Homes & Real Estate: Renting First, Buying & Due Diligence
Foreigners in Costa Rica enjoy the same constitutional fee-simple ownership rights as citizens for titled property. Whether you should rent first or purchase a lock-and-leave condominium depends on how well you know your target neighborhood, how many months per year you will occupy the home, and how carefully you conduct legal due diligence with an independent Notary Public.
Our Publisher's Real Estate Businesses & How to Use Them
In full transparency, CanadaCostaRica.com is published by Joshua ten Brink, whose real estate businesses serve three distinct housing needs in Costa Rica:
- Serena Condos in Playas del Coco (SerenaCondo.com): Low-density 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom gated condominiums (~85 m² + terrace, plus 15 m² flex mezzanine on 3rd floor) with only 2 units per floor and an elevator in every 3-story building, ~25 minutes from Liberia Airport (LIR) and ~5 minutes from Playas del Coco beach. Prices from the $320's USD (no ocean views; planned delivery November 2027).
- RealtyCostaRica.com: Broader property search and buyer/rental assistance across Guanacaste and Costa Rica.
- CasaFavorita.com: Curated residential real estate and relocation housing in Escazú, Santa Ana, and the San José Central Valley.
Cornerstone Guides in This Section
Playas del Coco Relocation Guide: Neighborhoods, Costs & Everyday Life
Our deepest community guide for Canadians considering Playas del Coco (Coco Beach)—comparing Las Palmas, the Coco–Ocotal corridor, hillside estates, supermarkets, clinics, and condo options.
Guanacaste Versus the Central Valley: How to Choose Your Region
Comparing northern Guanacaste's sunny beach towns (Playas del Coco, Flamingo, Tamarindo) against the Central Valley's spring-like mountain suburbs (Escazú, Santa Ana) across 8 household criteria.
Renting Before Buying in Costa Rica: Lease Rules, Costs & Strategy
Why most newcomers benefit from renting first, how Costa Rica's Law 7527 governs residential leases, what deposits and utilities cost, and when purchasing makes sense.
Buying a Condominium in Costa Rica: Legal Due Diligence & Ongoing Costs
How fee-simple condominium ownership works under Costa Rica's Law No. 7933, what a Finca Filial title search checks, how closing costs and property taxes are calculated, and how to evaluate HOA budgets.
Choosing an Independent Real Estate Attorney & Notary Public in Costa Rica
Why a Costa Rican Notary Public (Notario Público) is a specialized attorney with a bound protocol book, how to verify credentials online, and why buyers should always retain independent counsel.
Serena Condos: A Home Base in Playas del Coco
Verified Playas del Coco location, 3BR/2BA floor plans, elevator access, dated October 2026 construction photos, Prices from the $320's, HOA estimates, and buyer due diligence.
Explore All 12 Community Guides
Download “The Canada-to-Costa Rica Moving Checklist” & Plan Your Move
Organize your relocation around research, professional tax and legal advice, a structured scouting visit, housing decisions, Canadian departure preparation, and arrival in Costa Rica.
What the 6-Stage Moving Checklist Covers:
- Stage 1 — Canadian Groundwork: Provincial health rules (OHIP, MSP, RAMQ, AHCIP), CRA tax-residency checklist, and document apostilles/authentications.
- Stage 2 — Professional Consultations: Questions for cross-border tax accountants and Colegio-registered Costa Rican immigration attorneys.
- Stage 3 — The Scouting Visit: Dry-season vs. green-season community comparisons in Guanacaste and the Central Valley.
- Stage 4 — Housing Decisions: Renting first vs. buying, Registro Nacional title checks, and condominium HOA due diligence.
- Stage 5 — Departure Preparation: Banking, pensions (CPP/OAS), prescriptions, pets (CFIA health certificates), and shipping vs. buying locally.
- Stage 6 — Arrival & Settling In: Utilities, fiber internet, driver's licence homologation, and DIMEX / CCSS enrollment.
Optional Relocation & Housing Inquiry
Tell us about your timeline and questions. Newsletter subscription and property follow-up are completely separate choices, and we never share your inquiry with an outside professional or business without your explicit permission.