What "titled" beachfront actually means in Costa Rica

Buyers who fall in love with the Costa Rican coast often run into the same surprise: much of the beach can't truly be bought. Understanding why makes it clear what a titled lot at Hermosa Real is really worth.

The concession coast

Under Costa Rica's Maritime Zone law, the first 200 meters inland from the high-tide line is public domain. The strip nearest the water can never be privately owned at all. The band behind it is granted through concessions — long-term leases from the local municipality that must be renewed, carry use restrictions, and cap foreign ownership at 49 percent.

For most of the coastline, that's the ceiling. You lease. You renew. You share control.

Fee-simple title, delivered free and clear

Hermosa Real sits on the exception: titled, fee-simple land. That means:

No lease and no concession. The land is yours; there is nothing to renew.
Full ownership. Up to 100 percent, with no foreign-buyer cap.
Recorded title and survey, delivered free and clear at closing.

It's the same form of ownership you'd expect anywhere — a registered deed, a defined parcel, and the right to build, hold, or sell as you choose.

Why it matters

Titled beachfront on this coast is scarce, and it doesn't come back to market often. When you own outright, your plans don't hinge on a renewal cycle or a municipality's terms. You're free to build the home you want, on your own timeline, on land that is unambiguously yours.

If you'd like to see the recorded survey and title for the available lots, we're glad to walk you through them.

Common questions

Can a foreigner own beachfront property in Costa Rica?

Yes, on titled (fee-simple) land. Most of the coast is public "concession" land where foreign ownership is capped at 49 percent, but titled parcels like the lots at Hermosa Real can be owned up to 100 percent by a foreign buyer, with a recorded deed in your name.

What is the difference between titled and concession property in Costa Rica?

Titled (fee-simple) property is owned outright with a registered deed and survey — there is nothing to renew. Concession property is a long-term lease from the local municipality that must be renewed, carries use restrictions, and limits foreign ownership to 49 percent. Hermosa Real is titled, fee-simple land.

How close to the beach can you own titled land in Costa Rica?

Under the Maritime Zone law, the first 200 meters inland from the high-tide line is public domain and generally cannot be privately titled. Hermosa Real's lots are titled, fee-simple beachfront parcels that sit outside that restriction, delivered free and clear at closing.

Is buying titled beachfront in Costa Rica a safe investment?

Titled beachfront on this coast is scarce and rarely comes to market. Owned outright, your plans do not depend on a concession renewal cycle or a municipality's terms — you hold a recorded deed and can build, hold, or sell as you choose.