LOVING IT!!

ISSUE #615: June 26-July 2, 2016

2016-07-04

LOVING IT!!

ISSUE #615: June 26-July 2, 2016

MANAGER / DEVELOPER: Brian C. Timmons
Toronto: (416) 461-2203 // (647) -498-4266
Costa Rica: Land line: (506) 2282-4142 Ext. 101 // Cell: (506) 8305-3965
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com

 
Brian Timmons, Newsletter Author
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

Featured
rentals & sales

Paradisus Condos / Rohrmoser
FOR SALE / RENT
Visit our website

Paradisus Condos - click to visit

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

More Opportunities
rentals & sales

FORECLOSURE,
Condominio Santa Lucia, Tres Rios

FOR SALE / EXECUTIVE HOME
Visit our website

Price reduction: $520,000 $549,000 (Appraised: $800,000)
6 bedrooms
5 bathrooms
610 m2 (6,500 sf)
2 Story
2 Car garage

2003 Nissan "Pathfinder"
View more pictures here

  • 107,200 miles / 171,500 km
  • Gas engine (3,500 cc)
  • automatic transmission
  • 4WD (4X4)
  • luxury interior (leather / wood trim accents)
  • power windows, AC, locks, sunroof, compass
  • exterior air temperature
  • CD/radio
  • 17" wheels
  • 2016/17 RTV
  • 2016 Marchamo
  • NEW tires, alternator, ignition switch, brakes
  • 1yr old: front end bushings, battery

$15,500 USD / ¢ 8,500,000

More pictures and full description

Market activity
sales & rentals

Sales: One inquiry re. Tres Rios.

Rentals: One more viewing for 113 but still available

Residencias Los Jardines
property management, rentals & re-sales

FOR SALE
Unit #106A: $ 165,000 / See Unit
Unit #107: $ 205,000 / See Unit

FOR RENT
Unit #113: $ 1,350 / Immediately / See Unit

For sale

UNIT #106A
FOR SALE
$165,000

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Apartment
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 #107
FOR SALE
$205,000

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1716
Total area (Sq M): 158
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

This 1,716 sf. (plus parking for one car) two story, detached house, with three terraces, two bedrooms (one on each floor) and upstairs master suite is a beautiful home. This home consists of two VERY large bedrooms (one on each floor) with en-suite bathrooms and a powder room, each with large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and ground floor bedroom ceilings as well as the master bedroom on the 2nd floor, provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are three TVs (one in each bedroom and one in the living room.) This is a beautiful home. There is a rough-in for a dishwasher in the kitchen area.

For rent

UNIT #113
FOR RENT
$165,000

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.

Our Lives

Weather: Lots and lots of rain... virtually every day. Traffic, accidents, and flooding due to clogged drains are the norm.

Summary: The article was difficult to read so I'll summarize it: It was on CR exports. They are holding their own but haven't yet returned to the pre Intel days. CR exports to 138 countries. The main exports are pineapples bananas, and medical devices (needles, catheters, prosthetics). The US is the number one export destination with medical devices, pineapples and bananas being the top products. The Netherlands is the #2 destination... with pineapples, bananas and fruit juices being the main export products. Of the 138 countries buying from CR, 10 make up 79%... US, Netherlands, Panama, Guatemala, Belgium, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Dominican Republic. Pineapples and banana production / exports are down this year due to El Nino. Now see the article below...

News Items of the Weeknews

Comments

1. Agricultural competition: CR could well be in trouble... but my Chiquita banana executive neighbor is trying hard to produce and sell more bananas...

2. Org. of Economic Cooperation and Dvlp.: This article has some good info. in in about the shortcomings of CR and issues which need to be addressed.

A whole number of price increases have gone into effect or are about to go into effect and an additional gasoline price hike is on the way.

1. Colombia tempts Costa Rican piñeros

30 thousand direct jobs and annual exports by more than $ 800 million could be at risk if the offers that Colombian businessmen have made pineapple producers materialize Costa Rica.

"They are very interested in doing some time alliance with domestic producers. With the peace plan, can now offer a number of very positive conditions for the sector, "said Abel Chaves, president of the National Chamber of Producers and Exporters of Pineapple (Canapep).
As which?

  • Credit facilities
  • Good interest rates
  • Increased availability of labor
  • Lower production costs

They are already competing with Costa Rica in frozen and now go for fresh fruit.

"They have made a series of offerings that could favor the sector; the Colombian peso is more favorable than the colon against the dollar position, "said Chaves.

According to the company representative, many years have not perceived flexibility from the authorities of the Central Bank

He explained that even the Philippines, with larger areas, has been able to emulate what is done in the country, especially since it appeared the Golden variety, in 2000.

The sector perceived hostility from environmentalists and social movements, despite working in rule says Chaves. "We comply with all regulations and we care about occupational health, but for many people is not enough," he said.

In 2015, the pineapple sector was one of those hit by El Niño.

The businessman claimed to have knowledge that the banana sector has received similar offers from Colombians.

2. International organization keeps watch on Costa Rica
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

British citizens have voted to leave the European Union, but Costa Rica is working hard to affiliate the country with yet another international organization which seeks to change profoundly life here.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is not new to Costa Ricans. The unelected organization has been a strong promoter of the central government’s plans to raise taxes. In fact, the organization is on record suggesting that the country needs to raise much more taxes.

The Paris-based organization says it provides a setting where governments can compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and coordinate domestic and international policies. But it also keeps a scorecard for dozens of performance factors.

The United States, which has been a member for decades says that the organization is a unique forum where the governments of 34 democracies with market economies work with each other, as well as with more than 70 non-member economies to promote economic growth, prosperity, and sustainable development. The organization grew out of the Marshall Fund that helped rebuild war-torn Europe.

In order to enter the realm of most First World nations, Costa Rica has to make substantial changes. No topic is too small. In the next few months experts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will visit Costa Rica to fill out what amounts to a report card on the nation’s digital policy and consumers.

That was agreed upon Friday in Cancún, México, when the Costa Rican science and economics ministers discussed innovation and social prosperity regarding the Internet.

The gathering generated a 14-point declaration that promotes digital commerce, online privacy and social inclusion for those who might not be connected now to the Internet. In addition to Costa Rica, 41 countries were involved.

To some extent the organization is promoting a European-style society with a strong central government. Internet privacy and laws that allow individuals to delete unflattering online comments have raised major legal issues in Europe.

The organization’s goals for Costa Rica were laid out by its secretary general in February when he visited. He is economist Ángel Gurría of México.

He stressed the need for action on government finances and noted that the average governmental income for organization member countries was 34 percent of their gross domestic product. Even with tax proposals of the central government, the average for Costa Rica would only be just 20 percent, he said. He also noted that 83 percent of the government’s income already was allocated by law.

Gurría also said that in Costa Rica, the top 10 percent brings in 32 times the income of the 10 percent poorest. The average for organization member states is that the top 10 percent brings in just 10 times that of the 10 percent poorest, he added.

He urged more investment in education, noting that only 40 percent of the work force has finished high school and that in an international math test, Costa Rica scored 56th of 64 countries.

He called for distributing resources more equitably to combat school dropouts. He also urged the inclusion of more women in the work force, noting that just half of the eligible women are working. So he urged more public child care and early child education.

Gurría noted that 40 percent of the country’s employees work off the books in the so-called informal sector. His solution was to make registering a company easier and reducing non-salary labor costs.

He also called for reducing obstacles to competition. He noted that Costa Rican companies show low productivity and that for a more solid and strong economy more competition is needed.

He also called for much more investment in infrastructure, noting the quality of ports, rail lines, highways and airports.

The organization has called for in the past direct payments to reduce the income gap.

Some critics have called the organization unAmerica, in part because it seemed to support a global tax levied by the United Nations. Others support what is called tax competition in which countries offer lower taxes to attract companies and industries. The organization seeks to equalize tax and has promoted a black list of countries that are considered tax havens.

Some U.S. commentators also have objected to the $70 million a year their government donates to the organization. Finances is not a big issue for Costa Rica. Nine countries provide 66 percent of the organization’s budget of $365 million. Costa Rica might end up paying 1 percent or less a year.

For Costa Rica, the effort to join the organization seems mainly motivated by the prestige of being a member among mostly First World nations.

FOR RENTAL OR SALES INFORMATION
ON ANY OF THE ABOVE, CONTACT:

Brian C. Timmons
Property Manager RLJ and Newsletter Author

Costa Rica:
Cell: (+ 506) 8305-3965
Land line: (+506) 2282-4142 Ext. 101

Canada:
VOIP: (+416) 461-2203

Web: https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com
Emails: info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com

 
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