Custom home builder in Potrero and Brasilito

The land

Most building land here is low and fairly flat, from sea level to about 25 m, between the beach, estuaries and dry forest. Listings range from lots of around 500 m² one block from the beach in Surfside to larger lots in gated communities such as Catalina Cove in Brasilito.

Beachfront land is tightly enforced. On October 22, 2024 the Municipality of Santa Cruz demolished two restaurants and a bar facing Playa Brasilito, stating they stood on public beach land. The first 50 m from the high-tide line is public zone where nothing can be built, and the next 150 m can only be held by concession, with 5 years of legal residency required for foreign holders.

Santa Cruz has no municipal regulatory plan yet. The mayor said in July 2026 that a coastal and urban plan is expected in the first quarter of 2027, followed by public consultation. Until then we work from national rules, the maritime zone and any HOA rules, and check each lot through our land and construction consulting.

Water in Potrero and Brasilito

Both villages draw on small coastal aquifers, so water is managed carefully. New private wells have not been permitted in the Brasilito-Potrero aquifer since 2016, and supply comes from AyA and local ASADAs such as Playa Potrero, Surfside and Lomas del Pacífico. AyA's 2023 action plan for the Potrero aquifer proposes new wells and sources to meet demand in the coming years.

Because capacity differs by provider, the water letter is the first document we check. Some lots come with one already; for others we confirm with the provider before you commit. We get the availability letter in writing before you buy, and our consulting fee is credited to your build if you go ahead (surveys and soil studies are paid separately).