Women Invest in Real Estate

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

Episode Summary

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.

Episode Notes

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 
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• Leave us a review on Spotify
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