I am a naturalized citizen of Costa Rica. I first arrived (from the U.S.) in 2001 to broker a deal that sold one of the country’s premier private universities to a U.S. publicly-held education company. Since 2004 I’ve arranged eco-intensive Costa Rica vacation tours to locations throughout the country, as well as Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia. In addition to serving as an agent with the Coldwell Banker Dominical Realty team since 2015, I offer Expat Consulting and conduct guided Expat Tours.
I had read all the advice that said you should rent for x months/years first, and I didn’t follow it. Instead I did a TON of research on the area that I thought I’d like, and then did a very short reconnaissance trip to the area (like just a few days). I thought to myself, can I be happy here? The answer was “yes”, so I bought the place with Scott’s help. That was 3 years ago, and it worked out great!
Billy Tarter
Most people come to Costa Rica the same way.They take a vacation.They fall in love.And then they start thinking…“Could I actually live here?”That’s where things start to go sideways.The Biggest Mistake People MakeThey treat a vacation like research.They stay in one area. Maybe two.They get a feel for the place… and assume that’s what Costa Rica is.It’s not.Costa Rica is a count...
Most foreign buyers don’t randomly land on Costa Rica. They visit first. They fall in love. Then they start looking at property — and almost always in the same coastal areas where they spent their vacation.That’s where the demand concentrates. And that’s exactly why prices have moved the way they have.What $500K Used to BuyTen years ago, a half-million dollars could get you an...
One of the most common reactions I see when a property hits the market in Costa Rica is immediate judgment on price.
“Overpriced!” “Too expensive!” “No way it’s worth that!”
The reality is, most of these reactions are based on gut feeling—not actual analysis.
If you’re serious about buying property here, there are three practical ways to evaluate whether an asking price is j...
This is a companion piece to earlier thoughts on expat life here in Costa Rica, and one topic that always comes up—learning Spanish.
I’ve been here over 26 years. I’m still learning.
That alone should tell you something.
Now, I do have one unfair advantage—I’m married to a non-English speaker. That definitely accelerates things. I’m not...
Luxurious Mountain Villa Retreat at the Base of Mt. Chirripo
Luxury Ocean View Home Near Dominical with Guest Apartment and Infinity Pool
Prime 243 Acres in Los Altos de San Juan with Ocean Views
Newly Built Mountain Home on 6+ Acres Near Rivas with Buena Vista River Access
Costa Rica Expat Properties
Your mountain or beach dream home can be found here. Scott Bowers is an agent with Coldwell Banker - Vesta Group - Costa Rica, serving the Southern Pacific coast and mountainous area of Perez Zeledon. The Southern Zone is the most pristine and untouched area left in Costa Rica and a great place to consider for Costa Rica expat living. Connect with me to start living your dream life in Costa Rica!
