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

Sales: None this week -- several inquiries and showings.

Note:  I was at Scotiabank doing some banking. I spoke with the bank manager. She was proud to be just closing a loan for $1 million, at nearly 13% interest, with a 60% loan to value ratio (that value would be based on Scotiabank's appraisals which are notoriously conservative.  I commented that the borrower must really need the money; she confirmed that that was the case. This is not an environment to be borrowing in.

Permit Applications: Waiting--SETENA--D1--we wait and that will probably be the story until the end of January. I followed up on this with the consultant and he said that all was in order and that we should have this approval on time. 

Construction: The governing governmental body has not met on this so it is still pending. After their approval, it will have to go the the City.  We wait but are not in a hurry. 

Water: The original letter we had did not meet the standard--I was not surprised. The consultant is confident that we will have the letter we need in sufficient detail and commitment which will meet this important criteria. After all, why would they (AyA) not give us the letter.  We would have to agree to build the system, give it to them, and they, in turn, allow us to use some water. They are scheduled to do this as part of their upgrade in a couple years. If we do it, this saves them the $$....... 

Note: One of our investors who has purchased 15 units at El Dorado was in town. Through our various negotiations, he's been a reasonable and pleasant person so it's always been a delight to see him when he's in Costa Rica. He has a beach condo--one of 16 units in a midrise building in Guanacaste. He's definitely not happy with his property management company--the common element fees have gone in one year from around $210 to around $550;  he has seen virtually no revenue from rentals and either suspects them of misleading him or of leasing it out without forwarding the income. In addition, the expenses that he is billed are mystifying and either not transparent or greatly over charged. He's changed management companies--I hope they will be more successful. He visited us when an investor of Los Jardines was here to pick up his $4,400 check for the previous three months..... I took a little pleasure in rubbing it in but bought him dinner afterwards.  The fact of the matter is, that most people who call themselves "property managers" haven't a clue as to what they are doing and usually do very little and sometimes are down right deceitful.

Timing: While the visit with the above purchaser accomplished a number of things, certainly one of the main messages he wanted to deliver was that deferral of construction was more desirable than rushing things. I've subsequently received several  similar messages. This does not surprise me and it is consistent with what I have anticipated and what Paul and I currently feel. We will, however, continue to get our permits to meet our end of the agreement and to be better positioned to start when it is agreed that the world is not coming to an end. Now if CR wants to use us as a stimulus vehicle, we might be very happy to comply but that's a dream so... The government is talking about creating some plans but so far, not much rubber has met th road. It could be that the survey being done by Banco Nacional is part of the research the government is doing. The construction industry is reported to have lost 20,000 to 30,000 jobs over the past little while. What is not built also affects future revenue and purchasing for the country. Certainly our residents spend a lot of money living here and it is all hard currency.....

Texas Hold'em: A good game with lots of entertainment. Mr. Poker Star was off his game and got shut out. The bridesmaid became the bride and a newbie to the winners circle walked out with the prize money.

Wind: It's backed off from the gale force winds we had been experiencing and the temperatures have gone up but at least we are not choking in dust all the time.
 
Rentals: We've shown 112 several times but no commitments. We did a short term (2 month) lease  for unit 124--it dovetailed with the vacancy and the person was a friend of an existing resident. I was contacted by a previous guest at Los Jardines; Her husband's company has a contract which requires about 5 people for 6 mo. They will be reviewing what we have to offer on Tuesday. We don't have much but depending on timing and budget, as to what we can arrange.

Gardeners: Training them continues to be a challenge. After being flat on my back for three days this week as a result of a twisted back, I walked the property and had never seen the garden as dry as it was and the swimming pools as dirty. That observation combined with a few other antics, caused me to loose it. They are good guys but lack the capability to think, plan, prioritize and multi-task. Looking at the list, guess I'm really asking for a lot ....

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1716
Total area (Sq M): 158
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes
 

This 1,716 sf. (plus parking for one car) two story, detached house, with three terraces, two bedrooms (one on each floor) and upstairs master suite is a beautiful home. This home consists of two VERY large bedrooms (one on each floor) with en-suite bathrooms and a powder room, each with large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and ground floor bedroom ceilings as well as the master bedroom on the 2nd floor, provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are three TVs (one in each bedroom and one in the living room.) This is a beautiful home. There is a rough-in for a dishwasher in the kitchen area.







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Unit #120 - For Sale--$185K /Leased  at $1,450mo.

Total Area (Sq Ft):1312
Total area (Sq M):122
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2
Floor(s):1 Story
Type:Semi-Detached
Furnished:Yes

This 1,312 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. It is an end unit and therefore attached on only one side providing ample lighting and views. The 6 inch cement demising (common) wall prevents sound transfer. This is a very nicely furnished and accented home.






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Unit #108 --For Sale-$245,000; Leased at $1,600 mo. to March '10

Total Area (Sq Ft):1716
Total area (Sq M):158
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2.5
Floor(s):2 Story
Type:Detached
Furnished:Yes

 

Unit #111 --For Rent at $1,250  pr Month UNFURNISHED

Total Area (Sq Ft):1738
Total area (Sq M):161
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2
Floor(s):Single Floor
Type:Attached
Furnished:No

This corner home located in set of four homes, is very private. The entrance belies the 1,738 sf to be found on the other side of the entrance door. The short entrance hallway opens into a huge "great room" consisting of the kitchen, LR and DR. This room is truly of huge proportions including the 16' high vaulted ceiling. This vaulted ceiling has clear story windows for light and ventilation. Valance lighting surrounds the room and provides ambiance with its upward sighing lights as well as accent lighting with the recessed halogen lights. From the living room, a large sliding glass door leads onto a private covered terrace.





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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.







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Total Area (Sq Ft):1290
Total area (Sq M):120
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2
Floor(s):1 Story
Type:Attached
Furnished:Yes

This 1,290 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. It is attached on two sides by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.







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February 14, 2009
San José - Santa Ana Highway To Be Ready By May. Let's Hope.
(Inside Costa Rica) Getting from La Sabana to Escazu can take up to 20 minutes and 40 minutes to Santa Ana on the autopista Próspero Fernández, as traffic through the area has totally collapsed due to the construction of the new San José - Caldera highway.
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February 14, 2009
Heavy Trucks Off The Highways This Weekend
(Inside Costa Rica) Early this morning (Saturday) the Policía de Tránsito, under the direction of Germán Marín, began an intensive operation on the nation's roads for a safe return home for vacationers and a safe back to school on Monday.
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February 14, 2009
Costa Rica Closes 3 Embassies, 2 Consular Offices In Cost Cutting Plan
(Inside Costa Rica) Costa Rica has decided to close three embassies around the world and two consulates in the US, as part of the Arias government cost cutting measures. The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Foreign Ministry) announced yesterday that it would be closing embassies in Bolivia, Czech Republic and Paraguay, in addition to its consular offices in Chicago and Puerto Rico.
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February 14, 2009
Price Of Crude Drops While Gasoline Prices Keeps Going Up In Costa Rica
(Inside Costa Rica) Although the price of crude oil sat at a low us$35.10 dollars a barrel, yesterday, the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) is considering the latest request by the state refinery to increase - yes, you read it right - increase the price of gasoline.
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February 13, 2009
Actor Seagal wants to bring Hollywood to Costa Rica
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Action movie star Steven Seagal told Costa Rican President Oscar Arias on Wednesday he wants to help the Central American country build a filmmaking industry to put its dramatic landscapes to use.
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February 13, 2009
Right name, wrong place
The glossy brochure in the travel agent's window does not always tell the whole story. But how can holiday plans go so hideously wrong that people end up in the wrong country, or even the wrong continent?
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February 13, 2009
Actor Seagal eyes up Costa Rica
(BBC News) Action movie star Steven Seagal has told Costa Rica's president that the country should be developed as a centre for making films.
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February 13, 2009
Costa Rica, Singapore set to negotiate free trade agreement
SAN JOSE (AFP) Costa Rica and Singapore will begin negotiating a free trade agreement on April 20, the foreign trade ministry announced on Thursday.
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February 12, 2009
World Bank offers Costa Rica $500 million
(The Tico Times) Costa Ricans could have access to $500 million of standby credit during the present economic crisis.
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February 11, 2009
More companies close doors in Costa Rica
(The Tico Times) Faucet distributor Helvex became one of the latest companies to downsize in Costa Rica after it closed its plant in southeastern San José last week, leaving 20 employees out of work.
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February 10, 2009
NGO builds prefab houses for Costa Rica earthquake victims
(The Tico Times) About 100 volunteers with the non-governmental organization Un Techo para mi País (A Roof for my Country) built 15 temporary homes this past weekend for families left homeless after the Jan. 8 earthquake.
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February 10, 2009
Costa Rican Website is Launched for the German Community
The recently launched website follows in the informative format focusing on all travel related issues regarding the Central American country of Costa Rica.
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February 10, 2009
Chinese vice president in Mexico to boost trade
MEXICO CITY (AFP) — Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping began a visit to Mexico, meeting with President Felipe Calderon and business leaders in a bid to boost trade between the two nations.
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