The Adventures of Selling a Home in Costa Rica

We talk a lot and answer a lot of questions about purchasing a house in Costa Rica but I don’t recall detailed discussions on selling.  So, sit back and I’ll tell my tale...

Where to start, hmm, well,  selling property in CR sucks!  😳   Yes, most things are different here and it’s one of those things that we have to accept if you want to remain somewhat sane. 

So I’m selling my home in San Ramon to move to a larger property that we purchased in the Southern Zone to greatly expand our parrot rescue center.  I do my research and retain what I think will be a good realtor.  They have a nice website, many professional looking offerings and their realtors claim to be experienced, etc., etc.  This is I believe the largest real estate company in CR - or at least it seems to have the most listings.

Initially I am quite impressed with the real estate company.  They show the house about two to three times per month and we have several people (Gringos), that say they love the place and are interested in purchasing, “...just need to bring my wife back to see the house....” As well as, “I love, love, love your home.  I honestly want to buy it.  The only thing I need to figure out is what part of the deck to sit on when I drink my morning coffee.”  Basically, “the checks in the mail.”  🙄

Keeping in mind there are hundreds of homes for sale here for every one buyer.  So if you really want to sell one of the many things necessary is to have your yard and house spotlessly clean, nothing showing that people don’t want to see, etc.  This is the tropics and ceilings will get a few spots of mildew, many leaves in the gutters and so on and so on.  These things have to be kept up all the time when showing a house.  We do get 24 hour notice before the show but after a while you just get tired of the constant parade.  Unless your someone who enjoys working constantly to keep an absolutely spotless house and yard at all times, it’s a pain in the butt!   

These showings go on for months when one of the potential buyers asks if we can Skype with them so they can ask more questions.  …I’m thinking questions about the house, great!  So we Skype and they immediately jump into asking about living in Costa Rica, best places to live in, what do we miss, the usual newbie questions.  (Deep breath, not an insult 🤓)   Then I ask them if the realtor answered these questions - and the flood gates opened.  Realtor didn’t really ask them anything.  Did not prequalify them to confirm that they even had the funds to purchase, didn’t ask when they planned to move or buy, didn’t even ask them if they wanted to purchase our house.  It ended up these people are not moving here for “years” and needed to sell their farm in the States before they could even consider buying.

…trying to shorten my story… over the next few months we were able to speak with other potential buyers and found that most were somewhat in the same boat.  They were just looking.  These future buyers found a way to get around the thousands of dollars ‘get to know Costa Rica tours’ and just get a free tour with a realtor.  I did eventually confront the realtor about this, especially the absence of pre-qualification, and I was informed that it’s not something they choose to do.  I was told that most buyers that they show to are serious buyers and are in the market to buy immediately.  Unfortunately, if found just the opposite to be the truth.

So now I have retained a Gringa realtor that specializes in the San Ramon area and that I have a lot more faith in and she actually seems to be a “realtor.” 

Part of the issue here is the problem faced by many expats, and it’s not easy for us to adjust to, it’s the Tico way of being non-confrontational.  It is not rude within the culture.  Actually meant to be just the opposite.  They want to please others.  The problem lies with this also applies to professionals, lawyers, doctors, realtors and on and on.  Yes, non-confrontation lawyers.  It’s their job to be confrontational!  😱

So the bottom line, as had been said many times on this site, it is soooo easy to build or buy a house here.  Many great deals to be had; HOWEVER, also as had been said many times, when you go to sell it can take years.  And I have now experienced several of the many reasons. 

- Expat Dave