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!

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

They want to keep "costs down" in the winter so they are wanting to primarily use gas not the mini split (since they pay for electricity.) 

I know a vacancy is tough and it can be hard to find tenants in the winter, but you have to weight the costs and benefits and decide.If it's harder to find renters in the winter, try offering a month-to-month lease just to get through the winter, then move back to a one-year lease in the spring.

If it were me, I would get them out now so you can clean/renovate during the winter and get it on the market in early Spring.

I love the area and know people that attempt to MTR in the winter and STR in the summer. 

What would you say your occupancy is during winter months?

The irony...the party of tolerance being intolerant. insurance is always a bouncing ball.. my insurance in Lake Oswego and we have no fire risk other than normal No weather risk  just risk of winter gloom and depression. 

Fun, eh?

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