Costa Rica buyer's guide: closing costs, title and what to watch for

Typical closing costs

Budget roughly 3.5%–4.5% of the registered purchase price on top of the price itself. By custom the buyer and seller often split transfer costs, but everything is negotiable in the offer.

• Transfer tax: 1.5% of the registered value
• Registry stamps and fees: about 0.5%
• Notary/attorney fees: set by an official fee schedule, commonly around 1%–1.25%
• Escrow fee: usually a few hundred to around a thousand US dollars
• Corporation transfer or setup, if you buy through a company: a few hundred dollars plus annual corporate tax

How title works

Titled property is recorded in the National Registry (Registro Nacional) with a folio number and a survey map (plano catastrado). Foreigners can own titled property exactly like citizens — no residency needed.

Before you sign, your attorney should pull the registry report and confirm the owner, the area against the survey map, and any liens, mortgages, easements or annotations.

Escrow and closing

Your deposit (often 10%) and the balance should be held by a registered escrow company, never sent straight to the seller. The notary signs the transfer deed and files it with the Registry; escrow releases funds once the transfer is recorded or properly filed.

What to watch for

• Maritime-zone properties (within 200 m of the high tide line) are usually concessions, not titled land
• Survey map area that doesn't match what's on the ground
• Unpaid property taxes, municipal fees or HOA dues
• Missing water availability letter or building permits for construction
• Sellers asking for funds outside escrow
• Using the seller's attorney instead of your own