July 18, 2011 ? Buying a piece of real estate in Costa Rica is probably one of the more important decisions that you will make in your life.

Whether you are buying a home for the first time or as a piece of investment in Costa Rica you will always have to ask yourself many questions before deciding to go ahead and buy that property in Costa Rica.

One of the main questions that will come up is whether you want to buy a house or a condominium as each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Some people are partial to buying a home and others to buying a condo but before you decide here are some questions you need to ask yourself.

In general, condos in Costa Rica are cheaper then homes and you get many benefits that might be advantageous of your lifestyle such as:

• Close to busy areas for going out and such
• No need to worry about home maintenance
• Close to your place of work
• Part of a community
• Security
• Amenities like swimming pool, club area and such

One of the main drawbacks of buying a condo is the proximity to your neighbors so choose wisely!

Another one of the items to be worried about when purchasing a condo in Costa Rica is the economy because the monthly maintenance fees of the condo may rise when they are less condo owners or tenants in the complex.

They are of course many Costa Rica descuentos as they say here when it comes to living in a condos because you are sharing the maintenance cost of all of the community amenities.

It is a good idea to check the type of policies they have for these types of situation as well as make sure that you are buying into a healthy condo community when living in Costa Rica.

Buying a home in Costa Rica had always been considered a sound investment during the Costa Rica real estate boom but in the past few years, it proved otherwise. As the real estate market recovers in Costa Rica, now might be the time to purchase a home as experts estimate that the price of homes should start picking up in the next year or so.

In general, owning a home is great because:

• They are no association fees
• You are not stuck next to someone with just a wall separating you
• Homes usually have a better resale value in Costa Rica
• You can do whatever you want with a house

Whether buying a home or condo in Costa Rica is the right choice for you, just remember that sooner or later, the market will improve as the population of the world is increasing every minute meaning that people will always be looking to buy properties to live in!

Robert Nimylowycz is an avid world traveler and who has bought and sold many houses in Costa Rica for a profit. Currently, Bob resides in a beautiful Costa Rica real estate rental in Heredia where he spends his time with his wife and two kids.