So I have now read a bunch of reports on Paragon Properties here on Rip off report and I am completely up in the air. I put a down payment on a property in Playa del Mar in Feb. I had no intentions on paying it off until the infrastructure was in place and I was able to build. As is the case for many of you, NO INFRASTRUCTURE. Per the contract, it was supposed to be in within 18 months of the date I signed the contract.
Now I live in Costa Rica, and have learned many things about how things work down here. I love the country and will probably remain here for a long time and will try to build on my lot in Playa del Mar, when the infrastructure goes in.
I am in a quandary because I share all of your sentiments about how they have breached the contract... They have! However, living in Costa Rica you get used to hearing this phrase "Tico Time." Things just don't EVER get done when they are supposed to get done down here. So, I can understand the hold up with getting in the infrastructure.
Another thing that I have read complaints about is "There is no such super highway going from San Jose to the beach." Let me attest to the fact that there IS INDEED a highway (I would not dare to call it SUPER) that will pass from San Jose to the coast and make travel time to said coast drastically shorter than it is currently. The highway has been in the planning stages for like 25 years. I have spoken with Attorneys and real estate agents here and they have told me how long they have been waiting for this road to be started. Again, things NEVER get done when they are scheduled to be done.
Someone has stated that they have had a hard time getting in touch with the company about their lots. I can only say that each time I have tried to call David Valentine, even when trying to call him from Costa Rica, I have gotten through to him. I simply call the local office in Heredia and they patch me through (that may be an antiquated phrase but its the best I could come up with). I asked him recently to email me a copy of my contract and the next day it was in my inbox.
One other complaint has been that you have not received a deed for the property, and I don't really understand this one. It would be impossible to register a deed in any state in the U.S. For property that is in another country. My lawyer here in Costa Rica told me that with projects of this magnitude, the normal chain of events is the project is applied for and either
approved/denied. Then down the road when the infrastructure is in, the lots are deeded and recorded in the Registro Nacional in San Jose. Google Registro Nacional Costa Rica and if you speak spanish you will be able to confirm the finca number on that website.
It is really difficult to be certain of something when you haven't seen any progress but, I went to one of the projects and there were actually paved roads throughout the development. It seems to me that they wouldn't have spent all the money that they have on the things that I have actually seen, if they were going to rip off this many people. But, and this is a big but, Enron was able to pull the wool over TONS of peoples eyes.
Jonathan
san antonion de escazu
Costa Rica
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