One of the advantages of choosing a modular home is that the house itself is relatively easy to understand.

You can look at a model such as the EcoNest 48 or EcoNest 88, see the dimensions, understand the layout and decide which option is better suited to your lifestyle and budget.

But once people start seriously considering buying a modular home in Costa Rica, the questions quickly change.

Instead of asking about the house, they start asking:

• Where can I find the land?
• Can I put the house on any plot?
• Who can help me obtain the permits?
• How do I connect water and electricity?
• Do I need a lawyer?
• Who can check the land before I buy it?

These are extremely important questions because purchasing the modular house is only one part of the complete project.

If you are considering an EcoNest 48 or EcoNest 88 in Costa Rica, it makes sense to understand the other parts of the process before committing to a piece of land.

The House and the Land Should Be Considered Together

A common mistake is to treat the house and the land as two completely separate purchases.

Someone finds a piece of land they love, buys it and only afterwards starts investigating whether it is suitable for their modular home.

The opposite can happen too.

A buyer decides exactly which house they want and later begins searching for the cheapest available land without considering whether the property is practical for that particular project.

Ideally, these decisions should be made together.

An EcoNest 48 requires less space than an EcoNest 88, but the physical footprint of the house is only one consideration.

You also need to think about access, foundations, parking, outdoor areas, drainage, septic systems where necessary and the space required during installation.

A plot may technically be large enough for the house but still be difficult or expensive to develop.

Finding Land in Costa Rica

Costa Rica offers an enormous variety of land.

Depending on the lifestyle you want, you could look for property close to San José, in a rural area, in the mountains, near the coast or in one of the country’s many smaller towns.

This flexibility is one of the most interesting aspects of building a modular home.

A relatively compact house does not necessarily require an enormous property, so buyers can consider many different locations.

However, beautiful land is not automatically good building land.

Before purchasing a plot, there are several practical questions worth investigating.

1. Can You Actually Build There?

This should be one of the first questions asked about any property.

The fact that land is legally registered and available for sale does not automatically mean that you can build whatever you want on it.

The permitted use of the land, local planning requirements and other restrictions can affect what can be constructed.

This is particularly important if you are looking at rural land, agricultural property or unusual locations.

Before completing a purchase, the objective should be to establish whether your intended residential project is compatible with the property.

It is much easier to investigate this before buying than to discover a problem afterwards.

2. Can the Modular Home Reach the Property?

This is something buyers of traditional houses may not think about immediately, but it becomes particularly relevant with modular construction.

How will the components of the EcoNest reach the site?

Look carefully at the final kilometres of the journey.

• Are the roads wide enough?
• Are there very sharp corners?
• Is there a narrow bridge?
• Is the entrance to the property steep?
• Are there overhead cables, trees or other obstacles?
• Would a large truck be able to enter the site?

A spectacular piece of land at the end of a difficult mountain road may still be usable, but the logistics could be considerably more complicated.

Accessibility should therefore be evaluated before purchasing.

3. Flat Land and Sloping Land Are Very Different Projects

A perfectly flat plot is not always necessary, but topography can have a major impact on the project.

If the land slopes significantly, additional work may be necessary before the house can be installed.

Depending on the individual site, this could involve excavation, retaining structures, drainage solutions or more complex foundations.

That doesn’t necessarily make the property a bad investment.

Some of the most attractive properties in Costa Rica are on slopes precisely because they offer spectacular views.

The important point is to understand the implications before calculating your total budget.

A cheap piece of land requiring extensive preparation could eventually cost more than a more expensive plot that is easier to build on.

4. Where Will Your Water Come From?

Water is another issue that should be investigated early.

Do not assume that because there are houses nearby, connecting your new property will automatically be simple.

The available solution depends heavily on the location.

When evaluating land, find out what water supply currently exists and what would be required for a new residence.

For somebody purchasing remotely, this is an area where having local assistance can be especially useful.

5. What About Electricity?

Some EcoNest buyers may be interested in creating a partially or completely off-grid property.

Others simply want a conventional connection to the electricity network.

Either approach can work, but you should know which one you are planning before choosing the land.

If electricity is available nearby, investigate what would be involved in connecting the property.

If it is not, the cost of extending infrastructure should be considered.

Alternatively, the location may be well suited to a solar and battery system.

The important point is that the price of the house itself does not tell you the complete cost of creating a functioning home.

6. Don’t Forget Internet Access

Internet access has become an important part of property selection, particularly for people relocating from Europe or North America.

Many buyers interested in Costa Rica work remotely, operate online businesses or simply expect to have reliable connectivity at home.

If that applies to you, investigate the available internet options before purchasing a remote plot.

A peaceful location surrounded by nature may be perfect for one person and completely unsuitable for somebody who spends eight hours a day on video calls.

Do Modular Homes Still Need Permits?

This is another question we receive frequently.

There can be a misconception that because a modular house is manufactured differently from a traditional concrete house, it can simply be placed on land without going through the normal construction process.

It should not be assumed that this is the case.

Construction in Costa Rica involves professional and municipal requirements, and projects normally need to be evaluated according to the property, location and type of construction.

The Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos (CFIA) is an important part of Costa Rica’s construction framework, and local municipalities also play a role in the approval process.

For the buyer, the important lesson is simple:

investigate the permits before starting the project, not after the house has arrived.

A local architect, engineer or other qualified professional can determine what your particular project requires.

Why Legal Due Diligence Matters When Buying Land

If you are purchasing a piece of land for your EcoNest, you are not simply buying somewhere attractive to put a house.

You are purchasing a legal asset.

Before completing the transaction, a lawyer should be able to investigate issues such as ownership, registered information, liens or encumbrances and other legal matters connected with the property.

Depending on the property, there may also be questions relating to easements, access or other rights that need to be understood.

The purpose of legal due diligence is not to make the purchase unnecessarily complicated.

It is to know what you are buying before you pay for it.

For an independent example, BLP’s Real Estate & Hospitality practice works with buyers, investors and developers on property acquisitions and real-estate projects in Costa Rica.

You can of course use any properly qualified Costa Rican lawyer you choose.

Calculate the Complete Project, Not Just the EcoNest

Another important consideration is budgeting.

If an EcoNest has a certain purchase price, that does not mean the final house will cost exactly that amount once it is installed and ready to live in.

The complete project could include several separate expenses:

• the modular house;
• transportation;
• the land;
• legal fees;
• taxes and closing costs relating to the land purchase;
• professional fees;
• permits;
• surveys;
• site preparation;
• foundations;
• installation;
• drainage;
• septic systems where applicable;
• water connections;
• electricity;
• internet;
• roads or driveway preparation;
• landscaping;
• furniture and appliances.

Not every project will require every item, and the costs can vary enormously.

This is why two people buying exactly the same EcoNest 48 could end up with very different total budgets.

One might install it on flat land with existing road access, electricity and water.

Another might choose an isolated hillside property requiring considerable infrastructure.

The house is identical.

The projects are not.

EcoNest 48 or EcoNest 88?

The same considerations apply whether you are interested in the EcoNest 48 or the larger EcoNest 88.

The EcoNest 48 may be suitable for someone looking for a more compact residence, holiday property, rental unit or smaller footprint.

The EcoNest 88 provides considerably more internal space and may be more appropriate for someone planning a permanent family home or simply wanting additional living space.

But the decision should not be based on the house alone.

Consider the complete combination:

House + land + installation + services + intended use.

For example, spending more on the EcoNest 88 may make perfect sense if you are planning to live there permanently.

On the other hand, if your objective is to build a small rental property or holiday home, allocating more of the budget to a better location and choosing the EcoNest 48 may make more sense.

There is no universally correct answer.

What If You Don’t Know Where to Start?

This is probably the situation faced by many international buyers.

You like the idea of the EcoNest.

You know approximately how much you want to invest.

You know you want to live or own property in Costa Rica.

But you don’t have a local real estate agent, lawyer, architect or engineer.

And you may not even know which part of the country is best for the project.

In that situation, the objective should be to build a small team of local professionals rather than trying to understand every Costa Rican procedure yourself.

If you need help finding property or identifying local professionals for areas such as legal assistance, permits and other real-estate services, CasaVista.cr has a dedicated services section that can be used as one starting point.

It is only one option. You can also independently select lawyers, architects, engineers and real-estate professionals according to your requirements.

The important thing is having qualified people who understand the local process.

A Better Order for Planning Your Modular Home

If you are at the beginning of the process, a sensible sequence is:

First, decide what you want the house to do.

Permanent residence? Holiday home? Rental? Investment? Off-grid retreat?

Second, establish your total budget.

Not only the budget for the modular home.

Third, choose the general area of Costa Rica.

Consider climate, hospitals, airports, schools, shops, beaches, cities and how remote you actually want to be.

Fourth, shortlist suitable land.

Do not buy yet.

Fifth, investigate the land.

Check access, utilities, topography, legal status and whether your planned construction is viable.

Sixth, understand the permit and installation requirements.

This allows you to estimate the real cost of the project.

Finally, complete the land purchase and move towards installation.

Doing things in this order can reduce the risk of ending up with the right house on the wrong property.

The EcoNest Is One Part of a Bigger Project

Modular construction can simplify many aspects of building a home.

Choosing an EcoNest 48 or EcoNest 88 gives you a much clearer starting point than designing an entire property from nothing.

But the success of the project still depends heavily on what happens around the house.

The land needs to be suitable.

The site needs to be accessible.

The project needs to comply with the applicable requirements.

Water, electricity and other services need to be considered.

And the property purchase itself needs proper legal due diligence.

For most buyers, particularly those living outside Costa Rica, this is where local professional assistance becomes valuable.

The goal isn’t simply to buy a modular home.

It is to create a complete property that works financially, legally and practically for the way you intend to use it.

Choose the EcoNest you want — but spend just as much time choosing where and how you are going to build it.