Independent Scouting — Costa Rica
The eyes on the ground you'd send if you could send yourself.
We visit, film, and evaluate properties and locations on behalf of people who can't be on the ground themselves. We don't sell. We don't take commissions. Our only client is you.
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Our Focus
What we scout in Costa Rica.
The Buyer's Office scouts three categories of properties in Costa Rica: raw land, built homes, and unique locations for film and corporate productions. Each engagement is independent — we work only for the buyer, never the seller.
LAND
Land
Lots, fincas, and undeveloped parcels evaluated for buyers planning to build or hold. We assess access, water rights, zoning, and everything the listing won't show you.
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HOMES
Homes
Villas, vacation homes, and residences evaluated for buyers from abroad. Walkthrough video, neighborhood context, and honest opinions on what we'd want to know if it were our money.
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LOCATIONS
Locations
Location scouting for film productions, corporate shoots, and private clients searching for specific environments. We have scouted for major productions across Costa Rica.
Learn More →Our Approach
Why this exists.
Most people researching property or locations in Costa Rica from abroad are working with a single source of information: the person trying to sell them something.
Listings are polished. Brokers are charming. Drone footage is beautiful. But the property next door is a construction site. The “ocean view” requires climbing onto the roof. The water concession isn't valid. The neighbor has a pending lawsuit against the title. The road becomes impassable in October. These are not rare problems. They are the default.
We exist because there is no one else on the ground in Costa Rica whose paycheck does not depend on the deal closing. We work only for the person who hired us.
Past Scouts
A selection of past work.
We have scouted properties and locations across most of the Pacific coast of Guanacaste and the rainforest regions including La Fortuna and Arenal. Vacation homes for foreign buyers, raw land for developers, and locations for major film productions.
Guanacaste Coast
Beachfront & ocean‑view homes.
Scouting beachfront and ocean-view houses for clients who needed honest eyes before committing from abroad.
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast
Guanacaste Coast — Drone footage
Guanacaste Coast — Drone footage
Guanacaste Coast — Drone footage
Process
How it works.
01
INQUIRY
You send us the property listing or project brief and your concerns. We review and respond within 24-48 hours with whether we're the right fit and what scope makes sense.
02
RECONNAISSANCE
We visit in person. Often more than once. Different times of day. We film, measure, talk to neighbors, pull public records, and document everything the listing didn't show.
03
REPORT
You receive a written report, raw footage, and a video review call. You decide whether to proceed, renegotiate, or walk away.
Services
Scouting services.
All engagements are flat-fee. No commissions. No referral kickbacks. Below are the four ways clients work with The Buyer's Office.
Property Reconnaissance Report
From $900 per property
On-site visit, 4K walkthrough, drone footage, neighborhood assessment, broker behavior review, preliminary public records, and a 60-minute review call. Delivered within 4 days.
Full Pre-Purchase Investigation
From $2,200 per property
Everything in the Reconnaissance Report, plus municipal verification, water concession validation, neighbor interviews, two return visits, attorney coordination, and a 90-minute strategy call. Delivered within 10 days.
Active Buyer Retainer
From $3,500 per month
For investors actively searching multiple properties. Three to five scouts per month, weekly strategy call, attendance at viewings as your proxy. Three-month minimum.
Location Scouting
Quoted per project
For film productions, corporate shoots, and private commissions. Scope and pricing built around the brief.
Founder
Who you'll be working with.
The Buyer's Office is founded and operated by Marcelo Miranda — a Costa Rican business strategist focused on real estate and investment markets. Born and raised in Costa Rica. Fluent in English and Spanish. Trained in business intelligence with applied experience evaluating commercial and residential property across the country.
Marcelo's background spans both property scouting for foreign buyers and location scouting for major film productions. The throughline is the same: give the client a clear, honest assessment of what they are looking at, so they can make a decision with full information. Every engagement is handled personally by Marcelo. Reconnaissance is not subcontracted to junior staff.
Questions
Frequently asked.
Yes. Always. We are not a substitute for a real estate attorney — we complement one. If you don't have a Costa Rica real estate attorney, we'll refer you to one we trust.
Buyer's agents in Costa Rica are paid by the seller through commission. Their incentive is to close the deal. We are paid only by you, only for the work, regardless of whether you buy. No commission conflict.
Mainly the Pacific coast of Guanacaste — including Tamarindo, Nosara, Playa Hermosa, and Flamingo — and the rainforest regions of La Fortuna and Arenal. We also work in the Central Valley and selectively elsewhere when the project fits.
Most clients aren't ready to commit when they first contact us. The Reconnaissance Report is designed for the interesting-but-suspicious property you're not sure about.
USD wire transfer or Wise. Fifty percent at contract signing, fifty percent on delivery. No cash.
Four service tiers: Property Reconnaissance Report from $900, Full Pre-Purchase Investigation from $2,200, Active Buyer Retainer from $3,500 per month, and Location Scouting quoted per project.
An on-site visit, 4K video walkthrough, drone footage, neighborhood assessment, broker behavior review, preliminary public records pull, and a 60-minute review call with the founder. Delivered within 4 days of the site visit.
Yes. We've scouted for major film productions across Costa Rica. We source locations not on any public listing and assess them for access, sightlines, terrain, and production requirements.
Get in Touch
Start with a discovery call.
Discovery calls are free, 30 minutes, by video. We'll ask about the property, your timeline, and your concerns. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit. If we're not, we'll tell you that too.