Randy Berg

Randy Berg

Randy Berg has worked in the securities industry… founded a precious metals mining company and took it public… worked in the venture capital field and started a copy center which he merged with a larger commercial printer.   He moved to Costa Rica shortly after 9/11 after running his printing company for over a decade with his wife, Rhonda.

“it was our last great adventure”, says Randy.  “We officially retired and had no intention of working ever again.”

They bought land in a small coffee town in the mountains, built a house and intended to travel and enjoy being away from the pressures of work.

But Randy became bored… and started another company… with no expectations and no real plans.

You guessed it… real estate sales.

It quickly became one of the best known agencies in the country.

“I will be the first one to admit that it was totally “by the seat of our pants.

“We had no experience in real estate or in construction and honestly didn’t know up from down when it came to real estate in Costa Rica…

…and what happened to us was like winning the lottery.”

 

But what happened to us was like winning the lottery.”

Their first piece of “luck” happened when word circulated that two “gringos” from Minnesota had bought land and constructed a gorgeous home for less than $35/sq. ft. 

“We just used common sense and are the first to admit that it all fell into place from the very beginning… and our phone starting ringing off the hook.”

“Strangers were even knocking on our door asking us “how we did it”.   And tour groups were stopping by even inviting themselves inside to see what they had done.”

 

But then Newsweek called… and within 30 days… they were featured:  “Two gringos from Minnesota who bought land and built their home for less than $35 per sq. foot… proving that a luxurious retirement is possible for almost everyone!”

 

And our business exploded.

“We had been just coasting along with a couple of sales a month duplicating what we did with our own home” Randy says.

…when it absolutely took off like a rocket”

And within a short period of time they were arguably the top real estate firm in Costa Rica selling to North Americans.

“we attributed it all to luck and timing… but later we realized that it was a lot more than that” Randy says shaking his head.

“the real estate markets in Costa Rica are totally different than back home and almost everyone selling here in Costa Rica was treating the sales process exactly the same.

“But it isn’t even close”

 

But the combination of the credit crunch of 2008 and the struggles of dealing with various municipalities and governmental agencies took its toll on them.

“We trusted that they would all keep their promises to us… but they didn’t… and the promises never materialized over a three year period when we were expanding.”

And they ran very close to the edge…

…Gambling that promises would be kept.

 

But they weren’t.

And they made the decision to close their office and go home as they each had parents in hospices and separate families.

They left Costa Rica, went back to Minnesota leaving two grandchildren and a daughter who had just finished law school in San Jose.

And nursed their wounds and slowly recovered at their family’s lake home.

But they missed Costa  Rica.

And gradually old clients found them as did their past employees…and begged them to come back. 

But they didn’t know if conditions were still the same… i.e., could they still duplicate the position of offering the lowest prices on both property and construction.

 

And after three months of study and communication…

They made the decision to return.

“why?”

 

“Because in reality, the conditions are even more ripe for what we had offered before:

“property and construction pricing at local prices… not outsider or gringo prices.”

 

“This website is the start and we believe strongly that Costa Rica has become even more important to those seeking alternatives. “

Randy also says “this time, maybe we’ll even spend a little more time relaxing.”