Look at Hacienda Matapalo on google...and there are others.http://ticotimes.com/costa-rica/hacienda-matapalo-legit-scam .   

There are scams and many people claiming if you spend 20K for a course you'll be rich, don't buy it. 

If this is a scam is there a way to get your money back.6.

Or is it a scam?

It's those maniacs that buy homes cash via quit claim deed off of craigslist that really get screwed.Make sure your property manager is a licensed real estate brokerage.Google Clayton Morris scam and/or Morris Invest fraud for a cautionary tale of what not to do when buying turnkey real estateUnderstand you can not eliminate all risk, only mitigate it.

Does anyone know if Jerry Norton's lot flipping is on the up & up, or is it a scam?

no I don't. they scammed me

This is a scam backed by the government.

This does a few things, it shows you are genuinely trying to help them which builds trust (there are a lot of foreclosure scams out there), it gives them a plan B which psychologically is going to make them less anxious about plan A not working and it keeps them from talking to other investors since they already have a contract with you.

Though my management company was absolute trash and constantly tried to scam me by overcharging for basic duties that other companies provide for free or at a reasonable rate.