tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379032342024-03-07T02:19:34.504-05:00Building la pura vidaA poorly edited journal of the experience of a complete amateur trying to convert his image of heaven into physical reality.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-8197811790166098992010-08-25T16:28:00.000-05:002010-08-25T16:28:26.161-05:00Regrettably, because I have had so much trouble with Blogger, I have moved this blog to <a href="http://buildinglapuravida.wordpress.com/">WordPress</a> <a href="http://buildinglapuravida.wordpress.com/"><span id="sample-permalink">http://buildinglapuravida.wordpress.com . </span></a><br />
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<span id="sample-permalink">Please join the party over there. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-15612593537154881332010-06-25T03:05:00.000-05:002010-06-25T03:05:59.022-05:00WHOSE TRUSSES ARE THOSE??<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCd-MdQwI1G6HA8w9_T0ckmmIoHHSEr4TZYgtl38DcBRfUhgrEHvrD6JKzHlrpn2Ew6i5P7czJAhoDfxOvgPFyAnzGvXCdW0fi08Cv67GcZWcRJhXIFPsPInSuhhx2XD_pVfgA/s1600/DSC05246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCd-MdQwI1G6HA8w9_T0ckmmIoHHSEr4TZYgtl38DcBRfUhgrEHvrD6JKzHlrpn2Ew6i5P7czJAhoDfxOvgPFyAnzGvXCdW0fi08Cv67GcZWcRJhXIFPsPInSuhhx2XD_pVfgA/s320/DSC05246.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgg8UQqPhTjR4BRMJwKrmy9x4XqXab4rTQhQanRlO_W-xZOAMp_xIvld4AXqEfWdECDsxiMCK5S6uKuIIgXj5JNTKeacNByooaGrox9PxWOY-4Y75HeEg0EVZh_eFfntqbHgh/s1600/DSC05245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgg8UQqPhTjR4BRMJwKrmy9x4XqXab4rTQhQanRlO_W-xZOAMp_xIvld4AXqEfWdECDsxiMCK5S6uKuIIgXj5JNTKeacNByooaGrox9PxWOY-4Y75HeEg0EVZh_eFfntqbHgh/s320/DSC05245.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKhHcmYe8o6qFZf08NzR9SImLeIp4_UH348mc4XhMHV0OiZpPMItBpqgDDE6s258xT59flbPSPaOZUBRnwJs8yi3sBAk1y-CDBa5wcA1pEQPWrM6rrJOxFBbCD2cze8O1NvpF/s1600/DSC05244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKhHcmYe8o6qFZf08NzR9SImLeIp4_UH348mc4XhMHV0OiZpPMItBpqgDDE6s258xT59flbPSPaOZUBRnwJs8yi3sBAk1y-CDBa5wcA1pEQPWrM6rrJOxFBbCD2cze8O1NvpF/s320/DSC05244.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89-4VGWZiZ02lR_se8NaW1XJ1qYUKUYTYvk7PRcFSrx6ZccKaaxwqMWusedZ-3VA02zH6nR7LfnMZqN-TTvV6HVaCgmMcoMylT710y8tAdaOfPvgCjHqII4-U66chYlUH3Mn5/s1600/DSC05243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89-4VGWZiZ02lR_se8NaW1XJ1qYUKUYTYvk7PRcFSrx6ZccKaaxwqMWusedZ-3VA02zH6nR7LfnMZqN-TTvV6HVaCgmMcoMylT710y8tAdaOfPvgCjHqII4-U66chYlUH3Mn5/s320/DSC05243.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdf7HdtVfSy6WQVPk9NK8KXtI-yM_oejMu1pNdvya14DtF4myrvTYOeXZMClER1RyaiKXWKMMnLB49zBxdgOFSEdwyQPJzEzo260bPR9zJb8BD1z9S2aJEmgnFE5t-l7BRFxN/s1600/DSC05241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdf7HdtVfSy6WQVPk9NK8KXtI-yM_oejMu1pNdvya14DtF4myrvTYOeXZMClER1RyaiKXWKMMnLB49zBxdgOFSEdwyQPJzEzo260bPR9zJb8BD1z9S2aJEmgnFE5t-l7BRFxN/s320/DSC05241.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Those are MY Trusses! <br />
(This Ghetto moment brought to you by five bourbons, the Southern Schools Mixer, a Karaoke party and A DREAM HOUSE IN COSTA RICA. Bitches.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-40726659526044749372010-06-16T13:15:00.001-05:002010-06-16T13:15:59.676-05:00Fresh off the press...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwB29CRmpIxP4GLWcAbm_sqO6CXV4dO_yjFfCos-AcmOFYbw2bkp_M41kfkfM4QGj45CHIYJaLFl_d-DF4atHjhpKTtlNcqLRCq-2gfa2eIglDpLg4N-Y5kVXi6OUPaIJ-HdA/s1600/K+HOUSE+SITE+VISIT+REPORT+IMAGEN_Page_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwB29CRmpIxP4GLWcAbm_sqO6CXV4dO_yjFfCos-AcmOFYbw2bkp_M41kfkfM4QGj45CHIYJaLFl_d-DF4atHjhpKTtlNcqLRCq-2gfa2eIglDpLg4N-Y5kVXi6OUPaIJ-HdA/s400/K+HOUSE+SITE+VISIT+REPORT+IMAGEN_Page_2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_0fNR4Kl5qL9Qfg0lxnVFDRpngoJBCclpwUWR8EepGgAUCDPZdC6g6qFcVrVhPjT4dOxHsosdudjE0LvR0I19KN3Zmzk2sstMFAbSS1MWSrnqkmh4BbVnuW9fI9GRFL-3Mva/s1600/K+HOUSE+SITE+VISIT+REPORT+IMAGEN_Page_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_0fNR4Kl5qL9Qfg0lxnVFDRpngoJBCclpwUWR8EepGgAUCDPZdC6g6qFcVrVhPjT4dOxHsosdudjE0LvR0I19KN3Zmzk2sstMFAbSS1MWSrnqkmh4BbVnuW9fI9GRFL-3Mva/s400/K+HOUSE+SITE+VISIT+REPORT+IMAGEN_Page_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It has feet. And a floor. Kind of. Wow, this is really moving quickly. The steel frame is cold rolled, and built according the California earthquake standards. It should allow the house to flex and to survive. Note how little earth moving is being done. Other than the master bedroom, I am not laying a foundation. This was intentional- to let the breeze flow under, cooling the house, and to allow wildlife and rainwater to pass under. <br />
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I had a holdup with the water. The Asada, a local water group, required some paper work, but, of course, they would not send or fax it to me, and of course, it needed to have an original signiture. Alex, of DatumZero, picked it up on a site visit, and scanned it to me. I printed, signed and sent it back. No doubt they will want some payment now...its unclear where they receive their authority or jurisdiction to do so, but they can hold up a project, and know it, so it will be paid.<br />
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I am going down in July to see the work for myself. Amazing no?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-67133191181052070172010-06-15T17:07:00.000-05:002010-06-15T17:07:51.121-05:00<span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;">From Guillermo re the wood:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;">"I am thinking the bottom (#1) color for the flooring which is as well Teak. </span> <br />
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;">As a side note, all the Wood for the entire sheathing of the house is prepared, cut and predrilled, it is now in the process of finishing, and sealing. The beams are fabricated and will be shipped to site in the next couple of weeks.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;">Alex will be sending you the report today, i know he is doing an inspection on the woodwork today."</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;">How amazing is that? This whole thing is going to be done in 6 months. There is a house right next to me in SF which is not much bigger and certainly not in the jungle, which has been under process for over a year. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;">DatumZero has been amazing so far. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: x-small;">And I have teak floors. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-46311419002432165282010-06-15T13:49:00.000-05:002010-06-15T13:49:53.002-05:00Nice Wood:<br />
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Guillermo today sent me a sample of the wood that will be used as the outside of Plan B.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVVoFcofm2e3P2ZJJI8W0K36F1MAcifqgdD8F8v7M-5_7M5GQZVDJdGFOmLXP-TLL5jJdizcXI6GWphtHfM6WxGils8fUWR3WNi9lusuDChtRcWP0daAn8nT2VHnH6mL0thmb/s1600/MADERAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVVoFcofm2e3P2ZJJI8W0K36F1MAcifqgdD8F8v7M-5_7M5GQZVDJdGFOmLXP-TLL5jJdizcXI6GWphtHfM6WxGils8fUWR3WNi9lusuDChtRcWP0daAn8nT2VHnH6mL0thmb/s320/MADERAS.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Its the one on the far right. A darker wood, but one that matches the trees on the land. The wood was sustainably grown, I believe in Nicaragua- so semi local. We chose the wood for those reason. Its teak, which is both naturally insect resistant, and a hardwood which stands up to the elements extremely well. This means there is no need for a polymer coating, which would be toxic, or for insecticides, which are, of course, also toxic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-47978696710811786702010-04-27T00:58:00.000-05:002010-04-27T00:58:18.199-05:00Hello old blog. <br />
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Time to fire you up again as the K House is being built. <br />
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So much to cover, but the short of it is that I inked a contract with a contractor, and broke ground two weeks ago. <br />
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The project is funded in phases, each one paid 40% at the beginning, the other 60 at the end. There is also a hold back of 8% for completion of the entire house. Guillermo and the boys at DatumZero were great in negotiating that K on my behalf. ("K" is lawyer for Contract. Don't ask why. I do not know). <br />
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There were some sexy last minute additions. Another foot on the gallery, in width, a plunge pool/hot tub, and an underground security locker. Total increase in cost = 9k. Not a bad days negotiation if I do say so myself. <br />
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So here are some pictures, because everyone loves pictures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2G43Z4NoN7PtHN7adYIvPesyKsjQGaopKNz7J407VYucpKKnRM0ne3He5nVJhiF4htTCX-tWq6yOXnPlYBhnwenfMiQR9MGvuczhTQv4PgNmhTLaVhOAn7UdYHp_39eK0TWw/s1600/kh_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2G43Z4NoN7PtHN7adYIvPesyKsjQGaopKNz7J407VYucpKKnRM0ne3He5nVJhiF4htTCX-tWq6yOXnPlYBhnwenfMiQR9MGvuczhTQv4PgNmhTLaVhOAn7UdYHp_39eK0TWw/s320/kh_4.jpg" /></a></div> So there it is. The sad and devastating truth. The cabina, that labor of love that Paul, Mike, Rebecca, Scott, Dad, and Lynn all poured themselves into, leveling floors, making concrete footers, applying pesticide by squeeze bottle and hand, carrying lumber, patching bang boxes from power lines...its destroyed. <br />
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From the architect:<br />
"<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Cabina.</span><br />
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The cabina had been vandalized and <span class="il">destroy</span>, there was no roof when on it and a lot of the wood pieces were missing. "</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Someone catabolized the house. I am livid and hurt and feel cheated. I hate theives. Perhaps more than anything. Perhaps more than Cathrine Zeta Jones or Mac and Cheese. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">A moment of silence. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">...</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">...</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">ok. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Still morning, but Ill go on. The Cabina would have wanted it that way. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY15ZUZanJnYtcQJ9MYzQNo2AXUVLd39QamxjxQ3jWSk-2m3HomrPtf4RsFnrhtxc5QHPt7ejrbvXmwIUG8QGLeobWuxaAPx1DKKhbRiaQC714klOnAvG70pPr2QPOmSVBZ7V/s1600/kh_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY15ZUZanJnYtcQJ9MYzQNo2AXUVLd39QamxjxQ3jWSk-2m3HomrPtf4RsFnrhtxc5QHPt7ejrbvXmwIUG8QGLeobWuxaAPx1DKKhbRiaQC714klOnAvG70pPr2QPOmSVBZ7V/s320/kh_09.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>Yeah, nothing groundbreaking. Get it? Actually this is not the sexiest part of the project for me. But, we are of course laying the foundation of KHouse. You can see that the work crew has adopted the remainder of the cabina. <br />
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Phase two payments to be made tomorrow. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-46328259594070573852009-10-29T16:37:00.001-05:002009-10-29T16:37:03.032-05:00It is begun. <br />
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The KHouse is underway. More when there is more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-62433274130948417362008-11-15T23:11:00.002-05:002008-11-15T23:13:24.056-05:00GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH<br /><br />Shit. <br /><br />SHit shit shit. <br /><br />I just got this from helpful James Johnson at CR mortgatge:<br /><br />"Ok, I just got word back from them and I hate to have bad news, but here it is. As of this week, they just instituted a new policy that they are no longer lending to Non-residents. They have made an exception in your case, but this is gonna require some drastic things from you. They require that for every $100K borrowed, that you must put $166,666 into a CD in the bank and hold it there for a minimum of 1 year. The return interest rate depends on exactly how much is deposited. This makes no sense to me, as I am sure to you as well. Unfortunately with the credit crisis worldwide, the banks across CR are running out of money to lend and they are requiring steeper and steeper conditions in order to lend. "<br /><br /> <br /><br />The banks here are cutting off lending to Non-residents all over the place. I started out with 12 lenders at the beginning of the year and I am down to 1 with very difficult terms to qualify..."<br /><br /><br />Wow. THis is not, of course, the end, but a serious road block. I am sorry to those of you still following this as I am to everyone who is emotionally and professionally invested in it on my end. This is really bad news. <br /><br />Any and all advice is welcome.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-42015759148672993322008-10-17T15:52:00.002-05:002008-10-17T16:03:24.877-05:00Alright.<br /><br />I am sick of this. <br /><br />LETS BUILD A HOUSE.<br /><br />I got my loan application in two weeks ago. I have another 2 weeks to one month to wait. SO DONE WIATING. I love this project and I want to start NOOOOW. Of course, its the rainy season, so thats impracticable, but I am so excited by this, its hard to wait.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-53877186904975474992008-10-08T12:46:00.001-05:002008-10-08T12:47:41.756-05:00The loan application is complete. Its in someone else's hands right now. <br /><br />Bad timing in terms of credit, perhaps, but Ben Bernake seems to think that giving people free money is a good idea. Maybe if I pretend to be a major lender who was remiss in my own risk analysis, I can get free money too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-19462692153574221372008-09-30T21:35:00.001-05:002008-09-30T21:36:57.460-05:00We are getting closer. James from Costa Rica Mortgage has all the official documents. I have a handful of things to send him and then....then maybe we get the green light. <br /><br />In other interesting news, the price of steel has fallen 9 % as the auto and building industries worldwide prepare for economic slowdown. Good for me? Lets hope. Stell is expensive.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-41898405963319410722008-09-04T15:33:00.002-05:002008-09-04T15:40:00.351-05:00Breaking. Ground. <br /><br />Savor those words. <br /><br />They are two of my favorites:<br /><br />From Guillermo<br />"<span style="font-family:Arial;">The contractors were finalizing some docs. on the Nicoya municipality as well, we are breaking ground </span> <div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:Arial;">this week. I am almost 100% that tomorrow it will be taking place."<br /><br />Also, let me again on line extend my gratitude to DatumZero for their support. Guillermo has been instrumental, in getting all my foreign tax and real estate documents together for my maddening loan applicaiton. Let me put this more bluntly---He saved my ass. No way I could have done that. The man went to the municipality and paid my taxes for me. Lets look at that again- piad my taxes for me. This, I cannot do from Palo Alto. <br /><br />Also, a big shout out to James Johnson at Costa Rica Mortgage. After months of a maddening loan application process, James just picked up the phone and walked me through everything. He gave me recommendations and tips, streamlined the process. He was great. I think I will get the loan soon, largely thanks to his handling. <br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Arial Black','sans-serif'; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span><a href="http://www.costaricamortgage.net/james" target="_blank">www.costaricamortgage.net/james</a><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-17189138597835229362008-08-15T17:17:00.003-05:002008-08-15T17:19:09.866-05:00Death and taxes.<br /><br />only these two things are certain in life.<br /><br />well, I just paid my CR taxes, or rather Guillermo did so for me in nicoya. <br /><br />I may, one day, financially recover from the 2 dollars and 50 cents that I was stripped in CR, but for the time being, I am going to lick my wounds and try to take out a loan to cover it.<br /><br /><br />Really, 2.50 after 9 years? I love this country. Of course, now I understand why CR is totally broke, but I love it all the same.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-35495488796435574822008-07-24T01:40:00.002-05:002008-07-24T01:42:09.354-05:00This is utterly and completely without tangent. <br /><br />I got this in an email from my Father. <br /><br />"So, I sent Annie a birthday greeting, but instead of wasting time on some frilly wishes, I offered her some advice. To be brief, it was to beware of the altogether too easy trap of sacrificing one's life and soul on the altar of a job. "Put yourself first," I said, etc."<br /><br />Isn't that amazing. I mean, we all hear this message, but this is what my Dad wanted to give my sister for a Birthday gift: advice. You have no idea how lucky I am to have grown up around him.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-47252890536387354332008-07-02T19:40:00.002-05:002008-07-02T19:41:40.336-05:00Add ons. depending on left over budget, I asked Guillermo to compile a list of add ons that are cost effective and add value to the home that I can consider. Here is his response.<br /><br />Let me know what you think....<br /><br />ADD ONs i would consider:<br /><br />1. A plunge pool. Approx. 8x10 in size. I think that a small pool with proper settings, lighting can be such a great added value, this for resale purposes or for pure enjoyment.<br /><br />2. Upgrade in kitchen appliances, this is an item that can give you great return. Things such as a great refrigerator, ice maker, maybe a separate wine cooler...<br /><br />3. Exterior lighting. We have provided the minimum for the entry area. BUT throwing 2k on exterior lighting and basic landscaping can be a great added value.<br /><br />4. we can also intall some built in de-humidifiers. Given the level of humidity that the house can reach in some times of the year it can be a nice added value....<br /><a href="http://www.sylvane.com/santa-fe-dehumidifiers.html" target="_blank">http://www.sylvane.com/santa-fe-dehumidifiers.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sylvane.com/" target="_blank">http://www.sylvane.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-52561878479550543962008-07-01T14:49:00.002-05:002008-07-01T14:56:18.254-05:00And so we begin.<br /><br />Today I requested an invoice to pay for permits that will be pulled to break ground. I have yet to sign the contract, but I assume I will do that later this week. <br /><br />Its moving forward. I have been pre approved for a construction loan at 8.7% for 30 years, fixed for 5. Thanks to Sam Baugh at Costa Rica Mortgage. I highly recommend him. He got me to at least 3 good lenders for pre-approval. <br /><br />And Guillermo is working with the builder as we speak to start that process.<br /><br />Some modifications were made to the final design to get the bids down. The gallery will be thinner and the floors concrete and not teak. If there is any money left over, then we are considering a plunge pool. I dont like them, myself, but buyers do, and frankly they are great for passive cooling. The water evaporates and fills the house with cooler air. <br /><br />I dont know. I still like the hardwood floors. <br /><br />Well, this is it. <br /><br />If you have made it this far and are still following the blog, I thank you. Its been a journey. <br /><br />three<br />two<br />one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-51250579663494610852008-05-29T13:02:00.002-05:002008-05-29T13:05:48.550-05:00I have contacted Sam Baugh at Costa Rica Mortgage. I am trying to find financing in a fixed rate at about 25-30 years. Preferably the later. And preferably at around 8%.<br /><br /><br /><br />I am told the closing costs will be about 4 percent of the loan, for processing, legal work, and other things I have forgotten.<br /><br /><br /><br />This should give me a monthly payment of around 1600-1800 a month depending on terms.<br /><br /><br /><br />On DatumZero's front, Guillermo met with the builders last week to talk about schedules. I will let you know where we are when I hear back.<br /><br /><br /><br />I asked Guillermo to make a "wish list' that prioritizes the incremental improvements that could be made to the house is budget allows. I want to know what has the greatest impact on the overall disposiiton should I decide that it is worth the price.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-72505648950051609092008-05-15T16:51:00.001-05:002008-05-15T16:52:33.670-05:00Green light. GREEN LIGHT.<br /><br />We are going for it. Plan B has a vision. Plan B has a amission> Plan B has a team, and now, Plan B has a green light.<br /><br />We selected a contractor and will soon finalize start dates. <br /><br />How excited am I?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-88193966878077991132008-04-15T17:29:00.003-05:002008-04-15T17:43:31.920-05:00Remember Plan B?<br /><br />Well, I do. I think about it all the time. Plan B is the house that is going up on the hill. The one with the view. The elegant, serene, open, airy one. The one with doors. Its easy to forget when your forarms are still diced up from banigng away at metal roofs 20 odd feet from the jungle floor. <br /><br />Guillermo did not forget about Plan B, and he has been tirelessly contacting construction teams. Well, its possible that he finally broke the case. We found a construction team that gave us a bid of 187k to build Plan B. I am ecstatic to get it in the right neighborhood. Its still a little higher than I would like, but its close. The second round of rebidding to the original three contractors returned only a bid of 260k. Thats a savings of a college education. Good Lord. <br /><br />so -I have contacted Sam Baugh of Costa Rica Mortgage SA. He was recommended to me by Bram Shook of Centruy 21 in Nosara. I was impressed by Bram's professionalism when I met him in Nosara. He was introduced to me by a friend, someone who works with Bram. He told me, by way of recommendation, that Bram was the best Real estate agent in Nosara. He is well researched, straight forward, candid, and confident. Anyway, in a discussion with Bram, we talked about my property in the hills and my plans, and he gave me the card and recommendation of Sam Baugh. Now, its my policy on this blog to not post contact information of these people until I can recommend their services or tell you what I think. But, I talked with Sam today. He called me the day after I emailed him from his vacation. We discussed lending rates.<br /><br />He tells me that I can borrow up to 80 percent of the value of my land plus the projected value of the house in a new construction loan. Rates are at 8.7 for a 25 year fixed rate, lower for adjustables. There are costs, like percentages for processing, a lender fee and legal fees, equal to roughly 3.5% the value of the loan. I am investigating the sanguinity of working with a loan, since I have been working hard at getting together the capital. I am sending this informtion to <a href="http://www.bulfinchgroup.com/new/bulfinchgroup/">Ari Stonehill</a>, my wonderful financial advisor at Bullfinch Associates in Needham MA. (Seriously, if you ever need a financial advisor, at least interview Ari. He has been great- seamlesly directing my investing to support my personal, idiosyncractic goals. He has bailed me out of messes and gotten me great rates with financial services. He is a great blend of conservative and creative. )<br /><br />While I am doing this, Guillermo is sending the plans to one more contractor. We are going to get the lowest bid, then discuss preferences of teams. <br /><br />Exciting news, and a big thanks to DatumZero.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-176544132216508892008-04-01T12:28:00.002-05:002008-04-01T12:32:21.000-05:00that wasn´t so bad. I hung the door on the bodega yesterday, rather quickly. Then I built a 20 foot scaffold and climbed up the front wall to seal the teak. That was precarious. The teak oil, strangely, had coagulated. I added mineral spirits, but it was nasty looking. <br /><br />I built a ladder to the roof, and cut the metal with a machete and a hammer, Nica style. Then I over hung the roof, and added a plank over the exposed Melina to protect it from the raid. Cut myself up pretty badly in the process. Another, dont try this at home. <br /><br />I slept in the house last night, for the first time. I tied up my hammack and slept until the howler monkeys woke me. Actually, I just went back to sleep, so tired I was, until about 7:30, when I went for my good morning surf. <br /><br />I am so dark right now from all this work in the sun. I look like I did as a kid. Its great though, and the work is easy after a month off. I am going to try to build the front door today, and to return items to the ferreteria, and then finally to install the locks, and staple the plastic over windows. I better get going.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-70032462549007301042008-03-31T14:37:00.002-05:002008-03-31T14:38:52.148-05:00Back in Nosara. I had my camera stolen, so yesterday´s workday was spent trying to find the theif. Today, I have a late start, but I am going up right now to add the bodega door. I hope to also seal the house today, as tomorrow is the only day left o work on the house. Everything is harder when you are building on a hillside. And alone. I think I could really bang this out fast, but hanging a door alone is a chore. I have done it once, successfully, so I will venture into this with likely foolish optimism.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-74501776379642798702008-03-12T23:48:00.002-05:002008-03-12T23:54:00.924-05:00What does the project look like?, well, here is a gallery of images.<br /><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/24448073@N03/<br /><br />I mean, wow, we built that. Created it. Paul, Scott, Rebecca, Mike, Dad, Lynn, Canadians. We made a home in the jungle. A no shit home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-56215088688708641592008-03-10T13:55:00.002-05:002008-03-10T14:09:10.305-05:00I am a bad blogger. bad. Bad. <br /><br />The last couple days working with scott were a blur. The bosc saw burned out and I ahd to send it to san jose for repairs. I found another saw in the solo bueno and borrowed it. The candians had stopped work until the saw was found, so we were at monday before they were ready to do more work , giving me ulcers. <br /><br />Scott and I used sunday to do the least sexy, but most useful tasks. We sprayed Xilochromo, a nasty incecticide, on the bottom of the house, and cura wood, a less nasty pesticide, all over the house. Scott sprayed the whole thing, while I was under the house. Neother of us can expect to have normal healthy childeren. Actually, scott had the good idea of masks, so we should be fine, but my hands may never be pink again as they are stained with yellow. <br /><br />After the bug killer, we teak sealed the whole place. No, just the floors that day. Still, we worked until dark, got a lot accomplished, but not much built.<br /><br />The next day, the canadians atatcked the roof at t feverish pace. Scott joined them about 30 feet off the ground as they slammed teak into place. I got metal roofind, 28 guage, and used the sruf rack to get it up the hill. It cut the crap out of my finger when scott and I took it off the roof. It also was about 300 degrees from the sun. <br /><br />Daniel gave us ¨roofing¨screws, which turned out to be normal screws without gaskets, so the Candiens used nails which cna be replaced later, or seasled with silicon, later. The roof flew up. It needed 12 and 6 foot pieces and we used clear to cover the shower and avoid having a ton of leaves in the shower every morning. The nails stuck through the roof of the house where it hit teak, but ont a joist. There is a 6 inch overhang that was not in paul´s plans, but it should save the walls a bit from all the rain. <br /><br />Ask the Canadiens finsihed, Scott adn I sealed the thing. Hanging from roofs and windows and stacking wood on ladders...we got it done and it looked warm and natural and great. <br /><br />I am going to ask scott to post no this blog. He can tell you in his own words what he thought. Until then, I want you all to know that I decided I needed a vacation from my vacation and headed north into nicaragua, which is where I am posting now, learning spanish, in Granada, the 15 century colonial city at the shore of lake nicaragua and Near Omotepe. We watched the Omotepe Rivas Championship game yesterday at the baseball park in Rivas. It was...insane. There was a band, and a dirty danceoffs, and fat women with whistels and non stop music. We drank a lot of 70 cent beer, tona, and ate grilled chicken which put us back 1.50. The tickets were a dollar. The guards had ak 47s, not needed, but thats how they roll here. The locals thought we were so much fun, they let us into the Rivas Sports Hall of fame after the game. A dog stopped play when it wandered onto the field, we saw three runs score on three consecutive wild pitches, there was non stop dnacing, and we tried to start a wave. We ended up entertaining a lot of people´s childeren, and we bought lottery tickets for a bottle of rum that was being given away for what we had to assume was charity. I smoked cuban cigars during the 8th inning to say that I did it. It was baseball as baseball should be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-51985437735069898402008-03-01T12:52:00.002-05:002008-03-01T12:56:49.694-05:00The cavalry has arrived.<br /><br />Scott got down here yesterday. We put in a marathon shopping session at the Do It Center in Liberia, buying a sink, a toilet, a ceiling fan, brakcets, dead bolts, brooms, and all the little things that go into the house. The total came to 1000. I nearly fainted then relaized that the fan we bought had been mismarked. instead of being 40 dollars, it was 400. 600 is still not cheap, but its better. My credit card sighed.<br /><br />We made it to Nosara for a late day session. It was big out, probably 7 feet and really closing out. We watched the sun set from the water. Scott made it as far as dinner adn one flor de cana, then it was all we could do to get him back to the BUeno to retire. <br /><br />I ran intot he candiens who tell me that the saw has burned out. I need to replace it. Scott and I are gonig up the mountain now to see what can be done in the 5 days we have here. He is a good man to have, decisive and, so far, full of optimism. We will see what Costa does to that. until then, it was enormous out this morning, probably double overhead on some sets. We boht got stoked, crushed, and tired.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37903234.post-41264805718553664562008-02-23T13:50:00.003-05:002008-02-23T13:54:09.192-05:00Woah now, this is reeeeeeally interesting. It might save my mood completely...<br /><br />¨¨Melina wood was traditionally used to make wood pulp because it grows easily and quickly, and because its fire resistance makes it a safe product. Melina is also virtually insect proof, making it a wood that may increase significantly in demand owing to a 2001 ruling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that calls for the phase out of pressure treated lumber . . .¨¨<br /><br /><br />I cannot verify this statement, but it gives me real hope that my project will not be eaten in just a few minutes and more importantly, that I dont need to insect proof the stuff. <br /><br />Still, the locals call it bug candy. They recommended treating it with pentachlorophyll (sp), and diesel fuel. I think I side with the locals. B showed me where an entire house of Melina was destroyed by termites. Her new one is steel framed. <br /><br />There are so many products, and I dont know which one to use SOme of the insecticides that are effective, stain the wood green. Others, I dont know how safe they are. A clear incsectide that the ferreteria sold me, turn out not to be an insecticide at all. This, I learned after applying it for 6 hours in the heat.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0