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: We were suppose to review the first draft on last Wednesday... well, that didn't happen and we're following up to get a response.

Residencias Los Jardines
Property Management, Rentals, Re-Sales

Unexpected Vacancy: to my surprise, the agent showed up with a client. we'll see...

Market Activity

Sales: no calls but one existing client is returning next week.

Rentals: this has been a crazy week... three rentals... one early in the week and on Wednesday and Thursday, I showed three clients and closed a year lease on Friday. Later Friday night, I leased unit 124 for short term until I can find a longer term client.

Comment: While I've been successful at leasing units lately, it's been a tough. tough slug... One client looked at everything we had available five different times before committing. Clients committed two a unit, a lease was drawn up, they went off to get the money and ???? I never saw them again... but in this case, two hours later another client showed up and the unit was leased. I'm not the only one noting this... agents who have business, have commented to me about how difficult it is to close a deal... lots of effort is wasted... I know I have spent a lot of time with clients --showing, explaining, negotiating contracts, and all the paperwork associated with signing a contract, collecting $$, receipting, setting up new clients on the invoicing system... and then getting them settled in so they know how to take a hot shower, where the household garbage disposal area is, how to make phone calls, open the gate, etc...

Garden Waste: Haulage of this has been a periodic problem. We have a lot of it and it represents good, continuing business for someone with the right truck. The last guy we had simply became too greedy and too duplicit --he would charge for extra loads or for the large truck when in fact, he had used the smaller truck (different rate). He had tried over charging me several times before and I had caught him at it and thought I had established a system that would prevent it and had educated him in the process; a few months later he tried again... I underpaid by what he was trying to overcharge and said good bye... and we are left looking for a new contractor.

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

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HOUSES FOR SALE

UNIT #106 D
FOR SALE $179,000
PRICE REDUCTION - 75% owner financing available

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1227 + parking
Total Area (Sq M): 113 + parking
Bedrooms: 1 + den (bedroom possible)
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 2nd. floor
Type: apartment in 4 plex
Furnished: Yes

This 2nd story, 1,227 sf (113 m2 + one parking space) )is a georgous home with one of the best views at Los Jardines. The very large front covered terrace faces west and is suitable for entertaining; the off-bedroom covered terrace faces east for sun sets. This very tastefully furnished and fully equipped home offers a lifestyle envied by many. The owner offers financing if desired.

UNIT #103
FOR SALE $157,000
Price Reduction from $164,000

See a complete description of this unit

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1000
Total Area (Sq M): 93
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

1000 sf., single story, detached, two bedroom, two bathroom, with a nice covered terrace overlooking a nicely landscaped tropical backyard. Breakfast counter, dinning room table for 4, parking for one car. Vaulted ceilings in master bedroom and kitchen/dining area.

HOUSES FOR RENT

UNIT #109
FOR RENT $1,450 mo.
Available to November 13

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 #124
FOR RENT $1,000 mo.
Available November 1

See a complete description of this unit

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.

Our Lives

WEATHER: normal rains this week. The garden is happy.

All in a Week's Living in CR:

Fast and Furious: not like the infamous scandal in the US but Friday afternoon saw a 30 min. thunder storm the likes of which we see only occasionally...high winds, torrential rains, bolts of lightning right overhead... we survived without apparent damage but it was wild for a while...

Driving: On Thursday I had a number of errands to do --a total distance of about 10 km. In the process, I saw one dead motorcyclist lying in the ditch and one truck driver who had just climbed out of the loaded truck he'd driven into the ditch which was now at a 45 degree angle... only to come upon a culvert construction project which blocked access in either direction... and you know, the lowest guy on the laundry list gets the job of directing traffic...just think of this concept in CR...!!

Our street which had been the subject of local humor with having plants put in the potholes was repaved by the Muni after having been shamed into it. Shortly after the patching was finished, someone stole the manhole cover in the middle of the street. A 45 gallon drum was placed over it to warn drivers. The drum has been hit several times... sometimes even in the most visible of situations, Tico drivers just hit the obvious --driving is still a challenge when you're talking on the cell phone and putting on your nail polish...

Anniversary: Today is our 26th. wedding anniversary. Nothing planned but probably something will happen; last week we went to the beach but that probably won't buy enough good will for today... so...

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