Buying real estate outside the U.S. sounds exciting. But once you get past the beaches and lifestyle, the questions get real fast.

In this episode, Seth Bradley sits down with Rebecca Clower, founder and CEO of Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica, to break down what it actually takes to buy, build, finance, and invest in real estate abroad.

Rebecca shares how she left a successful Tampa real estate business in 2006, moved to Costa Rica, and built one of the largest independent real estate brokerages in Guanacaste from the ground up.

They dive into how the Costa Rican real estate market works, why more North Americans are buying and relocating there, what financing options are now available, and what investors need to understand before purchasing property outside the United States.

Rebecca also explains how she identifies emerging markets before they become crowded, what makes a strong short-term rental today, why easy Airbnb investing is over, and how buyers can protect themselves when navigating foreign ownership, escrow, property management, and local regulations.

Plus, she pulls back the curtain on her years appearing on HGTV, including what is actually real, what gets recreated for television, and what happens behind the scenes of shows like House Hunters International.

If you’re considering buying real estate abroad, investing in short-term rentals, relocating internationally, or simply want to understand how overseas real estate really works, this episode gives you a practical look at what happens beyond the highlight reel.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• What buyers need to know before purchasing real estate abroad • Why more North Americans are buying and relocating to Costa Rica • How financing works for foreign real estate buyers • The difference between fee-simple and concession property • How Rebecca identifies growing markets before they become crowded • Why the short-term rental market has become more competitive • What makes an overseas rental property actually perform • How investors can protect themselves when buying internationally • Why working with the right local professionals matters • What really happens behind the scenes on HGTV real estate shows

Links to watch and subscribe:

Seth Bradley’s Links:

X: x.com/sethbradleyesq YouTube: youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq Facebook: facebook.com/sethbradleyesq Threads: threads.com/@sethbradleyesq Instagram: instagram.com/sethbradleyesq LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq TikTok: tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq

Rebecca Clower’s Links:

Website: bluewaterproperties.com Instagram: @iamrebeccaclower Email: becky@bwpcr.com