Clever Gal Builds Happy Life in Beautiful Costa Rica

Meet Clare: The Woman Who Built a House Before 40 (While Raising a Newborn)

Many people dream of living in beautiful Costa Rica, but few have the vision to turn their dream into a permanent reality. For Clare, a clever gal with a family background in woodworking and a lifelong passion for architecture, “settling down” meant building a two-story shipping container home near the Rio Ora. She had the grit to take on a project that would break most people. Even as she navigated the life-changing journey of expecting her first child, she persevered. We shared a fascinating phone call to discuss the reality of being your own General Contractor in a foreign country. Ultimately, we discussed how this inspirational woman overcame the odds to build a happy life in the jungle.

🏗️ The Project At A Glance

• Location: Carmen, Hojancha, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Near the Rio Ora).
• Method: Shipping Container Home (2 stories).
• Key Advantage: Containers are incredibly strong, but Clare’s pro-tip is essential: Build a secondary roof over the entire structure to prevent leaks and manage tropical heat.

Great Fit for High Risk Investment

Clare had experience owning real estate before venturing to Costa Rica to build a happy life. She owned her first property, a condominium at Prickly Mountain in Vermont before the age of 30. (Check out this wild and creative architecture story at https://www.pricklymountainfilm.com/) This purchase alone showed Clare’s ability to take risks in real estate. She understood that it might eventually take time to sell her condo to someone who appreciated the wacky and clever architectural experiment that she called home.

Savvy and Clever Gal

Clare owned her condo for two years and then decided to sell it herself on the internet. She got a cash offer and dashed off to explore the many possibilities around the world. These included trips to Southeast Asia and Europe. Clare found herself basically homeless, so as a world traveler and adventurer, she headed to Costa Rica because her family members who traveled there loved it. The country was open to tourism during COVID as well. It was a smart idea to start out renting a place in Samara. This gave her the opportunity to explore the area and check out all of the possibilities.

She was fortunate to grow up in a home with a landscape architect, “mom” and a woodworker, “father”. Family discussions were about architecture and showcasing projects they had completed. Her high school coursework included subjects like robotics and she dabbled in woodworking herself. This is an important element to her success story. Clare arrived in Costa Rica with some background and life experience. She also had a personality filled with passion and she pours herself into any project she loves. She is tenacious and demonstrated perseverance through the most challenging of times. Her story has everything: risk, romance, a baby, technical hurdles, and a hard-earned but successful completion of her home.

Build A Team You Can Trust

Because she was building a shipping container home, which is physically demanding and involves intense heat, humidity and fumes, she needed to create a team of workers she could trust for the heavy lifting. This was especially important since she couldn’t do all the heavy lifting herself, becoming pregnant at the start of the project.

The “Red Flags” Clare Encountered

Clare’s journey wasn’t without “construction scars.” If you are building now, take note of these hard-won lessons:

1. The “Phantom” Builder

Clare found that some contractors will claim they can do a job simply because they need the money, even if they lack the skill.

The Lesson: Clare had to redo all her plumbing fixtures because they leaked immediately upon installation. Trust, but verify.

Electrical Work: Not all “electricians” have the experience to wire your home. Clare discovered after completion that there were no surge protectors built in for her appliances, they were not grounded and the refrigerator would blow out during storms and power outages. She had to manually shut off the breakers to the appliances and split AC unit during storms to prevent damage. Trust, but verify.

2. The Hardware Store Hustle

Clare was being asked to buy excessive materials (like piles of unneeded rebar).

The Strategy: Make a friend at the local hardware store (Ferretería) a member of your team you can trust. Connect with them on WhatsApp. Cross-check your contractor’s list with the store directly to ensure you aren’t being overcharged or over-buying.

3. Utility Theft is Real

Clare warns that the build doesn’t end when the walls are up. You have to guard your resources.

• Electricity: Check your bills monthly. If there is a spike, someone may have tapped into your line.
• WiFi: Be careful with installation workers; Clare dealt with hackers gaining access to her network during the setup.

💡 Clare’s Top 3 Tips for the “Newbie” Builder

I. You ARE the General Contractor

Even if you hire a builder, you must be on-site every single day. Keep detailed records of every Colón you spend. “You cannot imagine the time it takes,” Clare says. “It was really scary for me to spend money in Costa Rica. Where is the money going? Clare explained. You aren’t just the owner; you are the project manager. You must be personally dedicated and passionate to see your project across the finish line. It may not be your dream house in the end. But you got the job done and the house is overall nice looking.”

II. A Good Lawyer is Your Best Friend

Clare emphasizes that a good lawyer is the only person (besides her window installer!) she would recommend. In Costa Rica, a lawyer handles much more than just “court stuff”—they are your protection in land disputes and contract failures. For example, a worker dragging out a contract, stringing her along and no work is being completed.

III. Build for Resale, Not Just the Dream

Clare’s reality changed during the build (a baby, a breakup). She recommends thinking: “How would someone else live here?” Anticipate needs of the next owner: Add an en suite bathroom.

• Think ahead: Is your house design built with the “next person” in mind?

🏆 The Verdict: Build or Buy?

After all the blood, sweat and tears, Clare’s final advice is surprising: “Don’t build. Buy a house and make it your own.” Unless you are deeply passionate about the journey of construction and have the “warrior spirit” to fight for your project every day, buying an existing home and “framing it” to your liking is a much faster path to the Pura Vida lifestyle. For Clare, the experience was great. She built a brand new “double-wide” home for her and her adorable son. But, one of Clare’s favorite expressions over the phone was, “My time with this house has expired.” She had put so much energy into the construction of the home, she could never see herself doing something of this magnitude again. In the end, she listed her home on the market and relocated to another beautiful spot in Costa Rica, where she is currently renting a place, that for now meets the needs for her and her son.