Rico Realty listed my house and had a potential buyer in under a week. Within two weeks, I received a great offer. We closed without a single hitch. This was truly the most positive outcome I could have hoped for, and I will continue to recommend Rico Realty to others.
Founded in 1995, Rico Realty is the first professional real estate firm in the canton of Tilaran, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Specializing in properties in and around the Lake Arenal region of Costa Rica, Rico Realty has earned a reputation for providing the highest level of client service while embracing a bias for action.
Serving over numerous local and international – both buyers and sellers – Rico Realty has helped individuals and families find their dream homes in Costa Rica.
Though we specialize in the Lake Arenal region, Rico Realty can assist you in buying or selling property throughout Costa Rica. We provide local and countrywide service through our extensive network of real estate professionals.
When we first list a property, we perform a full due diligence process, to verify if the property is free and clear of any problems that could delay the sales process at a later time. The due diligence process is repeated by the closing attorney before the final closing.
Our Mission
To provide our clients with outstanding and consistent service throughout the buying and selling experience and to exceed expectations in every interaction.
Our Team
Rene Bradley Aoki
Jim and Rene Aoki have been fulltime residents of the Lake Arenal area since 1994. Previously, they lived in Alaska for over 22 years. While visiting Costa Rica on a sun break, they decided to buy property and make the move to this lush paradise. With Jim’s extensive experience in Alaska as owner of his own construction company and Rene’s background in accounting and credit management, they decided to start the first real estate company in the area. Thus, Rico Realty was born in 1995.
Rene manages the Lake Arenal office, a short 5 minutes drive from Tilaran.
Elisabeth Lindermuller
Professional and registered real estate agent at Lake Arenal, Costa Rica. Elisabeth has a wealth of knowledge in Real Estate Law, Lease Law, Labor Law, Construction and Zoning rules, Immigration law etc. She has been living at Lake Arenal, Costa Rica, since 1992 and has been a real estate agent since 2006. She’s built several homes for friends and clients and has a keen understanding of Costa Rica law as it regards zoning, permits and other considerations.
Fluent in English, Spanish and German, Elisabeth has helped clients from all over the world fulfill their Costa Rica living goals.
Rico Realty and our agents are legally registered with the required authorities SUGEF and the Costa Rican IRS “Ministerio de Hacienda”. We are members of the Costa Rican board of Real Estate Agents CCCBR. We permanently educate ourselves and have extensive knowledge in the field of Real Estate law, Lease Law, Immigration Law and Residency, Family law, Labour law, environmental law and zoning rules etc. All of our new listings go through a full due diligence process before publishing them for sale. This process is repeated and reviewed by the closing attorney before selling a property.
Professional Affiliations
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) was founded in 1908 in Chicago and has since become the premier organization that influences and shapes the real estate industry in North America and worldwide.
NAR seeks to be the leading advocate of the right to own, use, and transfer real property; the acknowledged leader in developing standards for efficient, effective, and ethical real estate business practices; and valued by highly skilled real estate professionals and viewed by them as crucial to their success.
The Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate Brokers Board (English translation), or as it is known in Costa Rica: the CCCBR (Camara Costarricense de Corredores de Bienes Raices) was founded in 1974 and is the most established and oldest real estate association in Costa Rica. The CCCBR institutes the rules, regulations, and ethical guidelines for officially licensed brokers in Costa Rica. All affiliated realtors must abide by the Code of Ethics of the CCCBR, which establishes agents’ obligations with their customers and third parties involved in real estate transactions.
Also, the non-profit Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate Brokers Board verifies every single listing with the National Registry to ensure marketable title, and itdescribes the major ownership risks that may be associated with purchasing each Costa Rica Property.
The CCCBR is a senior member of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), the most important international federation in this field, and a founding member of the Federation of Real Estate Association and Chamber of Central America, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Mexico (FECEPAC ACBR). In 2002, the Chamber signed a cooperation agreement with the National Association of Realtors (NAR, see below) which has over one million members.
The CCCBR is the official entity that represents the real estate industry to the Costa Rican government. The Chamber also offers the country’s first Real Estate Arbitration Court. When you look for a real estate broker in Costa Rica ask them first if they are affiliated with the Chamber.
Rico Realty is a member of CCCBR and its MLS Costa Rica mls-cr.com. This is the official Multiple Listing Service of the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate Brokers Board. It was developed by Propertyshelf, a leader in web solutions and online marketing. When you list your property with Rico Realty – your listing is exposed to over 400+ agents in Costa Rica nd your property will be advertised on Realtor.com, the world’s most visited websites.
Client Testimonials
As an early (1995) client of Rico Realty, I found their services to be entirely satisfactory. It is a professional, competent and highly energetic enterprise. I recommend Rico Realty to anyone considering real estate activity in Costa Rica.
Chuck Tonies
We found our house in paradise, thanks to Rico Realty. Best buying and selling experience. No gimmicks, only honesty. Simply the best, better than anyone else!!
Bev Kimball
We have had the pleasure of knowing and working with beautiful, knowledgeable, and hard-working people at RICO REALTY for all our real estate matters and more. THANK YOU JIM, RENE AND ELISABETH FOR YOUR CONTINUAL HELP.
Sunshine & Bernard
The crew at Rico Realty is the BEST! During our search for property they must have shown us 50 different farms and houses before we finally made up our minds, two years running day after day for three weeks they cheerfully gave up their time to ferry us around the countryside and walk still another property. We have now done various transactions with them and all have gone extremely smoothly.
David & Ruth Fountaine
I have lived in Costa Rica for nine years, and in my opinion the only real estate firm worth dealing with is RICO REALTY. They will stay with you through the entire purchase, and make sure you are totally satisfied with your new home, as I am. If you should encounter any problems of any kind they will be there for you. I could go on and on but the point is RICO REALTY is the very best. JIM and RENE will be with you through the whole process.