Choosing a realtor to work with is difficult anywhere you go, Costa Rica is no exception, if you are in the process of moving to Costa Rica or you already live here but you need to find a new house or property to buy or rent, read along as we give you some advice on how to choose a real estate agent that will really help you and not make you waste your time and money.

The Costa Rican Chamber of Real Estate Brokers (CCCBR) is an association that gathers real estate professionals in the country and works towards having clear rules regarding the real estate market in Costa Rica. It has important alliances with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) the Latin American Real Estate Confederation and the Federation of Real Estate Chambers of Central America, Panama and the Caribbean (FECEPAC).

The CCCBR has been working for a long time on a proposal to establish mandatory real estate licensing by the government, which currently doesn’t exist in the country, but that would bring professionalization to this industry, providing buyers and sellers with more confidence and in general safer and transparent transactions.

Even though there is still not an estimated date on when this will happen, the CCCBR is a great alternative if you require information, need some questions answered or want to confirm the agent you are working with is reliable and experienced. Members of the association have to comply with certain requirements and they have professionals in different areas including: consultants; appraisal specialists; buying, selling and rental of properties, etc.

Using a real estate agent has a number of advantages:

1. Being a foreigner you want to make sure you have someone you can trust that understands what you are looking for and that will help you get exactly what you want. (Using a buyers agent is the way to go)

2. A local realtor will be familiar with the best areas to buy property in Costa Rica, the newest and best developments in terms of quality and price, and the best deals.

3. Their job is to know the history of a property from every aspect, even though they earn in every sale they make, they also know their reputation is what they depend on, so they need a satisfied client.

4. Professional realtors usually work with lawyers that also have experience in real estate transactions. They can also help you get your financing and legal questions answered. Don’t be afraid to get opinions from multiple lawyers before you choose who you would like to represent you in your purchase transaction.

When you are in the process of selecting a realtor to work with make sure to ask all the questions you need, the answers he/she provides will tell you whether they are the right pick for you; also make sure to explain in detail what you are looking for, what kind of property you are interested in buying (a lot, a house, an apartment), if you prefer a gated community or a stand-alone property, if this will be your main home or your vacation home, or a property you are simply looking to invest in and make an income from it. Always be honest about your budget and financial abilities, no one like to have their time wasted.

Do your own research when possible, for example here’s a few articles on some of the best places to live in Costa Rica and the 10 Best Places to buy a Vacation home in Costa Rica :

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica 

10 Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home in Costa Rica

Realtors have a responsibility to check on the status of each of the properties they show you including from a legal stand point, and make the information available to you, don’t be afraid to ask.

Many realtors already have developers they recommend or prefer to work with knowing that they carry out quality projects.For example if its office space you are looking for in San Jose Grupo Roble is one of the recommended developers by realtors , if it’s a beach house or vacation home you are looking to invest in,  Properties and Rentals is at the top of the list.

Choosing the right realtor can save you a lot of time and money and it will also give you the security of getting the property you want without hassles or problems.

They are the local area experts.