When I talk about finding opportunity this is exactly what I mean…
Judy and Rudy, a couple from Texas, didn’t just dream about a different kind of life… they acted. Today, they live in a stunning home they built themselves, overlooking Lake Arenal in Costa Rica.
The kicker? Their annual property tax is just $800.
Stories like this aren’t outliers. They’re what happens when you know how and where to buy abroad.
That’s something I’ll be diving into at the 2025 Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp this August—the only chance you and I have to meet in the U.S. this year.
I’ll be there as part of an exclusive real estate program—embedded into the larger event—to guide you through the smart strategies I’ve spent the past 20 years developing.
My team and I will show you how to spot value before the crowds arrive. How to buy in the safest, smartest way possible. And how to turn your overseas dream into something real…and potentially very profitable.
At this special event, I’ll be diving into the five hottest deals currently on my radar—some of the most exciting real estate opportunities I’ve seen in years. Whether you’re focused on maximizing rental income in high-demand markets or looking for capital appreciation plays in fast-developing regions, I’ll show you where I believe the biggest rewards are next—and exactly who you need to speak with to be ready.
Plus you’ll meet a host of my contacts…full details right here.
Now, let’s read Judy and Rudy’s story below…
P.S. Right now you can register to join me in Portland with a $200 Early Access Discount…and if you’re a member of my Real Estate Trend Alert you’ll save another $200! Seats go fast though. Secure your spot at the Bootcamp here.
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A Dream Home with a Volcano View… and an $800 Tax Bill
By Bekah Bottone
“Being from Texas, we were tired of the cold, humid winters and the oppressively hot summers… we spent most of our time inside, and we wanted to change that!” Judy Nusbaum Henss tells me as we overlook Lake Arenal from her spacious outdoor living area.
“I was so impressed with the quality of homes available in Costa Rica when I saw them on an episode of House Hunters International,” she says. And now she lives in her own Costa Rican dream home.
Judy and her husband Rudy completed building on a mountain overlooking Lake Arenal in March 2023. The steep mountain drive up to their home is best done in a 4×4, but the view is stunning once you arrive at the top.
When the retired couple first arrived in Costa Rica in the spring of 2021, there were many options to buy. Yet once things eased up after COVID, homes were getting snatched up like hotcakes. And the cost of existing homes was more per square foot than building a new one.
“It made more sense to build our own,” Judy says. “So, we decided on a two-bedroom, two-bath home with an open living plan, a laundry room, a carport, and a covered outdoor patio area overlooking Lake Arenal and its volcano, which can’t be beaten! We also built a cabina, a small house, on our property to increase the property’s resale value.”
Rudy pipes in, “And the best news is that our yearly property taxes cost just $800!” This is much lower than a similar property would cost in annual taxes in the US (according to the National Registry, it’s valued at $500,000). In Costa Rica, property tax is 0.25% of the purchase price or the assigned value.
The couple is proud of their home and loves to show off its craftsmanship.
And they have found it easy to make friends in the area since moving.
Judy shares, “Around the Lake Arenal area, different expat groups get together and go to breakfast, brunch, or lunch on certain days of the week. We found one that made living in Costa Rica much easier. A group called L.O.L.A. (Ladies of Lake Arenal) also meet monthly for a potluck luncheon.”
The majority of these expat groups organize via Facebook.
Life in Costa Rica is much calmer than back home, centered around the Costa Rican ideal of “pura vida”—which leads people to seek harmony. Judy shares, “I was looking for a peaceful place where I could relax and release the anxiety in my body. And thankfully, I have done just that in Costa Rica.”
They also find the cost of living to be lower in Costa Rica—particularly for healthcare, which they are still paying for privately.
“At this time, we are not in the Caja system; we are still considered tourists. We use private healthcare and have had great experiences,” Rudy shares. “I went to the E.R. for a partially torn Achilles tendon, an M.R.I., a specialist, and a walking boot; the bill was $500. Other doctor’s visits are usually between $40 to $70. Dental care is also generally cheaper here. I had two implants, which cost $1900 each.”
When they reflect on their decisions Judy says, “We wouldn’t do anything differently if we had to do it all over again. Rudy did a lot of online research about the country, so we understood the building process and the politics involved. We wanted to be informed, so we felt comfortable checking out this country. And the rest is history.”
Ronan Says: Research is key—but the right kind of research. Not just googling property listings or scrolling social media. You need boots-on-the-ground insight, proven strategies, and the chance to meet the people who can help make it all happen.
That’s exactly what you’ll get at the 2025 Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp, happening this August in Portland. I’ll be there, leading an exclusive real estate track inside the event—sharing the hottest opportunities I’m seeing right now and showing you how to buy smart and profitably overseas.
It’s the only U.S. event I’ll attend this year. And right now, you can still grab an Early Access Discount of $200.
If you’re a member of Real Estate Trend Alert, you’ll save an additional $200.
Seats are limited—and this special pricing won’t last. Secure your place here.
