Case Study: Selling Out All 32 Peninsula Tamarindo Condominiums

Some stories stick with you forever, and this is one of mine. Every time I think about how I secured the exclusive listing for the Peninsula Condominiums condos in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, I can’t help but smile. It’s the perfect blend of timing, persistence, and a little bit of luck.

It was 2018, and I was working in real estate. Life in Tamarindo was already special, but this moment was something else entirely – a game-changer for my career and a personal milestone that showed me what’s possible when you combine determination with a bit of serendipity.

Let me set the scene: It’s a typical sunny afternoon in Tamarindo, and I’m sitting on the beach with my husband, Sammy, and my good friend Donna, who was visiting from San Diego. We were soaking in the sun, chatting, and just enjoying the moment.

As we relaxed, a vendor walked by selling some beautiful beaded bracelets. They were colorful, unique, and exactly the kind of thing you can’t resist buying when you’re having a calm, happy beach day. So, naturally, we bought a few.

Just as we were admiring our new purchases, a young man approached us. His name was Roberto and he introduced himself with a polite smile, explaining that he was working on a documentary about Tamarindo and asking if he could take some photos of us interacting with the vendor.

I thought, Why not? It sounded fun and we were happy to help. After a few quick photos, we started chatting. Since I’m always thinking about how to connect with people and share interesting tidbits about life in Tamarindo, I mentioned that I was a real estate agent and handed him my card. I told him that once his documentary was finished, I’d love to share it with my clients.

He took the card, and I could see a flicker of surprise on his face, like he wasn’t expecting that. But he only thanked me before walking off.

In life, there are some forks in the road that demarcate a Before and an After. You never know them as they approach but with hindsight, you can watch it occur. This was one of mine: Before Peninsula Tamarindo Condominiums and After Peninsula Tamarindo Condominiums.

About ten minutes after our initial interactions, Roberto came back, and this time he had an unexpected proposition: “Hey Lauren,” he said, “my parents are sitting at The Ocean,” a beachfront restaurant just a few steps away. “They’re about to start a development project in Langosta. Would you like to meet them?”

Would I?! I didn’t hesitate for a second. I grabbed my things and followed him over to the restaurant. That’s where I met Javier Lopez and his wife, Julieta. We exchanged pleasantries and I gave them my card, just like I had with Roberto. We chatted briefly, and I took down their contact information, filing it away for what I hoped would be a future opportunity.

At that point, they were planning to divide the listing for their 32-unit condos in Tamarindo project (later to be known as Peninsula Tamarindo Condominiums) among several real estate agents. I knew I wasn’t the only one vying for their business, but I also knew that the key to winning any deal is follow-up.

Over the next many months, I kept in touch – not in an annoying way, but just enough to stay on their radar. Every few months, I’d check in to see how things were progressing. It wasn’t instant gratification, but I’ve learned that patience and persistence are part of the game in real estate.

Finally, I got a call to meet Javier, his partners, and one of their investors in San José. I flew out, sat down with them, and laid everything on the table. The next day, I got the call that changed everything: they gave me the exclusive listing for all 32 units.

I can still feel the emotions from that moment. Pride, excitement, gratitude – it was all there. It felt like a culmination of all the hard work I’d put in over the years, and I knew this was going to be a defining project for me.

At the time, Peninsula Tamarindo Condominiums was still under construction. The building was only up to the fourth floor, and much of the work was still in the “gray phase” – unfinished, with lots of potential but not much for buyers to visualize.

This is where marketing became crucial. I knew that to sell these units, we needed more than just floor plans: We needed high-quality renderings that could bring the vision to life. I worked closely with the developers to ensure we had images that captured the beauty and functionality of what the finished condos would look like.

But I didn’t stop there. Marketing is about telling a story, and I knew the story of Peninsula wasn’t just about owning one of these beautiful condos in Tamarindo – it was about Costa Rica real estate investment in a lifestyle and a lucrative rental property.

Understanding the Tamarindo market, I put together detailed rental projections for potential buyers. These weren’t just numbers thrown together for the sake of it; I meticulously researched comparable properties, analyzed amenities, and considered seasonal trends.

We broke it down into peak weeks, high season, mid or green season, and low season. The idea was to show buyers exactly what they could expect in terms of returns, painting a realistic yet compelling picture of the project’s Costa Rica real estate investment potential.

Another key element was getting the pricing strategy right. Pre-sale pricing is an art form – it has to be enticing enough to draw buyers in early but still profitable for the developers.

I worked with the developers to determine the final pricing and then backed into what a smart pre-sale price would be. The goal was to create momentum: get a few units under contract, then gradually raise the prices as demand increased. It’s a delicate balance, but when done right, it builds excitement and urgency.

While the marketing strategy for Peninsula Tamarindo Condominiums was essential, I firmly believe that relationships are what truly close deals. I’ve always made it a priority to cultivate good relationships with other brokers and agents. In real estate, trust and collaboration go a long way.

I’m known for being approachable and hardworking, and I think that reputation made a difference. Buyers felt comfortable, agents felt comfortable, and that comfort translates into confidence – which is exactly what you need to finalize a sale.

The result? We sold out all 32 condos in Tamarindo. It was an incredible achievement, and the project’s total value was around $22 million. Not bad for my first development project, right?

It wasn’t just about the numbers, though. It was about the journey – the connections, the strategy, and the feeling of watching something go from an idea to a reality.

Looking back, I feel so grateful for the experience. It was a turning point for me, both personally and professionally. Securing the exclusive listing for Peninsula helped solidify my place in the Tamarindo real estate market, but more importantly, it showed me what’s possible when you believe in yourself and put in the work.

Sometimes, life surprises you in the best ways. What started as a chance meeting on the beach turned into one of the most rewarding projects of my career. And every time I walk past Peninsula Condominiums, I’m reminded of that magical day – and the power of persistence, creativity, and a little bit of luck.

If you’re ever in Tamarindo, take a stroll down to Langosta and check out Peninsula Tamarindo Condominiums. It’s more than just a building with condos in Tamarindo; it’s a symbol of what can happen when you follow your instincts and seize the moment.