For the last 4 days we have been busy shooting video footage of our properties, staff and the Tambor area. We've timed the production of this video to be developed this December with a estimated release date of January 4th 2010.
Name: Jon Armstrong
Name: Mike Quinn
Name: German Tautiva
Now most of the planned areas of road work in Phase 1 have been cut. We are now in the process of widening the roads and installing concrete water drainage pipes.
As work continues in Valle de Luz we can see the main entrance starting to take shape. Mike Quinn of Monterra says: "Since we have come out of the ground people from all over have stopped to look at the site and inquire about opportunities, property sales and jobs. It feels great to be at this stage and booming! when the global economy has clearly affected others. It's demonstrates that Monterra has the resources and experience to fully operate in times like these."
normal levels. This time last year it would not be possible to work at our current speed, as of this posting, the sun is shining and the temperature is 28 degrees. Our area is one of the sunniest in Costa Rica but we do expect heavy rainfall in October as usual.
As anticipated the entrance construction for Monterra's community development, Valle de Luz, began July 22nd 2009. A temporary workshop has been set-up and our builders are getting ready to pour concrete.
Southern Nicoya Peninsula - which
completed within 4 months (by November 2009). Several home designs have also been selected to be built shortly after the entrance is completed. Mike will also be managing these home projects as well.
Mike Quinn, of Monterra Developers, has done a great job of renovating and redesigning our RE/MAX building. RE/MAX is now owned and operated by Monterra Developers but will maintain separate staff and management. RE/MAX will list/offer all different types of Properties, Homes, Farms and Commercial Real Estate from this area and will also provide escrowing services and appraisals.
In addition to the renovations we also purchased the property next door and then paved it to serve as the RE/MAX parking area. The RE/MAX building is located directly across the street from the Hotel Costa Coral www.hotelcostacoral.com also owned by Monterra Developers. The official RE/MAX website is www.remaxtambor.com and is undergoing a transformation to be fully operational before the opening.
Monterra Developers have already moved to the upstairs offi
ces in the RE/MA
X building.
There are 2 bridges needed for phase 1 RDS. The first bridge is at the entrance and will expand 12 meters. The second is 500 meters in the property and will expand 6 meters. The engineering and design plans for these bridges have been completed and approved. Bridge construction will begin as our roads advance and when the weather permits. In the meantime the property is still drivable without the bridges.
A huge part of our responsibilities to our profession is protecting the environment. I hear many people talking about this issue in Costa Rica but without proper knowledge of this country's climate, its nature or even the legal impacts of improper development - it's difficult to really understand what Developers are really doing. Before anyone should purchase property, anywhere, I believe they should look very closely at this issue.
It's fortunate that the government of Costa Rica has made information concerning properties easily accessible to property owners over the Internet. A purchaser can rest assured that their financial interests can be authenticated.You now have the owners information (“Proprietario”) and you just verified that it's indeed a titled property.
Also, at the bottom of the screen is the word “Gravemenes” meaning encumbrances. If there are none, then "NO HAY" will show. If otherwise you should then consult an attorney who can perform a more extensive search and explain the facts surrounding the nature of the encumbrance.
Also, by clicking “Historia,” you can learn of the history of property transfers.
Brian Hughes
Translation:
I was asked recently if Monterra is up-to-date with our municipal taxes needed for any development to take place in Costa Rica. It was the first time I had been asked this question but it seems like good one. So I requested a letter from the municipality and posted it.
In 2007 Monterra Developers purchased a Boutique Hotel in Tambor. Our intention was to provide room availability and quality restaurant and bar services to our clients and guests who come the area to visit. During the High Season - (December to April) the Peninsula is very busy and rooms can be tough to find especially on weekends - so to insure our clients have a comfortable place to stay we purchased "The Hotel Costa Coral'
It also serves as an end-of-the-day meeting place for clients and staff to go over questions about their property tours with Monterra and a private location to discuss business. The hotel employs more then 20 people, year round, and we've heard that it's the best place to work in the area. Our Costa Rica staff enjoy the opportunity to speak English with our clients/friends and many of them keep in touch through email and groups like 'facebook'. We are very happy with this hotel purchase not only from a business point of view but also how it brings together many people from around the World. All property owners and staff of Monterra Developers and OwnCostaRica receive a 30% discount on all room rates - year round!. http://www.hotelcostacoral.com/
Thankfully, all beaches, rivers and of course waterfalls are public in Costa Rica.
I have come to learn 2 things about Costa Rican Real Estate over the years. #1, Purchase in areas where people you know are purchasing (many areas in Costa Rica are beautiful) and not where sale's agents suggests you purchase. #2. I love waterfalls! I spend more time near waterfalls and rivers then beaches. This is a great swimming place.
Brian Hughes
If you want to spend your entire day just submit property ownership (Cars Too!) then Costa Rica's National Registry located in Zapote (San Jose) is the place. To verify ownership you can hire a lawyer or do it yourself from any computer but for the primary registry process you must come to the National Registry. IMAGES POSTED.
Brian Hughes
Located in the municipality of Cobano, and in the town of Florida, our 'Valle de Luz' project will begin with the construction of the front entrance way off the main road connecting Paquera and Cobano. The registered Well has been built and 1000' of line has been run the construction site. We are just finalized the last of our permissions, paid the taxes and approved the construction quotes. We anticipate that construction will commence by July 2009. More information and photo's will follow.
Our Phase 1 is well underway and it's now time to start planning the bridges that are needed for the project.
One of the many important processes involved in attaining permits to develop any property in Costa Rica is forestry studies. These studies are extremely thorough and include such things as tree inventory, GPS(ing) of protected species and identification of areas to be protected. These are very serious studies and can literally stop a project in it's tracks if the engineer feels that the development impact to the forests will be too great.
Located in Tambor and known as 'Panorama Ridge', Monterra Developers acquired some spectacular properties.
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For Phase 1 (Rios Del Sol) we submitted a estimated 7000m2 minimum lot size because most (if not all) of the lots were Master Planned to be 7000m2 in size or larger.
After approvals, Setena can not legally change the size of 7000m2 (in any document) because that was the original suggested lot size that Monterra had submitted. But 5000m2 is the actual legal minimum size to develop in all cases with these projects and if a Developer needed too they could reduce any property down in size to 5000m2. Developing in a Country like Costa Rica needs a thorough understanding and not just an interpretation of a single document.
Becasue of this Blog I asked 'La Setena' to oblige us by writing a certification for Monterra Developers. - they were happy too. 'La Setena' letter is posted.
Brian Hughes
Titles are being issued currently. Posted is a Rios Del Sol Phase 1 titled property located on the public road in Vainlla - there are many more and all will be done shortly as promised. Also posted is photo I took on April 29th 2009 showing the continual development of the Phase 1 roads and one of the significant reasons we can title all of Phase 1. I will post infomation about Phase 2 and Phase 3 shortly.
One of the comments we hear is that Monterra Developers and OwnCostaRica are developing Tambor, Costa Rica when really our projects (towns of Vanilla and Florida) are some 4-6KM away from Tambor's town.+copy.jpg)
mobile ferrries that operate from Puntarenas to Paquera (29KM away) that are named the Tambor 1 and the Tambor 2. They are operated by The Bar
celo Resort to make it easier for Costa Ricans and Tourists to drive to the resort as opposed to flying. The Barcelo offers more then 400 rooms and can be extremely busy at times. If you choose to fly to the Tambor area, even if you are travelling more then 50KM away from Tambor, you will need book your flight(s) to the Tambor airport because it's the the only airport in the southern Nicoya Peninsula. There are many scheduled flights per day leaving from San Jose to Tambor. It's all about Tambor! +copy.jpg)
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