The Costa Rica Global Association of REALTORS® (CRGAR) includes nearly 100 citizens and legal foreign residents working in many areas of Costa Rica; including all Pacific zones, the Northern Plains, and the Central Valley. CRGAR was founded 17 years ago to provide responsive oversight to the real estate industry and working professionals, and its mission and activities have been growing ever since.
CRGAR is committed to supporting the laws of Costa Rica including any efforts to create real estate licensing in the country. CRGAR encourages Costa Rica’s National Assembly to pass a law and implement registration requirements for future, legally licensed realtors in the country. This effort has CRGAR’s full endorsement.
Currently, CRGAR REALTORS® are required to state their legal working status on the membership application, and are given guidance on the requirements of legal business operations. They are also trained about their responsibility to pay income taxes and collect taxes on professional service fees.
CRGAR is committed to the training and education of REALTORS®. Successful applicants for CRGAR membership are required to complete a series of required professional courses within 12 months of joining. These courses, and a series of elective topics, are offered through a joint educational program between CRGAR and the attorneys of BLP Abogados. CRGAR membership will soon require completing an annual continuing education course, and the retaking of all of the required courses 6 years after they were previously completed.
CRGAR is committed to ethical practices and professional standards. CRGAR realtors are encouraged to become members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) in the United States and applies the NAR Standards of Professional Practice to their partiicpation. CRGAR has a defined process for handling claims of ethical or professional misconduct, and this process is available to all members, clients, and other professionals interacting with CRGAR members.
CRGAR is committed to bringing REALTORS® together through the cooperation of Associations. CRGAR offers a new and very sophisticated real estate database known as the Costa Rica MLS, for Costa Rica’s realtors and properties. It will be available to any realtor who is a member of one of the existing professional associations.
CRGAR is committed to helping Costa Rica attract foreign real estate investors to help the country grow. CRGAR works to provide its members with global exposure through the Costa Rica MLS and its many listing syndication relationships, making presentations to groups in the United States, an active social media presence, attending global conventions (NAR), advertising, and by sponsoring an annual CIPS Institute for training “Certified International Property Specialists”.
CRGAR and its REALTOR® members are committed to supporting the education of Costa Rica’s children and protecting its natural beauty. Each year, CRGAR organizes a series of fundraising events which share donations with schools and scholarship programs. CRGAR also has a sponsorship program for responsible developers and encourages their participation in high profile project awards programs.
Lastly, CRGAR is planning for the future of Costa Rica and its real estate professionals. CRGAR’s commitment to REALTOR® training (required courses), advanced professional tools (new MLS), and the legal status of professionals (Licensing Law) represents a constant focus on what is best for Costa Rica. Vigilance about these goals is CRGAR’s way if giving something back to Costa Rica for the opportunities and blessings of living and working here.