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

Rain, Rain, Leave Us!!!

ISSUE #327: Nov.1-6, 2010

2010-11-08

Rain, Rain, Leave Us!!!

» 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.

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.com/English/Newsletter/index.php

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

Rio Oro: Paul and I visited a number of projects which have been built out or are still being built out. Several were "modern" architecture, and in our price points; several were traditional, one of which was a higher price point and one was lower. Bank financing came mostly from BAC and Scotiabank. The other common feature was that with only a couple exceptions, the purchasers were not North American. We'll be speaking with those banks over the next little while.

River: With so much rain this week, many rivers have overflowed their banks, caused flooding, washouts, and played havoc with their surroundings. Not so in our case. Eventhough we are in the valley and have the river runnin throuh the center, our land is flat enough that it has not suffered. Our river is, for the most part, surrounded by fairly high banks so it kept to it's course. In addition, we have a 33' setback from each side for building purposes. Many of those homes affected in Escazu and elsewhere were built right up to the existin river banks.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

Market Comment: We leased our last available unit and now have only one unit for the month of December.

Garden Remake: This has taken a back seat due to the rains this past week.

Annual Shareholders Meeting: Information is bein prepared; it is expected to be sent to shareholders late Sunday.

FOR SALE:

Unit 106A: $155,000
Unit 106B: $169,000
Unit 107:   $260,000
Unit 124:   $160,000

See Descriptions and photos below.

Rental Vacancies:

Unit 112         Dec 1 - Jan 1    $1,550 pr month

Unit #124 -- For Sale $155,000 - FURNISHED

Total Area (Sq Ft): 662
Total area (Sq M): 61
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Floor(s): 2nd Floor
Type: Apartment
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.

Read More

Unit #106A -- For Sale $155,000 - FURNISHED (Leased at $1,000 pr month until January 2011)

Total Area (Sq Ft):1250
Total 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.

Unit #107 -- For Sale $260,000 - FURNISHED

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.

Unit #112 -- For Rent - FURNISHED ($1,550 - Dec 1, 2010 - Jan 1, 2011)

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.

Unit #106B --For Sale $169,000 - FURNISHED

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
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.

» NEWS FROM COSTA RICA

November 08, 2010
Costa Rica Landslide Death Toll Rises To 23
Rescue and search workers recovered three more bodies of people who died in a Wednesday landslide in San Antonio de Escazú, raising the death toll to 23.
Read

November 08, 2010
"On Tuesday We Can Say That The OAS Is Good For Something", Says Chinchilla
Presidenta Laura Chinchilla in a firm voice said on Saturday that if Nicaragua does not remove its troops and the Organization of American States (OAS) does not expressly favour Costa Rica, her government will take the case to the United Nations.
Read

November 08, 2010
Costa Rica and Panama Urge G20 to Agree on Doha Round
Ministers from Costa Rica and Panama urged members of the G20 to agree upon the conclusion of multilateral trade negotiations, the Doha Development Round.
Read

November 07, 2010
Official List of Deaths in Escazú
The good news is that no more bodies were uncovered during Friday's search and rescue in Escazú, the bad, the weather has not been co-operating, hampering efforts by the Cruz Roja (Red Cross), Bomberos (firefighters), police, area residents and volunteers, who have all come together in the tragedy that took 20 lives in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Read

November 07, 2010
Google Maps Blamed For Nicaragua's Invasion of Costa Rica
Nicaragua's military invasion (not really) of Costa Rica is being blamed totally on Google Maps. Edén Pastora, the Nicaraguan military commander who led the unintended invasion didn’t mean to start an international incident. He was only following the directions he was getting from Google Maps.
Read

November 07, 2010
Toll From The Rains In Costa Rica: 23 Dead, 10 Missing, 1.394 In Shelters
The tally from the rains of Tuesday and Wednesday is 23 dead, at least 10 still missing and 1.394 people in shelters in 114 communities. The damage to property and infrastructure is in the tens of millions of dollars, all due to the effects of the devastating tropical storm "Thomas", that hit Costa Rica indirectly.
Read

November 06, 2010
Toll From The Rains In Costa Rica: 23 Dead, 10 Missing, 1.394 In Shelters
The tally from the rains of Tuesday and Wednesday is 23 dead, at least 10 still missing and 1.394 people in shelters in 114 communities. The damage to property and infrastructure is in the tens of millions of dollars, all due to the effects of the devastating tropical storm "Thomas", that hit Costa Rica indirectly.
Read

November 05, 2010
Costa Rica Declares Two Days Of National Mourning; State Of Emergency
The government of Costa Rica declared two days of "national mourning" in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragedy of early hours of Thursday morning, mainly in the areas of San Antonio de Escazú.
Read

November 04, 2010
Rescue and Recovery Efforts Suspended In Escazú; Aserrí With Its Own Nightmare
The rescue and recovery efforts in the mountains of Escazú have been suspended as the rains began to fall again minutes after 3pm. The head of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE), as well as the Bomberos and Cruz Roja, decided to call off all operations for time being, hopefully resuming before nightfall, if not in the morning daylight.
Read

November 04, 2010
Public Schools Closed
Leonardo Garnier, the ministro de Educación Pública (MEP) called for a closure of all public schools for today, asking parents to keep their children at home.
Read

November 03, 2010
"Our Soldiers Are Not Stupid", Says Nicaragua's Army Commander Isla Calero, Claimed by Costa Rica, is 1000% Nicaraguan Said Edén Pastora
Former Sandinista guerilla leader, Edén Pastora, in charge of the dredging operations of the San Juan river flatly denied on Tuesday that Nicaraguan troops crossed into Costa Rican territory as claimed by the Chinchilla government, who accused Nicaragua "once again" violating Costa Rica's sovereignty.
Read

November 03, 2010
Atenas Residents Paying Costly Price For The Problems Of The Caldera
The letter and photos sent to us by Atenas resident, Jerome Ives, clearly describes what the nightmare residents of Atenas are living through as both Autopistas del Sol and the Ministerio de Obras Pública y Transportes (MOPT) fail to remedy the situation.
Read

» OUR LIVES

Weather: Last week I wrote that the dry season was here. And while that may still be the case, this week was one virtually constant RAIN!!! Lots and lots of damage in the country. A mudslide in Escazu buried at least 20 people and more are missing. Most roads around the country are impassable due to landslides, washouts, bride collapses, floods, etc. you name it. There are very few communities not affected. Those that one doesn't hear about are usually overshadowed by the more sensational disasters.... At Los Jardines, we've been fortunate. The equipment we installed over the past two years all worked and so far, we've been o.k.

Restaurants: Over the past week, we've gone to several restaurants: the Friday afternoon lunch bunch went to "Doris", in the former location of the Tex-Mex It's a total remake--nicely done but expensive with o.k. food. Halloween evening I wanted a casual meal. We went to the Biker's Bar -- no one--so went on to "Cow Town" --no one.... perhaps it was because 7pm was early... or that there aren't a lot of restaurant goers anymore.

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
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado

Web: www.eldoradocostarica.com
E-mail: info@eldoradocostarica.com
MSN: jan.kozak.jr@hotmail.com
Skype: jan.kozak.jr

Voicemail (Canada) (+1) 647-477-5825
Skype (US) (+1) 954 903 0830
Office (Costa Rica) (+506) 2215-6000
Cell (Costa Rica): (+506) 8707-9930 / (+506) 8345-8018

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