Homes for sale and homes for rent in Santa Ana, San José, Costa Rica | Newsletters

Semana Santa

ISSUE #180

March 17-22, 2008

» NOTES

When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly news letter —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 resales and rental availabilty. Some readers may be interested in this information.

More and more, the content will be dominated by events of our new project, "El Dorado" for short. While the future is always uncertain, I again aim to tell it like it happens —the good, the bad, and the ugly, and that is what follows.

In an effort to make the format more interesting and visually appealing and to field inquiries re. El Dorado, the news letter is now being distributed by Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager, Hacienda El Dorado. I will remain the author.

» MARKETING, WEBSITE & SALES

Realignment of duties and responsibilities: There has been agreement on realigning responsibilities but we are still working on future architectural compensation. This will depend on what the "future" role is and that is yet to be determined.

Marketing: We are talking with a local person now living near us, who has an extensive background in developing target markets via computer based information and then contacting them. He has approached us with an interesting proposal. We're working our way through it.

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

Office Building: We now have the construction drawings nearly finished for this building. We will be applying for construction permits for it along with several other permits beginning next week.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

For Lease:

Unit106 C: Upper level with terrace views east and west. 1 / 2 bedrooms; 2 bathrooms. Huge terrace facing east; large master bedroom with king size bed. Fully furnished; 1,250 sf including the two covered terraces; $950 mo. April 1

Unit 107: Furnished: 1,716 sf (158 m2), two story, 2 1/2 bathrooms, separate built-in office area, private terrace, ground floor bedroom with 2 matrimonial beds and ensuite washroom, 2nd. floor master suite with east and west terrace, master bath with corner Jacuzzi, shower, bidet, large kitchen. $1,600 mo. April 1

Unit 109: Furnished: 1,500 sf (140m2), single floor, beautifully furnished with leather furniture and granite tables, wall unit, built in office area, large open concept LR.DR, Off., Ktch,, two bedrooms each with queen beds, two bathrooms, terrace storage room, detached--$1,600 mo. April 1

Unit 115: 1450 sf; 2 bedroom; 2 bathroom; private terrace; 42" and a 32" flat screen TVs; lots and lots of built-in cabinets; office desk, DW, W/D. VERY nicely furnished. $1,450. April 1

Unit 120: Furnished: 1,300 sf (127 m2), single level, 2 bedroom each with Queen beds, 2 bathrooms, beautifully furnished with wall unit, 42" flat screen TV + two standard TVs, DW, clothes washer/dryer, vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, etc. $1,350 mo. May 1

Unit 121: 1,620 sf, two level; 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom (one with Jacuzzi), living room, dining room, den and kitchen on first floor, view terrace from 2nd level, fully furnished. $1,550 mo.

Note: We have a number of units coming available all at the same time as "snowbirds" return. We haven't had many inquiries lately—perhaps a result of the US economy or gaming industry downturn in CR or ??????? We sent notices to about 150 RE agents this week—probably none of whom are working but the notices will be sitting on their computers when they return to work.

Texas Hold'em: Continues with a growing and enthusiastic crowd—the cheers and groans define the game. This week a Canadian girl skunked the old guys…..

» NEWS FROM COSTA RICA

If your browser does not support the hyperlinks below, you can view the COSTA RICA NEWS section on our website from the following URL:

https://www.eldoradocostarica.com/English/News/index.php

There are also new articles posted in Spanish on the following URL:

https://www.eldoradocostarica.com/Spanish/News/index.php

March 22, 2008
Over-the-top tropics
A crown of streaming clouds flowed off the cone of Costa Rica's Arenal volcano. A sound like thunder shook the air.
Read

March 19, 2008
Costa Rica Phone Numbers Add 8th Digit Tomorrow
This year, Easter Week, or Semana Santa, is focusing on a rather non spiritual matter.
Read

March 18, 2008
Costa Rica couple says they didn't know safe contained FARC money
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Associated Press): A couple who agreed to store a safe in their home for a Colombian man in the late 1990s said Tuesday it belonged to senior rebel Rodrigo Granda, and that they also briefly hosted late guerrilla commander Raul Reyes in their home.
Read

March 17, 2008
Semana Santa Has Begun in Costa Rica
‘Semana Santa’, Costa Rica’s version of Spring Break when just about the entire country comes to a standstill, began this past Monday.
Read

March 17, 2008
President Arias Believes Costa Rica is Ready for a Female President
As President Arias helped celebrate International Women’s Day last week the Costa Rica president said that he would like to hand over his presidency to a female candidate when the next elections come around in 2010.
Read

March 17, 2008
Renewable Energy Powers Chirripó Internet Access
Visitors of the Crestones shelter in the Chirripó National Park can now chat online as Internet Access is reaching Costa Rica’s most inhospitable areas.
Read

March 17, 2008
Costa Rican politicians seek more info on guerrilla ties
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Associated Press) — Costa Rican lawmakers on Monday demanded the government provide more information on allegations that Colombian guerrillas have ties to local politicians and have stashed hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Central American country.
Read

March 16, 2008
Feds target 'sex tourists'
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. government is cracking down on Americans who allegedly travel abroad to engage in sex with children.
Read

» TESTIMONIALS

This new section seeks to feature some of the testimonials and references we have received from purchasers at Residencias Los Jardines and Hacienda El Dorado. We invite all purchasers both at Residencias Los Jardines and at Hacienda El Dorado to write to us to share their perspectives and opinions on why they decided to purchase and whether their expectations were met.

My wife, Pat, and I first visited Los Jardines in January of 2007 as part of a real-estate tour organized jointly by Christopher Howard and the Association of Residents of Costa Rica. That was the first time we met Brian Timmons and Rudy Matthews. Of all the beautiful homes and condos we saw over that two-day period, we were most impressed with Los Jardines. It was our good luck to be able to return to Costa Rica for two weeks in July of that same year and to be able to rent a unit in Los Jardines. Our stay there was simply wonderful. The unit itself was roomy, well-designed, at the high end of North American standards, nicely furnished and with beautiful, solid built-in cabinets in the living room, kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. The grounds of the development are resort-like; very well maintained and simply lush with trees, plants and flowers. Pat and I swam in both of the pristine swimming pools and grilled on the built-in BBQ in one of the ranchos on the property. The on-site management and maintenance provided by Brian and his partner, Paul Leduc, make a huge, positive difference. Everything works very smoothly. Meeting and spending time with the other residents of Los Jardines was also one of the huge plus points. We very much enjoyed our leisurely times on our terrace, sharing a coffee, a drink or a cigar with a passing resident. Wednesday evenings were reserved for playing Texas Hold'em in the large rancho. 6-10 residents gather each Wednesday evening for a few hours of socializing and card-playing. It's only $20 per player so nobody gets hurt and even the "big winner" does not walk home rich; happy maybe, but not rich!! Most importantly, I heard not one complaint from any resident. Each resident expressed the conviction that buying at Los Jardines was a great decision and that the lifestyle they enjoyed was all they had hoped for and more. The support provided by Brian, Paul and Rudy is simply first class; you can't over estimate the value of trust when you are choosing a place to live. Pat and I simply fell in love with Los Jardines. We wanted very much to buy a unit there but we needed three bedrooms. When we received the open letter to prospective buyers in October, we were thrilled and seized the opportunity to become one of the very first to put in a reservation and wire our earnest money. We hope you will come visit us in building 11A, ground (middle) level, left side in April 2010, when we move in! In the meantime, feel free to email me at perezm@cod.edu or call me at 630-942-2316 between 7:00am and 3:30pm M-F, Central Time if you want to hear more about Los Jardines and buying at El Dorado. Note: I am not a paid consultant or employee of El Dorado, just an excited buyer glad to share the good news.

Michael Perez, Ph.D.

perezm@cod.edu

» OUR LIVES

Weather: A few more showers, calm followed by winds and sun….. we don't have to shovel sunshine and the plants love the showers.

Refrigerator Woes: I had no sooner purchased my turkey and put it in the freezer expecting to roast it at some suitable future occasion when the next day I realized the freezer wasn't freezing. We lost all our food and decided to feast at Lita's birthday on turkey. A repairman came the same day we discovered our situation and traced the problem to a $3 part which had failed. He had a spare part (not the correct model but one that worked) and will return with the correct replacement part after Semana Santa. They don't make frigs like they used to….

Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies— Chico and Chica.