How to choose the perfect lot in Costa Rica
So you’ve decided to build your dream home in Costa Rica? But, first thing’s first. You need a lot! With soooo many options, how do you choose? Which one will meet your needs? Which one will best suit your project? How do you know if it’s a “good” lot?
This guide will help you answer these and other questions that come up when choosing a lot:
- Location
Aside from your personal preferences (for example, do you prefer country or city, mountains or beaches, warm or cool weather?), you must pay attention to the technical aspects of the lot’s location.
These are some examples:
- Proximity of water springs and rivers reduce the area of the lot that you can legally build on. If your lot is small, this is a big thing to take into consideration.
- Proximity to future state developments may also affect your lot. Costa Rican regulation is set on a way that allows the state to take part of your lot if they are going to use it for a community development, such as a road. These things are planned in advance and there are ways to check if the lot you want is affected by a future development.
- Environmental characteristics: Big lots are sometimes affected by Costa Rican environmental laws. It is important to know beforehand if this is so and to what extent.
- Services
Does the lot have public services? If there are no basic services such as water and electricity, you and your neighbors will have to coordinate the installation. This is a tedious and costly process for the buyer of the lot. However, this hassle is sometimes worth it, since lots that are immersed in lush landscapes are the ones that usually have this issue.
- Geological condition
The structural conditions of a project vary according to the type of soil in the lot. Every lot should have a soil study that revises these factors. When looking for a plot, consult a professional to better understand the quality of its soil.
The type of soil can make your project require more work and structure, and / or invasive backfills. Sometimes, because of a very bad soil condition, it is best not to build there at all.
- Topography, shape and added value
These are the other three things you should look out for when buying a lot. I’ll tell you about them soon…
If you have a lot in mind, and you don’t know if it’s OK for your project, talk to me! I will gladly guide you through it.
