Americas Real Estate Expo

» 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 availabilty. 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.

» MARKETING, WEBSITE & SALES

Marketing: America's Real Estate Expo ran Sunday / Monday / Tuesday. I didn't know what to expect and what I was told, was, in reality a bit exaggerated. We got perhaps a dozen leads which we are following up on now. We need one sale from those leads to justify the expense. The event was co-organized by the  Costa Rica Real Estate Brokers Board and the Costa Rican Global Association of Realtors. In that sense, Hacienda El Dorado has  put itself on the map as a viable development in the Central Valley. We were the only residential development represented at the event from the Central Valley. All the other exhibitors were based at the beach.

Note:  We were supposed to participate in another expo to be held at the Holiday Inn in San Jose. This doesn't seem to be happening and the organizer, from Florida, has disappeared. We may have been scammed!  We checking up on info. we have but………. Also, several publications we committed to are "delayed". We're skeptical…… Obviously, I am less than happy with these;  I'll have to be more skeptical and discerning in the future….

Prices: We instituted a 5% increase to compensate for the 4% devaluation.  In the announcement  of our price increase posted here, we said that in the future prices would be adjusted according to the published construction price index.  When we investigated how to operationalize this, we ran into problems.  We've had to back away and in one case eat humble pie.  While we do anticipate further price increases to compensate for higher than expected inflation as well as further completion of sales, we will simply increase the price effective immediately. I say "immediately", because this last time we "grandfathered" people who had reserved and we ate the 4% devaluation.  We don't see ourselves being able to do that in the future.
 
Website: All the information we have uploaded is now mostly accurate—I'm told. We have some additional info. which will be created by another company.

Sales: We completed 8 of the 9 sales mentioned last week. One didn't result in a sale because the purchaser  was advised by his boss that he wouldn't be in CR when we delivered the  house—he was likely to be transferred.

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

Architect: Entrance: I have a draft but haven't done anything with it yet.

Building 19: I have a draft;  we laid it out; it doesn't fit but we did find that the PONCE will so we will plan to build 4 units with parking on the roof for building site 19.
 
Wall: (same as last week)  It moves slowly along—we have 31 people on the payroll. We're beginning to form and pour the columns along the west side. The west side should be substantially completed including sidewalk in a month. The structural wall across from area 23 and 21 should also be finished by then.

Office: A plan to build an office for current and future needs. We have the floor plan and rendering. We've authorized the creation of building drawings which we can submit for a construction permit. We will be making provision for a back up generator in this area and electrical sub panels.

Daycare Center: We have not sold to "families".  This provision seems more detrimental than desirable. Therefore, we are eliminating this feature and rethinking the use of this allocated space. We will probably put houses there—it's a good location for that use.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

For Sale:  Nothing available at the moment

For Lease:

Unit 113—UNFURNISHED (kitchen appliances are included)
2 bedroom / 2 bathroom, 1,300 sf,  open concept kitchen/LR/DR with wall unit.  Granite kitchen counters and bathroom vanities; vaulted ceilings, ceramic tile floors,   outside covered terrace, etc.   CLEAN –$1,000 mo.

Dust: Again it's been really bad as substantial winds just blow it our way……

» NEWS FROM COSTA RICA

If your browser does not support the hyperlinks below, you can view the COSTA RICA NEWS section on our website from the following URL:

https://www.eldoradocostarica.com/English/News/index.php

There are also new articles posted in Spanish on the following URL:

https://www.eldoradocostarica.com/Spanish/News/index.php

February 16, 2008
Top World Banana Productivity
(La Nacion) Costa Rica produced an average 2,593 boxes of bananas per hectare in 2007, thus retaining its world leadership in banana productivity.
Read

February 16, 2008
Telecommunications Sector Opening Up
(La Nacion) The opening of the telecommunications market –which hitherto has been state-controlled– is but one debate away, since the Legislative Assembly approved it in a first of two votes.
Read

February 16, 2008
India Seeks Alliances in Costa Rica
(La Nacion) The world’s information and communications leader, India, boasts of such a high demand of computer programs and technical support services that it is seeking alliances with Costa Rican firms in order to properly handle that demand.
Read

February 16, 2008
$200 Million in Software Exports
(La Nacion) A survey by the Costa Rican Technology Chamber (CAMTIC) of the 500 technology firms in Costa Rica found that they are exporting $200 million worth of software a year.
Read

February 16, 2008
A New U.S. Ambassador
(La Nacion) A banker from the Northeast was nominated by President George W. Bush as the next U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica. Peter E. Cianchette.
Read

February 16, 2008
Flights to Bogota
(La Nacion) The Colombian airline Avianca will start operating four weekly non-stop flights between Costa Rica and Bogota starting this February 29.
Read

February 16, 2008
Multinationals Set Eyes on Costa Rica Telecom Industry
(Costa Rica News) Despite the fact that the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly just approved the bill that sets the stage to open up the telecommunications industry earlier this week, a few multinationals have had their eyes set on the market for several ye
Read

February 15, 2008
U.S. Low-Cost Carrier to Fly Costa Rican Skies
(The Tico Times/EFE) ATA Airlines will begin a direct Miami-San José route next month, the low-cost U.S. carrier said.
Read

February 15, 2008
Costa Rican Business Owners Stay Optimistic
(Tico Times) Business owners are overwhelmingly positive about the economy here, according to the latest quarterly survey released by the Union of Private-Sector Chambers and Associations (UCCAEP).
Read

February 15, 2008
Nicaraguan-Costa Rican Binational Commission to Meet
(Prensa Latina) The Binational Commission between Nicaragua and Costa Rica will meet in mid March in the Nicaraguan city of Granada, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
Read

» OUR LIVES

Weather:  Windy nights; lots of dust from next door.--sunny.

Parrot: The parrot found herself in a bit of a fix the other evening when Lita retrieved her from the tree.  As she was getting into her cage she turned around a wanted to come out again to play with Lita.  The door dropped down on her scrawny neck and Lita didn't see what the problem was.  Fortunately I was there so rescued her.  After which she picked up a soda cracker in her claw and held it flat faced to her neck. I'm not sure what relief the cracker was suppose to give but I thought it humorous.

Computers: At Paul's urging, I bought a newer, higher powered computer.  I haven't yet moved onto it because I've been dreading the BS that goes with it.  I've spent many hours going through all my files changing the "/" I used in many cases to title the file.   The hard disc onto which we will first transfer the info. doesn't read that character.  I wonder how much more stupid changes I'm going to have to do before I get to the front door of the new computer.  While this type of "upgrade" is usually billed as "seamless" or "a cakewalk" or some equally enticing term, I've never, ever found it that way.

Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies— Chico and Chica.