Glossary

Housing terms and abbreviations in Costa Rica

Glossary

If you are not from Costa Rica, well even if you are from Costa Rica, understanding the vocabulary and abbreviations in real estate might cause serious confusion. In this section the most frequent terms and abbreviations are described.

A
acceso controlado/restringido = controlled access ag. cal = hot water
agua = water
ampl/amplia/o = large/ spacious
amueb = furnished
apto = apartment
ático = attic
azulejo = with tiles

B
bñ/bñs/baño = bathroom
bomba de agua = water pump

C
c/ = with
cable = cable TV
cal/caliente = hot
cancha = sports field/ playground
casa = house
chimen/chimenea = fire place
coc/cocina = kitchen
coch/cochera = garage
comedor = dining room
Cond/Condominio = Condominium
const/constr/conctruc. = construction area
cto pilas = laundry room
cto serv = room for domestic aid
cto/cuart/cuarto = room

D
de frente = in front
dor/dr/d/dorm = bedroom

E
edf/ edificio = building
esq. = corner
esquinero = house on corner
est/estado = condition
estudio/estud = study
exc. ubic. = excellent location

F
finan = financing
frutales = fruit trees

G
gde/grande = big

H
hac/hacienda = farm
hipoteca = mortgage

J
jardin/ jdin = garden

L
lujo = luxury
luz = electricity

M
madera = wood
marmol = marble
mensualidades = monthly payments

O
ofic = office

P
pisc/piscina = swimming pool
portón/port. = gate

R
residencial = gated/ protected living community

S
seg/seguro = safe/security features
serv./servicios = services

T
tasa activa Lending rate
tasa Básica Pasiva (TBP)= the interest rate calculated by the Costa Rican Central Bank every six months
tasa de interés = Interest rate
tasa fija = Fixed interest
tasa Prime Rate (TPR). TPR is the interest rate calculated over Dollar loans

U
ubic./ubicación = location

V
vigilancia = security/ guard presence

Z
zona/z = zone

Further reading

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