Most people spend more time researching a rental car than the person they're about to spend five days touring properties with. A short call or WhatsApp exchange before you book flights answers questions that are much harder to sort out once you've already landed. Here's what I'd ask.
About the Agent
1. How long have you worked in this specific area? Not Costa Rica broadly, this town and its immediate neighbors. Local specifics like maritime zone lines and HOA reputations don't transfer from one coast to another.
2. Can I see verifiable reviews, not just testimonials on your website? A Google or Facebook review tied to a real name is harder to fake than a quote on a landing page. See my own reviews page for what that should look like.
3. Who do you represent on a given property, the buyer or the seller? A straight answer here tells you a lot about how transparently someone operates.
4. Who pays your commission? In most Costa Rica deals it's the seller, but confirm it plainly rather than assuming.
About Your Trip
5. Can you show me properties across multiple towns, or just one? Some agents specialize narrowly. If you want to compare Coco, Ocotal, and Hermosa in one trip, confirm that's actually on the table.
6. How many properties realistically fit into the days I have? Ask this before you finalize your itinerary, not after you've already booked a short trip.
7. Will you personally be with me, or will I be handed off to someone else? Worth knowing upfront, especially if a specific person's reputation is why you reached out.
About the Process
8. Do you work with a financing partner for foreign buyers? If cash isn't your plan, ask this early. I work with Second Street for U.S.- and Canadian-buyer mortgages, and it's a conversation worth having before you fall for a property that stretches your budget.
9. Can you recommend an attorney, and do you expect me to use your recommendation exclusively? You should always be free to hire your own independent attorney.
10. What's a realistic timeline once I find something I want to offer on? Most purchases here run 4–8 weeks start to finish; if you hear something wildly different, ask why.
11. What happens after I fly home? Will you stay reachable by WhatsApp or email through closing, or does communication slow down once you've left?
12. What don't you personally handle? Property management, photography, legal work. Knowing where an agent's role ends helps you understand who else you'll need on your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I ask a Costa Rica realtor for references before flying down?
Yes. Since there's no licensing board vouching for agents here, verifiable reviews and references are one of the few real ways to check someone's track record before you commit days of your trip to them.
Is it normal to ask who pays the agent's commission?
Completely normal, and worth asking plainly. In most Costa Rica transactions the seller pays the commission, but confirming that upfront avoids any confusion about who the agent is really working for on a given property.
Can one agent show me properties in multiple towns?
It depends on the agent. Some specialize in a single town; others, myself included, cover several neighboring towns. Ask directly before your trip so your itinerary matches what they can actually show you.
