Do you think the Costa Rica housing market will be affected by the down turn in the USA housing market?

It will cost a little bit now but will save you come tax time.Where do I keep the security deposit and repair funds?

The cost as a rental is about the same as without because I should be able to get an extra $100/month for the pool but I have to pay a pool guy to maintain it.What do you all think?

I've got prospective tenants that want to build a fence for their dog, at their cost as they've got a friend who builds fences for a living that could do it for them.My prop mgr thinks it is a plus since a fenced in yard adds to prop value esp. since I allow pets at this house.I don't mean to be negative but I'm leery of it.

Here are the numbers from around the Bay: San Francisco at 3 (4.8) months, San Mateo 3.2 (8.1), Sonoma 4.2 (11.2), Marin 4.3 (8.4), Santa Clara 4.3 (11.2), Solano 4.5 (22.8), Contra Costa 4.7 (17.8), Alameda 5.0 (11.8) and Napa 6.2 (21.3).

And you say wow I didn't know there were people willing to do that, sounds like an awful lot of work, how much does it cost a person to use your services if say one of my loved ones dies. 

Does the landlord pay the difference or do they split the cost? As

It cost a couple bucks, but works really well.

If your cost of equity was really 2-3%, you would be very opposed to any sort of financing, because it would increase the overall cost of capital on the investment.Your opportunity cost, as a separate concept, in the words of Warren Buffett is "what can be produced by your second best opportunity".  

Hi KarinaI also live in Spain... down in Nerja on the Costa del Sol.