Repairs Galore!
ISSUE #832: Oct.4-10, 2020
2020-10-12
Brian Timmons
Dear friends,
When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly newsletter -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 re-sales and rental availability. Some readers may be interested in this information.
Brian Timmons
Developer / Property manager
Residencias Los Jardines
Web: https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com
Emails: info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com
rentals & sales
Paradisus Condos / Rohrmoser
FOR SALE / RENT
Visit our website
Each of the units consists of two bedrooms / two bathrooms, and a large living/dining/kitchen area. The floor plan of each of these units has eliminated the optional "den / office" divider. The result is a larger area offering more flexible furniture arrangements while still maintaining the option of including an office area. At 105m2 plus two parking spots each and storage locker, they offer a great opportunity for someone seeking views, security, central location, and first class, all round living...
PRICE REDUCTION
Semi furnished unit: For sale: $235,000
Fully furnished unit: For sale: $245,000
Floor 12 -west view
sales & rentals
Sales: Los Jardines: Units #116 and #124
Rentals: Los Jardines: Available immediately: #106C $900 mo. / #121 $1,300 mo. / #124 $800 mo. / #126 $650 mo.
property management, rentals & re-sales
FOR SALE
Unit #116: $ 195,000 $ 189,995 / See Unit
Unit #124: $ 125,000 $ 115,000 / See Unit
FOR RENT
Unit #106C: $900 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #121: $1,300 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #124: $800 mo. NEW / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #126: $650 mo. $625 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
UNIT #116
FOR SALE
$ 195,000 $ 189,995
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.
UNIT #124
FOR SALE
$125,000 $ 115,000
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.
UNIT #106C
FOR RENT
$900 mo.
Available immediately
Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1 Floor
Type: 4-plex
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 106A 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 #121
FOR RENT
$1,300 mo.
Available immediately
Total Area (Sq Ft): 1432
Total area (Sq M): 131
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes
This is a detached, two story, two bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom house. It is nicely furnished as the prictues indicate. Ground floor consists of den/TV room, dining room, living room, kitchen, and 1/2 bathroom. Second floor: master bedroom with full bathroom including a jacuzzi, 2nd bedroom with ensuite bathroom, terrace.
UNIT #124
FOR RENT
$800 mo. NEW
Available immediately
Total Area (Sq Ft): 662
Total area (Sq M): 61
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Floor(s): 2st 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.
UNIT #126
FOR RENT
$650 mo. $625 mo.
Available immediately
Total Area (Sq Ft): 530
Total area (Sq M): 50
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Floor(s): 1st Floor
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes
A small one bedroom with outside covered terrace with top of the line finishes (granite, stainless steel appliances, fine crafted wood cabinetry, +, +, +), with lots of well thought out storage...
What Happened This Week
Weather: September and October are normally the rainest months in CR and in the is area of CR while at the same time, it is the driest time of year in the Caribbean. So it is this year... As October progresses, we will likely see less rain.
Stories
1. Security Cameras: remains on my list but nothing happening
2. Social Protests: Still happening. Major roads are blocked often times for extended periods. An agent I know was headed to the Caribbean on Friday afternoon... he didn't make it very far, turned around -road was blocked by protesters.
3. Market Activity: Multiple showings / no uptakes... I really do not know what it takes to rent these units... I ask agents and they are hard pressed to provide an answer... One of the agents I know quite well and have known for a long time. In speaking with him, he said he had sold more real estate (houses) this year than in the last 5 years. He further said virtually all the sales were of distressed properties, substantially discounted, purchased by ticos who were upgrading and to live in. On the other hand, he said that virtually all his rental clients were downgrading. In both cases -purchasers and renters- his clients were ticos -not foreigners.
4. Vacancies -Repairs:
- Unit 124 at Los Jardines: This is opening. The long term tenant from India working for Microsoft, has to return to India. Both his parents tested positive for COVID and have been confined to an institutional quarantine place -while I do not know for sure, my guess is that the family will be primarily responsible for providing primary care. Anyway, he has negotiated a leave of absence for 4 mo. In the meantime, I have to market the unit.
- Paradisus: A long term tenant of my recently departed friend, moved to a smaller place. I am now left with the job of repairing the unit and re-marketing it. Always misc. repairs which take lots of sourcing, repainting, fixture cleaning, etc, etc...
- Toilet Repairs: Yes, my own... there was a build up of ????? -never seen it before which clogged the fixture. In the process of cleaning / removing, it seems the drainage pipe seals may have been broken so water below... More repairs... BS never ends...
- Faucet Repairs / Replacement: multiple... wow...
5. Beans -a new venture: This is progressing... we'll see if it was a good idea or a real flop...
6. Courts and the Legal System: Two weeks ago, we filed a complaint re. the length of time it is taking to get the foreclosed property assigned to me -since Jan. 24. By law (jiijii, they are the law), the legal system has to respond within 5 days. They did not, we again filed a clomplaint... I am sure their waste paper basket is full and they are at the beach. We wait... the INS case is stalled... On the bean dieal, I am trying to ensure (??? one can never be completely sure in this country) that the court will be virtually by-passed) in case of default.
Comments:
1. Sunsets: The government and quasi government employees can now enjoy themselves longer.
2 / 3 Protests: This is an on-going series of disruptions. I have not been affected by it directly but the major transit routs are the focus... goods and services are being hampered... while these articles talk about Wed. and Thursday, a friend experience a blockage on Friday trying to drive to Limon.
4. Proposed Economic Adjustments to IMF are withdrawn: The government caved to protests and has no way of repaying the loan. The IMF will probably give the money anyway... meanwhile the Colon:US $ exchange rate is around 591 / 605 to $1 US dollar...
1. Sunsets are back: Costa Rica expanding beach hours on October 15
Costa Rica is expanding the allowed hours for enjoying the country’s hundreds of beaches.
During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Tourism Minister Gustavo Segura announced the nation’s beaches will soon be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weeknights, and from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. The change takes effect October 15.
The hours coincide with the nighttime driving restrictions.
2. Costa Rica land border crossings blocked by wave of protests
The main border crossings of Costa Rica were again blocked Thursday amid a wave of protests that the country is experiencing against the negotiation of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to clean up public finances.
Images from local television showed that the protesters placed tires and stones at Paso Canoas, the main border post with Panama, to prevent the transit of goods.
The government reported on Thursday about 20 blockade points, much less than in recent days, after an episode of violence in the vicinity of Quepos, in the southern Pacific of Costa Rica, where protesters threw Molotov bombs and attacked police who arrived to lift a blockade.
Meanwhile, in Peñas Blancas, the main crossing point on the border with Nicaragua, truckers keep traffic paralyzed in demand of an agenda for the elimination of the restrictions imposed on their movement to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The roadblocks broke out on Wednesday, September 30, in rejection of a government proposal to negotiate an agreement with the IMF, which was criticized for its emphasis on temporary tax increases rather than reducing spending.
3. Protests and road blockages continue Wednesday in Costa Rica
Road blockades persist in dozens of spots throughout Costa Rica on Wednesday morning, including on Routes 2, 4, 6, 35 and 36, Traffic Police reported.
In some locations, such as in San Ramón, the Public Security Ministry (MSP) says it is patrolling in an effort to prevent new blocks throughout the day.
Drivers should exercise caution as protests may inhibit transit through a number of important highways and bridges across the country.
Blockages may change throughout the day; we recommend checking Waze if you’re planning a drive. Identify a backup route, and be prepared for lengthy delays.
While protests typically remain peaceful, clashes with police have turned violent, particularly at night.
Michael Soto, Security Minister, has suggested organized criminal groups have infiltrated some of the blockades, contributing to confrontations. Some blockades charge unofficial —and illegal — tolls before allowing vehicles to pass, he said.
MSP said Tuesday that it had detained 13 people overnight for collecting tolls and damaging vehicles.
President Carlos Alvarado has urged that “for employment and for the safety of the population, the blockades must stop.”
4. Government dialogue not slowing protests
The protests began in context of Costa Rica’s plans to seek a $1.75 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). To secure that financing, the Presidency proposed a series of economic measures, which included new taxes.
President Alvarado has since withdrawn the proposed economic measures and has promised an open dialogue regarding the country’s financial plans. Meetings began Tuesday.
But protests have continued because Costa Rica’s financial future could still include an agreement with the IMF and new taxes.
Various productive sectors, including the Costa Rican Tourism Chamber (CANATUR), have criticized the blockades due to their economic impact.
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