Due to the financial crisis in the United States of America in 2008, Costa Rica was seriously affected in the real estate field, because most of the people that were buying or selling properties in Costa Rica, mainly in the Pacific and Caribbean area, were coming from the U.S.A. and some other foreign countries.

Buying or selling properties in Costa Rica

Since 2012 Costa Rica has been experiencing a new growth in real estate, which is why ERP & Associates Lawyers are offering a timely and proper legal counseling to their clients in order for them to make safe investments.

Whether national or foreigners want to buy or sell houses, lots, villas, farms, condos or apartments; or develop projects related to commerce (shopping centers or business premises) and tourism (hotels), our law firm will provide the best legal advice. We specialize in the following areas:

Real estate transactions in the buying or selling properties

This service extends to basically any kind of business related to a property, for example: Purchasing and selling of properties, houses and lots; rents; donations; family heritage and trusts, etc.

In this case, our priority will be to meet with the client and analyze its needs, with the purpose of offering a global legal advice and assuring he/she is choosing the best option in an efficient and most economical way.

Structuring and developing a project

It involves everything regarding the development of a project; from legal procedures such as municipal and construction permits, to the coordination of blueprints with the architect or engineer in charge. ERP also can guide you in hiring the necessary professionals to accomplish the project.

This service also includes the land´s use report and a research with the correspondent institutions to make sure that the project will be viable. This is known as the due diligence process.

Constitution of a Condominium

We take care of the process of submitting a property into a condominium regime, which includes the permits and blueprints. Once we have the permits and blueprints approved, ERP prepares the Public Deed, the regulations for the owners, and records the property at the Costa Rica Public Registry.

Financial options in the buying or selling properties

If our clients needs capital to buying or selling properties, or to start a real estate project, ERP has a strong relationship with leading Banks in Costa Rica, and will gladly help our clients to get the financing they need.

ERP Lawyers will coordinate directly the meeting between its clients and the bank officer, who will explain everything regarding the best loan options.

Possessory information

This is a legal procedure which consists on recording those properties where the owner does not have a title registered at the Public Registry.

In that regard, we do a preliminary study to verify that the client and the property comply with certain requirements established by law: that the owner has owned the property for more than 10 years, that the possession has been public, peaceful and notorious, and that the property is not under the name of a third party.

Concessions in Maritime Zone Areas, restricted and special lands

We assist our clients in presenting their application for the concession of a public property in favor of a private person or corporation.

A maritime zone, according to Costa Rican laws, is a fringe of 200 meters wide, along the entire Atlantic and Pacific seaboard of Costa Rica, measured horizontally from the line of the high tide; and also includes the lands and rocks uncovered during low tides.

Every county in Costa Rica manages a different kind of regulation plan, so we process -on behalf of our client- the concessions in maritime zones as well as on restricted and special areas, at the proper Municipality and according to its specific requirements.

Segregation and union of properties

We help our clients that are facing any of the following situations:

1. Have a property and want to split it in two or more lots
2. Want to unite several lots into one single property.

If you are thinking buying, selling properties or the starting a real estate project in Costa Rica or have any doubts regarding the real estate law in our country, please contact ERP Lawyers & Associates, where we’ll be pleased to guide you