Lock down and Semana Santa

ISSUE #806: April 5-11, 2020

2020-04-12

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
12-2 at Paradisus $1,400 mo.
this one has white living room furniture

Market activity
sales & rentals

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

Rentals:

Paradisus: 12-2 at Paradisus $1,400 mo. (white living room furniture)

Los Jardines:
Available immediately: Units #106C $900 mo./ #112 $1,150 mo./ #125 $875 mo.

Residencias Los Jardines
property management, rentals & re-sales

FOR SALE
Unit #114: $ 199,000 / See Unit
Unit #116: $ 195,000 $ 189,995 / See Unit
Unit #124: $ 125,000 / See Unit

FOR RENT
Unit #106C: $900 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #112: $1,150 mo. / Available immediately / See Unit
Unit #125: $875 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 $ 189,995

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 #106C
FOR RENT
$ 900 mo.
Available immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1 Floor
Type: 4-plex
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 #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 Story
Type: 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 two sides by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.

UNIT #125
FOR RENT
$ 875 mo.
Available immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 662
Total area (Sq M): 60
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Floor(s): 2nd Floor
Type: Semi-Detached
Furnished: Yes

This 662 sf, (62M2)+ 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.

Our Lives

What Happened This Week

Weather: Transitioning into the rainy season... winds have died and clouds gather many afternoons... we have had several showers and grumbling skies several times this past week. We will start preparations for this change in seasons after Semana Santa...

Stories

Covid-19 -Los Jardines: 553 confirmed cases and 5 related deaths. It seems that ticos are happy with government's rapid and definitive response... I am not aware of anyone protesting -despite the "lock down" which is tighter this weeks due to Semana Santa (Easter -the biggest holiday of the year), many are at the beach (normal) even though the beaches are supposedly closed. Regardless, very limited driving is permitted and definitely rationed by plate number and seemingly enforced. When your plate is allowed to move, you can go to a pharmacy or grocery store... not much more. Needless to say, the hammock has seen a lot of my butt... I love it...!! Supposedly, travel restrictions are suppose to be eased by Monday... we'll see.

Project -Revising the Shareholder Agreement: This is now on my desk... I am running out of excuses to do it. At the very beginning, I edited / wrote a document re. how we manage ourselves... like the condo documents required even though we are a corporation we operate like a condo. Over the years, various changes via shareholder decisions / resolutions have been made -they have never been incorporated into the document and the document has never been translated into Spanish. Since a goodly percentage of our shareholders are now Spanish first language, this document should be translated, but first it should be updated. The lawyer had the project for 1 1/2 years... he didn't finish... he turned it over to me...

News Items of the Week

 

The article below summarizes efforts to date. It is largely true but also self congratulatory PR:

Ten Reasons Costa Rica is Winning the Battle Against Coronavirus COVID-19

Costa Rica is a tiny country with no military, yet they are battling the coronavirus better than almost any other country in the world. Here are ten reasons for their triumph.

1. Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to have confirmed cases of coronavirus, two American tourists who had contracted the virus in New York City. They were diagnosed on March 6th, and immediately put in quarantine while officials did contact investigation to discover other possible cases. COSTA RICA ACTED IMMEDIATELY AND FORCEFULLY.

2. Unlike many other countries, Costa Rica demonstrated strong leadership to control the pandemic with President Carlos Alvarado working in conjunction with the Health Minister Daniel Salas, delivering clear and concise press conferences to inform the public. THE PUBLIC WAS KEPT FULLY AND CLEARLY INFORMED FROM THE FIRST CONFIRMED CASE.

3. Costa Rica has a well-organized healthcare system (CAJA) which immediately jumped into action preparing their hospitals and clinics for a possible tsunami of patients, stocking their facilities with protective equipment for doctors, and readying their facilities with extra beds, ventilators, and most importantly: RT-PCR testing kits to diagnose cases. COSTA RICA ACTED WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY NOT SEEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES, FOR INSTANCE ITALY AND IRAN.

4. Costa Rica has been improving their border control in the last few years to prevent smuggling of humans, drugs, and exotic plants and animals. They were prepared to close their borders swiftly and completely, thereby preventing imported cases of the disease. ALL CONFIRMED CASES THUS FAR HAVE BEEN IMPORTED, BUT COSTA RICA IS NOW STOPPING POSSIBLE CASES ENTERING BY AIR OR BY SEA, AND PUTTING PEOPLE IN IMMEDIATE QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS.

5. Costa Rica has initiated an educational campaign about the virus, including press conferences with health officials and doctors, extensive signage in airports and seaports, public service announcements, bulletins directly to people’s cell phones from the Health Ministry and CAJA, bulletins on all social media, and signage in all government facilities. These efforts have been duplicated throughout the country by grocery stores, food markets, pharmacies and gas stations. EVERYONE IS UNITED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS.

6. Costa Rica declared a State of Emergency very early and swiftly closed down facilities where the virus could be spread, including soccer matches, community swimming pools, schools, beaches, religious services, political gatherings, major concerts and events, holiday festivities, and encouraged everyone to QUEDATE EN CASA (Stay Home). Vehicular traffic was limited, restaurants and stores were closed. TICOS UNITED AS NEVER BEFORE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER FROM THIS DEADLY VIRUS.

7. Costa Rica immediately began to incorporate the great medical minds in their universities and hospitals, to resolve the problems faced elsewhere of shortages of medical supplies. Universities began experimenting with designing temporary ventilators using printed components, and other inventive solutions to the worldwide shortage. They designed their own plastic face shields and fabric masks. Costa Rica repurposed a hospital exclusively for COVID-19 patients, CENARE, which is an example for all other countries in Central America. COSTA RICA LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED TO GUARANTEE SURVIVAL OF EVERYONE.

8. Costa Ricans are traditionally a clean people, so the suggestion to wash hands frequently with soap or hand sanitizer was not that difficult to incorporate. Many Ticos automatically remove their shoes before entering their homes. New outdoor sinks with soap were installed in small towns and villages, allowing everyone to maintain good hygiene. TICOS UNDERSTOOD THAT STOPPING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 WAS IN THEIR HANDS.

9. Culturally, Costa Ricans are a respectful and community-oriented people. The new habits of how to sneeze and cough safely, how to maintain a safe distance from others, and how to keep one’s hands constantly clean – all recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) – were adopted easily by Costa Rican citizens. THESE GOOD HABITS STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.

10. On March 24th, President Carlos Alvarado requested that WHO create a repository of information available to all member countries, to include details of all successful practices, medicines, vaccines and procedures in the fight against the coronavirus. In the event Costa Rica gets hit again with this or another virus, this library of information will prove invaluable to those working to save lives during a pandemic. COSTA RICA HAS SHOWN REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS INVISIBLE ENEMY.

Lets stay positive that the overall numbers infected by COVID-19 Coronavirus in Costa Rica will remain low compared to many other countries.

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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