Pura Vida Portfolio
What would this home make on Airbnb?
puravidaportfolio.com
August 13, 2026
Las Catalinas · Guanacaste
5 Calle Cartagena in Las Catalinas
$999,000asking
Homes · 2 bd · 3 ba · 1,485 sqft
Weak pick
Badges: Strong pick · Looks cheap · verify · Double-check first · Fair · thin comps · Hidden gem · Verified ✓
Asking price
$999,000
asking
Est. gross STR yield
5%
on asking
Est. revenue / yr
$50k/yr
from nearby Airbnbs
Est. occupancy
55%
nights booked
Quick take
Estimated yearly income for this property
| Estimated yearly income | Conservative | Moderate | Optimistic |
|---|
| Gross yield (on asking) | 1% | 5% | 7% |
| Revenue / yr | $12,579 | $49,760 | $68,121 |
Conservative = lowest adjusted nearby rental · Moderate = our default estimate · Optimistic = highest adjusted comp · Wide range = plan to the conservative column.
- · Based on 8 nearby rentals · median 2.2 km.
- · Comps spread widely — plan to the conservative column.
- · Map pin placed in Las Catalinas by operator — confirm exact lot before closing.
- · Confirm registered fee-simple title (folio real), free of liens.
- · Confirm a legal water supply (AyA or ASADA letter / carta de agua) — no water letter, no deal.
- · Wide spread in comp revenue — operators disagree on what this profile earns.
Comparative market analysis
Successful nearby Airbnbs · 8 in pool · median 2.2 km
| Rental | BR | Dist | Rating | Rev/yr |
|---|
| Casa Luker. Lovely Studio with open garden | 1 | 0.1 km | 5.00★ | $28,311 |
| Breathtaking Flat Seconds from the Beach | 2 | 0.1 km | 5.00★ | $58,164 |
| Plaza Mercado 20 at Las Catalinas | 3 | 0.1 km | 5.00★ | $95,611 |
| Luxury Ocean View Home | 3 | 0.2 km | 5.00★ | $199,020 |
| Estudio vista al mar | 1 | 0.2 km | 5.00★ | $36,754 |
| Walk to Beach & Beach Club Access - Studio Indigo | 1 | 0.2 km | 5.00★ | $29,205 |
| Walk to Beach, With Balcony - 28 Plaza Carlota | 1 | 0.2 km | 5.00★ | $51,166 |
| Beautiful house Las Catalinas near the town center | 2 | 0.2 km | 5.00★ | $68,121 |
| Luxury apartment in Beautiful Beach Town | 1 | 0.5 km | 5.00★ | $43,896 |
| Las Catalinas Oceanview Condo, 33 Plaza Central | 1 | 0.6 km | 5.00★ | $29,713 |
| Casa Creta en las Catalinas | 2 | 1.5 km | 5.00★ | $58,780 |
| Romantic Ocean View Loft • Private Pool + King Bed | 1 | 1.9 km | 5.00★ | $60,996 |
Formula for high-performing rentals
What top earners in Guanacaste tend to have
✓Walk to the beach
✓Ocean view
✓Pool
✓Patio / balcony
✓BBQ / grill
✓Air conditioning
○Gym / fitness
○Hot tub
Want help closing the gaps? Book a call: puravidaportfolio.com/#contact · Guide: puravidaportfolio.com/guides/costa-rica-str-winning-property-recipe
Verify with your lawyer before buying
Check before you offer — Costa Rica buyer checklist
Listing & data truth
- Asking price is real, complete, and fee-simple — Parse errors, +VAT footnotes, per-key pricing, and fractional shares routinely break yield math.
- Map pin matches the actual parcel — Brokers often publish town-centroid pins; revenue and beach distance shift materially.
- Beds, baths, and build size match reality — Comp matching keys off bedrooms; a 3BR scored as 5BR invalidates the entire revenue band.
Revenue & STR legality
- STR revenue band (our underwriting) — The median on this report is our comp-weighted, product-type-adjusted estimate — the authority for yield and rank on Pura Vida Portfolio.
- Short-term rentals allowed (HOA + municipal) — Gated communities and some municipalities restrict nightly rentals — not visible in photos.
Property & condition
- Amenities match listing, vision, and comp adjustments — Recipe appraisal and gallery vision infer pool, AC, view — photos can be stale or neighboring views.
- Condition matches gallery / vision read — Vision reads finish tier and flags issues from photos only — not a substitute for inspection.
Title & registry
- Fee-simple title — no concession / fractional — Concession land and timeshares can't be underwritten like titled homes.
Water & utilities
- Legal water (AyA or ASADA letter) — No water letter = no permits; common deal-killer in Guanacaste.
Permits & construction
- Built area matches approved construction permits — Owners often add bedrooms, pools, casitas, or second structures without municipal permits — fines, demolition orders, or deal failure at closing.
Zoning & site
- Zoning allows intended use — Automated site DD links to sources — attorney must confirm use certificate.
Closing risk
- Taxes current, HOA solvent, no squatter risk — Arrears attach; HOAs can block rentals; precarista risk on rural parcels.
In the Maritime Terrestrial Zone (50–200 m)
The 50–200 m strip is the restricted ZMT — usually municipal concession land (not fee-simple title) governed by the local Plan Regulador. Confirm whether this is a titled exception or a concession before you act.
Pin: 10.48148, -85.78511 · maps.google.com/?q=10.481483609453507,-85.78511453060472
Disclaimer
Figures are estimates from successful nearby Airbnbs — not an appraisal, investment advice, or guarantee of future income. List price, title, water (AyA/ASADA), permits, and bedroom count can change the math. Verify everything with your lawyer and a local operator before you offer. Methodology: puravidaportfolio.com/methodology · © 2026 Pura Vida Portfolio.
