Casas a la venta y en alquiler en Costa Rica | Paradisus Condos / Rohrmoser - Newsletters

Weather:  Normal weather --sunny mornings giving way to overcast skies followed by showers and then clearing in Santa Ana.

Cheese Festival--Turrialba:  On Sunday we went with our accountant and family along with Paul and Esther to Turrialba's Cheese Festival. It was a washout as soon as we got east of Cartago. On the other side of Turrialba in a rancher's field, over one way bridges, 100s and 100s of cars congregated.  Traffic was a nightmare and we spent hours stuck in it. We decided to wait out the rain and the traffic by going to a local restaurant....  The food took forever, was mediocre, and some were served before others had even been asked for their selection. It was a mess.  At one point while waiting in traffic there was a little excitement right next to us.  It seems like a drunk, off duty policeman got mad at a driver in front of who who was blocked in traffic, called him a few rough names, and the fight was on....When he started to get the s.... beat out of him, he called on his officialdom....it did no good.......no one was routing for him.....  When we got to the festival, a number of the cheese stalls were out of cheese but since I don't like CR cheese, it wasn't a big deal.  Even though the event itself was a washout and so poorly organized it was laughable, it was a good experience and the conversation and company made the whole day fun.

ICE and Electrical Rate: We received from ICE and delivered the electrical bills this week. The amounts had jumped up significantly....but the residents wanted to shoot the messenger.  A number of times we had to calm people down and explain to them that we're not the bad guys.....we're just the mailman....  My own bill went up about 20% and at $120 mo. for evening lights and TV its ridiculous--one person phoned ICE and demanded a person come to check the meter...  The Representative said that the company had been ordered to roll back the increase by 14% next month.  Our common element electricity bill is now around $700 a month...up from around $450 18 mo. ago.

164 Colones: or 25 cents... our Office Administrator's water was cut off by AyA!!!  For some reason she owed them this and for some reason they couldn't or wouldn't add it to the next bill, and proceeded to cut off her water and insisted she pay a 5,000 colone reconnection charge. This is the same organization that has not been able to issue us a water permit for a year but is able to shut off someone's water for a $0.25! shortfall!!!  Incredible!!

Budgie Bye Bye: One of Lita's budgies flew away.  While she insists someone stole it, I believe a much more likely scenario is that it got out of the cage while she was cleaning it and at some point, flew away, never to be seen nor heard from again.  This isn't a bird she played with much but it is still a loss to her.  I was, unfortunately, the bearer of bad news so.......

Rent Collection:  This week included the 7th of the month which is the last day's grace period to pay one's rent.  While most people pay before this, many wait until the last day, and the usual same few pay later and beat us up about notifying them or about applying a penalty which is clearly stated in the lease.  To this was added the high electricity rate, and various other discretionary expenses they have each incurred and we have duly noted and accounted for.  Some need a 164 colone dose of reality......  This is also the week when quarterly disbursements of funds earned and held in trust by us is sent where directed.  I doubt that many investors on the beach are receiving returns on their investments.  We are continuing to maintain around a 95% occupancy on units we manage.

State of RE Market:  Paul bumped into a former tenant of Los Jardines.  He works for a high pressure RE marketing company focusing on the Pacific coastal area. He said he had not sold a house since October. Jan seems to have a number of clients and according to his contacts, says there seems to be some renewed interest in RE -- at least in the Central Valley. I have heard that Avalon Country Club has a number of vacancies and are discounting rents substantially. Lately Jan has had two clients from the American Embassy and  others are people moving here for business reasons.... some businesses are the result of the Free Trade agreement.

Land near the MegaSuper was graded several years ago and then abandoned.  I saw surveyors there this past week. We'll just have to wait to see what develops.  Signage will be the last thing to be placed on the site.

Time Out Tavern:  It is not yet open but they continue to work on it.  In the meantime we go to Kiante's in Belen...great corvina (sea bass) and steaks....perhaps other things as well but that is what we and our friends have had and all have enjoyed their meal.  It's a moderately priced Tico restaurant that does a good job.  It doesn't replace The Time Out but........KFC, Quiznos, and Terryaki Surprise (?) had their grand opening Friday night;  some people are rolling in their graves thinking this is the end of Santa Ana;  some are waiting for McDonalds....  each to their own... none of these will replace Time Out Tavern.....
   
Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies — Chico and Chica.

Brian C. Timmons, Newsletter Author
Residencias Los Jardines/Hacienda El Dorado - Developer
E-mail: brian@eldoradocostarica.com

For inquiries about availability of residences at Hacienda El Dorado or Residencias Los Jardines, contact:

Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager
Hacienda El Dorado
Rio Oro, Santa Ana
Costa Rica

Web: www.eldoradocostarica.com
E-mail: info@eldoradocostarica.com
MSN: jan.kozak.jr@hotmail.com
Skype: jan.kozak.jr

Tel (US) (+1) 647-477-5825
Cell: (+506) 8393-4666