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I have friends near Puerto Jimenez who are having some kind of workshop in February on tree house building.
Contact them at Rebecca Amelia
Jose
I’ve lived in San Ramon 5 years, and I probably would have been as happy in Grecia. The downtown area of Grecia is very busy with narrow streets, while San Ramon is a bit more spread out and wider streets. Grecia has also become somewhat of a bedroom community for Ticos wanting to get out of San Jose, while San Ramon is a bit farther so less attractive for commuters.
Jose
All buildings need to have plans, but smaller ones, under 70 m2 I believe, don’t need architect/engineer seals. Most architects want 10% or more of the estimated cost of construction, but most are amenable to reduce that fee. Mine gets 4%
Jose
Trish is probably right that he might not take a job so far away, also he does not speak English, but if you contact me, I will give you the name and number of a San Ramon architect who speaks English, and is younger and willing to shlepp down to Jaco and do the inspections. CU Tuesday Trish,
Jose
Yes, Maravilla, they have skyrocketed, gravel and sand are up over 25%, so are rebar and concrete, all materials are up officially 17% last year, and about the same year before.
I am building now and see the difference. I am quoting ball parks of $50 x s’, and that doesn’t include finished closets and cabinets, lights and fixtures, site preparation and architects’ fee (our friend, your architect, now charges 4% where before it was a flat $1,400, and my first house here with him, 4-5 years ago, was $700). He’s still very reasonable: Other architects ask 10-12% of estimated construction prices. Earthmoving was 10,000 colones an hour a year ago, now it’s 15,000. A load of gravel used to be $100, now it’s $150. Oil at $100 a barrel causes a lot of that.How’s the weather, snowed in??
J
I am a broker and developer in the San Ramon area, and we have a shortage of rentals. We have had several rental houses (now sold) which have been rented almost 100% of the time, since there are: a) folks who want to live for a year before buying, and b)those who have bought and need a house for the 6-12 month building period, and c)those who just want to rent, not buy. Typical house on acre+ of land, 1,200-1,500 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bath (which can be all built turnkey including land for under $100k), furnished (add another $3-5,000 for appliances and furniture), can be rented for $550-650 per month. Since the renters are nice retirement age folks (no kids, generally no dogs or small),the houses don´t take a beating, and they pay on time.
There are some existing Tico houses in the area that could be bought and updated as well.
Jose
We can accomodate you for a short term (1 month- 2 months) at http://www.vidatropical.com, walking distance to Old Alajuela.
Jose
Perhaps a board category called RECOMMENDATIONS divided into AREAS
People can post names of good attorneys, electricians, pet groomers, etc, with a brief comment and email to contact for details, etc.
Remebering that you are somewhat accountable for any recs, so there´s obviously a caveat factor, also thinking of self serving posters who may be the person him/herself doing the posting.
Jose in San Ramon
Hola Judy:
There are many Topes (horse parades)and Cabalgatas (country rides) held all over every year, some night rides as well. They are usually held in the dry season, for obvious reasons, as they may be all day affairs, or start @ noon. Horses are transported in and out on pickups or larger trucks, sometimes from many hours away, for these events, and they are as much a social affair or fundraiser as just a ride.
We have a couple of horses (and donkeys) at our project, and we ride around out there. For some events, we´ll rent a horse rather than truck ours around, they are not fancy horses (ours or the rentals), we just enjoy being on any horse and sharing the experience.
There are all kinds of saddles sold here, quite inexpensive, the good ones (read Padded) are not cheap, but atill probably cheaper than the US.
Come by Solo Bueno, next to the palm trees, and we´ll chat sometime.
Jose in San Ramon
Hola Musatard Girl:
We live in San Ramon, love it, it´s very central, one hour to beach, one hour to airport, large town with movies, hospital, etc.
email me at ranchos@racsa.co.cr for more info.
Jose
There´s a saying in CR:
Lo barato sale caro.
Cheap things turn out expensive.
Used rentals are used rentals, more chance of breakdowns, less vehicles to replace the one you have, and you can get a small SUV, new, from a reputable company, for about the same price as a used piece of cr_ _, but even if you spent $100 more for a week´s rental, peace of mind is priceless. How much is it worth to not have your wife crying all the way to Jaco?
At my B and B I advise using a company that we use all the time, they don´t screw you with dings and stuff (otherwise they lose all our business).
Jose
Hola Dan:
We live in San Ramon, love to met you while you´re here.
I can suggest http://www.vidatropical.com as a good place near the airport where
to spend your first and last nights.I am from Cuba, but lived in FL all my life, feel part cracker myself, having spent some wonderful years in Gainesville when it was still a small town, in the Golden Years of Ray Graves (Bull Gator) and Spurrier (the player years, not the coach years). All three of my kids graduated from UF, so during the years I’ve been going up to Gainesville for games and visits, it’s sure grown into a real city now, not the little town I remember, but I still bleed Orange and Blue. My best friend and frat brother is coming from Kissimmee to check CR out next week, he’s a bonafide cracker.
I also recommend George´s tour, he always comes up to San Ramon during his tour and he’s a good friend.
email me at ranchos@racsa.co.cr
Cheers,
Jose
Hola Suzanne:
Great news that you´re coming to San Ramon, we must have met you when you came with George’s tour, as we are in Rancho Lobo, above Angel Valley, we’ll love to help in your transition as well when you get here.
Re travel: go thru all the websites Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz even the airline sites until you find the best deal, they change all the time, and logic has nothing to do with anything.
Re apartment, I can assist with that, we sometimes have places for rent. Although there are sometimes furnished places for rent, most houses and apartments for rent are unfurnished, so you might have to deal with getting appliances and furniture, although if you plan to move permanently, buying those items will save you a bunch in rent, and pay for themselves in one year, then you move them to a house that you pourchase, if you choose to do so.
email me at ranchos@racsa.co.cr
Cheers,
Jose
Hola Debbeie:
Just got on this board and saw your post.
If you want to reach me about the San Ramon properties, email me at ranchos@racsa.co.cr
Cheers,
Jose
Hola Ghislaine:
Be sure to check out the San Ramon area when you come.
We will be going to Paris this summer, love to meet up with you.
I have a B and B near the airport http://www.vidatropical.com
San Ramon is 45 minutes North/NW of the airport.
There is a nice B and B in the San Ramon area as well Angel Valley Farm.
Cheers,
Jose
