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ISSUE #747: Feb. 3-9, 2019

2019-02-11

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

FOR RENT
Unit 12-2 available immediately - $ 1,400 mo.

Market activity
sales & rentals

Sales: Los Jardines: Units #114, #116 and #124

Rentals:

Paradisus: Unit 12-2 available immediately - $ 1,400 mo.

Los Jardines: Units #112 and #116

Residencias Los Jardines
property management, rentals & re-sales

FOR SALE
Unit #114: $ 199,000 / See Unit
Unit #116: $ 195,000 / See Unit
Unit #124: $ 125,000 / See Unit

FOR RENT
Unit #112: $ 1,150 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #116: $ 1,250 mo./ Available immediately / See Unit

For sale

UNIT #114
FOR SALE
$ 199,000

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Semi-Attached
Furnished: Yes

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 #116
FOR SALE
$ 195,000

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 and a separate, secure storage locker. It is and end unit and therefore attached on only one side by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.

UNIT #124
FOR SALE
$135,000 $ 125,000

Total Area (Sq Ft): 662
Total area (Sq M): 61
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Floor(s): 2nd Floor
Type: Semi-Detached
Furnished: Yes

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.

For rent

UNIT #112
FOR RENT
$ 1,150 mo.
Available immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: 1 Story
Furnished: Yes

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 #116
FOR RENT
$ 1,250 mo.
Available 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 and a separate, secure storage locker. It is and end unit and therefore attached on only one side by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.

Our Lives

Weather: Winds are increasing as per normal... continued dry without hint of rain... mostly sunny skies ...mostly 23C / 77F and cool (for us) nights.

What Happened This Week:

Condo Administration: Calling the meeting was issued and a proposed set of agenda items were issued and a request from shareholders for items they wanted to see... So far, we have not received any feedback but the deadline is not up. Once the deadline is up, the agenda will be issued and discussion will start. We'll see.

My Birthday Present -Has Legs!: hopefully this tank is now a past issue...

INS suit: It continues and the legal bills keep rolling in... as the case twists and turns its way through the CR judicial jungle. The tribunal has now ruled on 4 cases and in all four has found against INS. This is probably why INS has applied to the Sala 1 to annul the findings. My case has yet to be ruled on but since it is my understanding that virtually all cases are similar, I should (hopefully) have the same result..(The less known is whether the ruling will include an order to pay lost interest payments in addition to all legal costs.) The appeal to the Sala 1 could take a year to decide. My ruling from the Tribunal could take another 3-4 months... meanwhile, $3,400 out the window to the lawyers.

Check-ins: I have had three this week. It is always a hectic time to get all the issues fixed up with the units. Small repairs take forever to solve... getting all electrical and electronic stuff working... finding missing things -a nut for the lamp shade (why is it not there?), strainer for the shower drain (why would this disappear?), duvet cover that is now missing -where did it go?, pillow cases which are missing -???, coffee pot carafe which is stained and spotted (how and why?), etc, etc, etc. The amount of running around is incredible. Keeping a house running with tenants is difficult... even the good tenants create problems.

Vacancies: Two -116 and 112 and Paradisus... I continue to converse with a prospective client for 116... the latest being references for my property management performance.

Selling is REALLY Difficult: I have had my share of issues but my experiences are not unique. Friends in Jaco built and ran a 9 rm hotel for 12 years. They got burned out -and for 3 years tried to sell... periodically lowering the price as they became more and more tired. They found a buyer... an Am. "doctor" who wanted to start a "wellness" center. They agreed on the price and terms... (it wasn't great but they would get out) they wound down the hotel, moved out their mgt and themselves. At closing, the buyer did not have the money... they tried to salvage the deal buy agreeing to a rental arrangement until such time as she felt she could get the money. During this time, she proceeded to make unauthorized changes to the hotel... removing furniture, painting, making room alterations, etc. The renegotiated deal was to close yesterday, Feb. 8. On Feb. 2 they read that her lawyer had been arrested along with three others for arranging the robbery and murder of a "friend" for $8,000. (This lawyer lives in Santa Ana and could be a neighbor.) He had assured my friends that the buyer had the money and the deal would close. Well, on Friday she did not have the money. They are now back to negotiating to see if and how they can save the deal. Story to be continued next week...

I feel for them / I have been there but never with as much at stake as they have.

New Year's Resolution: To stay out of trouble... short and sweet... difficult to do in CR... We'll see... and to remember a younger friend's observation: it is easier to stay away from trouble than to get out of it...

News Items of the Week

COMMENTS

1. Economic Predictions: If achieved, this will be at a high cost to maintain the current exchange rate... the natural force is down for the colon... only the government's intervention will maintain it..this will lead to more borrowing at a higher interest rate. Government entities / legislators are questioning the wisdom of borrowing $8 bil euros while NOT cutting spending... aaahhh good question... cutting spending won't happen.

Central Bank maintains inflation target for 2019 and predicts higher growth

A growth in inflation within the range of 2% to 4%, as well as an economic growth figure of 3.2%, (better than in 2018), are the official macroeconomic forecasts for this year.

These are some of the estimates contemplated by the Central Bank of Costa Rica in its 2019-2020 Macroeconomic Program, which was presented on Tuesday by Rodrigo Cubero, president of the Monetary Authority.

According to the report of the Program, the economic growth of 2019 will be driven by private consumption, reflecting the increase in confidence after the approval of the fiscal reform and the impact of the improvement in the terms of trade on disposable income, as well as government expense.

In addition, public investment is expected to pick up strongly this year, especially for projects such as the expansion of Route 32 and transport infrastructure works.

Cubero added that the fiscal projections show that the deficit of the central government, in relation to the GDP, will be 6.2% in 2019 and 5.8% in 2020. These estimates incorporate the assumption that it is approved. Eurobonds issue for $1.5 billion.

In terms of exchange, the Central Bank indicated that it will continue to participate in the market with three objectives: as an agent of the Non-Banking Public Sector, to meet its own requirements, and to avoid violent fluctuations in the exchange rate.

In terms of inflation, the hierarchy explained that the target range is maintained, since the effects will be diluted over the next two years.

The Macroeconomic Program was approved unanimously by the board of directors in the January 25th session.

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

Brian C. Timmons
Property Manager RLJ and Newsletter Author

Costa Rica:
Cell: (+506) 8-455-59-35
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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