More Vancancies... more Problems -normal

ISSUE #754: March 24-30, 2019

2019-04-01

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

Market activity
sales & rentals

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

Rentals:

Paradisus: Nothing Available at the moment

Los Jardines: Units #104 (UNFURNISHED), #112, #113 and #114

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 #104: $ 850 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #112: $ 1,150 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #113: $ 1,200 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #114: $ 1,350 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 #104
FOR RENT
$ 850 mo.
Available immediately

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

Single story, detached, two bedroom / two bathroom, 100 M2 / 1,064 SF, with a back yard, covered terrace, UNFURNISHED, one parking, vaulted ceilings, lots of built ins... bright in all rooms, with lots of windows and flow through ventilation. Parking for one car.

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 #113
FOR RENT
$ 1,200 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. 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.

UNIT #114
FOR RENT
$ 1,350 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 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

Our Lives

High Winds: winds have abated... it is warm for us... 35C / 85F

What Happened This Week

Irrigation and Gardening: This is a continuing challenge. We aren't there yet. Continue to re-work existing systems... We are reaching the stage where some of the battery operated computer watering devices can be connected to allow automatic / programed night watering... this will relieve the demand on time and help ensure that "forgotten" areas can be attended... or at least eliminate the excuse...

Camera System: Installed, finally... I am not a fan because I do not think it cost-effective but I recognize I am in the minority. Time will tell but the my truth will never be recognized...

Vacancies: No rentals this past week and one planned exit along with another one I am forcing since I haven't been paid for 1 1/2 months and regardless of personal belongs, the person has left the country and is no longer responding. Three promises broken... and before he left, for Guatemala, he was driving a new (?) Jeep... I wonder if that was paid for when it went across the border... Some people lead messy, irresponsible lives... and lead a trail behind them for others to pick up and sort out.

Compliance with new Tax Law: Waiting for Hacienda (IRS of CR) to issue a ruling... in the meantime, I interviewed another accounting firm...

Cleaning Silica from Glass Shower Doors / Faucets: Received several thank-you's from this tidbit...

Septic System -my birthday day's activities: We continued to have problems and the only solution was to dig... We found two problems... one was a perforated / deformed drainage tube and the second problem was what I suspected... a substantial build up of grease... over the years, grease from dishes / cooking had built up and formed a paraffin like solid mass... Regardless of the number of times we snaked it, the snake only poked a hole the size of the snake head... this obstruction has now been removed... However, we believe there is still another problem yet to be discovered... 73 yrs old and still dealing literally and figuratively in "s...t! I hope at 83 I can write -and write a different scenario... that gives me 10 years... at my rate of solving things, 10 years could be about right if I put a "rush" on it...

News Items of the Week

COMMENTS

In my mind, The following article, in a major way, explains Costa Rica and why it is the way it is...

Head of the MEP turned millions to schools for unsolicited works, Comptroller ordered to dismiss him but he is still there

Head of the MEP turned millions to schools for unsolicited works, Comptroller ordered to dismiss him but he is still there.

The current deputy director of the office responsible for building and repairing schools was accused of 'negligence and carelessness' in transferring money without technical criteria. The funds remained unused until almost three and a half years.

The Comptroller's Office investigated the deposits ordered by Villalobos and, after the findings, recommended to the MEP, in 2016 dismiss him without employer responsibility and with disqualification to hold public office for two years. Photo: Rafael Pacheco.

In the accounts appeared ¢ 20 million in favor of the Board of Education School La Trinidad de Moravia for "infrastructure improvements".

However, the president of that school unit, Carmen Mercedes Barrantes, indicated that "the Board did not request resources or submit infrastructure projects" to receive those monies from the Directorate of Infrastructure and Educational Equipment (DIIE), the MEP office responsible to build and repair public schools.

That is just one of the cases compiled by the Comptroller General of the Republic to demand the dismissal of civil engineer Carlos Villalobos Argüello, 52, who transferred the money when he was director of that Directorate between 2008 and 2014; currently he remains as deputy director.

A report from the Comptroller's Office, dated August 4, 2015, accuses the senior official of "negligence and carelessness" "by not creating the procedures to control the use and management" of public money.

The auditors took a sample of seven transfers he made, as director, to the Boards of Education, and found that "in many of the cases analyzed above, the lack of technical support that justifies the amounts paid to these organizations converges." money intended for school works was shelved, without use, for up to three years and five months.

The report, which until now is known, led the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) to dismiss him in 2016, without employer responsibility, as ordered by the Comptroller. The latter entity also instructed to disqualify him in public office for two years upon finding him responsible for "serious fault".

However, Villalobos went to court to demand the dismissal and, a contentious administrative judge ordered, as a precautionary measure, reinstate it while the case is resolved, which has not happened so far.

The DIEE is an office that despite having 119 officials, including engineers, architects and lawyers, is accused by the Internal Audit of the MEP itself of being ineffective in correctly investing the millionaire funds that the State allocates to build and repair schools. Also, it is pointed out to grant irregular contracts to private companies and to have "carefree and conflictive" workers that lead to the paralysis of the projects.

As of March 29 of this year, the Education and Administrative Boards of the educational centers had, without executing, ¢ 141,000 million in their single cash accounts.

In addition, the sanitary orders that the Ministry of Health turns to fix problems in educational centers have been increasing. In March 2017, there were 440 centers that had a health order; in August of last year, the figure rose to 633.

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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