Costa Rica Investing for ForeignersCosta Rica investing by foreigners can be done quite easily. Stuart Title is the main title search company that operates in Costa Rica and can be utilized to perform property searches on the properties. The land title registry files can even be viewed online. But as with any transaction you want to deal with a lawyer to ensure that everything is handled appropriately to transfer title of the property to your name. Costa Rican banks will loan money to foreigners to purchase real estate. A minimum 30% down payment is generally required and then mortgage financing may be obtained for the balance. The dominant bank in Costa Rica are Banco Nacional and Banco Cuscatlan. Scotiabank, a Canadian bank also operates in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica a corporation is often setup for the sole purpose of owning a property. Then when you wish to sell your property you just sell the corporation which owns the property, and there is then no transfer in the land registry and therefore capital gains and no land transfer taxes in Costa Rica. Check back a bit later and I will update this page with information on how to check a property title online.
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