Private Lending Opportunities in Costa Rica: Earn 9-16% Backed by Real Estate

Many people who move to Costa Rica sold property back home first — a house in Canada, the US, or Europe that closed for a meaningful sum. The instinct is often to put that money into a local business: a bar, a rental property, a small shop. Costa Rica’s rules around foreign business ownership and employment aren’t especially forgiving, and the culture and regulations take time to learn. Private lending, backed by Costa Rica real estate, is a much simpler way to put that capital to work.

How the Returns Actually Work

GAP arranges private, real estate-backed loans with annual returns between 9% and 16%. Lower-rate opportunities, generally in the 9–10% range, tend to come with stronger collateral, lower loan-to-value, and more conservative underwriting — they’re not automatically the riskiest just because the number is smaller. Higher-rate files, up to 16%, usually reflect something about the deal that calls for a higher return: a larger loan, less conservative leverage, or a file that took more work to structure. The rate alone doesn’t establish safety in either direction; it reflects the specific file.

As a simple illustration: $100,000 placed at 12% works out to roughly $1,000 a month. That’s an illustration of the math, not a promise — actual returns depend on the specific loan you’re placed in, and private lending carries real risk. No return is guaranteed.

You Don’t Need Experience to Start

GAP actively welcomes new lenders. If you’ve never done this before, that’s genuinely fine — you don’t need a finance background or prior lending experience to get started, and you’re not expected to evaluate a title search or a property appraisal yourself. That work is exactly what GAP does. Title, liens, valuation, and loan-to-value are all reviewed as a normal part of putting a loan together, using the same attorneys and process GAP has relied on for years specifically because of their track record. You’re stepping into a system that’s already built, not building one from scratch.

What Actually Secures Your Money

Every loan is secured by a first-lien position on titled Costa Rica real estate — that’s the collateral behind your return. GAP determines the property’s valuation with lender input and acceptance before a loan is structured, and reviews title and existing liens as part of that process. Most lenders prefer loan-to-value around 30–40%, which gives real cushion between the loan amount and the property’s value.

Lend From Anywhere

You don’t need Costa Rica residency to lend, and you never need to visit. Lenders based in Canada, the US, and Europe fund Costa Rica loans remotely all the time — some hold funds in escrow ahead of time and never travel for the closing at all. GAP tells you when a file is ready, and the closing happens without you needing to be here.

Lien or Trust: Two Ways to Secure a Loan

Most GAP loans are secured by a registered mortgage lien in first position on the property. Some lenders instead ask for the loan to be structured through a guarantee trust rather than a lien — that choice is the lender’s option, though a trust does carry a modest ongoing cost across the life of the loan. Experienced lenders sometimes prefer a trust because enforcement, if it were ever needed, follows a route written into the trust document rather than one set by a court, which can be faster. Which structure fits a given deal is worked out between you and GAP case by case; a lien is more common, but both exist for a reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need lending experience to get started?
No. GAP specifically welcomes new lenders, and the property review, title work, and valuation are handled as part of the normal process — not something you’re expected to do yourself.

Is a 9% return less safe than a 16% one?
Not automatically. Lower-rate files tend to come with more conservative collateral and lower leverage. The rate reflects the specific file, not a universal safety ranking.

Do I have to live in Costa Rica to lend here?
No. Nationality and residency don’t restrict eligibility, and many lenders fund and manage loans entirely from abroad.

What’s the minimum to get started?
Standard opportunities start at US$50,000, with larger requests over US$1 million involving additional documentation and due diligence.

This article is for general information only and is not investment, legal, or tax advice. All lending and investment decisions should be made based on independent due diligence and with qualified professional guidance. Private lending carries risk, and no return is guaranteed.

Explore lending opportunities with GAP Investments → · WhatsApp us at +506 4001 6413 to get started, call or email info@gap.cr