Month: January 2009

Yodeling Naked & Firesales

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Rod & I sold a piece of property yesterday and I’d like to tell y’all about it. Be ye buyer or seller I think that it will be informative and hopefully helpful.

The couple came to us from a Canadian referral, primarily to view the San Buenas Golf Resort. I’ll call them the Schmerds.

After viewing the course and deciding that it was for them – they’ll likely get a clubhouse condo for investment and income generation. All this plus the fact that they like to golf made that a no brainer. They asked if they could see some general market properties as well.

We started in Uvita with some lovely whales tail view properties. View from lot 6 Bella Vista Uvita Costa RicaBella Vista Lot #6 has occupied “The Best Deal in Uvita” slot for some time, but was recently nudged into second place by a fire sale opportunity that we had just received.

The Schmerds LOVED #6, with its beautiful ocean and jungle views and absolute privacy. A little over 2 acres and end of the road quiet.

From there we went to Bella Vista #5 Bella Vista 5 Whales Tail Viewwhich is a re-sale and was formerly “Ben’s Favorite Uvita Property” but it too has been relegated to the #2 position by another property that I’ll describe here in a minute. 

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Big Earthquake no Big Deal in Uvita

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When I first posted the below article, I was “street informed” and had heard nothing about anybody being hurt by the earthquake. When I first read a news report on the earthquake, and the fact that people had died, I was shocked. The toll has gone from 2 to an estimated 34 over the ensuing days. We barely felt it here in Uvita. Hence, my title for this article is now inappropriate. The Big Earthquake has now become a Big Deal in Uvita. Our condolences go out to the loved ones of those hurt or killed by the quake.

I was sitting in my real estate office here in Uvita Costa Rica yesterday when I felt the floor tremble a bit. I looked around for a nearby glass of water, as is my custom. There wasn’t one. I shrugged and went on with my day, responding to e-mails, working the web sites, conversing with clients. earthquake.jpg

A couple hours later word comes in that there was a major earthquake centered up around Poas Volcano. (Click here to read the CNN article about it.) Clients write in and ask “How you guys doing there in the zone?”. We’re fine. I remember thinking that I had felt the floor shake a bit, but I never really trust it when I feel that.

Having lived in Costa Rica for 10 years, I have gotten used to earthquakes… well sort of. I think that something tweaked in my head after having experienced a few of them. I’ve never felt threatened by one, so there isn’t an “ohhh I’m scared!” kinda thing. Actually they’re kinda cool. But they do shake the very ground you walk on, and that has had a rather strange affect on me.

After a notable shaker some years ago, I noticed that there were an inordinate amount of aftershocks going on. During one of these “aftershocks” I noticed that

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