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  ALAJUELA CARTAGO GUANACASTE HEREDIA LIMON PUNTARENAS SAN JOSE

Written by Scott Oliver, the author of "How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate"

1. Contrary to what some people might tell you, there is no Multiple Listing Service to speak of, so trying to establish even a rough idea of what a property is worth is difficult. Take a look on the Internet and you will often find the exact same property listed by different brokers at dramatically different prices.

2. To be involved with Costa Rica real estate, you do not need any qualifications, training or experience whatsoever to call yourself a broker. Many of these so-called "brokers" also call themselves "Realtors", although most have no standing on which to call themselves by that name. There is an organization of brokers involved with Costa Rica real estate, however, very few people who call themselves brokers have even heard of it, never mind belong to it... And nobody is regulating or watching over these people!

3. And you know the Costa Rica legal system is based on Napoleonic Laws and not Common Laws as they are in the US and Canada, right? How much do any of us know about the Napoleonic legal system?

4. Although many people speak some English, Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country and all legal documents will be in Spanish. If you can't read Spanish well, then understanding contracts for example will be very difficult.

This means that when it comes to buying Costa Rica real estate which may be one of the biggest investments of your life...

More than likely, you will be listening to 'expert' advice coming from someone with zero qualifications or training in real estate, who is trying very hard to earn a sales commission selling you a property that could be dramatically overpriced...

Sounds like a recipe for disaster and it can be!

There are a few excellent Costa Rica real estate professionals but finding them is a challenge, because guess what? Some of these professionals have so much business they simply don't have the time to put up and maintain a Web site! So finding them on the Internet just does not work!

So what can you do? How do you ensure that you're not going to "lose your shirt" or get "ripped off" when you buy property in Costa Rica?

You must insist on working with real estate professionals who are qualified, experienced, trustworthy, reference-checked and personally recommended.

NOW you ask, Why choose Latitude 8 Realty

Consider the owners past history in the real estate and professional business world.

• Owners of Latitude 8 Lodge on Playa Zancudo, in Southen Costa Rica;
• They have possession rights and live on beach front property in Costa Rica;
• Past Licensed Realtor in Texas;
• Owner/Partner of a Houston Real Estate Company;
• Real Estate sales for a large Houston Based Real Estate Company;
• 20 Years in sales and Public Relations;
• Owners of a Houston Retail Clothing Store;
• VP, Board of Directors and Managing Director - International Service Company;
• Vice President - Large Houston Based Engineering Company;
• President - Houston Professional Services Company.