TEAM CR - Title Search - costa rica real estate investment buyer independent agent title escrow service account management

This is the most critical portion of any property transfer in Costa Rica and requires the most attention on the part of both
the attorney/notary AND our independent managers - we actually search the public records two or three times, depending on the circumstance, and then the attorney/notary will obtain a "hard copy" which has been "certified" by the Registro, in preparation for a 'clean' and 'clear' closing for the property , in your name .....

Plano - the site plan has a unique number which is registered with the Registro as the Catastro for property we like to compare and verify the total area of the property square meters and most recent finca number assigned to that catastro,
as that must be the present owner and the only individual who can legally sell it

Escritura - is the document that texually describes the owner, identification, size and circumstances of the property, current allowed zoning use and whether there are loans, judgements, claims, probates, setbacks / right-of-way attached
to the property - each item must be scrutinized and addressed for closure - example - if there is a loan (hipoteca) or any judgement (gravemen) against the property, we pay those charges and get a proper receipt BEFORE the seller receives
the net balance after all charge-offs against the property are paid

You would be absolutely amazed at some of the completely illegal attempts we have witnessed to sell property which is under 5 year probate review, 7 years gift review or 14 year "squatter rights" reviews - the sad part is that we have met attorneys and real estate sales persons who are not aware of how the laws apply and pay no attention to recorded documents -

the worst we are personally aware of is a real estate saleswoman who thought she bought some beachfront property
along the southern Caribbean coast and actually gave the attorney over $100,000 cash without even getting a receipt - guess what ? the attorney kept her money and negotiated the property for about half the amount in his own name -

she now learns he made "official receipts" for services rendered and she therefore has no basis to seek legal recourse - WOW !!! (by the way, not sure we would do any property buying from that particular real estate person - if she can't
cover her own back, not much hope for protecting yours ?)

here are examples of typical documents - hold cursor over thumbnail to see larger view (or click to see in new window)