We're not buying a vacation home.
We're planting a flag.
Cardiff Research Lab was built on the same idea that drives every great expedition brand: go further, document everything, share it honestly. The Expedition is the next phase — a physical base camp in Costa Rica that anchors CRL's creative output for the next decade.
“The best content doesn't come from a rental. It comes from a place you own, understand, and have earned.”
We are actively scouting working ranches and agricultural fincas in Costa Rica's Southern Zone and Guanacaste highlands — regions with dramatic terrain, biodiverse landscapes, and direct access to surf, mountains, and jungle. The property will serve as a ranch operation, a field studio for film photography and video, and an eventual base for hosted expeditions and retreats.
This is not a speculative real estate play. It is a strategic asset — the physical foundation of a brand built for the long haul.
Costa Rica. Right now.
Foreign buyers have the same property rights as Costa Rican citizens for inland titled land. No residency required. No ownership caps. The Southern Zone is the fastest-appreciating real estate market in Central America.
Agricultural land — fincas — can be used for cattle, horses, crops, eco-tourism, and construction. The target regions have year-round water sources, existing road access, and proximity to the coast without coastal pricing premiums. Properties in the $150K–$400K range are actively listing with structures, water rights, and existing fencing.
CRL is seeking a finca with the following characteristics:
20–100+ acres with existing farmhouse or caretaker structure, fencing, year-round water source (spring or river), cleared pasture, and road access. Suitable for cattle or horses immediately. Proximity to paved road preferred.
5–50 acres of agricultural land with verified title, water access, and electricity nearby. Lower acquisition cost with development upside. Ideal for a phased build-out: fencing, structures, and animal husbandry over 12–24 months.
Remote, jungle-adjacent parcel with dramatic terrain and biodiversity adjacency. Highest content value, highest development friction. Long-term vision play — off-grid capable, expedition-grade. Owner financing increasingly common in this region.
How we get to close.
Foreign buyers have more options than most realize. CRL is pursuing a hybrid structure combining founder capital, investor participation, and seller financing where available.
Common in Costa Rica, especially for rural fincas.Typical terms: 25–50% down, 3–10 year payoff, 6–12% interest. Fastest path to close (30–60 days). No residency required. Legal protections strong for both parties.
As of 2025, U.S.-style 30-year fixed mortgages are available to Americans through lenders like Second Street. 20–50% down, 7–12% rates. Closes in 30–45 days. No Costa Rican residency needed.
Cleanest option for buyers with equity stateside. Tap U.S. collateral at U.S. rates, pay cash in Costa Rica. No foreign bank complexity, no local approval timeline. Full ownership with no CR mortgage.
CRL is actively seeking 1–3 investor partners to co-acquire the base camp property. Investors participate in land equity, future revenue from hosted retreats, and the CRL brand upside. Structured via LLC.
What we're asking for.
CRL is raising a small investor round to co-acquire the base camp property. Here's the structure as currently envisioned:
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Target Raise | $100,000 USD (founder capital) + $50K–$200K investor participation depending on target property |
| Investor Minimum | $25,000 USD |
| Structure | U.S. LLC with Costa Rican holding entity (Sociedad Anónima). Property titled in the LLC. Investors hold proportional membership interest. |
| Returns | Land equity appreciation (Southern Zone: up to 42% YoY 2024–25) + revenue share from hosted expeditions, retreats, and media productions on property |
| Horizon | 5–7 year primary hold. Buyout option available to investors at fair market value after year 3. |
| CRL Commitment | Operational management, content production, brand development, animal operations. Founder holds majority stake and operational control. |
| Use of Funds | Land acquisition, closing costs (~5% of purchase), initial infrastructure (fencing, water, basic shelter), and first season of animal stock |
This is a pre-legal summary for discussion purposes. All investment terms subject to formal agreement and legal review. Not a registered securities offering.
What this place becomes.
The base camp is the backbone. Everything CRL builds — the content, the community, the print archive, the expeditions — gets deeper roots when there's a physical place behind it. That's what TGR figured out in the Tetons. That's what we're building in Costa Rica.
Year one is a working ranch. Year three has a guest structure and hosts the first CRL expedition retreat. Year five it's a self-sustaining operation that funds the next expedition without asking anyone's permission.
- →Acquire titled finca with working infrastructure and initial animal stock (cattle or horses)
- →Establish year-round caretaker operations and document the build via CRL content channels
- →Construct field studio for film photography and video production on property
- →Launch first hosted CRL expedition retreat — surf, ranch, backcountry
- →Grow herd, expand infrastructure, explore conservation land adjacency
- →Evaluate Osa Peninsula satellite parcel as second expedition anchor
Ready to join
the expedition?
We're talking to a small group of aligned investors and partners. If you're interested in the opportunity — or just want to follow the build — reach out directly.
hello@cardiffresearchlab.comCardiff Research Lab · Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA · Est. 2025