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

Brian Timmons

Dear friends,

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.

Brian Timmons
DEVELOPER:
Residencias Los Jardines / https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com
Hacienda El Dorado / https://www.eldoradocostarica.com
E-mail:
brian@eldoradocostarica.com
info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com

Construction Log
Updates about Hacienda El Dorado

Rio Oro: ...no progress.

Residencias Los Jardines
Property Management, Rentals, Re-Sales

Rain Water: we're still awaiting that good downpour to test the extent to which we've resolved our initial problems.

Re-landscaping: we've finished off fixing up a few areas which needed attention.

Market Activity

Sales: one looker, a Russian, wanting a larger place than we have...

Rentals: one call and a possible rental... verbal commitment... we'll see if the money follows... that's always a separate story...

Comments: I continue to hear about vacancies which never existed before. I also read that the government has or is about to pass legislation which affects casinos and on-line gaming sites... This industry creates a lot of jobs... and maybe the slow rental market is partially affected by that as well as N. Am. and European economic woes.

FOR RENT

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HOUSES FOR RENT

UNIT #109
FOR RENT $1,500 mo.
Available Immediately

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1506
Total Area (Sq M): 140
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

This single story home (1506 sf. + parking for one car) is detached, has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, home office, living room wall / entertainment center along with a built in office and a semi-private terrace. In addition, it has a vaulted ceiling in the “great” room and two skylights. The covered entrance way is suitable for two chairs located next to a covered garden area. Once through the impressive front door, you enter the “great room” which houses the kitchen, dining room, office and living room. Upon entering, there is a built in wooden hutch surfaced with granite—it matches all the built-in furniture in the great room. There is a clothes washer and dryer off the 2nd bedroom. The owners have added many personal touches and have done a supurb job in decodrating the home.

UNIT #112
FOR RENT $1,300 mo.
Available July 15

See a complete description of this unit

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 #113
FOR RENT $1,450 mo.
Available Immediately

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total Area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Semi-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 one side by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer. The three other sides allow light, ventilation and garden views.

UNIT #116
FOR RENT $1,450 mo.
Available Immediately

See a complete description of this unit

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

This 1,290 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car and a separate, secure storage locker. It is and end unit and therefore attached on only one side by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.

Our Lives

WEATHER: Normal rainy season weather...

A Needed Escape: We're in Playa Carrillio as I write. I simply had to escape... I had lost it several times this past week... I needed to withdraw... and chill...

My license plates needed to be replaced... they had faded because of lousy paint and would not pass through the safety inspection (RETIVE) so I bit the bullet and got bitten back: I had researched the process and had actually downloaded someone's actual experience. I was armed with the information I would need. I went to the nearest national registry office (Paseo Colon in San Jose) which is where the transaction takes place. After the first step, the process differed from my script. I had to submit the plates at the time I paid, and wait several days and was required to return to pick them up. I needed the car and needed to make arrangements. Later, after a couple drinks, I decided to go across town to the main registration office (Zapote) where the plates would be exchanged on the spot. Again I had all the info. that I would be required... ownership, Corp. ID number, passport, insurance, annual license (marchamo) and safety inspection... not all was expected but I was prepared. The only thing the registration office wanted was my 5 year expired passport... wait a minute since the car is owned by a corporation why do you want my old passport number??? ( I never got an answer) they didn't care, none of the info. I brought was wanted or looked at in any way... because their data base with the old passport number said that was me... wait a minute, I don't carry around a 5 yr old expired passport... I had presented both the old and the new passports at another branch of the transport department 3 years earlier to have the change made so I could get a new drivers license... why isn't that info. in the data base (obviously it is a different database and the two aren't linked or integrated... surprise, surprise)... but I did have my old drivers license (photo ID) with the old passport number... as well as the new drivers license and the new passport... no, not good enough. I was told that I had to return with a lawyer's affidavit saying that I was the same person... -but there was a lawyer just outside the building... that's when I lost it in the N. Am. way... after some closed door meetings, the national registry decided they could, in fact, do it. I then had to wait or the plates to actually be delivered... and actually met the person who acted as the facilitator of the purchase...

The government woman with whom I was dealing, was actually great; she wasn't the problem... the system was... and I let her know the distinction... she appreciated it but was glad to move on to the next client.

While waiting to get the plates, I explained to my colleague that in Canada we had actually gotten three documents between 10am and 3pm and had had lunch... CR is a country going backwards... except CR does require a vision test to qualify for a drivers license -not so in Ontario... go figure...

Comments: The hillsides along the San Jose -Caldera highway continue to slide onto the roadway... major construction is underway to try and prevent- expect delays... I saw for the first time a portable weigh scale being used for trucks... portable in that it seemed to consist of 2" rubber mat inter-connected plates over which trucks would drive on and be weighted -Playa Carrillo and the hospitality industry in the area continues to hurt... very, very low occupancy... the road is good all the way... 4 hr. drive is the challenge... picture postcard beach with no people... and we're staying in a place we stayed before at $50 a night...

Playa Carrillo: El Sueno Tropical ($50 night) including taxes and breakfast: Lita ordered a fresh caught tuna steak, blackened and cooked to perfection..She's getting her fish fix and I'm withdrawing from as much as I can... and to satisfy my curiosity, on Monday I plan on visiting the Nicaraguan beef outlet in Liberia and returning to Los Jardines with a chest full of AGED beef... it will either be off my "bucket list" or I've made a discovery which I'll work on developing...

Brian, Lita, the Late Hugo IV, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, Chico II and Chica II