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

...Vacancies & Playa Carrillo!!...

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.

Brian Timmons
DEVELOPER / PROPERTY MANAGER
Residencias Los Jardines / https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com

 

Featured house this week

UNIT #113:
FOR RENT: $1,350 mo.
Available July 1

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.

 

Residencias Los Jardines
Property Management, Rentals, Re-Sales

Market Activity

Sales: no calls.

Rentals: three calls / two viewings / no commitments.

 

FOR SALE

Unit #114: $235,000 / See Unit

FOR RENT

Unit #112: $1,250 mo. / Available Immediately / See Unit

Unit #113: $1,350 mo. / Available July 1 / See Unit

Unit #123: $1,650 mo. / Available July 1 / See Unit

Unit #124: $1,000 mo. / Available Immediately / See Unit

 

HOUSE FOR SALE

UNIT #114
FOR SALE $235,000

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

This 1,290 sf. (plus covered parking for one car and two lockers 67 sf.) single story, semi detached house, with garden terrace, two bedrooms is a beautiful executive style home. This home consists of two large bedrooms one with six piece en-suite bathroom with additional access to separate full shower. Each bedroom has large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and bathroom ceilings provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are four TVs (one in each bedroom, one in the living room and one in breakfast / dinning room.) This is a beautiful well appointed home.

 

HOUSES FOR RENT

UNIT #112
FOR RENT $1,250 mo.
Available Immediately

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 $1,350 mo.
Available July 1

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 #123
FOR RENT $1,650 mo.
Available July 1

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1516
Total area (Sq M): 140
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

This two story, detached 1,423 sf home + parking for one car has two bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms and a 2nd floor covered terrace. 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.

 

 

UNIT #124
FOR RENT $1,000 mo.
Available Immediately

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: the rainy season continued with overcast skies and normal rains... the garden is happy.

All in a Week's Living in CR:

Playa Carrillo: We went this past week to our favorite beach and hotel there. The trip there was highlighted by the closure of the one and only highway, Pan American #1 due to 300 "protesters". We later found out their grip the lousy roads in Guanacaste... Since the police were unable / unwilling to move them off to the side, they decided to re-direct the traffic. If we had been going to Liberia, we would have gone right with most of the traffic but since we were going to the peninsula and needed to cross the Puente Amastad (Tiwaneese gifted bridge), we were shunted left... I knew there would be no signs and suspected a number of dead ends. We had a full tank of gas, four wheel drive, lots of time and have been lost many times in CR so this wasn't going to deter me and I was prepared for what I expected. I was not disappointed. After 15 min. on a rough gravel road I was directed to take, I met an on-coming SUV with Tico driver shaking his finger "no". I retraced our path to the highway. There we were redirected again back 6 kl and take the road to the right... doubtful but willing, we back tracked. Sure enough, a transit cop was now at the intersection and directed us to the road. Again I knew there would be no directions... Five minutes onto this road, an intersection. We went right for 15 min. --the road was not bad; the area consisted of local ranches and the mode of transportation was horseback. Finally we came to an intersection with 6 buildings including a pulperia...(small store). I asked for directions and was told I couldn't get anywhere from here. We back tracked to the earlier intersection and followed that road...it soon became problematic. We again backtracked and at the intersection, there were a number of cars streaming in. We decided to follow and eventually go to a highway we needed... Problem solved; total elapsed time --1 1/2 hrs.

Hotel Guanamar: we had reservations not that we needed them but I wanted to confirm the price before arriving. The rack rate is $130 but I had negotiated it down to $80 including taxes and breakfast in one of the ocean view rooms. We were one of 3 clients for approx. 22 rooms. It's a 3 star hotel... originally built by Japanese so it has that distinct architectural flair; huge rooms with a wall of glass overlooking the picture perfect bay and ocean with a large covered terrace. The AC is old and noisy and there is no ceiling fan which could be used instead of the AC... The only surprise was the $10 mojito... I choked...but since I had brought my own liquor supply I just switched to plan B -- I didn't suffer.

The area shows no new life... the same "for sale" signs are older and newer ones appeared. Lots of houses and developments are stuck; lots are poorly conceived and / or poorly executed. We looked at one 17 unit building which we'd seen vacant for 4+ years. Some workmen were there and showed us through; 4 of the 17 units had been sold and the bank had taken it over; the interior condo design was awful. The workmen were repairing the building which had fallen into disrepair.

 

 

News Items of the Week

Comments:

1. Higher interest rates: the government did increase the $$ rates. Interest on US $ CDs now around 4-5%; on colon CDs, around 8-10%.
2. Someone finally told the government that the cost of electricity would translated into cost of production... wow... guess they hadn't thought of that...
3. The Gran Hotel: a faded relic of past old elegance never updated...
4. The once thriving pineapple market seems to be a victim of it's own success.
5. The US government is accused of "listening" to 99% of Latin Am. communications. Surprise... did anyone think the 4 (?) underground levels of the US Embassy was for storage?
6. Now that 90% of the tuna and probably more of the shark population is fished out, CR wants to have a public debate... it's a bit late, don't you think?

Central Bank could raise dollar interest rate

June 19th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Central Bank President Rodrigo Bolaños said that restrictions on credit growth in dollars at the country’s financial institutions could potentially be lifted, but that the Central Bank would take other measures against risk associated with an over-abundance of dollars.

Bolaños said that the current scheme is geared towards limiting the amount of dollars in the marketplace, but the price (interest rate) of dollars could be another option, if “rates reflect the risks.”

The Central Bank president said that Costa Ricans should be aware that excessive credit growth in dollars threatens the national economy, since the dollar is a foreign currency and generates a dependence on foreign markets to finance the expansion.

Bolaños said that dollars and colones are not on an equal playing field, because dollar interest rates do not reflect the risk they represent.

Bolaños said that the measure could be announced in July.

From: InsideCostaRica.com

Competitiveness, foreign investment suffering due to high electricity costs

June 19th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) The high cost of electricity in Costa Rica is affecting the cost of production in the industrial sector and reducing Costa Rica’s competitiveness, according to business leaders.

Concerned about the consequences should electric rates remain at their current rates – or increase – leaders in the industrial sector are holding a forum on June 26th to discuss strategies for coping with the country’s high energy costs.

Industry leaders also say that increases in electric rates – which have been no less than 38% over the last 14 months – is hurting foreign investment in the country.

“Industry has been affected by an increase of 38% in the cost of electricity in the last 14 months. This affects the cost of production, which makes Costa Rican products less competitive,” leaders said.

“There are production lines that no longer open – or worse, close – because another country can supply the product with lower costs. This affects investment and real employment, and discourages foreign investment which has been instrumental in the development strategy of the country.”

“We were expecting [electric rates] to drop 19% in July, and now there are calls to lower rates by only 2% to 4%,” said Carlos Montenegro, deputy executive director of the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica.

From: InsideCostaRica.com

They sold the Gran Hotel Costa Rica

Tico-foreign capital would have paid $ 15 million

With over 83 years of history, the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, architectural historical heritage, was sold earlier this month and purchased by a group of domestic and foreign investors.

It will be operated by the firm Elite Hotels Resorts, which has among its plans to build a Hilton hotel next to the National Stadium in La Sabana, among other investments.

EXTRA DAILY unofficially learned that the negotiations have reached $ 15 million.

Sandor B. Tupi, new general manager, said that his client arrives eager to make the hotel a better place, compliance with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture on heritage, since it can not change anything to the front or to the floor of the building.

Upon negotiation was clear that there are confidentiality clauses that must be respected, but in the coming days will be announced further details through an official statement.

He said that reshape the top, where the old management, with the idea of ​​making quality suites.

The 3 star hotel has 107 rooms and the cost of one night stay is $ 68 with tax, breakfast included. The quality plan is to increase it without impacting the asset.

Read an interview the next day with the hotel manager.

From DiarioExtra.com

Pineapple Growers lose land for not paying debts to banks

Small pineapple producers are starting to loose their land to bank foreclosures in communities of Pital, Upala, Guatuso, and in some cases along the Caribbean. According to Erick Quirós, Senior Director of Regional Operations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock the problems are complex and involve market changes and overproduction.

Full Article Published in La Nacion on Jun 20, 2013

Wikileaks founder says that 99% of the Latin American infomation is intercepting

In a conference call from the Embassy of Ecuador in London, the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, said that they are intercepting conversations 99% in Latin America, through the United States, when they go out to the world.

During his participation in the First Summit held in Ecuador Responsible Journalism, Assange said "it is unfortunate to note the corruption of these rights (...) Using the media to promote war or blatant lies to make specific public interest", referring to government censorship, the right to information and communication and political biases.

According ANDES, Public News Agency of Ecuador and of America, The Embassy asylum in Ecuador, recalled some cases where information was manipulated to favor local elites or sponsors and referred to the global issues that media are in the hands of a few families or bankers.

Assange said the U.S. daily New York Times, which refused to publish "large number" of documents (Wikileaks cables) and reduced other key parts. "He worked with the CIA, the State Department, the White House, every day, for the publication of U.S. diplomatic cables. This was admitted by the editor himself."

"The editor of the newspaper refused to publish war crimes in Iraq, unethical involvement of the State Department," he added. "A cable, for example, 62 pages are reduced to a single paragraph publication. He broke the agreement to publish the entire cable, "he said.

Ensuring finished Assange Wikileaks has not leaving information sources and mentioned the publication of a book containing all examples of censorship of the WikiLeaks cables.

From: crhoy.com

Foreign vessels capture 90% of Costa Rica’s Pacific Tuna

June 21st, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) A study by the Costa Rican Fishing Federation shows that between 2002 and 2011, international fishing fleets have captured at least 253,000 metric tons of tuna from Costa Rican waters, which represents about 90% of the total supply.

Priscilla Cubero, scientific director for the Federation, said in a statement that the study involved the analysis of 10 years of statistical information, as well as the last four years of data on fishing licenses granted by the Costa Rican government to international fishing fleets.

According to the study, 146 tuna fishing vessels operated in national waters in the last ten years. Most of the vessels were from Panama or Venezuela. Moreover, little of the catch is ever brought to dock in Costa Rica – some 51% of the catch is brought to dock in Ecuador, while only 15% of the catch is brought to dock in Costa Rica.

Domestic fishermen have exclusive access to the first 12 miles of Costa Rican waters from the coastline. Further than that, Costa Rican fisherman must compete for space and fish with international fleets.

Meanwhile, studies show that tuna fishing has a high impact on the marine ecosystem of the country, as it results in the unnecessary death of a host of non-target species, including dolphins, sharks, marlin, sailfish and others which are killed and discarded because the fleets are forbidden to target species other than tuna.

Some 100,000 people on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast earn their living directly or indirectly from fishing.

The National Commission of Fisheries and the Costa Rican Fishing Federation hope to open a national public debate surrounding the situation of Costa Rica’s tuna fisheries.

From: InsideCostaRica.com

 

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