Dear Newbie,

If you'd like me to help you, as exclusively a buyer's agent and not representing the seller, then by all means I can help, and probably save you from a bad deal.

Here's one tip for free. If the cost of the lot, including any improvements that you may need to make yourself, is 15% of the total sales price of the lot and house later on, then it may be worth looking at. So in your example. $400,000 house including land, x 15%, equals $60,000 lot. But you say you can buy a SFH in the same area for $400,000 today, but on a bigger lot? With a better view? (You have no view). Hmmmm.

Are you here? Have you visited? More than once? You really should visit first, get your education on the ground, and write off the trip as a business expense. Otherwise.......

Anyway, let me know when you're coming down, and I'll be happy to help you out!

Your Costa Rican expert,

Lisa