Published by Hardy Real Estate Group | October 2026 | Los Sueños Resort, Costa Rica
Estimated read time: 6 minutes | Category: Market Trends
A new kind of buyer keeps showing up at Los Sueños. They tour a property on a video call from another country. They ask about internet speed before they ask about square footage. Many of them work full time for a company thousands of miles away.
Remote work changed where people can live, and Costa Rica responded with a visa built for exactly this group. That shift now shows up directly in who buys property here and what they’re looking for.
Hardy Real Estate Group has watched this buyer profile grow steadily over the past few years. This guide explains the visa, the numbers behind it, and how remote work is reshaping demand at Los Sueños.
A New Kind of Buyer Has Arrived at Los Sueños
Buyers here used to skew toward retirees and vacation-home owners visiting a few weeks a year. That has changed. Remote workers now show up wanting to live here full time, while keeping a job based somewhere else.
This buyer does things differently and moves faster once they decide. Many close without ever meeting their agent in person until closing day.
Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa Opened the Door
Costa Rica built its digital nomad visa to draw exactly this kind of buyer. The visa extends a standard 90-day tourist stay into a full year, with the option to renew for a second year. You pay a government fee of about $100 and show proof of remote income earned outside the country.
That single program turned a short visit into a real chance at a full-time move.
The Income Requirement Sets a High Bar
Remote workers must show at least $3,000 in monthly income from outside Costa Rica. That amount rises to $4,000 if dependents apply for the visa too. Applicants prove this with bank statements or a signed letter that covers the past year.
That bar points toward a buyer with real buying power. It shows up clearly in the properties this group tours at Los Sueños.
Remote Workers Bring Different Priorities to a Home Search
A dedicated workspace now ranks alongside ocean views on many buyers’ checklists. Natural light, a quiet room, and a real desk setup all matter more than they used to. Some buyers ask about a second bedroom for this reason, even before they mention guest space.
Being close to daily errands also carries more weight, since remote workers live here all year, not just for a visit.
Reliable Internet Changed What Counts as a Dealbreaker
A slow connection used to be a minor annoyance for a vacation home. For a remote worker, it ends a video call mid-meeting. Buyers in this group now ask about internet provider, backup options, and real speed test results before almost anything else.
Los Sueños has invested in strong internet and utilities to meet this demand. That gives the resort an edge over less developed areas along the coast.
Tax Benefits Add to the Financial Case
Costa Rica exempts approved digital nomad visa holders from income tax on their foreign pay during their stay. The program also waives import duties on the gear remote workers need to do their jobs.
Those perks don’t drive a purchase on their own, but they remove friction that used to make a full-time move feel hard.
Remote Buyers Often Move Faster Than Traditional Buyers
A retiree planning a move might spend a year weighing the decision. A remote worker with a visa in hand and a job that travels with them often moves in months. They already know they can work from here, so the property search becomes the only remaining step.
That pace changes how an agent needs to operate, and it rewards a team that responds quickly with real answers.
This Trend Is Changing the Rental Market Too
Not every remote worker buys right away. Many rent for six months or a year first, testing the area before they commit. That behavior has added a new, steady segment to the long-term rental market around Los Sueños, alongside the usual vacation rental demand.
Owners who once rented only to short-term guests are starting to see longer, more predictable bookings from this group.
Frequently Asked Questions: Remote Workers and Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa
What is Costa Rica’s digital nomad visa?
The digital nomad visa lets remote workers extend their stay in Costa Rica from the standard 90 days to a full year, with the option to renew for a second year. You must prove you earn income from outside the country and pay a government fee. The visa also lets you open a local bank account.
How much income do I need to qualify?
You need at least $3,000 in monthly income from outside Costa Rica, or $4,000 if dependents will also hold the visa. You prove this with bank statements or a signed letter covering the past year, along with a signed form and the required government fee.
Do remote workers get tax benefits in Costa Rica?
Yes. Approved digital nomad visa holders are exempt from Costa Rican income tax on the foreign income that qualified them for the visa. The program also waives import duties on work-related gear, within certain limits.
Can a digital nomad visa lead to permanent residency?
The digital nomad visa itself is a short-term stay option, not a direct path to residency. Buyers who want permanent residency usually explore a separate path, such as investor or rentista status, once they decide to settle here long term. An immigration lawyer can walk you through which option fits your situation.
How Hardy Real Estate Group Works with Remote and Relocating Buyers
We’ve watched this buyer profile grow at Los Sueños, and we’ve adjusted how we show properties because of it. Internet speed, workspace layout, and proximity to daily conveniences all come up early in our conversations with remote buyers now.
We also connect clients with immigration lawyers who handle the digital nomad visa and other residency paths, so the property search and the paperwork move forward together.
Tell us about your work setup and your timeline, and we’ll help you find a property that actually fits how you’ll use it.
Contact Hardy Real Estate Group: hardygrouprealestate.com
Remote work didn’t just change where people can live. It changed who’s buying at Los Sueños and what they’re looking for in a home.
Come see how a full-time move here actually works, and bring your questions about the visa along with the ones about the property.