RANCHOS FINISHED & RAIN!!
ISSUE #298: April 12-17, 2010
2010-04-17
RANCHOS FINISHED & RAIN!!
» 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 availability. 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.
DISTRIBUTION METHOD CHANGE: We used to use Yahoo mail but the lists got too long and Yahoo dropped names for reasons we couldn't understand. We went o Google mail and that had is problems as well. We then went to a Google Group system where people had to enlist; some people were intimidated by this and / or it didn't seem to work for them. For a while, we ran two parallel systems but gave that after several months. We are now going to a different method...a non-website affiliated company which says it will distribute the newsletter and where I can update the address easily. We'll see.
Brian C. Timmons, Author
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado - Developer
E-mail: brian@eldoradocostarica.com
YOU CAN ALSO VIEW THE COMPLETE VERSION ONLINE AT:
https://www.eldoradocostarica.
» CONSTRUCTION LOG
Website: This job is still lagging as my focus has been diverted by issues at Los Jardines.
» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES
It took several days for our staff to clean up and return everything to it's normal place. That is now done and all lights in the ranchos as well as around the property are now functioning. Fortunately, I had ordered in an inventory of lights. Hopefully this supply will last until August when PriceSmart usually brings them in again. Otherwise, I'll resort to mail order out of Wyoming like I did this last time.
Rain and Maintenance! Now that the rainy season is here--officially or unofficially--the reality is that we have had rain everyday since Wednesday, the nature of maintenance work will change. From time spent watering, the two gardeners will catch up on various things; roof tile replacement, window molding repairs, replacement / relocation of some plants. Two weeks ago we sealed the faux stone accents on a number of the buildings; this material is porous and each year it has to be scrubbed down and resealed with a silicone based sealer which fills the voids and prevents mold growing.
Sales Activity: The sale of 111 closed as scheduled.
Market Slows: There have been NO purchasers--and only two people looking to rent this past week. I have two more tentative appointments for next week; they may or may not materialize. Speaking with agents, they are finding the same thing; the market is very slow. Speaking with a frequent INVU applicant, he said that even a year ago he had to wait in line at INVU. The other day he was there and went to the head of the line. In talking with the INVU rep, it was confirmed that very few applications are being submitted..
Unit 107: $270,000
See Descriptions and photos below.
Unit 121: Immediate - $1,700
Unit 113: Immediate - $1,450
Unit #107 - For Sale $270,000 - FURNISHED
Total area (Sq M): 158
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes
Read More
Unit #106A -- For Sale $155,000 - FURNISHED (Leased at $1,000 pr month until January 2011)
Total Area (Sq Ft):1250Total area (Sq M):120
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2.5
Floor(s):Ground Floor
Type:Apartment
Furnished:Yes
This is a fully furnished 2-bedroom unit situated in a 2-story building, which has two units on the ground floor and two units on the 2nd. floor. Each unit is the same size (1,250sf) divided into 800 sf of interior space and 450 sf of covered front and back terraces. UnitS 106 A and B are on the ground floor; Units 106 C and D are on the 2nd. Floor. The solid masonry demising wall (common wall) as well as the 5” concrete slab prevent sound transference.
Read More
Unit 121 - For Rent $1,700 (Available IMMEDIATELY)
Total area (Sq M):131
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2.5
Floor(s):2 Story
Type:Detached
Furnished:Yes
The open railed wrought iron cement stair case leads to the 2nd. level where the master bedroom with en-suite master bathroom as well as 2nd. bedroom and en-suite bathroom are located. Also accessed from the 2nd. floor hallway is the covered terrace.
This is a very nicely furnished home with a good floor plan for those wanting two floors.
Read More
Unit 113 - For Rent $1,450 (Available IMMEDIATELY)
Total Area (Sq M):120
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2
Floor(s):1
Type:Attached
Furnished:Yes
Read More
» NEWS FROM COSTA RICA
April 17, 2010
Costa Rica Constitutional Court Rules To Reopen Gold Mine Project
The Costa Rican Constitutional Court or Sala IV ruled on Friday that a small Canadian mining company can proceed with its open-pit gold mine at Crucitas in San Carlos, striking down complaints from environmental groups that the project was destroying virgin forest.
Read
April 17, 2010
Marva Wright Crowned Miss Costa Rica 2010
Hacienda Pinilla, in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, was full of beauty last night with the conclusion of the Miss Costa Rica 2010 beauty pageant, that 24 year old Marva Wright taking the crown.
Read
April 16, 2010
Street Vendor Protests In Downtown San José Forces Closure Of Many Retail Stores
Shouting "if we can't sell, they can't either", a group of "vendedores ambulantes" (street vendors) ensured many of the retail stores along the boulevards (Avenida Central) and Avenidas 4 to 8, shut down their stores in fear of being looted.
Read
April 16, 2010
How Owning Costa Rica Property Can Improve Your Life
In today's world, many people are looking to improve their quality of life. In this article we will discuss how owning Costa Rica property can help.
Read
April 15, 2010
EXPO CONSTRUCCION 2010 Kicks Off Today
Expo Construccíon y Vivienda Costa Rica 2010 kicks off today at the San José with more than 200 exhibiting companies taken part, with an expected 15.000 visitors during the five day event.
Read
April 13, 2010
Costa Rica Police Patrol In A Hummer
The Vigilancia Aérea de la Fuerza Pública (Air Surveillance police unit) is showing off its new patrol vehicle, a Hummer.
Read
April 13, 2010
Costa Rica or Puerto Rico?
Samantha Lazzaris asked her travel agent to book a vacation in San José, Costa Rica. She didn’t notice a problem until she landed.
Read
April 12, 2010
Traffic Through Cambronero Down Up To 70%, Retailers Say
While most Costa Ricans are taking advantage of the new San José - Caldera highway, another group is absorbing the economic loss of their activity on the old road to Puntarenas, with the drop in traffic between San Ramón and the port city, has led to layoffs and some closures.
Read
» OUR LIVES
Shrimp: Yesterday a truck with fresh seafood--various sizes of shrimp, huge Caribbean lobsters, and corvina came to RLJ. A number of us bought. I bought a kilo (2.2 lbs) of huge, deveined, shelled shrimp for C12,000. Since we were having guests that night and I knew they liked shrimp we had a feast-to my surprise, (and delight) there wasn't much left at the end of the meal. Garlic, butter, red pepper flakes, sweet red pepper and purple onions, few strips of diced bacon, parsley and cilantro, Montreal steak spice and sea salt to taste, a kilo of shrimp, white wine, sherry, and coconut milk rounded out with penne, cilantro, parsley, mixture of French Provincial herbs, capers, butter, Parmesan cheese, cracked pepper, accompanied with French garlic baguette followed with a blueberry cheese cake brought by out guests. Everyone left happy and I now have a new standard to hit again with Lita....
Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies — Chico and Chica.
Brian C. Timmons, Newsletter Author
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado - Developer
Cell: (506) 8305-3965
E-mail: brian@eldoradocostarica.com
For inquiries about availability of residences at Hacienda El Dorado or Residencias Los Jardines, contact:
Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager
Hacienda El Dorado
Rio Oro, Santa Ana
Costa Rica
Web: www.eldoradocostarica.com
E-mail: info@eldoradocostarica.com
MSN: jan.kozak.jr@hotmail.com
Skype: jan.kozak.jr
Tel (US) (+1) 647-477-5825
Cell: (+506) 8345-8018 / (+506) 8707-9930
Previous reports
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007