YOUR REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY SHOULD GUIDE YOU IN LEARNING HOW THE PROCESS WORK AND PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT.
REAL ESTATE
ACQUISITION
Buying property in a foreign country can be an intimidating and complicated process.
Different legislation, different ways of doing things, and numerous procedures tend to scare foreign buyers looking to acquire property in Costa Rica. Finding someone knowledgeable, with high ethical standards, to advise and guide you in this complex process is of the utmost importance. Your Real Estate Advisor should be able to guide you through the whole acquisition process and advise you on how to protect your investment.
Comprehensive Legal Guidance for Your Real Estate Transaction
Our Role in Your Transaction
As your legal counsel, we guide you through every stage of the acquisition, from the initial review through closing and registration. Our services may include:
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Reviewing and negotiating the Purchase and Sale Agreement and explaining its terms, conditions, contingencies, and closing requirements.
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Advising you on the appropriate structure for acquiring and holding the property.
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Conducting legal due diligence on the property and, when applicable, the corporation or entity that owns it.
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Reviewing the registered title for mortgages, liens, easements, restrictions, annotations, encumbrances, and other matters that may affect ownership or use of the property.
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Reviewing relevant surveys, cadastral information, property taxes, municipal matters, condominium obligations, utilities, and other documentation applicable to the transaction.
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Preparing and coordinating all legal and notarial documents required for closing.
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Coordinating with lenders, banks, escrow agents, real estate professionals, and other parties involved in the transaction.
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Reviewing closing statements, taxes, fees, prorations, and other financial adjustments before closing.
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Attending and overseeing the closing and explaining the documents you will be required to execute.
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Filing the required documents with the Costa Rican National Registry and following the registration process through completion.
Protecting the Legal Validity of Your Investment
A real estate acquisition in Costa Rica is more than the signing of a purchase agreement or transfer deed. The transaction must satisfy the substantive and formal legal requirements applicable to the particular structure of the acquisition.
Whether the transaction involves a direct conveyance of real estate through a public deed or the acquisition of an entity that owns the property, careful legal review is essential. Defects in authority, ownership, corporate standing, documentation, consent, or other essential elements can jeopardize the validity or enforceability of the transaction and may result in costly disputes or corrective proceedings.
For this reason, experienced legal representation should begin before the purchase agreement is signed and funds are committed, not merely at closing.
At ALI Attorneys, our objective is straightforward: to ensure that you understand what you are acquiring, identify and address legal risks before closing, and complete the transaction with the highest level of legal certainty possible.