I just read an article about a new phenomenon in Costa Rica called "The Instant Real Estate Agent." Since real estate has become a very lucrative business in Costa Rica, everyone is trying to cash in by selling property. Most of the people involved don't even have a real estate license, never worked in the business before and have virtually become agents over night. Some of these individuals don't live in Costa Rica and no nothing about the country. As I mentioned in a previous article even some tourists are selling property. Would you by property from a tourist? I have heard people complain that they have been approached by cab drivers, hotel employees and others offering real estate. Here are two anecdotes from the Yahoo group Costa Rica Living "Not long ago, I met an American at a San José art gallery, who claimed to be a Real Estate Agent. She gave me her card and offered to assist me in buying a home. I told her I had lived in Costa Rica many years and owned my home..thanks anyway! She didn't even live here yet, seemed to know nothing about life in Costa Rica, was pretending to be an expert on how to buy a home in Costa Rica, and clearly was looking for dumb, confused Gringos with money!" "Well a little different story but I met a girl playing Tennis and when we talked about Costa Rica. She told me she can help me buy a home in Costa Rica. She is a Remax agents and they have offices in Costa Rica - so even though she doesn't know anything about Costa Rica, and has never been here, she can still sell me a home! "