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

New Year's

ISSUE #335: Dec 27 - Jan 1, 2011

2011-01-02

New Year's

» 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: We have a meeting Jan. 3 with one of the three consultants who submitted a proposal. We expect to have a final conversation and confirm our mutual understanding. From this, I expect a written contract for the next stage.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

Market Interest: One American couple looking to purchase. They've been here before and know Los Jardines.

We have new tenants arriving this week and one of our owners is arriving for what has now become their permanent residence.

Now that the holidays are over, we're going to have to pick up the conversation-- which no one really wants to hear about -- to resolve some issues left unresolved from the General Shareholder's meeting in December.

FOR SALE:

Unit 106A: $155,000
Unit 106B: $169,000
Unit 107:   $265,000
Unit 115:   $205,000
Unit 125:   $160,000

See Descriptions and photos below.

Rental Vacancies:

None

Unit #125 -- For Sale $160,000 - 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, + parking for one car and 33sf locker is a one bedroom home on the 2nd floor overlooking the large pool. It is ideal for a single person or couple—or investment property.

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 $265,000 - 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 #102 -- For Sale $265,000 - FURNISHED

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1922
Total area (Sq M): 117
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): Ground Floor
Type: Apartment
Furnished: Yes

This two bedroom, 1922 sf (177m2) + parking and bodega, single story home located in Residencias Los Jardines was completed 5 years ago and has been lived in by a single lady who has lovingly cared for and cleaned it twice a week. It is situated on the ground floor of a two storey, horizontal duplex. It is in PRISTINE condition. The vendor is the original owner.

Unit #115 -- For Sale $205,000 - FURNISHED

Total Area (Sq Ft):1345
Total area (Sq M):124
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2
Floor(s):1 Story
Type:Attached
Furnished:Yes

This 1,345 sf single floor home includes a 200 sf private terrace plus parking for one car. It is attached on two sides by a 6” solid concrete block wall which prevents sound transfer. This is an extremely well decorated home with lots of natural wood built ins.

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

January 01, 2011
Happy New Year, Costa Rica! By John Holtz*
One of the few universal human behaviors is to make new year resolutions. No matter how altruistic and sincere few resolutions are ever kept. Least of all the promise to stop smoking and the most popular of all, “This year I am going to lose 20 pounds and keep it off starting next week, for sure, no kidding!”
Read

January 01, 2011
Law Aims To Break Costa Rica's Banking Secrecy
A controversial bill would force Costa Rica's banks to break their secrecy and divulge information about customer accounts.
Read

January 01, 2011
Undreamed Dreams By Geroge Lundquist, Costaricaretireonss.com
I just watched the video from Eric Liljenstolpe on We Love CR, on why people leave CR. He mentions he has consulted with thousands of people and concludes that being unprepared for the large cultural difference is why folks choose to move back. That is certainly a large database and made me wonder why my experience here is quite different.
Read

January 01, 2011
Daughter's Birth Staves Off Deportation From Costa Rica
A Constitutional Court action by a pregnant woman save a Chinese national from being deported from Costa Rica with the birth of his son, casting aside a decision by the Dirección de Migración y Extranjería.
Read

December 31, 2010
Gringo Terrorists in Costa Rica By Christophe Howard*
By the sound of the title readers may think that we have a cell of American terrorists operating in Costa Rica. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, we have NO terrorism here.
Read

December 31, 2010
Traffic Fines Go Up 7.45% Tomorrow
Adding insult to injury, something that has been little press coverage is the increase in traffic fines that go into effect tomorrow, January 1, 2011. If the traffic fines weren't high enough, tomorrow a 7.45% increase is applied to all traffic fines.
Read

December 31, 2010
262.000 Without Marchamo and 10.000 Without Riteve As The Year Closes
As of the close of business Wednesday 262.000 vehicle owners have yet to pay their 2011 Machamo and 10.000 do not count with the vehicular inspection certificate or Riteve.
Read

December 30, 2010
32 Foreigners Caught in 2010 Attempting To Leave Costa Rica With Illegal Drugs
A total of 32 foreigners got an extended stay in Costa Rica with free room and board, being part of the 39 people caught at the country's airports with 150 kilograms of cocaine and 2.1 kilograms of marijuana, valued at us$3.8 million dollars.
Read

December 30, 2010
Rojas Keeps Lead in Vuelta Ciclista Costa Rica
Costa Rican cyclist Juan Carlos Rojas keeps his leader in the Vuelta Ciclista a Costa Rica (Tour of Costa Rica) after winning the 11th stage of the general qualification.
Read

December 29, 2010
Nicaraguan Ambassador Blasts Washington Post For "Invasion" Editorial
Nicaragua's ambassador in the United States, Francis Campbell, rejected an editorial in The Washington Post which accuses the government of this country of "invading" Costa Rica. The Washington Post ran "Obama administration seems soft on Nicaraguan aggression", on December 25, 2010.
Read

December 29, 2010
Escazú Tolls Increase For New Year
In a few days its a new year and a time for price increases. The first out of the gate will be Autopistas del Sol with a ¢10 colones increase in its tolls at the Escazú.
Read

December 28, 2010
A Costa Rica Vacation That Will Never Be Forgotten
Hundreds of guests of the luxury resort hotel on Costa Rica's Pacific coast has to pack up and leave, though their vacation was not over. However, they are the lucky ones, for some 100 or more were sickened in repeated attacks of stomach flu, prompting the minister de Salud to intervene and order the Bacerló Playa Tambor shut down.
Read

December 28, 2010
67 Drunk Drivers Picked Off So Far This Month
Although 2010 saw a reduction in the number of drunk drivers, this month all the efforts were for none, with a total of 67 drivers so far picked off for driving under the influence and with the big party days around the corner.
Read

» OUR LIVES

WEATHER: -- The first part of the week was characterized by overcast and cool days and nights. The last couple days have returned to the normal December weather--warm and beautiful.

New Year's Eve: The period between Christmas and New Years is generally quiet in the Central Valley. This is the time of the mass exodus of Ticos to the beach areas. The streets of San Jose and area are easily drivable, only a few crazies--and there are those--. Most retail stores are open; governments are closed and not much really gets done. It's normally quite pleasant.

New Year's Eve sees a burst of private fireworks displays--while officially illegal, it's just another law that is not enforced. This year was no exception. From our balcony, we have an excellent 270 degree view. While there wasn't the normal small displays before midnight, at midnight, the sky went wild--all around us were fireworks, including a magnificent display by one of our owner / residents who hosted a party--more on that later. While all our guests retired before midnight, Lita and I managed to stay away and were well rewarded. many, really, really great displays, some very close, some more distant. It was incredible and Lita found herself screaming her excitement.

New Year's Eve Party: One of our owner / residents hosted a party. Nothing unusual about that...He had organized some belly dancers with flame dancing, had lots of candles around the pool (it was a great evening for this since there was no wind and the candles stayed lite) --- the whole event was very elegant, well executed and organized down to the clean up, guests well behaved and the music ceased after the fireworks . On Saturday morning, there was NO evidence of the party, the pool area returned to the condition it was before--which was good because our normal clean up guy was off duty.

New Beginnings--Construction: I learned that the 5 or so unfinished buildings of the Forum 2 will probably be built this year; the hotel planned for the complex is starting to get underway. This I fully expected as soon as the built space was absorbed; it has been so the developers, are looking at finishing off the complex.

The same developer also owns the large section of land around the MegaSuper mall in Santa Ana. I heard that a Forum 3 is planned for this location. If this happens, it could be a huge development. I doubt this will happen this year but if it does, it certainly enhances the desirability of Los Jardines and El Dorado -- lots of good jobs.

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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