By Wendy Anders

The country’s largest housing fair, ExpoCasa, starts today, Wednesday August 24, and will run until Sunday 28 at ParqueViva in La Guácima de Alajuela.

New homes starting at 35 million colones (about $63,000) are available as is financing for up to 40 years.

Davivienda Bank is the main sponsor of the event which has brought together 84 real estate companies, 16 banks, two insurance companies, 28 home decoration suppliers, and 20 other services in one space to facilitate choices for people seeking to buy a home.

The Real estate projects showcased at the housing fair include locations both inside and outside the metropolitan area. Options include lots, houses, condominiums and apartments, building systems, and auctioned properties.

Attendees can learn about different financing services including saving systems, and programs that offer rent-to-buy loans and mortgages.

Davivienda said that people seeking home financing will receive a response from its bank within five days after submitting all required documents, as the bank has a strong focus on excellent customer service, and competitive dollar and colon rates, said Leticia Arguedas, PR manager of Davivienda, in a press release on the event.

Also available at the fair are special offers on appliances, and home-decorating services and supplies.

ExpoCasa is open to the public this week Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The entry fee for this event varies depending on the day: Wednesday is free, Thursday and Friday entrance tickets cost ¢1,000 per person. While Saturday and Sunday entrance is ¢2,000. Children under 12 are free every day.

ParqueViva has 4,500 parking spaces for a cost of 3,000 colones per day.

Those attending the Expocasa and decoration can enter a raffle of a 2017 Peugeot 301, courtesy of Car Xiri.

The car will be raffled on Monday August 29 at the premises of La Nación, the Costa Rican daily newspaper, and the winner will be announced on ExpoCasa’s Facebook page.