...A Straw will be Extra!!

ISSUE #657: April 30-May 6, 2017

2017-05-10

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
13th Fl / East view
furnished​
$1,400

 

Escazú
FOR SALE: Agent says this is a Bargain...

$225,000
2700 sq ft house in best area Escazu
Owner finance at 8%
This is 3-4 bedroom house with garden and views with owner finance at 8% for balance of $200,000. 2 car garage with watchman directly in front of the house. Downpayment is $25,000

Market activity
sales & rentals

Sales: Los Jardines: Units #106A, #114, #123, #124 and #125

Rentals: Paradisus: For Rent: 13th Fl / East view / furnished​ / $1,400
Los Jardines: Units #112 and #123 are available for rent

Residencias Los Jardines
property management, rentals & re-sales

FOR SALE
Unit #106A: $ 165,000 / See Unit
Unit #114: $ 199,000 / See Unit
Unit #123: $ 199,500 / See Unit
Unit #124: $ 135,000 / See Unit [new]
Unit #125: $ 135,000 / See Unit

FOR RENT
Unit #112: $ 1,250 mo / See Unit
Unit #123: $ 1,450 mo / 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 #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 #123
FOR SALE
$199,500

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1516
Total area (Sq M): 140
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

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.

UNIT #124
FOR SALE
$135,000

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.

UNIT #125
FOR SALE
$135,000

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

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 #112
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: 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 #123
FOR RENT
$1,450 mo.
Available Immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1516
Total area (Sq M): 140
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2 Story
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

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: Winds have died, regular showers...

Normal wear and tear... the smoker doesn't want to acknowledge this...

The headliner this week is the following:

When in Jaco with family, the 6 of us went out for dinner at a recommended restaurant​ -"The Green Room". I ordered a lemonade which usually comes as a frozen slurry... melts and with a straw can be enjoyed. No straw was included. I asked. I was told that I would be charged for the straw... they were an "eco-friendly" establishment and didn't use plastic (meanwhile I was sitting in a plastic chair with a backdrop of plastic beads). I asked him how I was suppose to drink the lemonade... he offered no explanation... then the construction background in me told him where he could put his lemonade and how he might drink it!!!!!!! Incredible... the bill came to around $180 and it didn't include a straw!!!!!! I will not be recommending The Green Room to anyone. The service was o.k. / the food was attractively presented and the reports were the steak was good but the other items simply o.k. I have no idea what the lemonade was like...

I no sooner get my car almost perfect and, when the family was here I needed an extra car so borrowed Paul's, his car started having problems... actually, the same as mine... over heating (solution, after being stuck on the highway and nursing it back to Los Jardines, installed two new radiator fans), then when returning from Jaco, the steering and brakes were not correct... new shoes, bushings, and calipers later, it is now o.k.? My car goes for safety / emissions testing this afternoon... it should be 100% but we'll see... I am so sick of cars...

We had an offer on 123... we also had a tenant who wanted it badly and was willing to pay a year's rent in advance... that generated a 2nd offer... the offers were essentially equal at their end... they choose the first / tico offer... I had no influence over this... it was verbal, no money accompanied it, and it was through another broker... lots of variables... but that is what the owners chose... bad choice as it is turning out... I turned the would be tenant away, and withdrew the offer through me... Now the tico still hasn't made a deposit and wants to renegotiate the price... this is not unusual... another decision is in the hands of the seller... and there is no back up option... but they don't yet have their act together re. being ready to sell the unit. Books are in the US as are they and technically, to sign a contract, the owner has to be physically present in the country... they don't want to travel... o.k. meanwhile the unit sits empty with an uncertain future.

With family returning and able to take my mail back, I was forced to deal with Canadian and US tax filing, and another Canadian document which needs to be renewed... all that is now done...

and a member of our social group died... not unexpectedly but still...

and family returns to work and a cold, rainy reality in Canada...

Colon: dollar exchange rate... it is now around 562 / 575 : $1... in one instant it changed 5 colones... this is a big move... and a lawyer friend who banks at BAC who wanted to transfer funds to his landlord in the States to pay his May rent, was told that he need approval from the US to do so... never heard of such a thing... is this new? is this BAC's policy? is this some teller's misinformation? I don't know at this point in time...

...and I understand that Unit 110 is now up for sale again... nice unit

There are few dull moments in CR...

News Items of the Week

Comments

1/ 2: Some of these items have been around for a long time. They never made it out of the starting blocks and (2) explains why it isn't likely to happen again this time... Solis is nearing the end of his term... Early next year with elections this fall... he doesn't have a lot of time nor much political capital.

1. Tax on Private Education Tops Costa Rican President’s Final Legislative Priorities

As Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís finishes the final year of his term, he urged legislators to focus on eight priority pieces of legislation in his address to this nation earlier this week.

The first of these is relating to the value added tax, or VAT. Under this legislation, the current sales tax would become a value added tax (VAT), but remain at the same 13 percent rate.

The proposed bill would increase the tax base so the VAT would be applied to more goods and services including tourist services, lawyer fees, rentals, and gyms, as well as to all for-profit cultural, sporting, artistic, educational and recreational activities.

The proposal includes a 4 percent VAT for private health and educational services, which would apply to all private schools throughout the country. In addition, rents above a base salary of approximately 410,000 colones (about US$745) would be taxed; and businesses would pay tax on electricity and water over a certain consumption level.

Public transport, the sale of companies in free trade zones, and financial investments and interest accruals would be exempt under the new law. The legislation also includes a tax exemption for people whose households have earnings of less than ¢342,000 per month (about US$620).

The second priority piece of legislation for Solís is also tax-related, as he seeks to increase government revenue. This bill calls for increasing taxes on the country’s highest wages from 15 to 20 percent. In addition, tax on capital income, that is, money earned from the sale of bonds or shares, would increase from 8 to 12 percent.

The third priority bill announced by Solís takes aim at organized crime with legislation on forfeiture of ownership that would grant the state the power to appropriate goods that are determined to have been purchased with illicitly procured funds.

The fourth legislative priority announced by Solís in his address to the nation includes legislation on appropriations of land needed by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to complete the last section of the Florencio del Castillo highway in Curridabat.

A legislative proposes to allocate more resources to the train system is high on the list as well. Resources would be generated by increases in annual car circulation fees, on car import taxes, and on increased highway toll rates; as well as through a one-time contribution of ¢500 million from the Road Safety Fund (Conavi).

Solís also wants legislators to give top priority to the languishing animal welfare bill which stipulates sanctions and even imprisonment for the mistreatment or killing of pets.

Legislators have been asked to consider a reform to the National Council of Higher Education (Conesup) which will require higher standards from private universities, especially in education, health and engineering degree programs.

And the final priority legislative item announced by Solís, is the reform of the country’s psychotropics law (filed as bill number 19,951). The new law aims to regulate non-financial activities that are vulnerable to money laundering such as real estate, casinos, sport books, lawyers, notaries and public accountants, as well as metal and precious stone dealers. Individuals in such businesses would have to register with the Ministry of Finance at a special supervisory office that would be established.

Solís said that this last initiative is urgent to prevent the country from being placed on the “gray list” of countries viewed as non-cooperative on anti-money laundering and at high-risk for financing of terrorism by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF is a body of the G20, the group of industrialized and emerging states, that sets international standards on controlling such illicit activities. Countries on the FATF gray list can face international sanctions that can affect financial institutions and international trade, said Solís.

And this is why Solis’s agenda won’t get very far

2. New Legislative President

Gonzalo Ramírez won the election as a result of an alliance of parties lead by the National Liberation Party, the largest legislative group.

President Luis Guillermo Solís will now be forced to negotiate during his final year in office with a directorate formed entirely of opposition lawmakers.

Ramírez is one of the most conservative lawmakers and during his term he has adamantly opposed bills to reinstate in vitro fertilization, to approve same-sex marriage and to legalizate therapeutic abortion.

Following his election, he told reporters that he maintains his principles and values but “he will not use the directorate’s Presidency to obstruct the democratic vote of any issue.” He said he is open to dialogue.

“I know there are many voices in this country and I’ve never been closed off from listening to them. We have never offended anyone and we’ve never closed the door to anyone,” he said, in response to lawmakers who claimed Ramírez’ religious beliefs would interfere with the approval of bills.

As Legislative President, Ramírez will be responsible for setting the order in which bills are discussed and voted on. He also manages debates and voting on laws, decrees and appointments.

He will be in charge of assigning all 57 lawmakers to legislative committees, which discuss, modify, amend and approve draft bills before they’re passed on — or not — to the full Assembly.

The Legislative President is also responsible for receiving bills and proposals submitted by lawmakers, social groups and citizens, and selecting the legislative committee responsible for each bill’s evaluation and approval.

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

 
Previous reports

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Contact Us