[daboss06]

Can anybody who subscribes to this thread provide any additional info about the Sarrelson case? Scott? Anybody?

[daboss06]

[quote=”tomtwoshoe”]I am heading to Costa Rica on Nov 9 to bring paperwork for a lawsuit against the banks. I have a deposit at Sonesta and this situation really stinks to say the least.[/quote]

This does not increase my confidence in the Costa Rican developers situation

[daboss06]

[quote=”Scott”]Sorry but you can not compare Paragon Properties of Costa Rica with the complex legal problems between One Jaco and their banks…

Paragon succeeded only in building a few front gates and never completed a single project…

Scot Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com[/quote]

So I guess these guys completed other projects and went bust on this one?

I’m comparing RE deals gone bad/money lost to RE estate deals gone bad/money lost–is this not apples to apples?

While I realize the Sonesta thing might not have been with intent (as the Paragon thing probably was) isn’t the end result the same?

[daboss06]

Thanks, both Sprite and DavidC for your posts. I’ve never gone to Costa Rica for sexual tourism (twice to inspect my property purchased from Paragon and twice more with family and friends), but in light of this particular forum thread I am certainly abandoning any thoughts of relocating there, especially as a single man.

Come on, Costa Rican attorneys–your opinions please?

[daboss06]

Damn! So it’s not just we Paragon Properties victims who lost money in Costa Rica? I feel for all of you, and sounds like you lost more than the $25K that lesson cost me…

PS. This post has been edited by Scott Oliver to remove one defamatory verb

[daboss06]

OK, now that we have our opinions expressed on totally off-topic subjects, how about getting back to the original thread?

I think we all can consider ourselves enlightened on the power of arcane and unfair laws combined with dishonest, shrewish golddigger Ticas who run their scams on Ticos and Gringos alike, when marriage is involved.

I ask again, is there “palimony” in Costa Rica? Or, if you own property in CR, invite a willing Tica home for the night (or more than one night), can she fake domestic violence, have you arrested, and make your life a living hell?

Or, are the government-issued hooker IDs designed to keep this from happening? You know, the ones used to register your “date” at the front desk of your hotel when you come back for a little hotel room fun?

Any Tico attorneys interested in commenting here please?

[daboss06]

[b]I am confused by your first point; Why would alleged unfair treatment of a vet be any more of a concern for you than if it had been a non-vet?[/b]
I guess because this guy obviously didn’t have all his oars in the water, vet or non-vet.
[b]And why would a foreign country, especially one which opposes having a military, give a good goddamn one way or the other about the military service in a foreign army of a law breaking immigrant? That has absolutely nothing to do with this situation[/b].
Point taken, sprite. Maybe it’s the issue of how fair the law is in these instances? I also wonder why there was no effort on the part of the US Embassy there to intervene or somehow assist these US citizens living abroad?
[b]Regarding rainy weather and mudslides, there are also the occasional earth tremors and volcanic eruptions in Costa Rica. But the weather can be troublesome just about anywhere on the planet. I find Costa Rican weather to be the most pleasant I have experienced.[/b]
We have hurricanes in Florida, yet that’s where I live. I don’t think we’re here to talk about the weather.:D I was making conversation, that’s all.
[b]The cost of living in the US is still higher than in Costa Rica[/b].
Depends on how you want to live. I suspect that how I live in the US would cost me more in Costa Rica. I remember restaurant meals in CR in 04 and 05 being about the same as they were here in Florida. My preferred timeshare resort in Guanacaste has doubled my per diem costs since then. Anything I’d consider worth buying in CR is $200K+, and the equivalent home here is half that. If I compromised on my lifestyle–that’s a different story. I do own two acres of rough campground down near Parrita, guess I could pitch a tent and live off the land, and in that case, yes my cost of living would be less in Costa Rica LOL:lol:

[b]Perhaps US veterans are better off staying in the country they defended where they are treated so well and where weather related disasters are unheard of. (Does New Orleans count as part of the US?)[/b]
You might be right about that one, sprite. Not sure if New Orleans is still part of the US, though…:roll:

[daboss06]

Wait a minute here–this guy Terry wasn’t slacking on child support payments. He states he had NO children with this woman, and actually only lived with her for 7 weeks…

“Also for the first time read the “gringo doing time” article and since I worked for the atty general child support division here for 6 years, can tell you that his situation isn’t different from many U.S. folks who owe child support – same issues re underemployment and incarceration not subject to being out on bail, no two for one credit for time served, etc., so if he thinks that Costa Rica is unique in the way he was treated, the very same thing could happen to him in the U.S. tho’ the jails MIGHT be better!”

[daboss06]

Scott,
Additional installments of this story make me cringe when I read about Nam vets being taken advantage of by the unfair legal system in Costa Rica. That, along with the reports of mudslides and torrential rains and the general cost of living increases actually DIScourages me from thinking about retiring in Costa Rica.

Does anyone know if there are “imminent domain” laws there? Because here in Florida, if a woman leaves only a toothbrush behind after staying the night and changes her ID to reflect a man’s address, she can fake a domestic violence beef, get the man arrested and taken to jail, file a restraining order, and live in his home until the restraining order is lifted. Of course any valuables in the home conveniently disappear.

Any Costa Rican attorneys read this forum? We’d appreciate some input from you.

[daboss06]

This story is certainly an eye-opener for me, and hopefully for many others!

On my 3rd trip to Costa Rica in 2004 I took advantage of my timeshare with Occidental resorts and flew down to Liberia, and checked into the Occidental Grand Papagayo. That same evening, while enjoying a cognac and good conversation with an elderly German gent from Las Vegas, the door opened and a gorgeous woman entered and sat down next to me at the bar. My elderly companion excused himself and left, and I turned to her to say hello. I was 54 at the time and immediately thought it was some kind of setup, she assured me she just thought I looked interesting and so she wanted to meet me. She was 32 and was there with her 14 year old daughter, said she was a travel agent from San Jose. An hour later we were doing the wild thing in my room. That was supposedly her last night at the resort, but I persuaded her to stay on for two more nights which I offered to pay for–this was relatively cheap back in 04 and I enjoyed her company until she drove back to San Jose. I must admit I was infatuated.

We ended up exchanging phone numbers and email addresses, and a month or two later, I flew her up to Orlando for a week’s stay. Before she came, she hit me up for $300 for her daughter’s care while she was gone (sent by Western Union). I met her at the airport with flowers and champagne–she was VERY stand-offish/cold at the airport in public. It became pretty clear why she was there…she wanted shopping money and spa services, and her daughter really neeeded a pair of Converse sneakers (the $20 ones at Sam’s just wouldn’t do). She also had one of the most amazing breast augmentations I’d ever seen, but she wanted BIGGER ones (originals paid for by her ex-husband, a drug dealer in Miami). When I balked at her demands, she said she needed to leave early to meet up with her mother, so sorry but could I please drive her to Kissimmee after 3 days? I think she was meeting somebody other than her mother, she wouldn’t let me help her into the condo meeting place with her bag at all, and I never heard from her again.

Reading this story, I now realize what I could have gotten myself into, and that the couple hundred dollars for childcare, airfare and expensive restaurant meals (she ordered the $50 sushi boat for lunch just for herself and ate about a quarter of it) were cheap as compared to what I could have had to pay if I’d become more involved with her.

But she was gorgeous and a carnal delight! No regrets here!:D

[daboss06]

Gentlemen, let’s not get off-topic here. The concept of renting vs buying has been debated since the dawn of time.

Regarding the original Gringo in Prison story, it certainly opened my eyes. While I would certainly never consider marrying a Tica, I must admit I have found companionship for hire in San Jose several times–all rather happy experiences.
I even flew one up to Guanacaste for a couple days to celebrate my birthday a couple years back…sent her home early, she was way too much a PITA.

Bottom line–All hetero men pay, in one way or the other, to spend time with women. Some pay as they go, and some pay after they go (ie pensions/alimony/child support). But we all pay. It’s a fact of life.

Just my two colones worth.

[daboss06]

[quote=”Imxploring”]For now the folks holding title free and clear (hopefully) have nice rough camping sites (I had suggested that a year ago)…. and those with partial payments not holding title have a black hole they can throw MORE money into with a SLIM chance of ANY recovery… or, as I see it, an expensive lesson learned that most will walk away from.[/quote]

My point exactly. I did NOT take home equity money to buy my two lots, and I do hold free and clear titles to them. I’m not joining a class action suit for $500 and throwing good money after bad with only HOPE of recovering any money (less 30% paid to the law firm). Sure am glad I didn’t give them any deposit money to build on my lots!

[daboss06]

Just in case anybody doesn’t know this, but Paragon stopped updating their website in Feb 09.

I’m an owner of two acres in Phase Two aka Hills of Pacifica. I have the titles and deeds to the properties, also a plot map with full coordinates.

I met with Gale and Company a few times, in both Costa Rica and in Florida. I believe the last work done by Paragon was to Phases 1,2,and 3 (aka Heights, Hills, and Valley of Pacifica), and I have aerial photos of these sites showing roads being cut and land being cleared.

I’ve been in touch with the law firm in Miami that’s doing the class action thing, and I’m not sure if it’s worth the $500 ante to be part of the class action, especially when there’s no guarantee that even IF Paragon is found guilty of whatever and ordered to pay restitution, that they will actually pay. OJ Simpson didn’t pay the Goldman family a dime, despite a huge multi-million dollar civil judgement.

So now I own what is basically rough campground, accessible only by 4×4, which I paid $25K for back in 04.

I think Gale and Company were planning to complete the infrastructure, but ran out of money with the global financial meltdown, which wiped out people’s money they were planning to use to pay off their balances to Paragon, which was to be used to complete the infrastructure.

Just my opinion.

[daboss06]

[quote=”simondg”]daboss06 – “The contract then stated infrastructure (roads, electricity, phone, water,) would be in place one year after the lots were paid in full. That was a lie that was later extended to 18 months–again, another lie”.
I wonder if you could clarify something for me – the commitment to build infrastructure states that they would build it after all lots were paid in full? From what you seem to be saying, and please correct me if I am wrong, the vast majority of people didnt complete their payments.[/quote]

Phase 1, 2, and 3 aka Heights, Hills, Valley of Pacifica were the only lots sold as 1 acre plots. I wasn’t aware of any financing when I purchased two lots for a full payment of $25,000. My understanding was that each project was a separate entity, and since they were sold for cash first, they were to get the first infrastructure. Gale always told me he made no money from selling dirt, that he wanted to make money on the homes he planned on building for his clients. All properties sold after Phases 1,2, and 3 were the hectare plots (2.47 acres) that people bought for $60K+ with the $25-30K down payment and balance due 5 years later.
Then global financial meltdown caused many to not be able to come up with the balance, and that was money Gale & Co. were counting on to be used for the infrastructure.

[daboss06]

[quote=”simondg”]daboss06 – You say you were given replacement land and now have the Title. I would like to know if Paragone commited to build infrastructure of any sort in the contract – could you or indeed any buyer shed some light on this..thank you.[/quote]

My friend Kathy and I purchased in August 2004. The contract then stated infrastructure (roads, electricity, phone, water,) would be in place one year after the lots were paid in full. That was a lie that was later extended to 18 months–again, another lie. We were issued titles for the 3 phase 1 properties which were unbuildable, later on these were swapped for 3 acres in Phase 2 (“Hills of Pacifica”). In Feb or March of 06 My friend Kathy and I drove down to Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood supposedly to meet with Julian Siegel (Steve Tashman’s son-in-law) but instead encountered Bill Gale himself entering the building as we pulled up. Gale spent the next 2 hours showing us photos of roads being built, water lines and electricity poles, bragged about how he was going to pave all the roads with clay pavers from his own paver factory and how he was installing a huge 75,000 gallon water reservoir to serve Phase 1,2 aand 3–also sewage treatment (not septic) for these first Paragon properties, which he called his “pet project” because they were the first properties sold. He said we could probably start building in May of 06, when everything would be completed. LIE. We were then directed to various other Paragon “Customer Service Representatives” (Lyle Wexler, who tried to use the “rainy season” excuse on me–I’d had that excuse used myriad times from Gale to Wexler to David Valentine–these guys were all bullsh*tters and liars). They did build their models, and I actually got a VERY slick package showing home models, pricing, upgrades, etc.). I do actually think Gale and company were sincere about completing Phases 1,2 and 3 infrastructure, but then the global financial meltdown happened and the balance of payments from the rest of their deals fell through, and they ran out of money when people couldn’t come up with the extra $40K on their $60K+ hectare lots, which were the size lots they sold after Phase 1,2 and 3 (aka Heights, Hills, and Valley of Pacifica) 1 acre lots were sold out. I read in their Oct 29, 2009 deposition that they had collected $25 million, had refunded $16 million, and had spent the remaining $9 million on cutting rough roads and water lines and some gatehouses–that could all certainly be BS anyway, certainly didn’t look much like $9 million worth of work–where’s the money, Gale, Tashman, Siegel, and Soto?

[Author]

Posts