About CRGAR
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 10 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 the pending Proyecto de Ley Contratos Inmobiliarios. CRGAR encourages Costa Rica’s National Assembly to pass the draft law and implement all the proposed 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 6 months of joining. These courses, and a series of elective topics, are offered through a joint educational program between CRGAR and the attorneys of Arias & Munoz. CRGAR membership also requires completing an annual continuing education course, and the retaking of all of the required courses 4 years after they were previously completed.
CRGAR is committed to ethical practices and professional standards. CRGAR realtors are required to also become members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) in the United States and accept its standards of professional practice. 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 Multiple Listing Service (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. Further, CRGAR will be creating a new association, the Costa Rica Real Estate MLS, and is offering Board participation to realtor associations who wish to be involved and take responsibility for its policies and operation.
CRGAR is committed to helping Costa Rica attract foreign real estate investors to help the country grow. All CRGAR members are members of the International Consortium of Real Estate Association (ICREA), a global organization with 46 member associations. ICREA is focused in international professional standards and networking. It offers its members free access to their high-ranked marketing website, www.worldproperties.com. CRGAR’s new MLS service is also seamlessly integrated with this website and others.
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.
