No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsExpat LivingWhy Christmas Is a Bad Time to Buy a Home in Costa...

Why Christmas Is a Bad Time to Buy a Home in Costa Rica

Thousands of tourists visit Costa Rica during the Christmas holidays, either trying to get away from the cold and snow, or looking forward to finding their future Costa Rican vacation home.

If you plan to take your vacation during the Christmas holidays, Costa Rica has so much to offer, including beaches on two oceans, volcanoes, bird watching, ziplines, bungee jumping, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. I recommend you look into all your options for leisure before you book your flight and your hotel.

However, if you plan on coming to Costa Rica over Christmas to hunt for a Costa Rican vacation home, it may be best to reconsider your timing. Here are seven reasons why this might be a bad idea:

1. Most real estate offices in Costa Rica close down for the holidays so their staff can spend time with their families.

2. Real estate agents who don’t have any family generally don’t work either because they head for the beach to enjoy the holiday.

3. Real estate agents who are still wet behind the ears and are convinced by a buyer to stay and work during the holidays will find out that it is a waste of time and effort (see reasons 4-7 below).

4. The National Register, which is where all property deeds are registered, usually closes from Dec. 18 to Jan. 4 every year, so deeds cannot be served to the register until the second week of January.

5. In addition to the National Register closing, attorneys and notary publics in Costa Rica also go on holiday. There won’t be anyone around to write up a purchase-sale agreement or a deed for a vacation home purchase.

6. Homeowners who have their property for sale often go to the beach during holiday season, so nobody will be home to open the door. We don’t use lock boxes in Costa Rica and housekeepers go home to visit their families.

7. Vacation homeowners will have the unit that’s for sale rented during the high season, so you won’t be able to get inside.

If you have never been in the Central Valley during the Christmas holidays, you’ll be surprised by the feeling that you’re in a ghost town because so many people head for the beaches.

If you have already planned your Christmas holidays to look at a Costa Rican vacation home, you should contact your real estate agent to make sure someone is going to be available. If not, don’t worry, there is plenty to do and see in Costa Rica. You can take a well-deserved vacation and come back to look at real estate at a better time.

Ivo Henfling, a Dutch expat who has lived in Costa Rica since 1980, founded the American-European Real Estate Group in 1999, which was the first functioning MLS with affiliate agents from coast to coast. Ivo Henfling can be reached at (506) 2289-5125 / 8834-4515 or at ivo@american-european.net.

Trending Now

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....

Costa Rica to Launch Electric Air Taxis for Sustainable Travel in Guanacaste

Costa Rica is poised to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the introduction of electric air taxis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional ground travel...

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil....

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

Retired Nicaraguan Army Captain Sentenced to 50 Years for Treason

A retired military officer was sentenced to 50 years in prison in Nicaragua for the crime of "treason against the homeland," his family denounced...

Hondurans March to Mark 2009 Coup as Election Battle Heats Up

Thousands of government supporters marched Saturday in the capital of Honduras to commemorate the anniversary of the 2009 coup that ousted then-leftist President Manuel...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica