Pursical area

@Simplepuravida The community is very nice and developed in 2017 by Canadians. It's a very rural location, a 25-minute drive to downtown Puriscal for shopping, banking & medical. It's 1 1/2 hours to the airport and a little less to major shopping in Escazu-Santa Ana. This is for those who love living in nature.

@godutch......Good Boy ! This time you didn't use the thread to promote your real estate services...

my wife was appraiser for the mutal in puriscal for a lot of years and the problem there is the sesmic questions otherwise it is a great area for rural living but i see the crime is up there lately

@edwinemora I don't need to, the man is just asking a simple question and I'm giving a simple response

@mail66, you're right. That's why they've rebuilt the catholic church in Puriscal several times. In 2012, there was a demolition order on the church, but it was declared national patrimony before they could tear it down. But, if you look at the information on heavy earthquakes  throughout the country, it wasn't that bad in Puriscal, only in 1990: http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/index.php … -historica

@godutch Thx Godutch, appreciate info. Would you happen to know the average cost per sq ft to build a house in the area? Cheers

@mail66 Thx Mail66

@godutch....That was never your style...

@Simplepuravida, that depends significantly on the type of house and the finishings you plan to use. You do need good footings/foundation because of the earthquakes. There are a few houses for sale in the same community. I would guess it would cost around $110/ft2. You can build cheaper than that but also go a lot more expensive. The Colonial-Mission style has a lot of double-height - empty spaces, so that's more expensive. You'll save on smaller colets space (wearing shorts and flip-flops) and an open kitchen. Most people don't have a live-in housekeeper.  Covered terraces are used often because the climate (and the view) allows for much outdoor living.

@Simplepuravida....With the exodus out of Canada,it is $200 sq.ft. and more for decent construction......With the price of materials sky rocketing during the pandemic and Canadians paying more for everything,this has raised the bar.

@edwinemora Thank you Edwinemora for the info, much appreciated

@godutch Thank you Godutch, I will investigate further

@edwinemora and @simplepuravida - I don't know what Canada has to do with construction materials... But yes, construction cost has gone up, and now the government is back to 13% VAT on the materials (from 8% because of Covid). Unless Edwin Mora is a contractor, you should ask an architect or a contractor for the construction cost and specify what you want. If you hire a real estate agent, he/she can recommend someone for sure, or your lawyer might know someone. Building in Altos de Antigua does add the cost of transport because it's 30 minutes from Puriscal.

@godutch Will do Godutch, Thx again!

For a Canadian buyer or builder, the cost of construction may be dependent on the exchange rate for the Canadian Dollar. True, the colon cost of (say) concrete isn't dependent upon the value of the Canadian dollar, but the number of colones you get for your Canadian Dollar can vary.

While I'm all for involving knowledgeable and experienced architects and builders, there is a "gotcha" that you must take into account. There are two "costs of building". The first is the cost published by the collegio of architects. That's the basis for computing the architect's charge and it's based on the square footage of the structure. And then there's the cost that will be charged by the local ferreteria and the workes to actually build the structure. Those are very different numbers.

@godutch thankyou godutch.  Appreciate the info. Would you ,happen to know the average cost per sq ft for a home in the area? Cheers

@Simplepuravida

Crazy suggestion...   There are semi-prefab concrete block houses that are very reasonably priced; and the manufacturer can most likely recommend a 'local' that is experienced in erecting them.  You can have them draw up a plan as per your needs/wants; and you could also add vertical re-bar up through some of the blocks in order to create a more seismic resistant structure. Usually the price from the manufacturer is for walls only; you would have to work with the builder/installer to come up with a price for his labor; and then ask him if he would have a few hours to spend, with you (pay him for his time) to determine the approx. Costs of materials for excavating, Septic and well if needed, footings, windows, roof framing and roofing sheets, and of course, all plumbing and electrical rough-in materials; rain gutters, interior/exterior tile installation, exterior paving for walkways; patios, etc; rain gutters. and installation of all Fixtures (plumbing and lighting).   

The pre-fablock house 'walls' can go 'up' in less than 2 weeks.... and from there, it's up to the size and layout that you have decided on as to how long it can take to be live in ready. 

In case you haven't lived here before... I would come and rent for a year -ish;  that way you'll realize just how much house you will actually USE and how much time, for example, you'll spend in/on your outdoor spaces.  I found that I am out more than I am in.  That's why I came here. 

In theory, I'd be OK with a kitchen, bath, and one indoor sleeping/eating space INSIDE... but would build the OUTDOOR spaces (semi-private in front; more private in back) twice as big and with more amenities; like easy access to a sink; extra electrical receptacles; or even all-season blinds to make a patio a private sleeping space at night; etc.   I really don't like all these walls. 

It's easy to look at the pre-fablock houses on-line; .they have tons of options to choose from and like I said, you can customize... 'outsiders' like north Americans and Europeans need closets, and bathrooms bigger than airplane bathrooms... Ticos live without them. Don't ask.

Almost forgot..  The reason I suggest this is price;  the pre-fab concrete houses (don't even look at the ones that use panels) are very reasonably priced.  90% of all new homes where I am in western San Carlos canton are pre-fab.   Once finished; you wouldn't even know.   Block is block.   

Good luck to you!!

In addition to what rainagain wrote above, two things . . . First, if the house you plan to build exceeds a certain number of square meters*, you'll need a building permit from the local municipalidad. That will involve the participation of an architect and a structural engineer who will confirm that the plan meets the building code.

Second, the building code mandates that the planned structure will withstand a level nine earthquake on the Richter Scale**. That's where the structural engineer comes in.

*It ain't much.

**It's said that the house might roll into the river, but the walls won't crack.