EP 236: Buying a Short-Term Rental Abroad: A Costa Rican Investment Breakdown

On this episode of the WIIRE podcast, we got to sit down with Shaletha Colbert, a military brat turned investor-friendly realtor, to unpack how she went from corporate benefits sales, postpartum, and a surprise layoff to owning and profiting from short‑term rentals in Costa Rica.

This conversation is a must‑listen for female real estate investors who are:

• Feeling stuck in six‑figure corporate jobs

• Craving more freedom, flexibility, and “mini retirements”

• Curious about investing abroad and short‑term rentals

You’ll hear how Shaletha:

• Got “bit by the Airbnb bug” in Atlanta during the Super Bowl

• Evaluated different countries before choosing Costa Rica

• Protected herself with smart due diligence, escrow checks, and local teams

• Structured and operated two ocean‑view condos as profitable short‑term rentals

• Eventually exited with a strong gain (from $395K to $580K) and what she’d do differently next time

She also shares three concrete tips to start investing internationally:

1. Research deeply beyond the dreamy Instagram version

2. Find an investor‑friendly, CIPS‑certified local agent

3. Leverage Facebook groups and expat communities as free masterminds

If you’ve ever wondered, “Could I really buy a vacation rental overseas?” this episode will challenge your limits and show you what’s possible.

Resources:

• Book your spot at WIIRE Summer Camp before it fills up

• Connect with Shaletha on Instagram

• Simplify how you manage your rentals with TurboTenant

• Make sure your name is on the list to secure your spot in The WIIRE Community 

• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

• Leave us a review on Spotify

• Join our private Facebook Community

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