Some Pitfalls to Be Aware Of in Buying Real Estate
This article gives some background for anyone considering buying real estate in Central America. It's buyer-beware down here. If you don't know what 'buyer-beware' means, then this might be a good place to start reading, but consider this just the beginning of your learning.
http://www.buscapanama.net/index.php/article/show/id/34
Peter
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Costa Rican Land Title Problems
While it's easy to make fun of land title issues in Nicaragua, Costa Rica also has its own issues. At least on the surface they appear to be less politically-inspired confiscations (as in Nicaragua) and more simple squatter-homestead issues here in Costa Rica. Nevertheless, it's something to consider, especially someone who isn't is contemplating being an absentee landlord. Read this article for more in-depth reporting.
http://www.guatemala-times.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article...
a long story about what happens if you make an initial error
I've been reading the history of 'Ongoing saga at the farm' in a certain yaho group which at its most basic is a propery dispute, with the ineffectiveness of using the legal system to resolve a clear violation. Although the story takes place in the Philippines, it's no matter: the issues in Central America are almost identical.
The lessons to be learned include:
Property transactions often work on a cash basis. You should try to get everything resolved before you hand over the cash;
Neighbors who at first seem nice aren't necessarily looking out for your interests;
Boundary disputes are complicated, expensive, and common;
The legal system is happy to suck your money and energy but might not resolve anything;
The bully often wins;
The foreigner usually loses.
The group where you can read this first hand is: http://asia.groups.yahoo.com/group/philventures/
It is an interesting group actually for a variety of reasons, especially for those interested in agriculture in the tropics.
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