Panama as a Second Home

Owning a second home is a luxury many people only dream of and boast about in conversation with friends. In the past, owning a second home meant that you were very wealthy and wanted a place to go on the weekends or on a long vacation to avoid contact with the rest of society. In recent years, this perception has changed. Owning a second home is becoming a worldwide obsession, and with the baby boomer generation approaching retirement age, there are no signs of the second home market slowing down anytime soon.

Panama is becoming a very attractive place to build and own second homes now because of the consistently pleasant climate, affordable Panama real estate and many attractions. Elsewhere in the world, real estate prices are sky rocketing because of the recent interest in buying a second home. In Panama, home prices are also on the rise but remain affordable because they started out well below the global average. Therefore, even as prices rise they remain well below the average cost of property elsewhere in the world.

The baby boomer generation is the first to have access to endless investment opportunities, and it seems that the most popular choice is investing in real estate. They are also the first generation to really be exposed to mass marketing from the time they were born, resulting in their changed spending habits as compared to past generations. Baby boomers have seen some of the most demanding times all over the world throughout their lifetimes, and currently the state of the union is not as good as it has been before. This gives even more incentive for baby boomers to have a place to go for an escape from the hassles that the government sometimes brings on them.

Panama is a very simple place to visit and simply enjoy a relaxing stay. The recent change of tourist visas from 90 days to 30 days has raised some concern in the minds of property owners in Panama. However, there are already talks of reinstating the 90 day tourist visa with possible extensions because without tourism, the economy of Panama would suffer greatly. The great thing about Panama is that if you want to live in a big city with restaurants and all kinds of services at your front door step, you can. On the other hand, if you want to settle on your own tropical island and not see a soul for days on end, you can do that too. The baby boomer generation are the most individualistic and opinionated generation yet, and no matter what their attitudes are about life in general, Panama offers every kind of lifestyle that one could ask for.

About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com

Wildlife in the Middle of the City

Metropolitan Natural Park:

The Metropolitan Natural Park, situated just outside of downtown Panama City, Panama, is known as the “lung of the city” and serves as a wonderful retreat for those interested in an easy escape from the neighboring city.

The Metropolitan Natural Park is the only park in Tropical Latin America that has a natural forest located within a metropolitan capital. The Metropolitan Park shelters plants and animals threatened by extinction. Furthermore, the MNP serves as an ideal laboratory for tropical research, for which it is often used by local universities and the Smithsonian Institute.

The park has three main trails, all of which are well maintained and easy to find. The longer and most popular trail is named “Sendero Cienequita.” Another trail, beginning just across the street from the administrative office, is called “Sendero Momotides,” a much shorter trail which offers no vistas. This relatively flat, oval shaped trail can be completed in around one hour. The “Sendero Los Caobos” starts from behind the administrative office and is similar to “Sendero Memotides,” but it is longer in length and the terrain not as flat.

Summit Nature Park:

Located just twenty minutes outside of Panama City, Summit Nature Park in Panama is a center of recreation, education, conservation and investigation dedicated to enhancing the Panama tropical and cultural diversity. Summit Gardens provides visitors with an opportunity to view many interesting animal species found in Panama, as well as others native to the Central and South American region. It can be argued that as far as city zoos go, Summit Nature Park doesn’t approach world class. The most cursory comparisons with, say, the zoological parks of San Diego, Detroit or Washington DC, would show how very far the park is yet to progress.

Summit’s true grandeur becomes apparent when it is considered with regard to its flora. There is no arboretum anywhere with a better selection of palm trees. Summit’s standing in the world of botanical gardens would be enhanced by a greenhouse or two that would allow the cultivation and display of exotic species that can’t grow outdoors in the Panama’s climate, but from the plant perspective the park is world class and has been since long before it came into the city’s hands.

About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com

So Much to Do, So Little Time – Guide to Visiting Panama

So much to do, so little time! Scheduling a trip to Panama can be an adventure with so many choices of things to experience and when to go. There is so much to do in Panama that you would need an entire month of solid tourism to experience the abundance of beauty and culture Panama has to offer. Looking at the tiny isthmus on the map, you may think that there could not possibly be much worth exploring in Panama. Once you begin researching and making reservations in Panama, you will be amazed at the excitement and relaxation that can be found in the country.

For a retreat, you may visit one of the deserted islands in the San Blas Archipelago if you want to do absolutely nothing and worry about absolutely nothing for days. For a wildlife adventure, visit the Darien region and hike through untouched rainforest, where there is plenty to explore until you drop. If you prefer a more bustling scene, partying until the wee hours with the Panamanians or simply enjoying a beer and a good dinner by the water on the causeway, Panama has it. If you want to be one of the few that can say they went snorkeling in the Atlantic in the morning and took a dip in the Pacific before sunset, Panama is the place to do it.

In the small town of Boquete, you will find cooler temperatures that rarely reach above 22 degrees Celsius. The highest peak in Panama, the Volcano Baru, poses a challenge to any serious outdoorsman wanting to walk the same paths as the original settlers of the Americas.

Transportation is very affordable in Panama regardless of your preferred method of travel. There are buses that run from the city all over the country and all the way to the Costa Rica border every day, as well as daily flights all over the country and in some places up to four flights a day. If you don’t want to be on someone else’s schedule, then you may rent a car and drive where ever your heart desires. The infrastructure in Panama is very modern and easy to navigate. The main roads that take you from the east side to the west side of Panama are just like any four or six lane interstate in the US, and the speed limit will enable you to get to your destination much faster than in the states. Driving in Panama City can be a challenge sometimes, but all you need is a little patience and a good horn.

Of course we cannot neglect to mention one of the most significant attractions in Panama, the Panama Canal. Visiting Panama without seeing the Panama Canal is like going to China and not seeing the great wall. Watching the bulky vessels navigate through the locks is very impressive, and prompts us to wonder what these ships are carrying and how many of our own possessions have traveled through the canal on their journey to the store shelves and eventually into our homes. Whatever your heart desires, you will find it here in Panama; just make sure that you have plenty of time because you will not want to leave once you begin to discover what Panama has to offer.

About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com

Panama Real Estate

You may wonder what is attracting such a strong interest in Panama real estate. The answer is everywhere you look in Panama: the natural beauty, thriving cities and hospitable people. One of the biggest markets in Panama right now is real estate, and it is not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon. Panama is a prime location for people of all ages from around the world to come and enjoy, whether they want to buy a second home or to retire in this warm tropical paradise.

Panama’s real estate market right now is like an inflatable raft being filled with air, and once it is filled to capacity, it will float and work like it is supposed to and Panama will be a stronger country with the real estate market filled to capacity. However, if the air started to leak out of the raft and the real estate market did not do as well as planned, the raft would sink and Panama would go under with no interest in the area and no tourism to provide a strong economy.

Real estate in Panama is unlike any other place in the world because of the wide variety of landscape, climate and scenery. There is an abundance of natural resources in Panama that helps the country in so many ways unseen to the typical tourist and citizen. The rainforests are so thick that they have the appearance of a broccoli plant from the air. The entire country has strong vegetation everywhere you look, even in the city where there are trees occupied by birds chirping and sidewalks lined with shrubs and small trees. Panama is truly on top of its game right now, and until that air starts leaking out of the raft, the real estate market here is only going to get stronger.

Worries about buying property and moving to a foreign country do not exist in Panama because there are laws in place to encourage new settlement there. The people of Panama are congenial and welcome newcomers with open arms because they love their country and want to see it survive. There are an extraordinary number of real estate companies to choose from in Panama, and if you do your research you will find that only a handful really offer services that will help you during your buying process and relocating to Panama. If you are interested in buying property in Panama and you have been reading everything you can on the internet about Panama and what it has to offer, that is all you have been doing: reading about it. The only way to truly understand the beauty of the land and of the culture is to visit and experience it for yourself. Words describing Panama do not do it justice because the beauty is indescribable; Panama is like a dream in reality.

About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com

A Fast visit to Panama

Commonly known as “one if the world’s great crossroads,” Panama is a curious blend of sophistication, colonial history and remote islands.

A great place to start a Panama adventure is in Panama City, a diverse city with a population of about 1.4 million. One of the most vibrant and colourful cities, Panama City offers the excitement of non-stop nightlife and casinos along with the relaxing luxuries of fine restaurants, open air cafes and world class shopping.

No Panama visit is complete without a firsthand experience with Panama’s rich and still evident past. Take a visit to ruins of the old city, Panamá Viejo, which was sacked by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671 and is today the home of Panamá Viejo Museum, churches, cathedrals and fortifications from Panama’s colonial and buccaneer days.

Next, take a leisurely tour of “the shopping centre of the Americas,” where you will find such shopping venues as Via España, Albrook Mall, Multiplaza or Multicentro, and many others, offering excellent prices and collectively giving visitors a remarkable shopping experience.
For a change of pace, make a visit to the tiny island of San Blas, approximately a 30 minute flight from Panama City. The island is home to the Kuna Indians, native to Panama and owners of the “molas.” Enjoy Panama’s warm tropical climate in the beautiful islands of Bocas del Toro, perhaps the country’s most popular tourist destination, filled with countless excursions. Scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, bird watching, and sun bathing are just a few of the many activities one can enjoy while visiting Bocas. Even quieter is the ecotourism paradise of Coiba Island south of the city of David. This island is mountainous and concealed in rainforest. Coiba is teeming with life.

Near Panama City lies Coronado Beach, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and boasting more than 5 km of white and black-grained sand beaches. Coronado offers all the facilities and comforts that international or local investors look for. With such a magnificent blend of affordable luxury and exquisite nature, it is no wonder Panama real estate is highly sought after for leisure, retirement and investing today.

About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com

Panama – The Ideal Retirement Destination

When thinking about retirement and moving abroad, why not Panama?

Panama is currently considered by international organizations such as International Living one of the best countries in the world to live abroad(1). Because of its low cost of living, foreigner friendly, excellent health care, numerous financial incentives for retirees, modern infrastructures, affordable Panama real estate and housing, rich culture and recreation, Panama is a paradise for investors and nature lovers such as gardeners, bird watchers and animal lovers alike.

According to an ABC report(2), people who retire in the United States have a hard time surviving on their pensions because of high costs of medical care and living. In the report, a few people were interviewed and asked the question, “why Panama?” The majority said that medical attention and medication costs have been cut by half or less. For example, one night in a hospital room in Orlando, Florida costs about $900.00 USD, while in Panama the cost is only around $150.00 USD. One of the speakers said that he simply could not afford to live in the United States; his money would go faster than he could expect. The same speaker is now living in Panama for only a few dollars a day.

Panama’s dollarized economy makes it easy to move from the U.S. without worrying about constantly changing currency values or inflation. Its world class banking system has helped establish Panama as one of the most important financial centers in the region.
The geographical location also brings many benefits:

-Short flight times from major U.S. hubs like Miami (2.5 hours), Houston (3.5 hours), Atlanta (3.5 hours) and New York (5 hours). Direct flights from Los Angeles are also available.

-Never worry about hurricanes, tornados, major earthquakes, not even tropical storms.

-Sunny weather all year round, even in the rainy season.

Panama’s diverse climates include mountainous or template regions, tropical forests, deserts and beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, which are a 45 minute drive apart.
Even though Panama has modernized its infrastructure in the last 3 to 4 years, one can still find rustic gateways in San Blas(3), where the Kunas (native Panamanians) have kept their centuries old traditions unchanged and preserved.

If you are looking to enjoy your retirement years as fully as possible in a brand new welcoming country full of new adventures with all of the benefits you deserve, Panama is the right choice. Come and see for yourself… it’s not that far after all, right?

About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com
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(1) http://www.internationalliving.com/retire/paid/09-01-06-global-retirement.html
(2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgl9M8O_PEQ ,
(3) http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-city/Panama/San%20blas/tpod.html

Panama Canal Expansion

The completion and opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 spurred unprecedented major advancements in world trade as well as a significant impact on Panama’s economy. The canal, funded by the United States and remaining under U.S. control for much of its history, was handed over to Panamanian control in December of 1999. In 2006, Panamanians voted with 78 percent approval to go through with a proposed massive canal expansion project that is expected to significantly increase the amount of cargo that can be transported through the canal, thus generating considerably more revenue for Panama from canal operations.

A major economic advantage of the massive canal expansion will be the ability to accommodate the much larger shipping vessels which have become widely utilized due to an upsurge in trade between the Americas and Asia. Ships meeting the size requirements to travel through the existing Panama Canal and locks are termed Panamax ships, and with expansion, the canal is expected to have the capacity to facilitate the transport of so called post-Panamax vessels, measuring up to 50 percent wider than Panamax ships. Currently, cargo from such vessels which do not meet size requirements is commonly unloaded on the United States west coast, and transported via railroad to its final destination. The Panama Canal expansion project is expected to alleviate this logistical deviation, allowing cargo to be transported directly to the eastern United States by water and facilitating more efficient delivery and lower prices for end consumers.

Construction plans for the canal expansion include the implementation of modern water pumps as well as reforestation along the canal aimed at maintaining adequate water levels in the locks without having to create new reservoirs. Such improvements are intended to manage erosion and help maintain sufficient levels of water, even during long periods of low rainfall.
Concerned with the displacement of thousands of people that took place during the original canal construction, many Panamanians are skeptical about the underlying consequences of the expansion despite extensive preliminary research and environmental precautions.

The expansion, expected to cost more than five billon U.S. dollars and be completed in 2014, will add an additional lane along the canal as well as two additional three chambered locks at each end of the canal. Funding will be acquired through a series of toll increases for canal customers, and current traffic is expected to be unaffected during the construction period. The year 2014 marks the canal’s 100th year of operation.

About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com