The right agent is the person who intimately knows the area and the lay of the land in which you are seeking to buy. They should be familiar with the entire process of purchasing a titled or concession property, should understand the history of the region and have the ability to project the future development of the area based on how the development of the area is tracking in comparison to neighboring areas.

For those of you who are in the process of finding your best representation for navigating the unfamiliar terrain of Costa Rican real estate, below are three questions to ask before choosing the relationship that will carry you through from start to settled:

1. What is their experience in selling real estate?

Osa Tropical Properties is the longest established independent real estate agency in the Southern Zone and our team of agents are experts in all properties and procedures in the area that we cover. We have great relationships with the other agents in the area and are happy to deal with whoever we need to help you find the best property to suit your ideal investment opportunity.

2. Do they live in the area in which they are selling?

Our agents have all been through the process of buying in the region, each of us happily living here for a number of years. We have successfully helped many clients to purchase, build and settle into life and business in the Southern Zone region of Costa Rica as new neighbors in our community. We have built many relationships over the years that have helped facilitate the buying, selling and building of homes in the region, as well as settling in to life in our chosen home base. All of our agents live in the Costa Ballena area year round and are fully purchased the success of this region.

3. Can I see my agent helping me out after I sign the purchase agreement?

We like to let our testimonials speak for us. Our clients are our neighbors, who quickly become our friends. We are here to serve our community and we have the network established to bring you the same success that each of our new friends have found.

Talk to a few different agencies and people who you know in the area or on social media to get an idea of what kind of representation is available and what others' experiences have been. Brand is not everything in Costa Rica, where anyone can buy into a real estate franchise.

Stay local and work with a team of professionals who are bicultural citizens or longstanding residents and can give you good advice from personal experience. We will interpret the local culture and customs for you and help you assimilate into this new aspect of your life.

A real estate agent is generally your first point of contact Costa Rica on many topics: how to open a bank account, who to hire or contract for different tasks, bilingual communication, where to find a dentist, how to buy a car, etc. Hire an agent who is an expert in the area; they will be able to help you for years to come. Call Osa Tropical Properties to begin our relationship today.

" In the real estate business you learn more about people, and you learn more about community issues, you find out more about life, you learn more about the impact of government, probably than any other profession that I know of." -- Johnny Isakson, U.S. Senator for Georgia

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