One of Those Weeks!!!
ISSUE #866: July 25-31, 2021
2021-08-01
Brian Timmons
Dear friends,
When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly newsletter -determined to tell all the good, bad, and the ugly. I knew some readers would be interested in the construction process. I expected others might be interested in the lifestyle of two people who had decided to live outside the box. For others, the adventures of Lita, the parrot and the cat took on an entertainment saga all its own.
Residencias Los Jardines is finished. We periodically have re-sales and rental availability. Some readers may be interested in this information.
Brian Timmons
Developer / Property manager
Residencias Los Jardines
Web: https://residenciaslosjardines.com
Emails: info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com
rentals & sales
Paradisus Condos / Rohrmoser
FOR SALE / RENT
Visit our website
Each of the units consists of two bedrooms / two bathrooms, and a large living/dining/kitchen area. The floor plan of each of these units has eliminated the optional "den / office" divider. The result is a larger area offering more flexible furniture arrangements while still maintaining the option of including an office area. At 105 m2 plus two parking spots each and storage locker, they offer a great opportunity for someone seeking views, security, central location, and first class, all round living...
Parque del río
FOR SALE
3,200 sf / 300 m2 / 4 bedroom / 3 1/2 baths + maids quarters. Two car parking, single level with terrace overlooking stream / green area. Modern kitchen, new refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, 2nd floor of a three story / 9 unit condo with elevator.
HOA fees about $230 mo. / taxes about $ 400 yr.
Location: Guachepalin near Paco / west of MacDonald's.
$ 270,000
sales & rentals
Sales: Los Jardines: Units #114, #115, #116 and #124
Rentals:
Los Jardines: Nothing available
Paradisus: Nothing available
property management, rentals & re-sales
FOR SALE
Unit #114: $ 185,000 / See Unit
Unit #115: $ 165,000 / See Unit
Unit #116: $ 189,995 $ 179,000 / See Unit
Unit #124: $ 115,000 $ 99,950 PRICE REDUCTION / See Unit
UNIT #114
FOR SALE
$ 185,000
Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): Single Floor
Type: Attached
Furnished: Yes
This 1,290 sf. (plus covered parking for one car and two lockers 67 sf.) single story, semi detached house, with garden terrace, two bedrooms is a beautiful executive style home. This home consists of two large bedrooms one with six piece en-suite bathroom with additional access to separate full shower. Each bedroom has large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and bathroom ceilings provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are four TVs (one in each bedroom, one in the living room and one in breakfast / dinning room.) This is a beautiful well appointed home.
UNIT #115
FOR SALE
$ 165,000 OBO
Motivated seller - Estate Sale
Total Area (Sq Ft): 1345
Total area (Sq M): 124
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1 Story
Type: Attached
Furnished: Yes
Two bedroom / two bathroom, lots of built-ins, appliances and furniture included. 125m2 / 1,345sf. Pictures to follow. One covered parking space and bodega included. Monthly HOA fees $268, taxes and water included. The long time owner passed away / the unit has been transferred to his sister / she wants to sell and has set up POAs to facilitate this. This can be a good deal for some buyer. All offers will be presented.
UNIT #116
FOR SALE
$ 189,995 $ 179,000 PRICE REDUCTION
Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Semi-Attached
Furnished: Yes
This 1,290 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car and a separate, secure storage locker. It is and end unit and therefore attached on only one side by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.
UNIT #124
FOR SALE
$115,000 $ 99,950 PRICE REDUCTION
Total Area (Sq Ft): 662
Total area (Sq M): 61
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Floor(s): 2nd Floor
Type: Semi-Detached
Furnished: Yes
This 662 sf, + covered parking for one car, is a one bedroom home on the 2nd floor overlooking the large pool. It is ideal for a single person or couple.
What Happened This Week
Weather: Our normal rains for this time of year are back... the garden is happy, happy, happy...
Stories
1. One of those Weeks: After a long stretch of no problems, the luck broke... before coffee (a bad time) I was told a 1 1/2" pipe used to distribute water to all units, had failed and I needed to get some parts... After returning, I was told that one of the houses had flooded. Lita mentioned to me that the toilet flush sounded different. It was not until I took a shower that I knew what was happening... we have a pressure system controlled by a switch. Upper and lower limits are set at 40-60 PSI. I was sure the upper limit had failed and the water pressure all around was greater. The result was blown connections and pipes... I confirmed this was looking at the pressure guage. The workers were seeing the symptoms but I had more information... we shut the pump down, and changed out the pressure control switch...and proceeded to clean up the messes... and a few other issues, a pair of missing shoes left at the large pool, allegations of missing kitchen things in one of the vacant units, multiple missed appointments by a prospective tenant, and lastly (the day is not yet over) a gas demand water heater that misfires and creates a dangerous situation... re. the latter, I have reserves so changed out the faulty one and will have it repaired... all I want is the hammock and for the stock market to go in the right direction...
2. COVID: Yes, still around, several additional people I know / know of have contracted it... driving restrictions are still in place... this is being enforced... fortunately, I have use of a second car so I have both odd / even plates... I am not too inconvenienced just confused as to which are to use and to ensure I have all the things I need, mask, keys, toll gate transponder, access cards, phone, whatever additional piece of paper / identification / needed, etc, etc... invariably I have forgotten one or more...
3. #115 Listed for Sale at Los Jardines: This unit is offered for sale after the owner died. Title is now held by his sister. It is not part of her future... she is in California. She wants to sell it and be rid of it.
4. Building Re-hab: One wall has continuously been marked by black streaks where the rain travels down from the tile grout capping the knee wall. Since we are re-habing the buildings, I am trying to solve this by installing a drip edge. It is a bit labor intensive but materials wise, not expensive. We'll see if it works...
5. Travel and Rains: A friend building a hotel in Puerto Viejo (Carib) wants to return but a key bridge got washed out so he is stuck here... this is one of the constant issues with either Pacific or Carib locations... bridges, landslides, protests, accidents, or constructions... at any given time, you have a high probability of encountering at least one of these which will either prevent or substantially delay the trip.
6. Debit Card: After 8 mo we finally got one for the condo--now I do not have to use my own money and claim it back and the account sees the transactions vs. the invoice... I have yet to confirm it works. However, we were again told we cannot have more accounts linked to the same password and bank FOB... I do not understand why because both Vito and I do gave that and we have been told yes it is possible and no it is not possible... this is getting tiring... especially since it makes no sense... we want to be able to transfer funds from the general account to designated reserve accounts for future use... this should be a no brainer but the bank seems to have no brains...
Comments:
1. Bridge Wash out prevents travel to Puerto Viejo and elsewhere....
2. Flood Damage... Fairly extensive but not unusual.
3. COVID: Current status.
1. Route 36 bridge has opened
A bridge reestablishing transit on Route 36 near Penshurst, Limón, was finished and opened early Thursday morning, authorities reported.
“The modular bridge over La Estrella River, which opens the route between the South Caribbean and Limón, has already been enabled,” President Carlos Alvarado said. “A great inter-institutional work allowed to open this important step for tourism and for the transit of goods with Panama, which had been affected by the rains.”
The one-lane bridge spans a section of road that collapsed last weekend due to flooding.
Route 36 is the primary route connecting the south Caribbean with the rest of Costa Rica. The towns of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Bribri and Sixaola all rely on the road.
While some vehicles with four-wheel drive could reach the south Caribbean via an alternate route, that option wasn’t feasible for most vehicles, including buses.
The new structure supports trucks and other large vehicles. It’s expected to handle about 4,500 vehicles each day.
Other damage in the Talamanca area includes a destroyed school building and railroad bridge. (Both are pictured below)
“We sympathize with the Limonense population, everything that has happened is very painful,” President Alvarado said.
2. Costa Rica begins evaluating flooding damage
The Costa Rican government on Wednesday began a comprehensive evaluation of damage caused by the flooding that occurred last weekend.
Authorities are assessing impacts to agriculture, education, health, road infrastructure and housing, among others, in the 14 cantons named in the State of National Emergency declared by President Carlos Alvarado earlier this week.
The 14 cantons are: San Carlos, Upala, Guatuso, Río Cuarto, Los Chiles, Turrialba, Jiménez, Sarapiquí, Limón, Matina, Pococí, Guácimo, Siquirres and Talamanca.
The preliminary reports are as follows, per the Presidency:
- At least 102 educational centers have suffered some level of affectation.
- Potable water supply was impacted in 24 ASADAS.
- 15 bridges and 21 dams were affected.
- Floods and landslides directly impacted 36 communities throughout the country.
- More than 2,300 people remain in temporary shelters.
- More than 2,800 emergency events (mainly floods and landslides) were reported as a result of the rainfall.
3. ‘The pandemic is not over’ as Costa Rica passes new death milestone
Costa Rica has surpassed 5,000 total deaths related to Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to official sources.
The Health Ministry tallies 5,013 deaths related to the disease. More than half (2,828) have occurred in 2021, including nearly 1,000 since June 1.
“Costa Rica reaches 5,000 deaths from Covid-19. Very sad and painful news,” President Carlos Alvarado wrote on social media. “In their memory and in solidarity with all the people who have lost a loved one to this pandemic, we must continue to take care of ourselves.
“While we are moving toward herd immunity, it is not yet time to let our guard down. We continue to report more than 1,000 cases a day and totaling more than 400,000 cases reminds us of this.
“Let’s keep protecting ourselves: the pandemic is NOT over.”
The average number of daily deaths related to Covid-19 has dropped significantly in July (12) compared to the peak in May and June (23.5).
These deaths are considered “related to” Covid-19 until further analysis confirms the cause of death; historically, 90% of deaths “related to” the disease are ultimately attributed to the virus.
About 16% of Costa Rica’s population has been fully vaccinated, while 46% have received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer formulas. Serious vaccine side effects are exceedingly rare, the Health Ministry says.
The average age of ICU patients with Covid-19 has dropped to 49 years old, down from 60 years old in January.
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