On Monday, March 16th, Costa Rica declared a State of Emergency in response to the troubling coronavirus pandemic. We have since received quite a few questions on how this will effect tourism and the real estate market in the next coming month(s). Our team at RE/MAX Pura Vida prides ourselves on not only keeping our community safe but also informed & up-to-date with helpful information & tips on how to handle the news and what it means for everyone. Below are some brief points on the current situation & what this means for travelers, buyers & sellers.
For Travelers:
On Monday the government of Costa Rica reported that they will not allow entry to foreigners and non-residents starting at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18. (There are some minor exceptions, such as for diplomats and flight crews.) This ban will last until Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m. Costa Rican citizens and residents entering the country until April 12 will be issued a mandatory 14-day home quarantine. If you are currently in Costa Rica & wish to leave you may do so, however you should check with your arrival destination & airlines to confirm your travel itinerary & restrictions. Travelers who entered Costa Rica on a 90-day tourist visa after December 17, 2019 can legally remain in Costa Rica until May 17, 2020.
For Buyers:
If you are currently purchasing a property in Santa Teresa, or Costa Rica in general, do not worry if you cannot come to sign the papers in-person. Although more fun & exciting, most lawyers and attorney offices can complete a closing remotely. Depending on each closing this may require a few extra pages of paperwork, however it should not delay the deal. Of course that being said, please consult your attorney for any personal concerns you may have.
If you have not yet found the property you have been looking for & planned on coming down soon to look here are some ideas that may help during the next month:
- Check out our website for new listings! We constantly add new properties & update older ones, maybe you missed one!
- Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for the latest news & info.
- E-mail us with any questions or concerns you have been meaning to ask, now is the time!
For Sellers:
Unfortunately we predict with the ban of travelers to the country there will be a lack of showings on all properties, unless they are a resident or citizen of Costa Rica. This being said we are all still taking this time to continue to market all listings & communicate with potential buyers. Our team will focus on updating our client databases, garnering new leads, create new marketing campaigns & updating our website. At this time (Wednesday, March 18th) if you have a scheduled closing before April 12th the Costa Rica registry is still open & functioning as usual so no issues/delays should be had if a remote closing is in orders. However, please consult your attorney for specific questions/cases.
During this month we encourage sellers to take the time and make the most of it! Some ideas are:
- Fix any small areas or issues within the property, every little bit helps.
- Add a little landscaping. Gardens are a great way to add value to a property.
- Get new photos! Photos are the best way to market a property, having new ones always help!
- Talk to us! We are here to help and always happy to discuss with sellers the current situation.
During these trying times it is most important to keep safe & informed on all updates in your area. We at RE/MAX Pura Vida will continue to keep our clients, friends & community as updated as possible.
Pura Vida – The RE/MAX Pura Vida Team
Haydee, Elizabeth, Marian, Brett, Joni & Mario