FINALLY... RETIREMENT!!

ISSUE #617: July 10-16, 2016

2016-07-18

FINALLY... RETIREMENT!!

ISSUE #617: July 10-16, 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

  • 2003 Nissan “Pathfinder”
  • 107,200 miles / 171,500 km
  • Gas engine (3,500 cc)
  • Automatic transmission
  • 4WD (4X4)
  • Special Limited Edition Model with luxury interior (leather / wood trim accents)
  • Power windows, AC, locks, power sunroof, compass, exterior air temperature
  • CD/stereo
  • 17" wheels
  • 2016/17 RTV
  • 2016 Marchamo
  • NEW tires, alternator, ignition switch, brakes, car alarm
  • 1yr old: front end bushings, battery
  • Body and paint in excellent condition / spotless interior

$11,500 USD / ¢ 6,325,000

More pictures and full description

Market activity
sales & rentals

Sales: One offer conditional for unit #107 at Los Jardines.

Rentals: Units #113 and #106A are available for rent.

Residencias Los Jardines
property management, rentals & re-sales

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

FOR RENT
Unit #113: $ 1,350 / Immediately / See Unit
Unit #106A: $ 1,200 / 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 / Conditional offer

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 #107
FOR RENT
$1,200 mo. / Immediately

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.

UNIT #113
FOR RENT
$1,350 mo. / Immediately

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: Actually, despite what I said last week, we have not had any significant rainfall in the past two weeks. What started out to be a wet rainy season has suddenly changed. We'll see what happens as we proceed through the season.

Finally Retirement: No agenda only hammock time -when the batteries die on the iPad, I haul out the back up... Lita is a bit difficult to train... she won't fix the margaritas the way I like them... with LOTS of tequila!!!!!

Accomplishments: Two things this week: an offer for sale / purchaser on #107 and lots of butt time in the hammock... no interest in the car or in the Tres Rios property -this is the one I really want to get rid of... maybe I'll get paid then...

News Items of the Weeknews

Comments

1. Staggered work week: I fear just another excuse to do nothing more easily however, being in the office doesn't necessarily mean they are actually doing anything...

2. Onion Production: it is way down due to "drought" and they are not allowing many imported onions so the price is way up... me thinks someone owning an onion patch is connected to the government... and laughing all the way to the bank...

3. CR and technology: While it may have been ranked 44, look at this: "But the country was put in 124th place for the effectiveness of its law-making bodies and 117th place for the number of days to enforce a contract."

4. RECOPE--fed up: at least one group is formally objecting to the ludicrous benefits negotiated by this monopoly. However, it won't be enough to change anything... monopolies in this country are stronger than the government... they are in business for the long run and provide critical products -electricity, health care, water, communications, fuel... where the government, divided as it always is, is in business only for 4 years. My experience is that it, at most, takes only three protests before the government acquiesces to whatever the demand of the day is.

1. Staggered work hours decreed to ease traffic woes
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The government has authorized staggered shifts for public employees and offered the possibility of a four-day work week to reduce traffic congestion in the Central Valley.

President Luis Guillermo Solís signed a decree to that effect Tuesday. The proposal does not apply to public schools, medical services or to emergency personnel.

The decree established starting times in public jobs of 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Bosses also are empowered to substitute a10-hour day in place of a current eight-hour day to create a four-day week if the employee agrees, said Casa Presidencial. Various labor organizations are expected to challenge the decree.

The new schedules are not supposed to affect service to the public or work, said the announcement. Other branches of government were invited to participate in the program.

The government said the new hours should affect 30 percent of an executive branch’s agency’s work force in the metro area.

The rules are in effect until Nov. 30 to give the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes time to figure out a better solution.

The government also has urged employees to telecommute, again as a way of reducing traffic.

2. Plant Health has stuck permits to import onion
Consumer price skyrockets to ¢ 1,500 per kilo

The State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) has stuck permits for the import of onions requested by several companies.

This would reduce the cost to the consumer because this month the price of kilo of onion soared from ¢ 700 to ¢ 1,500.

EXTRA DAILY tried to make voice SFE director, Marco Vinicio Jimenez, what the why is not authorized import, but it was not possible to close editing reasons are.

According to information held by this means would be more than 30 services stuck in the plant. Others who face problems are paperos.

On the increase in price, Gerardo Aparicio, spokesman for the Association of Horticulturists of Tierra Blanca de Cartago, confirmed that there is a shortfall in the market.

Aparicio attributes the situation to the effects of climate change and ash from the volcano. Plus it did not enter onion Nicaragua because the yield fell by 50% due to the weather.

"Yields cebollales not occurred because of the summer, there was much drought. We hope to start August normalize domestic production. Summer was strong and ended up fregarnos ashes, "said the producer.

If there were farms that produced in Tierra Blanca 20 000 kilos, they are now half their capacity. This is the area where 85% of the onion is eaten in Costa Rica occurs.

For Aparicio bargain would not bring onion outside because it is expensive in the United States, Chile and Peru, so that the same consumer would pay a high price for eating. Santa Ana and Guanacaste are other places where there were production problems.

In Costa Rica three million kilo of onions consumed per month. According Aparicio of 100 households, 99 have an onion.

The domestic producer said he is aware of being delivered permits for imported onions, at least until 20 days ago.

"We are opposed to imports, except when there is disorder, had that before, not now, because if there were not valued or not national production; just gave permissions to right and left, we press to Fito applicable for that, "said Aparicio.

3. Country at 44th place in tech index
By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services with staff reports

A report by the World Economic Forum finds technologically savvy countries are coming out ahead economically and in societal development. This year’s Global Information Technology Report says Singapore tops the list of 139 ranked countries, followed by Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the United States. Burundi and Chad rank at the bottom.

Costa Rica was ranked 44th between Uruguay and Italy. But the country was put in 124th place for the effectiveness of its law-making bodies and 117th place for the number of days to enforce a contract. The country also received low rankings on the top corporate tax rate, the number of procedures to start a business and venture capital availability. The study uses several dozen indexes.

The report found seven countries, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Israel, Singapore, the Netherlands and the United States, are leading the world in getting the most economic impact from investments in information and communications technologies.

It says this group of high-achieving economies is doing 33 percent better than other advanced economies and 100 percent better than emerging and developing economies. It says a supportive, enabling environment is critical for success.

The report finds countries that are benefiting most from the digital technologies have quality infrastructure, good business regulations and a ready skills supply.

The study that led to the report assesses the factors, policies and institutions that enable a country to fully leverage information and communication technologies for increased competitiveness and well-being, said the Forum.

World Economic Forum Spokesman Oliver Cann says consumers, rather than businesses and governments are driving the digital revolution.

“We are finding a very laggard contribution, especially from government, which has stagnated over the past few years. I am taking a global view here, there are obviously exceptions. And also business as well. We all think global business is driving ahead, but actually they could be doing a lot more. On the other hand . . . I think the consumer and consumer uptake of the Internet is really far exceeding the contributions and the efforts of governments and business,” Cann says.

The report finds Europe remains at the technology frontier, with seven of the top-ranked countries coming from that region.

The report says the digital divide is widening between rich and poor countries due in large part to a yawning gap in infrastructure, such as high-speed internet. It said that innovation is almost negligible in Latin America and the Caribbean, where regulatory reforms seem to have come to a standstill in many countries.

The authors say infrastructure is not the only factor leading to economic growth, but it is a major factor in holding back less developed economies in the digital age.

4. Chamber consortium rips fuel monopoly
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A consortium of 23 commercial and industrial chambers has issued a blistering critique of the state refinery. The organization seeks to open the motor fuel market to other vendors.

The consortium is the Cámaras de Comercio y Asociaciones Empresariales de Costa Rica, which says it includes representation from chambers of commerce, industry, agriculture, services and tourism.

The chamber said in a statement that it supports an action of unconstitutionality against the contract that the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo S.A. has with its union. The original legal action came from the Cámara de Industrias.

Benefits provided the refinery union under the agreement are considered excessive, and the constitutional court suit claims they also violate the fundamental rights of consumers and users.

The chamber consortium also said that Costa Rica urgently needs a free market for fuel. The refinery now is a state monopoly, and fuel prices are the highest in the region.

The refinery as a state monopoly does not represent the best interests of the citizenry, said the statement.

The price of fuel hurts the countries competitivity, productivity and development of the country, it added. The statement also urged that roadways be improved.

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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