[BeyGon]

I bought 3/4 acre 300 ft from the beach in Tamarindo in 1991. We built a nice 1000sq ft place there with views of the water from three sides. I loved the place. You own the property, pay taxes just like here. Get a good lawyer when you go to buy something. I don't think the government has ever taken property away from someone. You will put it into a corporation, like you will your vehicle there. Ours was named "Campo de Mantiquea" I think, can't remember how to spell butter in Spanish. Sort of translates to field of butter and my name is Butterfield. Most people never got it. Beach property there like anyplace is expensive. I paid $75k for it back then plus building the house. Everything is cash. I have no regrets with the property or house. Just that my wife didn't like it and I had to move back here. We sold it in 2004. Left the country and haven't even been back.
My choice now would be Uruguay like someone before this post has said. I have been reading a lot about it and talked to a few friends that have been there. People from Costa Rica were going there when we sold our place, and also moving to Nicaragua. I don't know what Nicaragua is like now with Chavez but it was cool then. I drove through Nicaragua and liked it, no trouble at all but it was the poorest of all the Central American places. At the time the big cash crops were tiles, bricks, tobacco and young girls.
I wouldn't be afraid of buying and building in Costa Rica but IT WILL COST more than you think.
Try looking around Lake Arenal, great fishing, sailboarding, and the weather is pretty good.
Look up Roy Real Estate on the Tamarindo web site. Tell Roy I said Hi.