Let me tell you, when you’re “unemployed” and the rent coming in is the only way to make $15k/month in payments and pay your bills it’s “less fun”.

It leaches chemicals into the water, does not last as long as copper, rats chew through it.

There are so many fun themes and variations of the game now.  

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!

Hi Fergus,If you can handle the workload thats going to come with building the two duplex's, I say go for it.If your going to be biting off more than you can chew, liquidate.It really depends on your risk tolerance at this point.The construction loan is a doable deal as long as you have solid credit, have experience /hire a builder.

Skaters can bring their own skates or rent them for the fun.

Same as @John Underwood, @Diaz Principe Nicolas.I would love to get more off season bookings but there ins't much call for a iced in lake house with a foot of snow on the ground and the lake being frozen over.It is fun to see how many turkeys end up on the deck and to watch if wolves use the frozen lake to move around.

There are pros and cons to this approach but it's one thing that makes REI fun.

Thanks for sharing though, hope it was fun!

Fun, eh?