We had done our homework prior by investigating websites selling and renting property in the Escazu area. We had great expectations for our journey but never thought we would place a bid on a condominium during our first visit. We found the perfect home in Santa Ana and we still are very happy with our purchase. We found Arturo Guzman and "Properties in Costa Rica" to be professional to deal with and always willing to help out. We would highly recommend them to everybody for their real estate dealings.
Testimonials
We had a desire to live in Costa Rica when we retired. I did some online searches and found a prospect. I sent an email for more information and Kris Anderson from Properties in Costa Rica promptly replied to my request and soon we were scheduling to meet. Our dealings with Mrs Anderson turned out to be 4 trips down to Costa Rica over the course of a year. Each time we arrived we would meet Mrs Anderson and she would show us 4-5 houses a day, as many days as we wanted to spend with her. She is extremely knowledgeable about the area. Never pushy and super friendly. She really listens to her customers likes & dislikes, needs & wants, to find the perfect "home" for them.
Mrs Anderson (Kris as we now call her) suggested we start an escrow account and get an attorney so when we find our perfect place we will be ready to go. Kris once again worked her magic and found us an attorney and referred us to an escrow company. We had all our paperwork in order 5 days before we were scheduled to head home. We scheduled one last day with Kris and found our "new home" that we wanted to make an offer on. Kris was delighted for us. Kris once again stepped in and worked her magic. Our offer was accepted with a little back and forth, and we were heading home as our vacation came to an end. Over the next three months inspections were done forms were sent and Kris was there for us every step of the way. Our purchase continued to move forward and we actually closed during a pandemic with Kris at the table and us in the states. It was a real blessing having someone trustworthy looking out for us in a foreign country. Reassuring us everything is under control - "Pura Vida" as they say.
We have not yet seen our new home in person due to current travel restrictions, but Kris has sent us videos and helped us get our keys to our new gardener and maid while we wait patiently to visit. Our first stop will be at Kris's office to thank her personally for all her hard work and dedication she puts into each and every transaction she does. She is truely "One In A Million!"
Bob & Valerie Muszynski
Joe and Sonia Trent, NY, USA
There is no other phrase for the personalized service I have received from Properties in Costa Rica in general and Arturo Guzman specifically. Before coming to Costa Rica I did some on-line research and talked with people who had a variety of associations with Costa Rica. This prompted me to vacation here with the idea of potentially purchasing property for retirement. I had contacted Properties in Costa Rica through e-mail on numerous occasions and this eventually led to having a staff pick me up at my hotel, for viewing of specific properties. The final property Arturo showed me has resulted in the following: - I questioned why I was continuing to live in Canada when I hated the winters, I decided to retire, I bought the property, I handed in my resignation, I sold my loft in Canada, I moved to Costa Rica, - all within 3 months. At no time in the past year have I had any doubts about these decisions.
The services provided by Properties in Costa Rica were not limited to the showing and selling of property. Information was provided on the benefits of establishing a Costa Rican corporation for the property and a referral to a real estate legal firm. When I arrived here Arturo met me at the airport, took me to arrange a car rental, showed me where to purchase household items and groceries, he then took me to my new house.
Throughout my interactions with Arturo, he has consistently demonstrated honesty, integrity, professionalism, and a dedication to his clients that endures past the cashing of the final check.
Rodney Peterson, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Arturo, Ellyn and I want to thank you and Rod P. for helping provide our family a most wonderful vacation and Costa Rica experience. The house was beautiful and served us well but also a special thanks goes to a delightful and profession person, Lucia Munoz. She was fantastic in providing a warm welcome and constant assistance in helping us plan our daily activities. Additionally, pool maintenance and housekeeping support by Hilbert and Geraldine (not sure on spelling) was the best.
Ellyn and I look forward to coming back to Costa Rica and the "Hilltop House" again in the future. You may use us for a reference concerning this rental if you desire.
Most Sincerely,
Robert and Ellyn Cooley
When arriving at Los Suenos Resort, everyone in our party agreed that we had just entered "Fantasy Island." It was like being transported to a land of beauty and tranquility. Then, when we entered the Colina condo, again we were quite pleased with the high quality, beautifully decorated home! If you want a reasonably priced delicious meal go to the Hook-up; breakfast, lunch & dinner are all wonderful. The pool and patio areas are splendid and don't forget the swim up bar! Some people who made our stay a breeze include: Omar, our driver (very knowledgable, helpful, kind, and funny), Santos, at the Marriott reservation office (he helped us on a daily basis to book tours & taxis), and our wonderful cleaning ladies who took such good care of us by cleaning the condo each day! If you come to Costa Rica you must go to the Turu Ba Ri canopy tour. They serve a delicious lunch after doing both sitting canopy and SUPERMAN style canopy rides across the rainforest! Also, you must do the Amigos del Rio river rafting tour. The ride to the river is as much fun as the rafting itself. The lunch after the day of rafting and waterfall was very tasty! Thanks also to Arturo for providing us with such comfortable and luxurious accommodations. YOU MUST GO TO COSTA RICA!
Craig and Jennifer Boynton, California, USA
After several hit and miss attempts with other brokers and websites, I decided to list with PropertiesInCostaRica.com. The service (something sorely lacking in Costa Rica) was amazing and I had a contract on my home weeks after signing up! I would definitely recommend this company to anyone looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Costa Rica.
Chris R. in Santa Ana, Costa Rica
I have tried so many way to advertise my properties to potential buyers. Some worked for a while. Others never worked. But one website has given consistent results. PropertiesinCostaRica.com has produced an average of 5 or 6 inquiries each week and probably about one per week has been a serious buyer. I heartily recommend Arturo and his company. They are dedicated professionals and they will treat you with respect and produce results.
David Rushton
"I came to Rector Realty hoping they would be able to point me in the right direction," Ferguson said. "They certainly did that and so much more."
Ferguson was able to meet with Costa Rican realtor Arturo Guzman via a video conference set up by Rector Realty owner Jasa Haney-Hollis. Haney-Hollis and Guzman helped make arrangements for Ferguson's trip to Costa Rica. Not only did they arrange much of his travel, the realtors also were responsible for booking his hotel reservations. A telling sign in the quality of Ferguson's accommodations during his stay from March 24 to April 2 is the fact the same hotel he stayed in also hosted vice-president Joe Biden during his recent visit to Costa Rica.
"It was like a movie," Ferguson said. "They had a car waiting for me at the airport to take me to the hotel. They were with me every step of the way. Properties in Costa Rica was very professional. I can't say enough about how well I was treated."
Ferguson was shown a number of properties. First, he and Guzman visited the various homes for sale. Then, to provide a different view, Ferguson was flown over the areas in a helicopter.
"From the air, I was really able to get a better feel of how the properties were laid out," Ferguson said. "It was also an enjoyable feeling, flying over so much of the country. It was quite beautiful."
Ferguson made a point of enjoying the native beauty of Costa Rica. Located just 12 degrees above the equator, Costa Rica enjoys a nice, tropical climate. It's also home to natural splendor, featuring rain forests and beaches.
"It's such a beautiful place," Ferguson said.
What really attracted Ferguson to Costa Rica, however, was the weather.
"Basically, I'm trading four seasons for one," he said. "The sun comes up every day at 6 a.m. and goes down at 6 p.m. They don't have fall or winter there. They do have a rainy season, but it's all sunshine for seven months out of the year."
Ferguson says he plans to hold dual citizenship in both Costa Rica and the United States. He also plans on returning to visit Rector from time to time.
"I really like that region," he said. "It's a rural area, but it's also developed. They have a lot of their infrastructure in place."
"I wanted to work with just one company if I could," Ferguson said. "With Properties in Costa Rica, I've been able to do that."
Extract from the Clay County Democrat
It has been a wonderful experience working with the team at www.propertiesincostarica.com on our Internet Marketing campaign by placing a banner on your website. Arturo has been very enthusiastic about every detail and has strived to do the best job possible. His insight and creativity has translated into an incredible number of qualified leads. Most importantly, they deliver the results that they promise. Thank you Arturo and the whole Properties in Costa Rica team, we look forward to future campaigns
Juan Ignacio Pignataro. Sales Director. Hermosa del Mar, Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
"Serve these lines to patenting my thanks for the very professional and diligent way that your company handled the sale of my apartment in Monte Olimpo located in San Rafael of Escazu, San Jose, Costa Rica. This helped to materialize the operation in a reasonable time, during which I was very kindly treated and kept informed of how your company was handling all the possibilities of finding the buyer. Thanks again and congratulations to all the staff of Properties in Costa Rica."
Yours sincerely. Luis Arturo Zaldivar
Hi Freddie, well, I am back. the flights went well without a hitch, and I got home about 7pm, welcomed by rain. I had a great time and want to thank you and karin for your tremendous hospitality. I know you don't have to spend all that time with your clients but for me it was great!! it certainly gave me very good sense of what life is like there in pavones and was so very much better than what any other agent has ever done. I feel like I now have not just a great agent in pavones but also a friend. that makes a huge difference in the whole experience because it adds the one intangible that is so, so hard to find nowadays......trust. again, thank you. Pavones and the surrounding area is truly "paradise" and far and away my favorite of all I have seen in Costa Rica. like I told you...."I want to be there".
Ed Rahal
As Sales and Marketing Director for the project Colinas de Miramar in Costa Rica, I would like to highly recommend the services of www.propertiesincostarica.com to those who are looking for real results and efficient service, both on the project/development level as well as on individual home sales.
We have used the services of PropertiesCR since our launching of sales and they have become a key element in our marketing campaign when it comes to advertising, and lead generation services. We have always found them to be highly efficient, with excellent response time. In terms of cost-effectiveness vs. number of lead sources, they have out-produced most of the more costly affiliate websites that we use to market our project.
For anyone trying to ramp up a marketing campaign, or sell an individual property, again, I would highly recommend their services.
John Podesta Sales and Marketing Director Colinas de Miramar Costa Rica
Thank you for a very positive Real Estate Purchase experience
We want to take the opportunity to commend Arturo Guzman and the entire staff of Properties in Costa Rica how lucky we feel in having made that first phone call that connected us with your company to initiate the process that culminated with the purchase of our home in Costa Rica. All our apprehensions of doing such a potentially risky and complicated transaction began to ease from the moment that we exchanged information with Arturo by phone. Their obvious knowledge of the market and professionalism helped to ease our concerns.
We were shown a diverse sample of the housing inventory in Atenas and surroundings that covered the type of home we had tried to describe. With patience and willingness, Arturo educated us about the process of buying and owning Real Estate in Costa Rica. We learned the history of local development, the quality of construction, the plans for Atenas and the community we were selecting. Once we settled on a specific property, we went back home with the peace of mind that we had certainly selected an ethical and trustworthy Real Estate Company that would protect our interests through and past the closing.
Properties in Costa Rica was involved at every step of the way facilitating the long and tedious process of negotiations, meeting requirements, connecting us with a great legal firm, using a well trusted Title Company and reputable banks. Once we completed the purchase and arrived in Costa Rica to take possession, Arturo Guzman was there personally to meet us at the airport and after driving us to the house on a late dark night, he helped us in the orientation and settlement process.
Buying a house in a foreign country can be a daunting experience. For that reason, without hesitation, we strongly recommend Properties in Costa Rica and Arturo Guzman to those who are contemplating the purchase of a property in Costa Rica. You will receive personal attention in addition to knowledge, professionalism and support. You will be able to feel comfortable and confident that things will be handled correctly and with transparency.
Thanks for everything Pura Vida! Carlos and Dagmar Agüero New Jersey, USA
I don't often feel compelled to offer business testimonials but my experience with Art Guzman and his real estate firm, Properties in Costa Rica, really warrants a statement of support. When I decided to sell one of my properties in Costa Rica, I engaged Art's services because he and his firm were highly recommended to me by my trusted friend and Costa Rican attorney. I was very impressed with Art's professionalism, sales planning and promotion of my property. He did not just "list" the property, he actively marketed it in multiple ways. Art was able to secure a purchaser for my property within a short period of time and the entire process was very easy for me. I highly recommend Art to anyone looking for North American style professionalism for Real Estate services here in Costa Rica
Neil Magneson
In August, 2012, my wife and I decided to look into a move to Costa Rica. We found propertiesincostarica.com on the internet. This was indeed fortunate. Not only were the listings of properties extensive, offering a wide variety of choice, but the other information was really helpful. Office staff were courteous and helpful, and responded promptly and informatively to our many questions by phone or internet. If they did not know the answers immediately, they would find out. If they said they would get back to us, they did. This, of course, makes good business sense, but such behavior is not always to be found, when dealing with property rental. If promises were made, they were kept. They also stood in the gap for us linguistically. Neither my wife nor I are Spanish speakers. But communication with the office was always clear and unambiguous. This was a great help.
The advice we received was excellent and well-founded. When we decided upon a property, the necessary paperwork was quickly forthcoming.
This write-up goes way beyond the mere business report on such things as the accuracy of information, the helpfulness and accessibility of staff, etc. The issue revolves around the fact that we were not treated as mere clients needing a business service. We were treated as people. The information we were given was essential to the smoothness of our relocation. But when you consider it, the helpfulness we have encountered is good business sense on your part. This is the best business sense. It arises from the fact that you understand that you are not dealing simply with properties in Costa Rica, but with people. And that has made a real difference. Would I recommend you to others? The answer is a big yes.
Client
Thanksgiving time 2005 I and my wife visited Costa Rica for the first time. We had read a very interesting article in the Travel Section of New York Times. Prior to the visit I had been looking for a realtor to give us an orientation of the condominiums available in the central valley or more precisely the Escazu- Santa Ana area.
We found Properties in Costa Rica and contacted Art.
The day after arrival Art took us around and had arranged for us to see a number of attractive places.
Next day we had narrowed this down to three that we visited again. The same afternoon we left for the Arenal area and experienced an earthquake late that night. We had prior put in a bid for the beautiful condo we later bought. At 2.30 in the morning Art called us in the hotel room and asked if we were still interested, and if so he would go and check out the apartment in Villa Vento, which he also did and found no damage. Beginning January 2005 we came back and closed the deal.
We had no intention to act this fast, since we knew very little about the country, but with Art's way of presenting and understanding our needs and also inhaling the beauty of the country our decision was easy to make.
We have visited and spent time a great number of times in our place, but also had the condominium rented for periods of time. Nobody could have done a better job arranging this than Art. We live far away in New York and it feels very good knowing that we have a friend and professional realtor to lean on.
Art covers a substantial area of the country and can basically fulfill anybody's need in the realetate market.
I highly recommend Art to anybody who plans to look for property in this great country. You will be in good hands.
Kjell Wikestam
We have known Arturo since 2003 and have bought 2 properties and sold one through his company. I doubt that anywhere in Costa Rica you would find an agent more competent than Mr. Guzman.
We first met through an ex-pat's website and Arturo took us to see some properties. The first day we saw only condominiums and were a little disappointed because we were interested in a private home. I noticed, however, that Arturo was really listening to what our needs were and the next day, the first private home we viewed was the one we bought that visit.
That is the key to his success, learning and responding to the client's needs. When we listed our home, exclusively with Propertiesincostarica, friends told us we were crazy, list with multiple agents they said, sell it yourself. Our home sold in a few weeks, our friends' homes are still on the market.
To sum up Arturo Guzman is the consummate realtor, fulfilling needs and then making sure that everything goes smoothly right up to closing
Gary Chanowich
Rod Martin sold our property in Uvita for us recently. He managed the whole process for us like a pro. He was pleasant do deal with and made everything quite effortless for us. We received a fair price and sold the property quickly. There are a number of good agents in the area, but Rod also had a steady flow of prospective buyers to view our home. High activity, hard work, professionalism and integrity did the job for us. I would not hesitate to recommend him to others
Dan and Maryann Morian
My wife and I first contact with Rod Martin was over the internet. Unlike other requests for real estate information Rod responded quickly and with the answers we were looking for. Even though we saw many properties we were interested in, Rod was the only agent that we felt comfortable with in meeting in Costa Rica.
Even though the property that we though was our dream lot did not turn out that way, Rod did show us another that fit all of our requirements. He guided us through the negotiations and purchase of the property. Referrals for legal assistance, property tests and archirtect continued with the process. Without Rod we would not have found and been able to purchase with little effort our new property for and Costa Rican house.
Arthur Schinitsky and Ana Restrepo
I'd like to recommend to anyone who has interest in real estate in Costa Rica to contact Art Guzman. Art is most knowledgeable about the market and has insights that only an experienced realtor can provide.
Dr. Mark Hinkes Nashville, Tennessee, USA
As a business owner, I am acutely aware of how staff can guide a company and make critical impressions to your customers. Any business would be enhanced by the presence of Andres Murillo. Upon meeting Andres two years ago, he immediately conveyed his interest in helping to find the type of property that fit our needs. With his vast and complete knowledge he has orchestrated perfectly the purchase of our Playa Langosta vacation home. Without question he has made the buying experience a truly satisfying journey. His experience and trustworthiness brought comfort to the overseas buying process. Andres professionalism is coupled with his respect for others. While having the patience to show numerous properties he interjected valuable insight for each that helped us to make an educated decision. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Andres and look forward to future transactions with Andres through Properties In Costa Rica.
Barbara Etting NJ, USA & Playa Langosta Pura Vida! April 2014
My wife and I did our due diligence before coming in Costa Rica in terms of knowing what type of property we want to buy. Andres was more than a help to us in getting our dream house and he become a dear friend that we can always rely on.
Andres was going above and beyond at his job to have this deal properly done and closed to our supreme satisfaction. We would always recommend Andres Murillo, as he poses professionalism, integrity and enthusiasm that is required in this line of business.
Boris and Mirej
This testimonial will serve as an honest assessment for recent dealings with Andres. During our spring break vacation of March 2014 with our two daughters. Debbie, my wife and I decided that Costa Rica would be our future country and home. We elected to celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary in Costa Rica in three different areas in July 2014. Debbie did a comprehensive search for potential properties in Tamarindo and Samara. Andres was recommended to Debbie and she contacted him seeking advice and possibilities to visit for an evaluation while in town during July 2014.
Almost instantly Debbie maintained and sustained positive dialogue with Andres and he provided invaluable feedback and with that an appointment was set up for Andres to pick us up and show us few properties. Andres met us at the hotel on time and was very personable and spoke effective English and we learned right away that he is an educated and knowledgeable young man.
Everywhere we went in Tamarindo he was greeted by many local people as he was well known and respected. The both of us felt very secure with him and he treated us as family and Joked around with him constantly.It was a amazing how fast Andres was able to evaluate our likes and dislikes as we visited a few properties. He asked us to keep an open mind about a property that he was about to show us that was not on the agenda and of course we agreed.
After visiting Rancho Villa Real Andres proposed that we meet with local architects he knew just to evaluate the possibility of designing our future home just in case. The both of us gained valuable input from Andres and we were compelled to keep our experience as a tool for what we may do in the near future.
Well to keep the story short we decided within five weeks that we were going to purchase a property and that we were going to build a home on that property designed by the architect that Andres recommended. Furthermore, Andres recommended a local knowledge lawyer who worked the purchase and will represent us in the future.We plan on moving to our new home in December of this year and Andres also proposed what kind of house warming party we are going to have. I feel that it was destiny and faith that propelled our meeting with Andres and that he made our dreams possible.We have the utmost respect for this young man who is very passionate about his country and his family as well as his profession.
We will always consider him as a dear friend and family member for the years to come.Just two weeks ago we took a spring break vacation with our daughters again and spend an entire week in Tamarindo. Needless to say we got together couple times with Andres for dinner and drinks... he does not consume alcohol! Our daughters were impress by him for his personality and savviness, and, of course I already knew that.
In summary we would recommend Andres for anyone who has any interest in any part of Costa Rica for I know that he would serve those clients with professionalism, courtesy and a genuine Costa Rican pride. We can't wait to make our transition to our new home later this year and at the same time look forward to cultivating lasting friendship with Andres and his family.
Properties in Costa Rica should be very proud to have someone like Andres on their team.I know we got lucky with him and I know you will as well.
Kind regards, Waleed William Tarazi
With great dedication Art Guzman, our broker, was marketing our house. The result were promising showings, and recently we were able to sell our house. Art was literally taking us by the hand, and leading us through the very complex process of negotiations of the sale of our house. Every step for us was smooth and easy thanks to his outstanding skills. In a very short time we were able to close the deal, and could do the next step in our life. We highly recommend Art, and thank him very much for all his great work.
Marita and Eb D.
Prior to going to Costa Rica I tried to contact a few real estate companies, and I found Art at Properties in Costa Rica to be the most responsive of them all. We arranged a phone call, and Art listened to our requirements and asked appropriate questions to learn more about what our needs were. We spent one morning with Art looking at properties, and he had done research and actually gone to see a couple of the properties, which we very much appreciated. He also sent us pictures and videos of the properties before we even arrived in Costa Rica. I would very much recommend working with Properties in Costa Rica if you are not a Costa Rican, but are looking to buy a property there.
Lisa Frankel
I came to visit costa rica for the first time in December 2015 by February 2016 I had purchased my dreamed home. After just a few hours in Tamarindo I knew this was where I wanted to live. Deciding that I wanted to have a home in Costa Rica was the easy part, now I had to find someone to turn those dreams into a reality. While surfing in Playa Grande I met Andrés and shared with him my dream of purchasing a home in Guanacaste. He then arranged for us to meet the next day to go surf and look at some homes. At this point I told him the chances of me buying anything were slim, yet he didn't care and reassured me we were just going to have a fun day and entertain my dream. To not drag this story out , Andrés helped me find my dream home, he turned an idea into a reality and made this the easiest decision I've ever made. He found me a beautiful ocean view condo for a very affordable price. He answered my thousands of annoying emails, and he was there for me a 100 precent. I've bought many houses through out my life and I can reassure you that no one has ever provided the service Andrés did. From beginning to end he was funny, smart, and more dependable than i could ever imagined. I will forever be grateful he took his time and gave so much effort to make my dream come true
Walter Calligari, 58, Bradenton Florida Bought in Sunset Hill, Apartment 3
In the crazy sea of Costa Rican real estate, finding and working with Arturo Guzman was an island of sanity. When we decided to sell our property we contacted many realtors that we had heard had a good track record but their customer service was lacking. They expected us to provide all the information and photos and then they simply copy and paste the information and then hope they get a looker. Arturo on the other hand came to our home, took his time to take photos and wrote up the listing and handled all showings professionally. When he said he was going to do something he would do it, it was never the next day that can happen so often here. I would highly recommend Arturo for his honesty, integrity and professionalism. We feel that Properties In Costa Rica is the best company in Costa Rica to list your property or home with.
Rita and Steve DeVore
My wife and I are both Costa Rica nationals living in Texas and we used Art Guzman to help us buy a vacation condo/rental in Escazu in November 2016. We did not know him prior or have any recommendations for him. We got in touch with him via internet searches and his website and could not be happier that we did. He is extremely knowledgeable about the process of buying, areas in the metropolitan San Jose and many other tips that are invaluable. We had very limited time to view and he showed us several properties that were exactly what we had described on our wish list. We had an extremely difficult seller for the property we bought and I can't stress enough how much and well Art did as a "mediator" and handling all the roadblocks the seller kept coming up with and getting us a great deal. Truly a professional at his craft and we were highly impressed. He will walk you through step by step, is always accessible and is extremely receptive to your needs and wants.
If you are accustomed/expecting USA standards in an agent, Art is your guy. We will use him again for any further buying/selling or renting needs. Highly recommend him!
Alberto & Marjorie
Zoe Longworth is a joy to work with. She responds to inquiries with enthusiasm, helpfulness, and a great knowledge of properties available in the various communities. Zoe has strong working relationships with real estate partners in the area, locals, and neighbors, and she is able to offer in-depth knowledge of the amenities, benefits and challenges. We have been so very pleased and grateful for her guidance and shepherding us through the process of foreign ownership. And, Zoe is an excellent driver on the local Costa Rica mountain roads! You will be blessed to work with Zoe!
Gary and Gena Davis