Like Martin mentioned, I can buy my own property in other foreign countries  and make significantly higher returns (which, incidentally, is what I've been doing).So with the same amount of money that I could invest in a shared villa, I do more profitable investments, make more money and then buy my own property in Costa Rica with the extra money I'll have made and it can be a pure lifestyle purchase.This being said, if you put together a group of like-minded people who can put some money aside, decide to purchase a property together, don't really care about the return and love Costa Rica (otherwise you could do the same somewhere else), I agree that what you do can be a lot of fun!

If you have the extra time, I recommend spending some time calling owners around your area.

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

I would go extra on the due diligence e with this one or pass.Usually if the owner does not keep good records, it is a sign of how the treat the property, so, when they cannot provide it, I usually pass on them unless it is a killer deal...

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

They had extra challenges of language, culture, and education which they overcame. 

If you need extra funds, explore hard money financing options again.

multiple steps or extra LLCs are ok. 

I call it the BRR"R"RR method, where the extra R is waiting for the Rate drop.

So, if they offered you $28k and the public adjuster gets you an offer of $38k, that the adjuster just takes a cut of the $10k extra they negotiated for you.