Paragon Properties in Costa Rica – Part VI – Discussion Forum from 2005

jimliesen122
Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
PostPosted: 03 Oct 2005 01:57 am Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Hola all FROM Costa Rica!!!!! HA HA HA!!!!!!!! I am here and YOU are NOT!!!!!
As I read the last 2 pp in the forum which I haven’t participated in the the last 2 weeks or so because I have been trying to get work done so I could come down here now, I have a couple of comments. BUT first, please let me explain what I did today.
First I got the rental car and headed to the NW central valley towns through Grecia and then to San Carlos (check your maps everyone www.maptek.com is pretty good). I saw lots of soccer, and cyclists, and rain, and countryside. Then I hightailed it back along highway 1. Funny thing, 5 hours to drive about 45 miles, and 1 hour back on the Autopista. I can say after driving so hard after this day I cannot tell you how much I’d pay for a good massuese tonight.
I got back into the city pretty quick and wanted to scout tomorrow’s appointment schedule, as I have 2 attorneys, 1 accountant, and a realtor to meet and maybe (hopefully) hire.
As I went through Escazu (not far from Scott O’s home, actually) I saw (one of) the famous McDonalds… I had to look… AT THE MENU BOARD!
I really wanted to know how much a Big Mac meal costs in CR. Ask nicely and I’ll tell you in Colones or dollars. Point is, the “rich gringo’s” weren’t there!!!!!! Nope, full of locals!!!!!!
So, Expat, don’t think that only the rich americans patronize the americanized franchises. Also, Wallmart is coming soon, BTW (says the Tico Times)…
Anyway, I guess all I can say is that for those who are interested in buying the CR dream getaway, please spend some hours driving around without your realtor…. I mean that seriously. Whether it is Paragon, Tarragon, Jose’s real estate, or whatever, you just do not know how easy it is to drive a newbie around to only show what looks good and allow the gringos to believe that if the map says 10 miles, heck, what could possibly be in that small of a space which could possibly affect me…. THIS IS NOT LIKE AT HOME!!! Until you drive at your own leisure and discover the intracacies and beauty and ugliness which all abound here, you just don’t know enough to know that you don’t even know….. Know what I mean? (Of course you don’t, because you haven’t done this yet.
Anyhow, my glass is definitely still half full, but I believe the glass is not made in the color of rose. I only believe that because I am asking the hard questions and getting lots of answers from differing points of view and filtering it as best as I can. CR has problems just like anywhere else. In fact, many of them (I feel) stem from the wellfare society of non-ownership and feelgood hippie stuff from not having an army. Heck, Nicaragua is getting interesting along the border and all CR has is the idealistic belief that The Hague will save them from a water and border dispute issue with their army… When was the last time the international courts did anything quick enough? Or backed it up with enforcement? (before you answer that you ought to also research the resentment from Nicaragua towards their southern neighbor – it’smuch like the entitlement mentality Mexico has towards sw USA) But guess what? I saw a couple of things today which made the 4 inches of rain insignificant.
As I passed through each town, I knew I was in a new one because of the church and soccer. (That’s importan if you are concerned with the concept of sprawl, BTW). Well that’s not news – you all knew that. But guess what? I bet the kids in the USA wouldn’t play any game outside like these kids play soccer.
Passion, dedication, culture, the whole thing. Mud, rain, no sissy shinguard under highrise socks. Just fun soccer. Not a single field was barren in 20 towns.
Oh, and guess what? I stopped and had some rice and beans with chicken for lunch and listened intently and you know what I did NOT hear????
Not a single word of any DIScouragement to the kids, the refs, or anyone.
These people play soccer with the same passion our kids watch TV all week, and they don’t even swear at the kids or refs…. PURA VIDA everyone….
PS – As I type this it is 8 pm and still…the rain…. it is impressive this much water can be suspended in the air – I really don’t understand that.
PPS – Jacques – I am so sorry I didn’t send you that email I promised, but friend, getting here was higher on the list – I hope you understand.
PPPS – I am planning on being down around about 3 of the famous developments on Wed and Thur…. I’ll report back how many airports I find and highways, and new homes, etc., but in all seriousness I can’t take you-know-who very seriously anymore – you can’t force a horse to drink or a newlywed to see baggage, but if anythng worth slowing down for pops into view I have my camera.

paumatom
Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: 03 Oct 2005 03:45 am Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Jim – You wrote:

CR has problems just like anywhere else. In fact, many of them (I feel) stem from the wellfare society of non-ownership and feelgood hippie stuff from not having an army. Heck, Nicaragua is getting interesting along the border and all CR has is the idealistic belief that The Hague will save them from a water and border dispute issue
&
But guess what? I bet the kids in the USA wouldn’t play any game outside like these kids play soccer.
Passion, dedication, culture, the whole thing. Mud, rain, no sissy shinguard under highrise socks. Just fun soccer. Not a single field was barren in 20 towns.
Oh, and guess what? I stopped and had some rice and beans with chicken for lunch and listened intently and you know what I did NOT hear????
Not a single word of any DIScouragement to the kids, the refs, or anyone.
These people play soccer with the same passion our kids watch TV all week, and they don’t even swear at the kids or refs…. PURA VIDA

Just a thought, but maybe the two are connected. Also, I’m wondering where they found hippies in 1947 Costa Rica. Remember you’re not in Kansas anymore, that’s supposed to be part of the attraction.

cranberry
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 03 Oct 2005 12:07 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

jim,
interesting to hear your posts coming from the “motherland”! check out columbus heights in playa hermosa if youd

cranberry
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 03 Oct 2005 12:29 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

jim,
going to try this again! yes if you get a chance check out columbus heights in playa hermosa. I don’t have the # but the web is wamcr.com let us know what you think. playa hermosa is approx. a 1.5-2 hr. drive from san jose. while there casa pura vida is a comfortable place to stay on the beach. the owners are a good source for infornation as they have been in the area about 12yrs. this will put you about 30 minutes north of paritta. good luck!

bhdixon
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 39
PostPosted: 03 Oct 2005 05:03 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Hey Jim,
Pura Vida! I’ll be down in a couple of weeks. Enjoy! Can’t wait to get your impressions online.

xPat,
I don’t know who all these rich people are that are buying in CR. They have the money to buy in less risky areas within the US. Seems like us wanna be rich guys (speaking for myself) are the ones snapping up property in CR on a small scale anyway.

Cranberry,
Best comments I’ve seen in awhile (except for perhaps Jim’s). You are a knowledgeable person in my book and a realist.

Soon2BNXpat
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 24
PostPosted: 03 Oct 2005 06:20 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

dixon said: “I don’t know who all these rich people are that are buying in CR. They have the money to buy in less risky areas within the US. Seems like us wanna be rich guys (speaking for myself) are the ones snapping up property in CR on a small scale anyway.”

I don’t know who they are either, but I’m trying to get the hell away from them as they destroyed every paradise I ever moved to! These are not primary residences they build; they are second or third or fourth homes.

As for the rich not eating in McDonald’s, well, that doesn’t surprise me. The target demographic for this pernicious food chain has always been the lower end of the economic scale. it doesn’t bode well for Ticos if they’ are scarfing up this stuff passed off as food. Our worldwide health crisis is in part blamed on the fast food industry. As for how much any of what they serve costs, I last checked their prices when hamburgers were $.10. Wouldn’t eat them then, wouldn’t eat them now! LOL

As for Nicaragua, despite the political instability (with the Seals positioned in case of an uprising which the US will squash) people are still buying land there and touting it as the next best place to live. That where I nearly went to buy land before I got talked out of it by a friend who spent 20 years there during the contra scandal and said ixnay on Nicaragua, go to Costa Rica. The rest is history.

29 days and counting til I’m back in CR.

krunchie
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: 04 Oct 2005 04:59 am Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

I’m a new character to the “Paragon Saga” here. Just spent the last 4 hours reading all the entries. Since this topic was started. It’s been very informative and helpful for me. Especially following Dixon.

I just recieved my info packet and friendly call from Peter in Fl. to see what I think. As of TODAY the airport is still being used as a selling tool. I was told because of the increased air traffic and influx of tourism, blah blah, blah. Made sense to me until reading past enteries here. That as well as the superhighway. Which really made no sense to me because the land is in Miramar right off an already existing superhighway. (from what i can tell with the map)

Dixon, I don’t know what they told you. But there still is land in Playa Del Sol. At least today at 4pm I was told to “pick a lot…any lot. Secure it now and if ya don’t like it we’ll find ya something else”. I never knew real estate could be so easy in CR. But someone could have bowed out of their contract since you purchased and lots could still be for sale.

This deal seems completely crazy, the marketing (or scam) and concepts are totaly out of the box.

BUT, like Dixon stated awhile back. No one has ever come forward and said they could not get their money back. One guy said he had a friend that had a hard time. But I still haven’t seen anyone responed to this. No one has stated the contracts aren’t credible. They look awefull shadey, along with xerox copied refund slip.

But again, if that’s what the deal is and it’s writing. The risk factor seems kind of low. Although it is also seems strange that out of all the projects. No one has said the utilities are in and I’m just waiting to close. You would think something would be in place after almost 2 years. Someone has to be first.

I’m glad I found you all. I’m not ruleing out this deal, but I’ve never been to CR and will be going in Nov. to check things out. Until then my checkbook stays closed. Look forward to learning about Jim and Dixon’s travels

krunchie
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: 04 Oct 2005 05:40 am Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Another thought……from all the enteries I’ve read it seems that Paragon IS buying land, but worrying about sectioning them off into lots later. Or it at least until the title was awarded. Can’t remember excatly how it was worded. Understand I’ve been getting mentaly punished by hurricane paragon for the last 5 hours here. Point being, how can the people who have already seen their lots. Know it’s THEIR lot. How do you what you are looking at?

If this is a scam, (and the track record speaks for itself) who’s to say they couldn’t put a bunch of stakes out somewhere in the middle of old man johnsons farm. They know when you’re going to be there…you made an appointment remember.

what kind of insurance do we have besides a xerox copied refund slip.

trevorchil
Joined: 09 May 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: 04 Oct 2005 05:47 am Post subject: A question of value

In one of my first posts ever made on this now famous project(s) I questioned the great value that the buyers were quoting with absolute total and unquestioned belief that $60,000 was a bargain. I made the comment then that that was hardly the gospel and here again I give you a hard comparison from the same area to back up that original statement.

I just came back from a trip to Parrita in assisting a client with construction of a new home on property at Playa Palo Saco which for those that do not know runs from Parrita to 7 km south/SE. To get to this beach you travel on a paved road from Parrita until you hit this long stretch of approximately 300 ocean front lots. This beach has a completed Plano Regulador which means you can build immediately which is evidenced by construction in progress at this very moment. The whole beach is fully serviced even with phone lines to the last home currently built. It is completely flat which means that the property is 100% developable which a mountain most certainly is not. It has a lot of palm trees both on the beach and the lots as well as fruit trees growing with no concerns over primary forest issues. A large amount of these lots have ocean in front and a very large estuary in the back that has excellent snook and red snapper fishing as well as providing a place for a boat and dock for recreational purposes. These concessions run from $42,000 to $200,000 depending on size. As far as historical evidence provided from just about anywhere in the world what property has escalated in price more ocean front or ocean view? I think we all know ocean front wins hands down in this competition. Now we must add in the fact that the property in question is 15 to 20 kms back from the beach this whole scenario becomes even more questionable as from that far away the ocean becomes this thin blue line on the horizon as compared to a surf crashing in at your feet on a near desolate beach. These are hardly comparable locations. Not to mention that the road to get way back to those lots is most certainly not paved so the drive will hardly compare to the Palo Saco drive to town being under 10 minutes from the furthest lot.

So let us make a comparison on features and realities of these two locations and look at both value and risk.

1. Security of ownership/control –
Palo Saco – you pay the owner and walk away from the lawyer’s office instantly with the right to build the home of your desires at any time or to sell to who ever you choose when ever you choose.
Paragon – you pay them and walk away with a company that may hold the title once it appears sometime in the future guaranteed by a contract of the developer and NOTHING from government or regualtory body that says such WILL happen. You provide them with the money to finance their development but you receive nothing for the use of your money other than a promise to do something for you sometime in the future.

2. Ease of building –
Palo Saco – Flat sand beach 100% buildable immediately
Paragon – mountain location which may only be 10% buildable hence all that property may be of little use to you (unless you raise goats) sometime in the future once Paragon completes all its legal requirements and most assuradly the mountain locations will be more expensive to build on Eg. retaining walls and water runoff controls can easily run $10,000 before you even get started on a house.

3. Infrastructure –
Palo Saco – paved road leading to 7km sand beach road, power and phone line complete (cell pones work), water available from sand point wells. Cable company is currently running lines to the beach north of this so it is reasonable that this beach could also see cable in the forseeable future due to its close proximity to town.
Paragon – 15-20 km of road of varying degree of roughness that could easily mean a 30 minute drive to town, all infrastructure in development and water from where we do not know yet.

4. Social recreational activities –
Palo Saco – an existing community with three bars/restaurants on the beach, existing neighbours (with more in constrcution phase now) for social activities and interactions, a school, fishing, boating, surfing, swimming and what ever else you can think of involving water.
Paragon – you are way back in the boonies of the mountains with ZERO community and ZERO recreational activities other than watching the birds and butterflies. There is no one to socialize with and it will be some time before this changes especially if most speculators never build or wait for years as they pay off their lots before they do. So if you are one of the first to build, once there is some infrastructure to build upon, it is going to be one lonely place for a very long time.

In a final simple comparison of price for value and future escallation potentials the lot I was on cost $100,000 more than one up in the mountains 15 kms away so is it worth $6,000 a km for the location. The client that purchased this certainly thought it was better value. I have no doubt that when they look back on this road to a sound investment their road will have much more gold on it that the one leading way back to those mountains. Even under the best case scenario that Paragon does all that it promises I still don’t see this location as having the great value that all the proponents boast of regularly on this board. That I submit you can take to the bank! Other than that all I can say is good luck to those that bought into the slick marketing.

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cranberry
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 04 Oct 2005 11:52 am Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

I think the one thing trevor does not mention is the property size of these other lots. I will guess they are in the 500 -1000m2 range? i’m not on board with the paragon deal at all but one reason people are buying is the size of the lots 10000-20000m2 it may not all be buildable but if affords privacy and some breathing room. I own a little over 5000m2 in the mountains near playa hermosa/jaco, it’s not all buildable but I like the space and privacy it affords in a secure development. and it’s about a kilometer from the beach. also paragon seems to attract people gringos or not that are not elites but people of moderate means and there financeing structure makes it possible to buy for someone who does’nt have 40-200k in the bank. for those speculating to get “rich” I have little sympathy as we are all adults and have to accept the risk like any speculative investor does. but for those folks just looking for a nice (and affordable)place to build on in this beautiful country I hope things work out. if I had had a $100 k available I to would have bought my land in the heart of playa hermosa in a development that had everything in place and I could build today….but I did’nt. so far things have worked out just fine and we’ll start building our home in august and are meeting with a couple of builders and architects (tico and gringo) in december. good luck everybody!!!

Last edited by cranberry on 04 Oct 2005 12:18 pm; edited 1 time in total

cranberry
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 04 Oct 2005 12:14 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

sorry the first part of my post did not show up, here’s what I said:
trevor does not mention the size of these lots but I would guess 500-1000m2.

bhdixon
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 39
PostPosted: 04 Oct 2005 04:29 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

The pics of Playa del Sol show that it is much closer than 15 Km. More like a mile or so. The ocean is very large in the horizon; not a sliver as stated. This may be so on the lower prices properties but not Playa del Sol. Anyway this is all verifiable when you go to see your property as I will be doing in a couple of weeks.

As far as more lots being available, I don’t doubt this. They hold lots supposedly based on telephone conversations and then people get cold feet and don’t send in their deposits. Also I’m sure they like to tell you there is only a few lots left to spur you to act quickly.

They own the properties. I don’t think you need to worry about that level of deception from them. The other questions about how quickly they will get things done on infrastructure are all valid but they have been doing things in The Gables and Las Brisas according to many including AM Costa Rica Magazine which was critical of them in the past.

bhdixon
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 39
PostPosted: 04 Oct 2005 04:36 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Just another thought:
Beware of Ocean Front Lots. The govt owns all this out to 150 m from the beach. So you may be buying property based on a short term lease agreement and the govt will take it from you and anything you build on it. And remember the beach can change so what is just shy of 150 meters can be within that mark in the future based on erosion, storms or whatnot.

cranberry
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 07 Oct 2005 04:17 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

jim where art thou? we are waiting for your report! I hope you have not sucumb to soontobxpats chomsky light politics and have starved to death because you refused to eat at a burger king?

cranberry
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 07 Oct 2005 05:03 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

jim where art thou? we are waiting for your report! I hope you have not sucumb to soontobxpats chomsky light politics and have starved to death because you refused to eat at a burger king?

Soon2BNXpat
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 24
PostPosted: 08 Oct 2005 06:08 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

hola, cranberry — that’s pretty funny, but hey, don’t let my frivolous politics stop you from poisoning yourself!!!

i hope jim took lots of pictures, especially of the new superhighway and the proposed site for the super-mega airport. come on, jim, weigh in here and give us the scoop.

cranberry
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 08 Oct 2005 07:30 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

I was just adding a little humor to the board i’mveg w/ a bit of fish. never ate at the king so kudos to you on that. but please can we stop with the highway airport crapola already! who cares…..so paragon and everyone else in the area talks about the airport and highway including the ticos. fact is these things have little impact on this area!(except crowds). I own land in playa hermosa/jaco and there’s a perfectly good road and very scenic at that to the coast. it takes about 1.5 hours to jaco, then figure another 45 minutes to parrita. home prices are through the roof in this area(hermosa area) 500 m2 lots are about 35k and larger 5000m2 lots aver.100k. up to 200k for ocean view. yes you can find tico style homes for less but you will need an armed guard to watch it when you’re not there…hence gated communitys are sound choices if you don’t live there full time. paragon probaly is a pretty decent deal if they follow through with there promises…time will tell? yes it’s not nice that many of these land sellers including some I found on this sight(americana properties for one) mention the airport, highway and marina…but people who sell puff that’s a fact, if I was to boycot every company that made misleading, exagerated claims I could’nt buy a box of cereal! hello trevor chilton! all natural my !#@*! even scotto boasts his book is the “best selling” of it’s kind in central america? how relevant is that when it’s not even available in spanish? but it sounds impressive and I guess it’s true although I can’t verify it….this is puffing more or less and just about everybody does it… verify the facts yourself or with the help of an objective pro who gets paid a flat fee and if things check out proceed. I would strongly advise we all take the info we get here with a grain of salt. I was familiar with hermosa from years of trips there and talked with the locals, brokers, friends and hotel owners before buying. I would not dream of sending 25k to anyone before walking on the prop and a min.due diligence!

bhdixon
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 39
PostPosted: 09 Oct 2005 01:40 am Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Go get’em Cranberry! I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I guess I found my replacement spokesperson Laughing

Thank God! I was getting tired Wink

jimliesen122
Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005 04:57 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Hola mi Amigos y Tico-wannabees,

Much to my dismay, I have returned to the ‘other’ land of McD’s and Burger Kings… I honestly have tears in my eyes whenever the plane goes up into the clouds every time I depart my beloved second adopted country. I don’t when I leave the USA, although I probably should.

My report? Well let’s see….

The McD’s at Sabana Park charges more for a BigMac meal than my hometown one does – and the drivethru was full of Ticos, not Gringos!

I didn’t have time to go see the developments we have all wanted to know about, as I was busy negotiating and starting the research on my own purchase offers on three properties. (I gotta share this!!!) The first is over 30 acres with the killer central valley view on a mountain hillside, with all utilities, etc. asking price … $150,000- with numerous options as to phasing, purchasing, etc. The second was over 20 acres on a steeper slope, all utilities etc., only suitable for perhaps 7-9 homelots… $32,000. The last one I am really excited about was a little 5 acre parcel for $50,000 due to it’s location ‘near’ the central valley, but I think that one is in escrow with someone else, but very nice for 4-5 lots. I visited with two very professional realtors, which I would highly recommend (privately) and look forward to working with both of them extensively in the future.

I guess after I develop those babies I’ll sell them to you all for Paragon prices, if you insist. I’ll only ask you to buy them first then I’ll let you come and see them. Just KIDDING!!!!!! Only half down!!!! (still kidding!!!)

I made many friends and met with several I have emailed with for weeks. That alone was worth the trip.

I watched kids play football (soccer) in the rain and mud with attendant families watching intently in the (what would have been if the sun shined) shadows of beautiful churches in every town I was through. Guess what? Not a single foul or discouraging word was heard to the other team, kids, refs, or anything else… just a bit different than Pop Warner and Little League. I was so moved by the cultural differences, I was inspired to write another book about it…. And I couldn’t even imagine our kids willing to play as hard in such weather because we have cultivated a generation of wussies!

I also decided to write a book about realities, or rather a mythbusting book about CR. Since the guidebooks are so misleading, I figure that a book with a different type of information might be of help. (If you are like me, you have about a milkcrate sized amount of books which all say the same things!!! Unfortunately, much of it is misleading at best and none of them tell you what you really need to know.)

I saw what the locals kept describing as ‘the worst weather EVER’ as a) it was October and b) the hurricane was in the neighborhood of Central America and dumping an amazing amount of water…. Guess what? It sure beat Seattle!!!! That kind of rain is depressing. In CR, it was much more tolerable because everyone knows it is temporary.

Let’s see…. Oh, I have a new dentista!!! Much more attentive than my former one here in the states, and I feel I got a much higher level of customer service, and made a new friend as well.

Oh, and let’s not forget… the game!!! We went to a Tico-Italian restaurante in Heredia because we knew the food was great and that they would have at least 1 TV…. The place was electrified as the game went on. I was rooting for the CR team to be honest, I guess because it was soccer, not like an USA game like baseball, basketball, or football (the real kind). If it were one of those games, I’d have to be rooting for the USA, but soccer doesn’t belong to the USA in the same cultural way as it does to the Ticos. Then the lack of riots in the streets after winning was also noticibly different than at home. Nothing but families of multi-generations waving flags, smiling, and honking horns till about 2 am.

Sidenote on Tico pride… A friend of mine was overhearing a couple of ‘ugly American’ tourists getting rude in public about how soccer wasn’t a ‘real’ game like football in the states. He watched the Ticos display a much higher level of self-control and maturity by ignoring the comments until they were actually directly approached…. When the ‘visitor’ insulted the Tico by saying something about how bad the USA would pound the CR team, he calmly responded with a comment about how he was quite confident of his CR home team, even while they were playing with the 2nd string team!!!! Now that’s national pride!!! Don’t forget, CR fields that team from a national population of only 3 million while USA does it with 300 million – and they properly kicked !#@*!!!

I can’t think of anything more to ‘report’ on for now, as I am so busy trying to organize the massive amount of info I got while down there and also trying to catch up with my ‘real’ work.

I will say this, however, I am trying to plan my November trip ASAP!!!

Any specific questions?

Hasta Luego!

jimliesen122
Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005 05:04 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Oh, I forgot… I ate Tico food like a pig and felt full for the entire 8 days since I am not at all used to eating 3 times a day, and still lost weight. I tell you, the fruit is so damned good it is hard to describe…. Besides, why eat at McD’s when I was able to sit down with 2 friends, we all ate a huge lunch (fish platter, chicken platter, and steak platter with 4 fruit smoothies total) for about $12 tax and tip incl. No paper wrappers and a friendly waiter instead…. What a country!!!

bhdixon
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 39
PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005 07:21 pm Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Hello Jim!

Shhhhhhh! Your not supposed to say too many good things about CR. Xpat will be upset because too many people will start moving there and he won’t be able to buy raw milk anymore Laughing All in good fun. We love you Xpat!

mbussanich
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
PostPosted: 12 Oct 2005 12:36 am Post subject: RE: Paragon Properties

Just returned from CR with visits to Paragon properties in Parrita and their new offices in San Jose. I went down to look at their properties and to review site progress, etc. I met with the company’s management and others and I must say that I was very impressed with them as intelligent, professional business people. More than that,

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