Selling a home in Costa Rica works differently from selling in the US or Canada. There is no national MLS, transfers are signed before a notary, and taxes depend on when and how you bought. This guide walks through each part of the sale so you know what to expect before you list.
Seller’s Guide topics
- How to Sell Property in Costa Rica: The steps from valuation to closing, and why exposure matters in a market without an MLS.
- The Cost of Selling a Home in Costa Rica: Commission, VAT, capital gains and the bills to clear before closing.
- Capital Gains Tax When Selling in Costa Rica: How the tax works, the primary-home exemption, and the withholding for non-resident sellers.
- Selling Your Costa Rica Property From Abroad: How absentee sales work with a power of attorney, escrow and your brokerage.
- Selling a Property Owned by a Costa Rican Corporation: Asset sale or share sale, and what to settle before you list.
Start with a valuation
The first step in any sale is a realistic price. Without public sales records, that comes from a broker’s analysis of closed sales in your community, not from other asking prices. Request a free valuation and an FBR agent will prepare one for your property.
You can also read about deciding to sell or see how we market homes on our Sell With Us page.
