Hi Wende,
You can certainly find affordable one bedroom cottages, condos, or apartments for rent. Start your search on real estate sites in the areas. They usually feature long term rentals. You can also contact the real estate office directly about renting a vacation rental or home for sale – they might be willing to deal and give you a good monthly rate if you commit to six months to a year lease. Finding a reputable agent is all about due diligence – check out what’s being said about them online and once you’re on the ground, ask around.
A tourist visa is only good for 90 days. So to stay 5 to 6 months at a time, you would need to leave the country and re-enter. Most expats in that situation take short trips to Nicaragua or Panama. Some fly back to the States for a visit. Because you plan to be more of a part time resident at this point, seeking residency probably is not a viable option yet.
.
