If you have already been living in Costa Rica for a certain amount of time and probably paying rent, it is likely that the idea of buying your own place has crossed your mind, or perhaps you don’t live here but you are interested in making an investment in the country acquiring a vacation home, and of course, one of the first questions that comes into mind is whether it is better to buy or build a house in Costa Rica.

Most likely you’ve already asked around and everyone has given you a different opinion; at the end both roads have pros and cons, so perhaps the easiest thing to do is list them and you can consider the information and make a decision according to what best suits your needs.

Building a house in Costa Rica 
PROS:
• Choose the designs and details exactly as you want them and according to your needs and taste.
• Pick the quality of materials you consider best within your budget
• Overseeing the construction process can assure you things are being done properly
• Building usually translates into savings, especially if you are involved in the process

CONS:
• Patience, Patience, Patience. If you are planning on building you have to be patient, it’s a long process and you have to do proper research about permits and take your time to pick the right construction company/Developer or Contractor. Building can take minimum 8 months.
• Budget. When building a house according to personal taste we tend to get carried away, many times going over the initial budget of what we wanted to spend.
• Time. Supervising the project, picking materials and staying on top of every detail is VERY time consuming.

• Beware of shady developers, contractors and so called home builders, check references and then check them two more times.

Buying a house in Costa Rica 
Pros:
• No waiting, if you choose to buy your home you just have to complete the purchase and get your keys. You also know exactly what you are spending.
• Although it is not easy there is a chance you will find a house very close to what you’ve always wanted, you just need to take the time to look around and choose carefully.
• Save yourself the hassle and work involved in the construction process.
• If you buy from a reliable developer you will get all the information along with a new builder warranty on the house and it will make you feel comfortable with your investment.

Cons:
• It could be difficult to find exactly what you want. Houses in Costa Rica are all very different.
• If you are buying a house more than 5 years old there might be many things that will require change or maintenance issues. (This also depends on the area of where the house is located). Some technology and mechanical upgrades or repairs can end up costing a lot of money so you may want to bring an expert in to evaluate the state of the house if it is an older construction.
• If you are not buying directly from a developer it may be difficult to get all the information on the house, from blueprints to materials used.

Regardless of the route you choose, the best thing you can do is take your time to evaluate your options, consider that whether you are buying or building, getting a house in Costa Rica is an investment and as such it has to be carefully thought out: establish a realistic budget, think of whether you want a brand new house or you are OK with getting and older home that requires some work, make a list of those aspects of the house you can’t do without, and those that would be a plus to have, consider maintenance expenses ,technology, location, security and sustainability.

Lastly if you are building or buying a new home, choose a developer in Costa Rica that has the experience and reputation that can guarantee you a safe investment and a quality home for years to come. If you are looking into vacation homes Kalia Living is a perfect example of a property developer you can’t go wrong with, (check the Bellazo project for reference).