How The Ticos Find the Costa Rica Real Estate ‘Deals’.

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You have probably read earlier articles about the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of buying property or building from scratch in Costa Rica.

And it’s a picture that needs to be clear because deciding to purchase may be the single biggest outlay you make in the country. Obviously you want to find the best house for your needs and know you are getting value for money.

There is a marked distinction between what is marketed to the ‘gringo’ market and the advertisements that are directed at the Ticos (Costa Ricans). As a foreigner visiting with a view to buying or renting, you will often be shown the fanciest, most expensive places by a smooth English-speaking housing agent.

And the danger is that you may go back to your own country, disillusioned about Costa Rica’s inflated house purchase and rental prices.

The luxury properties are certainly out there and if you have the cash, you should be able to find the palace of your dreams.

But many of us want something a bit less grandiose, a suitable mid-range home, with all the comforts of course, but most of all knowing that we are getting our money’s worth.

So how does one get around the profit-seeking, US-dollar-oriented Costa Rica Realtors?

There are plenty of bargains out there. It’s just that many of them are advertised in Spanish and directed at the local populace. However, don’t be put off and simply give in to the English-speaking Realtors and English-language information sources – it is not that hard to decipher the Spanish ads in the Classifieds.

Where do the Ticos go house hunting?

Most Ticos are simply not in the market for the top-end luxury homes, so where do they look when it comes to finding a new house? Many of them will naturally use their family and neighborhood networks to find out about places through word of mouth. But you don’t have the language, so how else can you get loads of inside information?

The country is awash with land and properties for sale – there is plenty of choice, and one of the best and simplest sources for finding out about them Tico-style, is through the country’s biggest daily newspaper, La Nación.

No problem! By reading our Spanish to English glossary of Real Estate terms, you can go online to view La Nacion’s Classified section and try to work out the terminology for yourself…

Once you have your short list, then it’s time to find a Spanish-speaking friend (I’m sure Scott could recommend someone to help you with that) who can travel around with you and help you through the ‘language’ of house hunting.

Saturday has the biggest coverage for La Nación’s property Classifieds advertising, broken down into rental, property sales and property purchase of apartments, houses, condos, farms, offices, warehouses just about all categories are included.

The classifieds here deal mostly with San José and the main Central Valley settlements (Cartago, Atenas, Grecia, Heredia, Alajuela), although special real estate editions are regularly produced that include other hot spots in the country, especially the Pacific coast.

Fine, but back to the biggest problem that it’s all in Spanish and abbreviated Spanish at that!

Don’t let that deter you from trying. Like the classifieds back home, they use notations and abbreviations that are repeated over. Once you have the basics, you should be able to create a list of places that interest you and know that you have the general location, size, price and other details right.

So let’s take a look through La Nación’s classified section and see what we have. Three categories cover the property sections: 300, 400 and 500

(300) BIENES RAICES ALQUILER = REAL ESTATE RENTALS

301 Apartamentos = Apartments

302 Bodegas = Warehouses / Storage Facilities

303 Casas = Houses

304 Comerciales = Commercial Properties

305 Condominios = Condominium

306 Edificios = Buildings

307 Fincas = Farms/Rural Homes

308 Habitaciones = Rooms/Bedsits

309 Locales = General commercial/shop premises

310 Lotes = Land plots

311 Oficinas = Offices

312 Quintas = Country plots

313 Servicios = Services

These categories are also found:

(400) BIENES RAICES VENTA – REAL ESTATE SALES and (500) BIENES RAICES COMPRA – REAL ESTATE TO BUY, with (413) Servicios corredores = Real Estate Agents

Since I truly believe that anyone thinking about buying property in Costa Rica should first rent for several months before taking the plunge in purchasing a home, some rental vocabulary is included in your main glossary.

La Nación’s Classifieds layout is straightforward. It is divided into areas and/or neighbourhoods and in alphabetical order. Often immediately after the area, the neighbourhood or gated community name is given..

It’s a good idea to have a decent city map laid out so as to get a clear idea which part of the city you are looking at.

For example, La Nacion’s Real Estate Saturday, March 20th, 2004 pull-out has multi-page coverage of the new gated communities and condominiums now on offer.

The center-page map indicating all the projects gives an excellent overview of what’s happening where, in and around San José, with number references to photo details later in the section.

Your Costa Rica Real Estate Glossary (alphabetical order)

acab = fittings
acab lujo = luxury fittings

acabado(s) = fittings

acceso controlado/restringido = controlled access/security guard control

acción = share(s) in club/resort

ag. cal = hot water

agua = water

alarma = alarm installed

alfomb/alfombra = carpet/carpetted

alt. plusv = high appreciation

ampl = spacious

amplia/o = spacious

amueb = furnished

apto = apartment

área común = shared leisure area (in Condos)

ático = attic/loft

azulejo = tiled

bella = beautiful

bñ/bñs/baños = bathroom(s)

bomba de agua = water pump

c/ = with/

c/tel = with/telephone

cable = cable TV

cal/caliente = hot (hot water)

calient = hot (hot water)

calles adoquin = paved streets

cancha multiuso = multi-purpose pitch

cancha tennis = tennis court

cancha = pitch/games field

casa = house

ceramica = tiled (floors or bathrooms)

cerca = near to

chimen/chimenea = fire place

coc/cocina = kitchen

coch/cochera = car port/covered garage

coch/2 = garage for 2 cars

Cond/Condominio = Condominium

const/constr/conctruc. = construction area

contiguo = next to

cto pilas = laundry room or area

cto serv = maid’s room/laundry room

cto = room/area
cto/serv = maid’s quarters

ctro = center (of town)
cuart/cuarto = room/bedroom

de frente = in front (length along front of property)

desd/desde = from (asking price)

disponible = available (as in financing)

dor/dr/d/dorm = bedroom(s)

edf = building

edificio(s) = building(s)

empotrado = fitted (as in cabinets or closets)

entrada privada = private entrance

esq. = corner

esquinero = corner (house or lot)

est/estado = condition

estrenar = new on the market/new construction

estudio/estud = home office /study

etapa = stage (in housing development)

exc/excelente = excellent

exc. ubic. = excellent location
finan = financing

frente = in front

frutales = fruit trees

gar/2 veh = garage for 2 vehicles

garantizado/a = guaranteed

gde/grande = big

gje/garaje = garage
habitación(es) = room(s)

habit/habitac = room(s)
hac/hacienda = farm
indep = independent/separate
intermediarios = middle men/agents
jacuz = jacuzzi
jardin(es) = garden(s)

jdin = garden
linda vista = pretty view
lote = land area/plot
lujo = luxury
luz = electricity
madera = wood
marmol = marble
mensualidades = monthly payments
mil = thousand (¢150 mil = 150 thousand colones)
mueb empotrados = fitted furniture

muebles = furniture

neg = negotiable

niv/nivel = level(s)

nvo/nuevo = new
ofertas = offers
ofic = office
pareja = couple
parqueo/parq = parking
patio = patio/terrace
pers/persona(s) = person(s)
persona sola = single person

pisc/piscina = swimming pool
pisos = floors/storeys
plano = flat or level
planos = plans
planta(s)/pltas = floors/storeys
plusv/plusvalia = appreciation
port. elec. = electrically operated gate
portón/port. = gate
precio = price
preciosa = lovely/pretty
prima(s) = payment(s)/down payment
primas bajas = low premiums/low payments
priv/privado = private
rancho(s) = outside covered leisure, BBQ structures

Residencia(s) = residential estate, gated community
Residencial = residential estate, gated community
rio = river
sala(s) = lounge area(s)
sala-comed(or) = sitting-dining room
seg/seguro = safe/security features
serv./servicios = services
tapia = walled property
terr/terraza = terrace
tina = bath tub
todos los serv = all services
ubic./ubicación = location
varios diseños = various designs
vestidor = closet/dressing room
vigilancia = watchman/guard service

vista = view

z. verde = green areas/garden
z/verde = green areas/garden
zona/z = zone

So let’s try an example:

These are all genuine examples pulled from a recent La Nación.

LA URUCA C. Las Palmas 3dr, 1bñ, cuarto pilas grje, patio, c/pisc, seg 24 hr ¢155mil, 812-7335


LA URUCA (name of neighbourhood) Condominium Las Palmas, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, laundry room, garage, with swimming pool, security 24 hours, 155 thousand colones, Tel: 812-8835

X HOSPITAL MEXICO casa en Condo 3 dors. 2.5 bñs, ático, sala comedor, cocina, cto. servicio, coch /2 car vigilancia 24 hrs. $1350 273-9451

BY THE HOSPITAL MEXICO house in Condominium 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, loft, living-dining room, kitchen, maid’s room, 2-car garage, guard service 24 hours, $1350 per month, Tel 395-2950

Alquiler en la mejor zona de SANTA ANA Resid. Valle del Sol, c/piscina Z/verd, hab ampl, coch 2/vehic, jczi, a/c ctal, balcón, seg 24 hrs, acab de lujo desde $2000 el mes (sin intermediarios) 282-3089

For rent in the best zone of SANTA ANA Valle del Sol Residential Estate, with swimming pool, gardens, spacious rooms, 2-vehicle garage, jacuzzi, central air conditioning, balcony, 24-hour security, luxury fittings, from $2000 per month (no agents), Tel 282-3085

SAN JOAQUIN FLORES 3drs, coc/amueb cuart/princ c/walkin closet y tina, cto/serv c/bñ $87 mil, prima $2000, 161m2 Const, 250m2 T, T: 380-3137

SAN JOAQUIN FLORES is a suburb west of San José.

3drs = 3 bedrooms

coc/amueb = fitted kitchen

cuart/princ = main bedroom

c/walkin closet y tina = with walk-in closet and bath tub

cto/serv c/bñ = maid’s room with bathroom

$87 mil = $87 thousand,

prima $2000 = Payments $2000

161m2 Const = 161 m2 construction

250m2 T, = 250 m2 land

T: 380-3137 = Tel: 380-3139

ESCAZU Cond. Valle Arriba. Vista, pisc, gym, casa club, z/verdes. Aptos 1/2/3 hab. Desde $84,600. 288-5190

ESCAZU is a suburb west of San José

Cond. Valle Arriba Condominium Valle Arriba is the name of the Condo

vista = view
pisc = swimming pool
gym = gym

casa club = club house

z/verdes = green areas
Aptos 1/2/3 hab = 1/2/3 roomed apartments
Desde $84,600 = From $84,600

SANTA ANA Condominio Palma Real 240m2, casa club pisc areas verdes precios desde $166 mil. Financio prima s/ intereses 231-4454 Ultimas casas

SANTA ANA is a suburb west of San José

Condominio Palma Real = the name of the Condominium

240m2 = 240m2 construction

casa club = club house

pisc = swimming pool

areas verdes = gardens / green areas

precios desde $166 mil = prices from $166 thousand
Financio prima s/ intereses = I will finance payments without interest
Ultimas casas = Last houses

ALBA MARIA RESIDENCIAL PRIVADO

Solamente 77 lots
Prima fraccionada
0% de intereses
lotes desde $19,800
Mensualidades $150
Area de 180 a 400 m2
Financiamiento en $ y ¢

La mejor ubicación en Alajuela a solo 400 metros de los Tribunales
Información y ventas a los Tels. 430-4617
Parque ecológico * Casetas de guardas * Areas verdes

ALBA MARIA PRIVATE ESTATE

Only 77 plots
Split down payment
0% interest
plots from $19,800
Monthly repayments $150
Area from 180 to 400 m2
Financing in US$ or Colones

The best location in Alajuela, only 400 meters from the Law Courts.

Information and sales

Ecological park * Guard house * Gardens/ green areas

Some Financing Terminology

Bien inmueble house, building, plot of land

Hipoteca mortgage
Crédito hipotecario mortgage credit. The finance company takes the house as guarantee against the loan.
Plusvalía Value increase of real estate as a result of improvements.
Tasación Assessed valuation based on which value the percentage of financing is calculated
Tasa de interés Interest rate
Tasa fija Fixed interest
Tasa activa Lending rate

Happy House Hunting!

Written by Vicky Longland. With an honours degree in English from a Welsh university, South America seemed an obvious place to head! During thirty years in Latin America, V.L. has worked as language teacher, Spanish-English translator and as travel writer for local and international publications.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.