Agent Series 28: Life Without an MLS - Lessons from Costa Rica

Mar 11, 2026

Todd Cutter, broker-owner of 2CostaRica Real Estate and nearly 30-year resident, explains running a brokerage without an MLS. He discusses how agents share listings manually and build long-term referral networks. Topics include international and second-home buyers, lifestyle-driven migration to Costa Rica, challenges from missing addresses and centralized data, and strategies for ethical transparency and market exposure.

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ANECDOTE

From 21-Year-Old Grad To 30-Year Costa Rica Broker

Todd moved to Costa Rica at 21 after college with no money, started an online travel agency within days, then transitioned into real estate.
He’s now lived in Costa Rica nearly 30 years and built a large brokerage from that start.

INSIGHT

Costa Rica Values Process And Pura Vida

Costa Rica is more process-oriented than results-driven: expect longer in-person tasks but stronger community and lifestyle benefits.
Todd contrasts long bank visits and multi-step pharmacies with the country's emphasis on pura vida and slower rhythms.

INSIGHT

Costa Rica Offers A Wide Affordability Spectrum

Costa Rica remains relatively affordable compared with many U.S. markets, with inventory from $150K condos to ultra-luxury resorts.
COVID pushed prices up, but developers still target multiple market segments and local affordability varies by location.

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What does real estate actually look like without an MLS?

In this episode, James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson sit down with Todd Cutter, broker-owner of 2Costa Rica Real Estate, to explore how real estate works in a country where agents operate without centralized listing data, standardized addresses, or a shared marketplace.

Todd shares what it's like building a successful brokerage in Costa Rica, how agents collaborate without a traditional MLS, and why reliable data and cooperation matter more than most agents realize. The conversation also dives into international buyers, second-home markets, and the lifestyle shifts driving more Americans to consider Costa Rica.

If you want to understand what real estate might look like without an MLS and why that matters, this episode is for you.

Connect with Todd on LinkedIn.

Check out 2Costa Rica Real Estate on Instagram and 2costaricarealestate.com.

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