Costa Rica is a beautiful country attracting more and more people to come to live in their paradise. The population of Costa Rica is quickly growing, and with that growth comes the need for homes. Many Americans are interested in building a house due to how great an opportunity it would be for them financially, but they don’t know what they need to do or what the laws are like when building a home there. In this blog post, you will find out everything you need to know about building a house in Costa Rica from start to finish!
Different Types of Lands Available in Costa Rica for Building a Home
If you’ve decided to build a home in Costa Rica, you should know where to make it. There are many factors in determining which place is suitable for your home building. But, one thing for sure is here to consider the correct type of land in Costa Rica for building your home. In Costa Rica, there are three types of land for building a house. The first type is private land. Many places in Costa Rica offer this option to build your dream house on their property. However, it’s important to note not all the areas have available properties, and you need at least USD 15,000 to purchase the land.
The second type is titled land. It is government-owned land divided into plots and sold to Costa Ricans and foreigners alike. The title of the land guarantees the owner exclusive use and right to occupy, build on, or sell their property. There are many restrictions to building on this type of land, but it is a good option for those looking to invest in Costa Rica. The third and final type of land available for building your home is concession land. It is the most common and cheapest option for foreigners when buying or building on Costa Rican soil. The government has set aside this land specifically for tourism development, so there are many restrictions on what you can and cannot build.
The Total Cost of Building a Home in Costa Rica
Now that you know what type of land is available for building your home, it’s essential to understand the total cost. The cost of materials, construction, and permits can be expensive, so it’s necessary to have a realistic budget in mind before starting the process. The average price per square meter for construction ranges from USD 80-120. The materials for building a home are also expensive, with the wood costing USD 600-900 per cubic meter. Also, you need to factor in permits that will cost around 25% of your total construction costs and can take up to six months before local authorities approve them.
For instance, if you want to build a house on titled land, you need to pay the price of land and building permits before starting construction. It is an excellent way for investors who build homes without an architect or engineer to recuperate some initial costs.