—Vida y tiempo—
2017-06-27
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 |
Featured
rentals & sales Paradisus Condos / Rohrmoser 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 FOR RENT
Escazú $225,000 |
Market activity
sales & rentals Sales: Los Jardines: Units #106A, #114, #123, #124 and #125 Rentals: Paradisus: 13th Fl / East view / furnished​ / $1,400 mo. Upcoming vacancies: Los Jardines: Unit #102 end of June / Unit #118 end of May |
Residencias Los Jardines
property management, rentals & re-sales FOR SALE FOR RENT For sale
UNIT #106A Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250 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 #114 Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290 This 2 bedroom/2bathroom,1,290 sf single floor end unit home includes a 150 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. This house is fully air conditioned and has recently been professionally decorated by international decorator Alcides Graffe and has undergone a complete renovation—new modern furniture, finishings, window coverings, and art work by Carlos Gambino. It is arguably the nicest furnished unit at Residencias Los Jardines and only steps from the pool UNIT #123 Total Area (Sq Ft): 1516 This two story, detached 1,423 sf home + parking for one car has two bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms and a 2nd floor covered terrace. UNIT #124 Total Area (Sq Ft): 662 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 #125 Total Area (Sq Ft): 662 This 662 sf, + parking for one car and 33sf locker is a one bedroom home on the 2nd floor overlooking the large pool. It is ideal for a single person or couple—or investment property. For rent
UNIT #106A Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250 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 #106C Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250 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 #106D Total Area (Sq Ft): 1227 This 2nd story, 1,227 sf (113 m2 + one parking space) )is a georgous home with one of the best views at Los Jardines. The very large front covered terrace faces west and is suitable for entertaining; the off-bedroom covered terrace faces east for sun sets. This very tastefully furnished and fully equipped home offers a lifestyle envied by many. The owner offers financing if desired. UNIT #112 Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290 This 1,290 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. It is attached on two sides by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer. UNIT #114 Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290 This 2 bedroom/2bathroom,1,290 sf single floor end unit home includes a 150 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. This house is fully air conditioned and has recently been professionally decorated by international decorator Alcides Graffe and has undergone a complete renovation—new modern furniture, finishings, window coverings, and art work by Carlos Gambino. It is arguably the nicest furnished unit at Residencias Los Jardines and only steps from the pool UNIT #123 Total Area (Sq Ft): 1516 This two story, detached 1,423 sf home + parking for one car has two bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms and a 2nd floor covered terrace. The open railed wrought iron cement stair case leads to the 2nd level where the master bedroom with en-suite master bathroom as well as 2nd bedroom and en-suite bathroom are located. Also accessed from the 2nd floor hallway is the covered terrace. This is a very nicely furnished home with a good floor plan for those wanting two floors. |
Our Lives
Weather: Partly overcast, normal rainy weather, no wind, temperatures 25C / 78F -beautiful​. Toronto-San Jose: A much better return flight... The AC terminal in Toronto is massive and complicated... fortunately we had help. The AirBnB worked well... we will use it again. Upon arrival, the CR baggage handlers were on siesta I think because it took forever to get the luggage...we were waived through customs..and arrived to screaming parrots and Lita's delight... and my relief!! Conclusion: Toronto is a great city in the summer if you have money. It is nice to see that things actually can work. Sidewalks dug up in the morning are poured in the afternoon and being used in the evening... amazing... CR takes months for such simple things... unlike CR, the business systems are not based on distrust... quite the opposite...all the new systems and technology takes some learning... but in the end, I was glad to return to CR, my hammock, and lifestyle here. Los Jardines: We have 11 vacancies and 5 rentals... and virtually no phone calls. An agent said that many of his colleagues are now gone from the business, doing other things for survival. He said that he had lost 3 renters in the past week and has had to lower his rents drastically to attract new clients. I have not heard from many agents who I used to hear from. Food for Thought Food for Nourishment: Upon returning, I unthawed a roast of beef I had purchased before leaving... I had never purchased this cut and was expecting something very tico -tough- but it was on 30% discount from AutoMercado so I decided to give it a try. I cooked it and it was fantastic!!!!! Our guest and ourselves having just returned from Canada assessed it to be as good as the standing prime rib roasts we had eaten in Canada... We looked at the labeling on the package... SURPRISE... it was US "Prime"... at $7 lb... incredible!!! The fact that it was US beef was not well marked and while most would not know "Prime" grade to be better than USD "Choice"... that I can understand... I will be looking for more of this but if AutoMercado catches on (I don't think they know what they have) I expect the price to rise.... Two readers offered comments on their respective choice of location: Spain: "I read your report on Canada, very positive. I have a solution for you: go live in Spain, you have the comfort of a civilized country like Canada, but the sun of Costa Rica, plus the most beautiful cities of the word, and the best wines, and nice beaches! And on top of that, we do not have a rainy season here. We have 320 sunny days a year! Well, seems perfect! And by the way we have flights to canada and nonstop to costa rica." Mexico: "Went to Mexico City for a couple days very nice new hotel Fiesta Inn near airport $78 a night, next to a mall in meetings all day walked into the fancy mall to a very Mexican place for dinner running a big special some kind of Mexican food, meat, beans and stuff, and a beer, three of us $14, no lie! Taxi here in PV (Puerto Villarta) to most places $4 if you stay off the beach, a nice meal is $12, beer $1.50, wine a little more often a bottle of wine is well below $20 we eat out with a bottle of wine, $35-40 for two". No matter what support system I put together, either here in CR or in Canada, all have deficiencies... it seems I need to be there to kick ass and get things done. Before leaving for Canada, one of our gardeners -support staff- experienced the death of his ailing father in Managua, Nicaragua. We had met this man and knew he had terminal cancer. I had given Enrique $200 a couple months earlier to help with medical expenses and his trip to visit. Of course, Enrique, being Latino, didn't save any money for the funeral which he knew was coming. Upon the news, he was very distraught, the administrator was not available to advance him $$ against his vacation or banked hours, so I again agreed to help him. I was prepared to gift him another $200 but I made a mistake... I asked him how much he needed... he thought and said $600... mmm... a bit more than I was prepared to pay but... I did... saying $200 was a gift, the balance was a loan to be paid back...(yeah, right!!) Upon my return, he showed me pictures of what $600 had bought... his father now has the largest, white tiled resting place in the cemetery!! Enrique was very pleased that he could do this... he will work off the loan over the next 20 years... oh well... as long as he doesn't sell me any more problem cars!!! Getting Things Done -3 country comparison: I have a tenant who is from Spain, an engineer specializing in wind and solar power projects. He does the business case and conceptual design work, approvals, and then it is contracted for construction. In CR, he has been working with ICE for several years trying to get a $30 mil. wind farm approved. He is still waiting. He was approached by a private cooperative in CR who wanted to develop a solar farm... that has gone much faster and he expects to be in construction by January. He is working on another solar farm in Nicaragua... that is going very fast as the principals are able to get approvals very fast and have access to financing... Nicaragua needs to replace oil fired generation because they cannot rely on Venezuela any longer for the oil. Cuba also asked his company for a proposal for a solar farm... he thought he was making good progress but after what he thought was a good, interested meeting, nothing happened and when / if it does, financing will be an issue. Back to Life in CR: Sunday morning: no water, no internet, and neither gate worked. After waiting to see that nothing was going to be done unless I took the initiative, by 2 pm we had the gates and internet working... the water will wait until tomorrow. Fortunately, we anticipate this unreliability and keep a few jugs for toilet flushing, bathing, and we always have some brandy or such for drinking... Lita has her juice... I suffer... so Mr. and Mrs. Stinky are at home, one in the hammock, one tormenting the parrots, hoping tomorrow will be a better day... weather continues beautiful. |
News Items of the Week
Comments 1. Medical Tourism: I found the yellow highlighted information interesting. 2. Inactive Corporations: I expect this might become law at sometime and for the reasons stated. It means another level of oversight and another tax filing by many.
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FOR RENTAL OR SALES INFORMATION Brian C. Timmons Costa Rica: Canada: Web: https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com |
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