When is the Best Time to Buy a Home in Costa Rica

The best time to buy a home in Costa Rica is the high season starting in December and January. Winter break, Christmas, and New Year’s coincide with some of Costa Rica’s best weather as snowbirds descend upon the country to experience “pura vida.” The population swells with expats and tourists and towns buzz with activity.

People come to Costa Rica for the first time and just fall in love with the country, environment and lifestyle and want to look at buying a vacation home. When it comes to selling your home, there is no better time to do so than December and January. It’s when the country experiences a population surge, which means there are many more potential buyers. It makes selling a property much easier. Plus, potential buyers get a chance to experience Costa Rica at the height of the season. It’s a vital time of year. The weather is perfect.

Using your winter vacation as an opportunity to house hunt for a vacation home or investment property makes a lot of sense. You are experiencing the country during high season and can make a good assessment of the area and market when it’s at peak rental rates and activity. You will also be able to look for a property that can really match your needs.

When you put your home on the market, you want to take into consideration pricing, current condition, location, staging and perks. These factors can make a big difference in how quickly your home sells.

Pricing

For pricing work with a good realtor and do some comparative research.

Condition

A well-maintained home will sell faster than one that is in need of repair. A fresh coat of paint and landscaping can go a long way when it comes to selling your home quickly and at the asking price. Take inventory of any renovations or improvements you’ve made to the home when pricing it sell.

Location

Location and livability will also make a big difference.

Perks

If your home isn’t selling consider offering perks such as selling it furnished, contributing to the buyer’s closing costs or paying for top placement in real estate magazines or websites.

Time of year and pricing are two big factors when it comes to selling along with working with a good realtor who is well-connected. Much of the real estate market is driven by foreign buyers. Taking advantage of the start of high season when the country’s population swells is a smart move for any home seller. You have a good six months of high traffic before tourism slows down. If you work with a good agent and put together an aggressive plan, you should be able to sell your home in that time frame. If it sits longer than you need to reexamine pricing and other factors that may be preventing the home from selling.