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Owning property in Costa Rica is feasible but costly. Although Costa Rica is an established democracy, one must not lose sight of the fact that it is still a developing country and is endowed with certain intrinsic hazards of private land ownership.

While there are limited precautions that one may exercise in order to avoid the hazards of the Zona Marítimo Terrestre , squatters, or expropriation, there is no foolproof method of maintaining a legal title to property. A thorough title search at the central depository ( Registro Publico ) is necessary in order to venify, and if needed, resolve any discrepancies between, the escritura and the catastro . Also, if one plans to reside in Costa Rica, it is necessary to establish legal residency by one of several means available.

In Costa Rica, one may possess a legal title to a property. However, maintaining that right is an active process that requires constant attention and supervision. Also, unlike the United States, where the rules governing the purchase of property and zoning restrictions are well-established, Costa Rica, especially in the Zona Maritimo Terrestre , has regulations and restrictions that may evolve over time and may be contrary to the established "rights of occupation" of a given Municipality.

If the uncertainties and the vigilance required of property ownership in Costa Rica are not disagreeable to a foreign investor, he/she must still be prepared for the costs associated with maintaining legal ownership of the property.