Covering the Mountains and Beaches
of Costa Rica's Southern Zone

Bienvenidos!

A naturalized citizen of Costa Rica, I first arrived from the U.S. in 2001 to broker the sale of one of the country’s premier private universities to a publicly held American education company. Captivated by Costa Rica’s beauty and lifestyle, I made it my permanent home.

Since 2004, I’ve built a deep professional and personal connection to this region — first by operating eco-intensive vacation and expat tours throughout Costa Rica, and later by helping countless individuals and families find their ideal home or investment in paradise.

I joined the Coldwell Banker Dominical Realty team in 2015 and have since specialized in both the Southern Zone mountain regions and coastal communities, giving my clients a rare, balanced perspective on the two very distinct worlds Costa Rica offers. In addition to my real estate practice, I continue to provide Expat Consulting and conduct personalized Expat Tours for those exploring relocation.

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Your Mountain & Beach Agent

Before moving to Costa Rica, I practiced tax and corporate transactional law in North and South Carolina and worked extensively in business valuation and mergers & acquisitions, advising companies across diverse industries.

My wife, originally from Colombia and now also a Costa Rican citizen, and I married in 2009 and share seven grown children. I’m a lifelong surfer, nature enthusiast, and writer. For more than a decade, I’ve blogged about Costa Rican life and authored The Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living, a widely read resource for aspiring expats.

I’m proud to be a member of both the Costa Rica Global Association of Realtors (CRGAR) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). I hold the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation and am a Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Specialist. In 2021 and 2022, I was recognized as a member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society, and in 2023 and 2024 of the Sterling Society—prestigious designations awarded exclusively to top-performing agents globally for outstanding sales results.

My guiding principle — my “MO” — is to serve as a truly unbiased consultant, helping clients experience both the lush mountains and the coastal lifestyle of Costa Rica’s Southern Zone so they can make the most informed, confident decision for their future.

Pura Vida,

Scott

Latest News

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28/10/2025 Key Difference in Costa Rica and U.S. Real Estate Law

When purchasing real estate in Costa Rica, one of the most surprising differences for U.S. and Canadian buyers is the unique legal authority of the notary public (notario público). In the United States, a notary merely verifies identities and witnesses signatures. In Costa Rica, a notary is a state-appointed attorney with judicial powers. This distinction is so fundament...

14/08/2025 Gringo Living in Latin America - What's It Really Like?

Even though I've been living in Latin America for going on 25 years now, I'm still very much a "gringo."I get reminded of that quite often, especially by my wife!I first arrived to Costa Rica in 2001. Before then I'd hardly ever even been out of the U.S.Costa Rica was different in those days. Actually it was more authentic Latin American than it has evolved into over the ensuin...

26/07/2025 On Being a Legitimate Costa Rica Real Estate Agent

Members of Facebook groups related to Costa Rica real estate will often make the claim that "anyone" can be a Costa Rica real estate agent...And that's partially true in so far as licensing is concerned, since in Costa Rica there is no legal licensing regime.However, there are specific and important ways to tell whether or not you're dealing with a "legitimate" agent. That's be...

07/07/2025 The Three Keys to Selling in Costa Rica

Most of my posts focus on Costa Rica real estate buyers. This one is for the sellers.Sellers tend to think there is some "magic bullet" they need to sell their properties. For that reason they'll jump from agent to agent trying to find the one possessing "the bullet."Truth be told, there really isn't one!Selling real estate in Costa Rica is just plain hard. Most of the time it'...