Real estate · Playas del Coco & Guanacaste
We're D'Arcy and Johan, partners in life and in real estate on Costa Rica's Gold Coast. D'Arcy knows what it feels like to arrive from the other side of the world. Johan grew up in Playas del Coco and runs property management at Expat Properties CR, so he knows how homes here actually work, day to day.
Our story
Sol is D'Arcy's world of wellness and slow mornings. Swell is Johan's, out in the water. Together we help you buy the home that fits the life you came here for.
Agent · Expat Properties CR
I moved to Guanacaste from Australia, so I know the questions you're asking because I asked them too: which town, what it really costs, who to trust. I'm also a yoga teacher here, so I know these beach towns from the inside, the early mornings, the community and the pace.
Agent & Property Management Manager · Expat Properties CR
I grew up in Playas del Coco, so I know this town and the coast around it inside and out. I spent about eight years in Playa Grande, surfing every day, before coming home to Coco. Today I manage the property management team at Expat Properties CR, so I see how homes perform after the keys change hands: what needs upkeep, what rents well and which neighbourhoods hold their value.
We built our foundation together at Expat Properties CR. On every deal you get someone who has made the move and someone who has always called this coast home.
Listings
As agents with Expat Properties CR, we can show you the brokerage's full, live inventory of homes, condos, lots and developments across the Gold Coast, plus properties listed by other agents.
How we help
A full-time home, a winter base or a place to retire. We shortlist, tour and negotiate, and we stay with you through the attorney, escrow and closing.
Ask about buying →Not sure which town fits? We'll help you work out the daily rhythm you want before we look at a single listing, and suggest renting first if it makes sense.
Ask about moving →Johan manages Expat Properties CR's vacation rental team, so you get honest numbers on occupancy, upkeep and costs. His team can manage the rental once you own.
Ask about investing →Pricing based on real comparable sales, strong photos and video, and marketing aimed at the international buyers who are looking for homes like yours.
Ask about selling →Where we work
We live and work around the bays north of Playas del Coco. These are the towns we know best.
Walkable, lively and full of restaurants, with everything you need close by. Home of the brokerage office, around 35 minutes from Liberia airport.
A long, gentle beach with a quieter residential feel. Good for swimming, paddleboarding and sunsets.
A small, peaceful cove next to Coco, with hillside homes and ocean views.
Upscale and private, close to the Papagayo resorts, with calm bays.
Schools, services and more home for your budget, a short drive from the beaches.
Johan lived and surfed in Playa Grande for years. From there to Tamarindo and the foothills of Rincón de la Vieja, we can help you look further afield.
Plan your budget
Closing costs in Costa Rica usually run about 3.5–4.5% of the price. Put in a price to see a rough estimate.
Estimated cash to close
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A cash-purchase estimate only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Transfer tax and stamps are charged on the higher of the price or the registered value. Your closing attorney confirms final figures.
Common questions
General information to get you started. Always confirm the details for your situation with a Costa Rican attorney.
Most homes we show are titled land outside the zone. We confirm which one you're looking at early.
Yes. Foreign buyers have the same ownership rights as Costa Ricans for titled property. You don't need residency, a local partner or a visa to buy. The main exception is land in the maritime zone along the coast.
The first 50 metres from the high-tide line is public and can't be owned. The next 150 metres is held as a concession, not titled land, with limits on foreign ownership. Many coastal homes sit outside this zone, so it's one of the first things we check.
Yes. In Costa Rica your attorney is also the notary who carries out the transfer. They check the title and boundaries at the National Registry, look for liens and register the sale. We can introduce you to attorneys our clients trust.
Most buyers here pay cash, but it isn't the only option. Some lenders now offer mortgages to North American buyers, and seller financing is sometimes possible. Tell us your situation and we'll point you in the right direction.
A typical purchase takes about 30 to 60 days from accepted offer to keys. That usually means a signed offer, a deposit held in escrow, a due diligence period and then closing.
Yes. Many buyers close remotely by giving their Costa Rican attorney a power of attorney. We can also tour properties for you on video.
Annual property tax is 0.25% of the registered value. Higher-value homes may also pay a yearly luxury home tax on the building. Condos and gated communities have monthly HOA fees, so we always get those numbers for you.
Let's talk
You don't need a budget or a timeline to reach out. Tell us where you are in the process and we'll reply on WhatsApp, usually the same day, in English or Spanish.