Costa Rica · Asset-Backed Lending
Capital against your Costa Rica property — in days, not months.
Borrow up to 50% of appraised value with a first-position mortgage. We close in 7 to 14 days, in USD, with documents that hold up at the Registro Nacional.
What private lending looks like on Lender.cr
12–16%
Annual rate
6–24 mo
Term
50%
Max LTV
7–14 days
Time to fund
01
What is a private mortgage?
A private mortgage — sometimes called a hard money loan — is short-term capital secured by your real estate. Instead of a bank, a private investor (or pool of investors) funds the loan against a first-position mortgage on your property. The asset is the underwriting. That's why approval is days, not months, and income proof is not the gate.
- Funded by private investors, not a bank.
- Always backed by a first-position mortgage at the Registro Nacional.
- Conservative LTV (max 50%) — your equity protects everyone.
- Short term, interest-only. Pay off when you sell, refinance, or finish the project.
02
When private lending fits
01
Bridge financing
You found the next property before the current one sells. Borrow against existing equity, close fast, repay on exit.
02
Construction finishing capital
Your build is 70% done and the bank construction line stalled. Use a short-term private loan to finish and refinance.
03
Foreign buyer rejected by CR banks
Costa Rican banks rarely lend to foreigners without local income history. Equity in your property is the underwriting we need.
04
Business capital, secured by real estate
Inventory, working capital, or a time-sensitive opportunity. Cheaper than factoring, faster than a SUGEF-regulated bank line.
03
How it works
1. Tell us about the property
Property type, location, estimated value, and how much capital you need. Upload escritura and plano catastrado if you have them.
2. Preliminary LTV and rate
We run the LTV math and quote a rate band the same day. No commitment, no credit hit.
3. Independent appraisal
An accredited appraiser confirms value (paid by the borrower, $300–500). This fixes your final LTV and rate.
4. Investor funds the loan
Your deal lists on the investor marketplace. Once committed, our notario partners register the mortgage and disburse funds — typically within 7 to 14 days from appraisal.
04
Run your numbers in 30 seconds.
The LTV calculator tells you if your property qualifies and what rate band to expect. No signup required.
Estimates only. Final terms depend on appraisal, underwriting, and the executed promissory note.
05
Lender.cr vs. the alternatives
| Lender.cr | CR bank mortgage | Traditional CR broker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to fund | 7–14 days | 3–6 months | 30–60 days |
| Origination fee | 4–5% | 1–3% | 8%+ |
| Income proof required | No — collateral-based | Yes — extensive | Sometimes |
| Foreigners accepted | Yes | Rarely | Yes |
06
Lending across Costa Rica
We fund loans nationwide, with deeper investor demand in these cantons.
07
Frequently asked questions
What's the maximum I can borrow against my property?+
Up to 50% of independently appraised value (LTV). On a property appraised at $400,000, that's up to $200,000 in loan principal.
Do I need to prove income?+
No. Private lending is collateral-based. We underwrite the property, the title, and the appraised value — not your payroll history.
Can foreigners borrow?+
Yes. As long as the property title is clean and the LTV fits, we lend to foreign owners. This is one of the most common reasons people come to us — CR banks rarely approve loans for non-residents.
What documents do I need?+
Escritura (deed), plano catastrado, a recent property tax receipt, and government ID (cédula or passport). If we don't have an appraisal yet, we'll coordinate one with an accredited appraiser.
What happens if I can't repay on time?+
We'd rather restructure than foreclose. If circumstances change, talk to us early. Worst case, the first-position mortgage gives the investor a clear recovery path — which is exactly why your LTV is conservative.
Mortgage Loan Disclosures
Mortgage loan terms, costs, and consequences of non-payment
This is a mortgage loan secured by real estate, NOT a personal loan, payday loan, or short-term credit product. Mortgages are explicitly excluded from Google's personal-loans advertising policy.
Lender.cr operates a private mortgage marketplace in Costa Rica. Every loan is secured by a registered first-position lien (hipoteca de primer grado) on residential or commercial real estate located in Costa Rica. The loan cannot be issued unless the lien is recorded in the Public Registry. Final terms — interest rate, fees, and amortization schedule — are set per deal between the borrower and the funding investor, and stated in writing in a notarized credit agreement before disbursement.
The ranges below reflect typical terms across the marketplace and are not an offer of credit. Pre-qualification, property appraisal, title verification, and underwriting are completed before any binding offer is issued. Repayment terms are never shorter than 12 months.
- Loan classification
- Mortgage loan (hipoteca con garantía real). Real-estate-secured. Not a personal loan, payday loan, signature loan, line of credit, or any form of unsecured consumer credit.
- Collateral required
- Registered first-position mortgage lien on real estate located in Costa Rica. Loan-to-value capped at 50% of appraised value. No loan is funded without a recorded lien.
- Operating jurisdiction
- Costa Rica. All loans are originated, secured, and serviced under Costa Rican law.
- Loan amount range
- USD $25,000 – USD $2,000,000.
- Repayment term
- Minimum 12 months. Maximum 60 months (5 years). Interest-only or amortizing schedules available. Loans repayable in 60 days or less are never offered.
- Annual interest rate
- 12% – 16% per year, fixed for the loan term. Rate is set by the funding investor based on property, LTV, and borrower profile.
- Maximum APR (including fees)
- 22% APR. Includes interest plus origination, appraisal, notarial, and registry fees expressed as an annualized cost.
- Origination fee
- 4% – 5% of loan principal, charged at disbursement. Plus third-party costs (appraisal, notary, public registry) charged at cost.
- Late-payment fee
- 1.5% of the overdue payment, plus default interest as defined in the credit agreement.
Representative example
Loan principal: USD $100,000. Term: 36 months, interest-only with balloon at maturity. Interest rate: 14% per year, fixed. Origination fee: USD $4,500 (4.5%). Third-party costs (appraisal + notary + registry): ≈ USD $2,800. Monthly interest payment: USD $1,166.67. Total interest paid over 36 months: USD $42,000. Total cost of credit (interest + origination + third-party): ≈ USD $49,300. Effective APR including all fees: ≈ 18% per year.
Consequences of late or non-payment
Late payments incur the late-payment fee and default interest. Persistent non-payment authorizes the lender to initiate judicial foreclosure proceedings against the property securing the loan, in accordance with the credit agreement and Costa Rican law. The borrower may lose the property. Negative credit reporting may also apply. Borrowers are encouraged to review the full credit agreement with independent legal counsel before signing.
Lender.cr is a marketplace platform, not a bank or licensed deposit-taking institution. Loans are funded by private investors. This summary is informational and does not replace the binding credit agreement. Last updated: 2026-05.
Run your numbers in 30 seconds.
The LTV calculator tells you if your property qualifies and what rate band to expect. No signup required.