1 / 62This expansive ten-thousand-square-meter estate in Tinamastes offers an exceptional opportunity to secure a substantial holding in the southern zone of Costa Rica for USD 159,000. Positioned just one kilometer off Highway 243 along Calle Luz de Luna, the property features gently rolling terrain adorned with mature fruit trees and is bordered on its rear boundary by a year-round flowing creek. The existing rustic residence spans a generous construction footprint of 1,076 square meters, currently configured with one functional bedroom, a complete bathroom, a livable kitchen, a living room, and a dedicated laundry area. While the main level is fully habitable, the expansive second-story loft space offers a blank canvas for customization and expansion. A separate, sturdy outbuilding on the grounds houses a spacious workshop and a secure bodega, ideal for storage or creative projects. With two and a half acres of highly usable land, the estate provides ample space for cultivating organic gardens or constructing additional guest casitas. Strategically located, the property sits a convenient twenty-minute drive from the commercial hub of San Isidro de El General and only thirty minutes from the nearest Pacific beaches. Under Costa Rican law, foreign buyers enjoy secure fee-simple ownership rights. Buyers should note that the annual property tax is calculated based on the registered cadastral value of the estate, while standard closing costs, including notary fees and registry stamps, typically range between two and four percent of the final transaction price.
This 10000 m² estate in the Tinamastes region features a rustic main residence alongside a separate workshop and storage bodega. The existing house spans a total construction footprint of 1076 m², offering a functional layout that includes one bedroom, one bathroom, a living area, a kitchen, and a dedicated laundry space. While the lower level is fully livable, the expansive upstairs level provides a generous shell ready for custom renovation and personalization.
The gently rolling terrain is bordered by a year-round creek at the rear boundary, creating a natural buffer. The outdoor space is highly usable, featuring established fruit trees and ample cleared acreage suitable for constructing additional guest casitas or cultivating private gardens.
Acquiring this USD 159000 property involves straightforward local transaction guidelines. In Costa Rica, non-resident buyers enjoy fee-simple ownership rights identical to those of citizens. When purchasing, buyers should budget for closing costs, which typically encompass notary fees, registry charges, and legal stamps totaling between two and four percent of the purchase price. Additionally, the property transfer stamp tax generally requires about 1.5 percent of the declared transaction value. Ongoing ownership costs are highly manageable, as the annual property tax is calculated directly from the registered cadastral value of the estate.
Tinamastes, San Jose, Costa Rica, offers a distinct microclimate and lifestyle that makes it one of the most compelling regions for North Americans looking to buy property in Costa Rica. Situated in the highland valley of Perez Zeledon, this community sits at an elevation that provides cooler, breezier temperatures than the humid coastline, while keeping the ocean within easy reach. Residents can drive to the nearest Pacific beaches in approximately 30 minutes, allowing for spontaneous afternoon surf trips or sunset dinners by the water. Conversely, the bustling commercial hub of San Isidro de El General is only a 20-minute drive away. This proximity to San Isidro ensures quick access to private medical clinics, modern hospitals, organic farmers' markets, professional services, and diverse shopping options, making the location highly practical for retirees, remote workers, and long-term investors.
This specific pocket of Perez Zeledon real estate appeals to buyers who value self-sufficiency, agricultural potential, and natural privacy. The surrounding community is known for its fertile soil, artisanal markets, and active focus on wellness and sustainable living. Living here enables a lifestyle centered around cultivation, where you can grow your own food on the gentle terrain or simply enjoy the mature fruit trees already established on the land. The presence of a year-round creek bordering the rear of the property enhances the local ecosystem, attracting native bird species like the fiery-billed aracari and various colorful butterflies to the immediate canopy.
For those exploring San Isidro property Costa Rica, understanding the local purchasing framework is essential. Foreign buyers enjoy the security of fee-simple ownership rights, which are identical to those held by Costa Rican citizens. When acquiring this property, your ongoing holding costs are exceptionally manageable, as the annual property tax is calculated using a low rate based on the registered cadastral value of the land rather than the market purchase price. Buyers should also budget for the standard closing bundle, which covers notary fees, registry charges, and legal stamps, typically totaling between two and four percent of the transaction price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax that generally amounts to about 1.5 percent of the declared value. This clear, secure legal structure, combined with the tranquil mountain-to-ocean lifestyle of Tinamastes, makes the region a premier choice for international buyers seeking an authentic and sustainable foothold in the country.
Explore more about this area on our regional guide page.
At a purchase price of $159,000 for 10,000 square meters of land, this Tinamastes property offers an entry point of just $15.90 per square meter. This rate sits well below the averages found in neighboring coastal corridors, making it an attractive prospect for value-focused buyers. The ideal buyer is an investor or expat looking to utilize the gently rolling terrain for agricultural cultivation or to expand the footprint by building additional guest structures alongside the existing rustic house and workshop.
From a rental perspective, the property can be positioned as a long-term rental once the upstairs living space is finished, or as a dual-income setup by converting the separate workshop and bodega into a guest casita. Costa Rica continues to see steady demand from North Americans seeking mountain-to-coast proximity, and purchasing now secures fee-simple ownership before local infrastructure improvements drive land values higher.
On the financial side, annual property taxes are calculated using the registered cadastral value, keeping ongoing holding costs remarkably low. Buyers should budget approximately 2% to 4% of the purchase price to cover the closing bundle, which includes notary services, registry fees, legal representation, and the standard property transfer stamp tax of about 1.5% of the declared transaction value. This low-carry structure provides an excellent holding strategy with a clear exit path to resell to future developers.
Model rental income for this property with our rental income calculator.
Acquiring this Tinamastes property is a straightforward process for international buyers, as Costa Rican law grants foreigners the same fee simple ownership rights as citizens for inland real estate. Because this acreage sits well outside the restricted maritime zone, you will hold absolute, direct ownership of the land and structures. The transaction involves standard closing costs, which typically bundle notary fees, registry fees, and legal stamps into an amount totaling between two and four percent of the purchase price, alongside a property transfer stamp tax that generally equals about one and a half percent of the declared transaction value.
Ongoing ownership is highly affordable, with annual property taxes calculated as a very small fraction of the property's registered cadastral value. Furthermore, because the purchase price of $159,000 exceeds the established national threshold for real estate investment, securing this property allows you to apply for official Costa Rican residency.
Review title types and due diligence in our fee simple vs concession guide.
Living in the vibrant community of Tinamastes offers an unparalleled lifestyle that perfectly balances the tranquility of a mountain retreat with the convenience of nearby urban amenities and coastal adventures. Situated along the scenic route of Highway 243, this unique location places you in a highly desirable microclimate where cool, refreshing mountain breezes sweep across the rolling terrain, keeping the temperature comfortable year-round. For those who dream of a self-sustaining lifestyle, the rich, fertile soil of this ten-thousand-square-meter property is a gardener's paradise, already adorned with established fruit trees and offering boundless space for further cultivation. Imagine waking up to the gentle sounds of the year-round creek bordering your land, spending your morning tending to your private orchards, and then making a quick twenty-minute drive into the bustling downtown of San Isidro de El General for fresh local produce, organic markets, and modern services. When the ocean calls, the golden sands and world-class surf of the Pacific coast are just a scenic thirty-minute drive away, allowing you to enjoy the best of Costa Rica's southern zone. This property appeals directly to the aspirational buyer who seeks to escape the frantic pace of modern city life and reconnect with nature without sacrificing accessibility. Whether your vision is to expand the existing rustic home, construct additional guest cottages on the gentle slopes, or establish a thriving homestead, this estate provides the ultimate canvas to design a life of peace, privacy, and natural beauty in one of the country's most sought-after valleys.
Tinamastes, San José
Tinamastes, San José
Principal broker
In Costa Rica since 2004
