Best Investment Real Estate Locations in Costa Rica

What are the best investment real estate locations in Costa Rica, and how do you find them? Start by asking the right questions. Where are the best investment real estate locations? If you have enough experience investing in real estate, you can make money almost anywhere, but there are always places that are better or worse for real estate investments. For maximum profits, you want places that have a better demand/supply ratio. Use the questions below to find the best investment real estate locations and hot spots for business in Costa Rica.

Real Estate Demand in Costa Rica

• Is there a decent job growth in Costa Rica? Use census information and ask local authorities. Ideally, you want to see job growth equal to or exceeding population growth. You also want areas with professional jobs moving in. It is estimated that for every professional job created, there are four service jobs created, and all those employees need a place to live.
• Is the population growing? Stay away from areas that have little growth. You can check the US Census figures online, or ask the local government if they have the statistics.
• Is there a decent quality of life? It's subjective, but important. Are there theaters and bookstores? Count coffee shops and cafes. Trendy areas usually have increasing demand for housing. It's also a good indication of a high quality-of-life if people are willing to take lower-paying jobs just to live there.
• Is there wealth in the area? It's a good sign when there is some degree of wealth in a town. Look for nice homes. Wealth means everything doesn't die when the economy slows. Some coastal towns as Jaco in Puntarenas and Flamingo in Guanacaste are well developed and there is wealth in these touristic areas.

Real Estate Supply in Costa Rica

• Number of homes for sale? Lower supply of homes for sale means upward pressure on prices. This indirectly drives up rents as well, which makes for better investing.
• New construction? Census figures can tell you what's happened over the last ten years. Check with the local authorities to see if the number of housing units they've issued permits for is more or less than the expected population growth.
• Rent and vacancy levels? Rents have to be high enough, and vacancies low enough to justify investing. When we first came to Tucson, every building had vacancies We saw a man holding a sign that read, "Apartment - $250 Per Month." A great place for renters, but not so great for landlords.
• The available land that is buildable? Of course, less available land is better for future appreciation. When the land runs out, the prices start accelerating upwards.

When you use these questions to compare various towns and cities, you'll see the differences more clearly. You'll have an idea about how housing demand compares to supply in each. This questions will help you to find the best investment real estate locations in Costa Rica.