Wendy Howarter

Wendy Howarter was an attorney for 23 years until she decided there must be more to life than 60-hour work weeks and 10 days of vacation every year… to say nothing of looking beyond the many feet of snow and ice she had to shovel every year living in Illinois… So she left it all behind and retired (very!) young. After a lot of research and selling everything they could, Wendy and her husband Darren moved from northern Illinois to Medellín, Colombia, in 2014. She has now reinvented herself as a real estate investment guru and freelance writer and photographer who loves sharing her new home and new discoveries (in Colombia and beyond) with the world. At this time of retrospection, Wendy adds, “I can truly say that this adventure has turned out better than I ever expected…”

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Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica: A Great Place For A 2nd Home

Beach Front Properties, Caribbean & Central America / By
Sunset on Playa Hermosa

On our first scouting trip to Costa Rica, my travel companions were on the lookout for properties with a water view. Follow the link to see my report from last week on the Lake Arenal area.

After a week on expansive Lake Arenal, we drove to the Pacific coastal areas around Playa Hermosa. Many people have heard of Tamarindo and its surfing, party-town atmosphere. If that’s not your scene, Playa Hermosa is only 1.5 hours north along the Pacific coast, and offers a quieter, more laid-back vibe.  …

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Property Scouting On Costa Rica’s Lake Arenal

Caribbean & Central America / By
Costa Rica Lake Arenal Volcano

Lakeside Properties In A Lush, Highland Setting

When I first moved to Colombia, my plan was to travel around the Caribbean and Latin America. I had never visited Costa Rica, even though it was on my short list for years. So when some friends invited me to join them on a real estate hunting trip there, I jumped at the chance.

Our first destination was in the northern highlands of Costa Rica. Surrounded by volcanoes, hot springs, and lush jungle, we arrived at Lake Arenal, an 85-square-kilometer, man-made lake. Our rental home was just outside Nuevo Arenal, a small town of less than 3,000 people on the northeast shore of the lake. …

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Sizing Up Your Options On Properties In Las Terrenas, DR

Beach Front Properties, Caribbean & Central America, Featured / By
Beautiful Beaches And Property Bargains In Cabo Frio, Brazil

If you dream of owning a Caribbean home featuring a spectacular water view, near sandy beaches for strolling and lounging, with breezy trade winds to cool your afternoons, look no further than Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is an independent country that shares its western border with Haiti on the Island of Hispaniola. The community of Las Terrenas is located on the north shore of the Samaná Peninsula, which looks like a little thumb on top of the island.

In the past few decades, Las Terrenas (population 39,221) has become the vacation destination for many Europeans, especially the French. The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish, but while walking around the whimsical town of Las Terrenas, French is the predominant language …

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