventas) or value-added tax (VAT) is 13%. ONLY calculated over the real estate commission, not over the sales price of the property. It is always paid by the SELLER, (Ley de Impuesto General sobre las Ventas: Ley 6826, Articles: 1.n – 2.d – 3.c)  Just remember, overall, taxes in Costa Rica are a lot cheaper than the U.S. !!!

Can I Have The Title Of Property In My Own Name?
The decision to have the property that you are buying in Costa Rica in your own personal name or in the name of a corporation is strictly up to the investor. To put it in the name of a corporation is very common; it can offer benefits of asset protection, anonymity for the actual owner, and makes title transfer easier and these days, a little cheaper.  However since new laws of July 2019, many property purchasers are now putting the title in their own name, and this will save them some money, yearly! A valid passport for 2-4 representatives (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer-all can be foreigners) is the only requirement for a foreigner to form a corporation in Costa Rica; the cost ranges from $600-$900 in most cases. More corporation info will be found on this website or costaricalaw.com  

Can I buy or need Title insurance in Costa Rica?   
SHORT ANSWER: no,Costa Rica used to have “title insurance providers”   (Stewart Title, Chicago Title companies and some others) but these companies were ruled to be unnecessary and illegal about 2011.  The success of Costa Rica’s new Registro Nacional with its’ improved and fully digital changeover starting in 1997, meant that all attorneys, could use this modern Costa Rican Registro Nacional system faster and more accurately to confirm that a property had clean title with proper ownership. The main Registro Nacional is located in Zapote, San Jose with many branches throughout Costa Rica.   In the event that adjustments are needed for any given title, these alterations must be recorded at any Registro Nacional. The Public Registry report (Informe Registral)  that most anybody can now access, provides detailed information on the property, including the name of the title holder, boundary lines, tax appraisal, liens, mortgages, recorded easements, and other recorded instruments that would affect title.  Of course for accurate Due Diligence, the corporations that almost always own the property are thoroughly investigated in a different government entity. Please note: Stewart Title used to offer title insurance in Costa Rica, and stopped around 2011.We highly applaud and recommend their evolvement into a legitimate excellent Escrow services provider STLA, Secure Title Latin America     https://stla.net/offices/secure-title-latin-america-costa-rica-office/   This is who most intelligent lawyers/realtors are using to protect their Buyers’ funds because it’s not easy to get an Escrow account to be approved, (proving that all funds are from legitimate sources), CR Beach protects you with the Escrow service because: NO BUYERS’ FUNDS can be released without the Buyers’ signed approval of the closing statement. They have been great and we are so thrilled that they have added a small branch office in Jaco!
 
Do I Need To Have Residency To Purchase  Property?
No, it is not necessary to have residency to buy property in Costa Rica. You can buy with your tourist status. Living here is another matter, as a foreigner and tourist you have to leave the country for 72 hours once every 3 months in order to renew your legal status in Costa Rica. Some of the foreigners without residency enjoy traveling and visiting Nicaragua or Panama for a couple of days, or go back home for a short trip,  or discover more of Central America in order to renew their visa.There are many forms of residency available, we can help you to contact an attorney who can assist you in determining what residency status would work for you. If you plan on living here year round, you will find it easier if you have legal residency.  There are several ways to find a good Residency lawyer, just ask!
How Can I Get Residency In Costa Rica?   There are several ways to get a residency here, with different types, such as Pensionado, Rentista or Inversionista. It depends on your individual situation; we recommend consulting a lawyer regarding residency.For all residency requirements and updates we highly recommend: such as:  www.arcr.net  or   www.residencyincostarica.com   and there are others too.The easiest? way is to fall in love and marry a Costa Rican. They recently have changed the divorce laws, so now, its no longer  3 years before one can file for the divorce.
The government has cracked down a little on obvious “fake” marriages, so if you are serious, we suggest meeting your “soul mate” thru the few reputable and legit Costa Rican “introductory services” . Residency requirements include paying the “Caja.”When you apply for CR residency you are required to join CAJA and pay into the government health care system. The fee is determined by your monthly income minus expenses, your age, and how they feel at the time? It is a reasonable price for an medical emergency, but I would not count on it as your primary medical system. I pay to see private doctors who are fairly inexpensive, as compared to cost in California, U.S., and usually we all get very good medical care for our needs. If you have preexisting conditions, fortunately that doesn’t even matter to CAJA, just need to pay into the system every month and then wait and wait and wait. My recommendation is what i did, join Blue Cross-Blue Shield, that they sell here, and my agent is Freddy Obando.  I also recommend Freddy, (excellent English) for home & auto insurance.
 
What Are The Regulations Regarding “Zona Maritima or “Concession zone” Beach Front Properties?
A very controversial subject, as many realtors won’t tell you upfront if its in the Concession Zone or in Spanish> Zona Maritima.  When buying property located on or very close to Costa Rica’s beaches, you should be aware of the following:In ALL of COSTA RICA, the first 50 meters (for linear feet x 3.28=164 feet) from the mean tide mark CANNOT LEGALLY be built on by anybody, anywhere in the country, as it is considered public beach.
An estimated 93-95% of Costa Rican beaches fall under a category known as the Maritime Zone Law, (Zona Maritima). Thus to the first 50 meters or 164 feet add another 150 meters or 492 feet.   This 150 meters is subject to the Maritime Zone Law and the ICT administers the granting of Concessions. There are some disputed properties whose owners claim that since the property was registered prior to 1973, in which case it has full title and can be transferred as such and called “titled to the 50 meter line”). 
 Concession property operates as a leasehold agreement with the Costa Rican ICT, (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) and the local Municipality and we strongly urge caution when purchasing this type of property.   We at CR Beach will sell you “concession land” ONLY after you show us a letter, email, or quick note from your attorney stating that you have been advised about any potential risks.
The ICT is also responsible to declare the tourist or non-tourist areas at the maritime zones. At this point it is important to clarify that only private people or companies from Costa Rica may develop tourism projects in maritime spaces, as well as those foreign companies whose 50 percent of its capital belongs to Costa Rican citizens.

Restrictions when approving a concession on public land:
Article 47 of the Maritime-Terrestrial Law establishes, in general, the people or companies that cannot receive a concession:
– Foreigners who haven’t resided in the country for at least five years
– Companies (sociedades anónimas) with bearer shares
– Companies or entities domiciled abroad
– Entities founded in the country by foreigners
– Entities whose shares, quotas or capital (more than 50 percent) are in hands of foreigners. In other words, you as a foreign investor CANNOT OWN MORE THAN 49% OF  THE CORPORATION THAT PURCHASES THE CONCESSION LAND!
The management of a concession requires the work of legal experts, as before applying to a maritime zone concession, a rigorous research of the land is required, especially in areas without a Plano Regulator included in the Law 6043.   Besides, all the Costa Rican municipalities handle a different regulatory plan, so the paperwork to apply for each concession can vary.
The fact is that after having lived in Costa Rica for over 28 years, i have witnessed major multi-million dollar hotel projects that really are built on concession land throughout Costa Rica, (4 Seasons, Hilton, W hotels, Riu 2 hotels) without any problems, thus it must not be that risky if you have deep pockets for lawyers….All in all, an investment in shoreline property regulated by the Maritime Zoning Law requires extra caution and thorough investigation.  Like how many nights can an owner of a concession zone condo be allowed to stay in their condo during a calender year? Yes that’s part of the regulations!
 There are ambiguities that exist within the written law, so that as regulations are created and amended, rights to property may also change, so remember your rights are not as well respected when compared to major hotel chains who received double the length of concession zone time limits! I have seen the ICT take away 500m2 of beachfront from a small hotel, in Playa Hermosa, in 2010,  thus all the warnings I am providing to you!
Even if you get a concession, there are no guarantees that the concessions will be renewed or that the price of the concession or the yearly canon will be within reason. The fact remains that you are not purchasing property, you are leasing it and you must be willing to accept that risk.   

Costa Rican Corporate Structures:  Types Of Legal Business Organizations
There were changes made in 2019/2020, so consult your attorney!)  Thanks to Roger Peterson for his  “excellent current  legal internet advise” check out: www.costaricalaw.com  or others on google, for information that is no more than 1 year old.  
Purchase Of Land Through Costa Rican Corporations I used to have lots of info here, but now I insist you ask an attorney because there have been lots of changes in the past 2 years, and besides, thats what you pay them for!

What Does It Cost To Build In Costa Rica?We have known people to pay as low as $58 per square foot and as high as $150 a square foot.  I say, on average $100 sq.ft, but if you speak spanish, then knock off 10% and if you have building experience then knock off other 5%. (or vice-versa).Building Versus Buying An Existing Home? Depends on the market. Now it’s cheaper to buy built, in a majority of cases, unless you are an experience builder that can construct multiple units for resale purposes. 

What’s The Process To Build?  There is a licensing body for architects and engineers, Colegio de Ingenieros y Arquitectos, which sets standards for fees should you decide to build. These prices however are not chiseled in concrete! Of course it is much easier to buy property already established, but if you must build, it is strongly advised that you have prior building experience, speak some Spanish, or have a solid recommendation for either the construction company or an architect.   Costa Rica offers a wide  availability of good quality construction materials, reputable contractors and construction companies. Most construction meets or exceeds California’s seismic codes, due to the low price of concrete. Hardwoods  and imported tile are cheaper than the U.S. and laborers are plentiful from Nicaragua.  There are many builders we can recommend, with proven track records.)

The following is from www.costaricalaw.com who we endorse as highly reputable:All architects and engineers in Costa Rica must be licensed by the Costa Rican Association of Engineers and Architects (olegio Federado de Ingenieros y Ingenieros y Arquitectos-CFIA). This governing body establishes the fee schedule that can be charged by its members. Most fees are based upon a percentage of the value of the construction project.
According to the regulations of the CFIA (Reglamento para la Contratación de Servicios de Consultoría en Ingeniería y Arquitectura), the involvement of a licensed architect/engineer in a construction project is separated into two phases. Phase 1 is construction plans and permits and Phase 2 is control and execution.  Preliminary studies (estudios preliminaries): 0.5 percent. These studies may or may not be required, depending on the scope of the project.
Preproject design (anteproyecto): 1.0 to 1.5 percent. Generally, during this stage, the architect/engineer will meet with the client in order to discuss the client’s construction requirements. With this information, the architect/engineer will prepare drafts of the proposed construction project for review by the client. These drafts should include site planning and preliminary work drawings. When you contract for this service be sure you agree with your architect/engineer before hand on what he or she is going to provide for you.

Construction plans and technical specifications (planos de construcción y especificaciones técnicas): 4.0 percent. This is one of the most important steps in the overall construction project since execution of the project will depend upon the quality and accuracy of your construction plans. Once you and your architect/engineer have agreed on the layout and design of the project, she or he will begin drafting the plans. In Costa Rica, a complete set of plans should include a site plan, distribution plan, elevation and transversal and longitude perspectives, roof design and drainage, design of footings and support beams, structural plans, electrical design, mechanical and sanitary system design, as well as a plan that details all of the interior finishings of the construction.Budgeting (presupuesto): 0.5 percent for global budgeting; 1.0 percent for itemized budgeting. Here the architect/engineer prepares a materials list based upon your construction plans and prepares a construction budget for you. 

Construction Permits–Another View of the Construction Process:Phase 1. Construction plans and permits. This phase is further subdivided into several distinct professional services that can be provided to the client by the architect/engineer. The percentages cited below are those that the CFIA has established as minimum chargeable fees.Supervision (Dirección técnica): 5 percent. This requires more direct involvement by the architect/engineer in the day-to-day operation of the project.Administration (Administración): 12 percent. Here, the architect/engineer takes complete responsibility for the execution and completion of the project.The option you choose will depend upon the type of project involved, the reliability of your builder/general contractor, and the amount of time you are willing to dedicate to the construction project. All told, phases 1 and 2 can range from 9 percent to 18 percent of the estimated value of the construction project, depending on the amount of services required. It is common practice to negotiate fees with the Architect AND engineer. Most, of course, will be eager for your business and, depending on the scope of the project will be willing to work out an agreement tailored to your particular needs. Otherwise, have your Attorney do the negotiating for you to ensure that you will get the best agreement possible.

Before you sign any contract, be sure that you understand the fee structure and know exactly what is and is not included in the fee and clearly define the responsibilities that your architect/engineer are going to assume. Do the same thing with your general contractor and any subcontractors.

ALL FEES ARE NEGOTIABLE!!!Before you purchase a lot with the intent of building on it, you should conduct some preliminary studies on the property to ensure that there won’t be a problem obtaining a building permit.

Due Diligence studies include:
1. Determine if the lot has basic services such as water, electricity, telephone, and drainage.2. Determine there are no restrictions placed on the lot that could result in the denial of a construction permit. It will not be enough to check the Public Registry. You should also check the local Muni first, especially by someone, lawyer or architect, who has communication Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte) for future road construction projects; the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud); the National Institute of Housing and Urban Development (Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo) and the municipality where the property is located (municipalidad).3. Investigate if there are any environmental regulation that may effect your construction project, such as national wildlife refuges and areas deemed protected by the forestry Law. (see MINAE and SETENA below).Requests for construction permits are filed with the Permit Reception Office (Oficina Receptora de Permisos de Construcción), which is a centralized office that houses government representatives from MOPT (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes-roads), INVU (Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo- housing), ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad-telephone), AYA (Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados-water), SNE (Servicio Nacional de Electricidad-electricity), CFIA (Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos), and the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud).For a single family home that measures more than 70 m2 (735.2 ft.2), the applicant must provide the following documentation: four copies of the construction plans, four copies of the property cadastre plot plan (Plano catastrado), four copies of the permit checklist (hoja de comisión), two copies of your property deed (escritura), one copy of the consulting contract with your architect/engineer (contrato de consultoria), an approval from the water company (AYA) regarding availability of water, and one copy of your electrical design plan approved by SNE. Condominium projects, commercial construction, and urbanization projects all carry additional requirements for obtaining construction permits.In addition to these requirements, you will need to request a building permit from the municipality in which the property is located.

By law it is the municipality that is delegated the responsibility to ensure that all constructions comply with building regulations (Article 1, Construction Law). You can, therefore, expect periodic visits to your construction site by the municipal building inspector, who must certify that the construction is proceeding according to code.We don’t mean to scare you with the above information, but to be well informed will eliminate future problems. We are experiencing a building boom currently, so it is possible to follow procedures and get things done right.Phase 2. Control and execution. This stage involves the actual construction and project supervision. The regulations authorize three kinds of supervisory tasks, each of which requires a larger time investment from the architect/engineer. Inspection (Inspección): 3 percent of total construction value.
Here your architect/engineer will visit the construction site at least once a week and will inspect it to ensure that the plan specifications are being followed by the general contractor. They will also verify the quality of the materials being used and review invoices being presented by the general contractor. We don’t mean to scare you with the above information, but to be well informed will eliminate future problems. CR Beach will help ensure you have the greatest chance for success in Costa Rica. Who are MINAE and SETENA?Minae is the Ministry of Energy and the Environment which governs and enforces the environmental laws in effect here in Costa Rica. Minae is entrusted with protecting ecosystems and species and can be called upon to file denuncias or legal charges in cases of environmental damage by Costa Ricans and foreigners alike. Indeed, in Costa Rica, Article 50 of the Constitution gives all HUMANS the right to enjoy a healthy and balanced natural environment and provides that the STATE or government will guarantee and preserve this right for all.  All permits for cutting trees and general aspects of land use are delimited by MINAE in accordance with these environmental laws. Therefore, if your property contains primary or secondary jungle, rivers, streams or springs, your use is strictly limited and should be investigated with authorities in your area to avoid serious civil and criminal penalties. Moreover, if any of these trees are rivers or springs are situated on steep mountain slopes, the laws governing construction are different.
MINAE works in conjunction with local Municipalites as well as with SETENA, the Technical Environmental Secretary charged with evaluating environmental impact incurred with all development projects. You need a Technical Study or Estudio Technico to move forward with any kind of development or construction activity, and there are private companies that can assist you with these studies, check www.deppat.com.
Many properties are part of a Municipal Zoning Plan or Plan Reguladora. In this case, your local Municipal government can tell you if a plan exists for your area, OR IS IN THE WORKS, and give you any regulations set forth therein. Any activities carried out on your property must be permitted by the zoning plan. Moreover, if your property is in a coastal zone or Zona Maritima, you must request special permits from the Municipal government as well from the Tourism Institute (ICT) to carry out any kind of construction or tourism activity.  Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE)Information Office Headquarters www.minae.go.cr/      https://www.minae.go.cr/setena/  SETENA PHONE NUMBER: 2234-3367  EMAIL: setena@minae.go.cr    FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: https://www.tramites.go.cr/  

Can I Use IRS 1031 Exchanges or IRAs For Costa Rica Real Estate?  
Yes, for those U.S. citizens who are sophisticated investors looking for unique real estate investment avenues, we recommend that you consult with your tax professional for the best strategies tailored to your specific needs.

KNOW YOUR CLIENT laws were first passed in 2009 Regarding Client information legally required to be provided to Banks, Escrow and Insurance Companies:  Still in effect today!  INS – which is still the only Costa Rican state sponsored insurance company operating in this country – has integrated a Compliance Office, with a full-time staff to make sure of full compliance, because the consequences are expensive if a financial institution is found to be in non-compliance!  INS is now getting serious. Their first objective is to improve, update and complete a data base of its clients, known as Base Unificada de Clientes, or “BUC”. To do this, it has ruled that as of July 1st, 2009, applications for new insurance or applications to modify existing policies must attach a form “Información del Cliente” OR KNOW YOUR CLIENT, without which INS simply will not process applications. Excepted are the simpler one-shot policies, such as Flight insurance, Students’ insurance, Traveller’s Accident insurance, etc. The form is detailed, and requires from the client the usual identity and contact information. If the client is a corporation, the information is required of the corporation itself and also of the person representing the corporation (“apoderado”), whose power-of-attorney (“personería”) must be attached.  The form must be signed by the client or the legal representative, if a corporation. Must attach:- Copies of the client’s and signer’s ID’s.- Proof of address (light, phone, or water bill)- Proof of income and sources of income.- “Personería” of the signer (for corporations.)Once a client has complied by filling out the “Información del Cliente” the Know Your Client form and providing the additional info, hopefully there will be no more disclosure requirements from that client for a while.

ONE MORE PIECE OF ADVICE:
When you consult a U.S. attorney and/or accountant regarding THEIR thoughts about YOUR purchasing a property in Costa Rica, please make sure they ARE FAMILIAR with buying properties in foreign lands or better yet, Costa Rica, regarding your future taxes, or expense write-offs,or especially Trusts-Wills-Inheritances. If they aren’t experienced in this area, please get a personal recommendation from them for someone that is. 

BE PREPARED but please consider this:
Costa Ricans are very proud of their country, their laws, their heritage & reputation; and legalities that exist in the U.S. may not have any legal relevance here.  This is the same reason why U.S. Banks cannot provide loans on Costa Rican properties.
This is a great country of laws in a different system than the U.S., (Costa Rica Civil Law vs U.S. Common Law) so don’t even think about suing someone here nor even verbally threatening to sue, because people will look at you and smile, thinking, “oh these poor naive tourists”, lol…  

It’s important you find a great attorney here, recommended by either your realtor or your Embassy, and if necessary, hire three to get a definite answer!!!
Pura Vida!

Jaco Beach Real Estate

CONTACT US:
TEL in Costa Rica:  4702-0808 (011 country code, 506 area code)
WHATSAPP  +1 (506) 8388-5055 at no charge 
SKYPE: crbeachjeff      Email: jeff@crbeach.com