Buying Real Estate?

The Real Estate Process

Property is sold from seller to buyer by executing a transfer deed before a Costa Rican Notary Public. 
The notary must be an attorney.  Do not confuse the United States and Canada notary that authenticates signatures.  
The Costa Rican notary formalizes all transactions dealing with real estate and has broad powers to act on behalf of the state.

Once all the fees are paid, there is a real estate transfer tax, various documentary stamps, notary fees, mortgage costs (if financing) - now it is fine to "Register" the deed.  The Notary who drafted the transfer deed must be presented (anotado) and registered (inscripto).  You must follow up with the Notary to ensure your sale has been recorded because this system honors "first in time, first in right".

The Register National will not register the transfer deed if any fees, taxes, liens, assessments, etc. have |not been paid .  
Once accepted the original document will be returned in about 60 days with all the proper documentary stamps on it and 
it will be property sealed. 

I can not emphasize enough the importance of having your attorney conduct a title search.  Do not rely on the 
seller's attorney to the search.

Property is given a title registration number called the "Folio Real" and this number can be accessed by computer.  You can access your property, but your probably will not have the expertise to analyze the information and it is in Spanish.

The Public Registry Report (accessed by the Folio Real #) is the detailed report that shows the name of
the title holder, boundary lines, tax appraisal, liens, mortgages, recorded easements and other
recorded items that affect title.

In most cases the "Folio Real" will show an existing registered map for the property and the map must be quoted in the transfer deed.