Now the market in Boquete does offer some good buys again but one of the best buys is right next door – this area is just like Boquete but offers pre-boom prices!

Panama’s highlands are spring-like…their hillsides covered with wildflowers.

Look in the right places (like Volcan, below) and you’ll also find quiet village streets with homes that start at $37,000…

Find the Most Affordable Retirement in Panama

It’s a stunning drive to Volcan—and that’s not just travel writer hype. As the road winds up into the mountains, one vista after another unfolds. I have driven this road many times over the past four years, and it’s still as invigorating as ever.

As I reach 3,000 feet, I turn off the air-conditioning and roll down the windows; the air is fresh and clean. The roadsides are festooned with thousands of red, pink and white impatiens. They look like they were carefully planted by a talented landscaper, but they’re a simply great gift of nature.

Passing through the small village of Cuesta de Piedra, I get a glimpse off to my right of the majesty that is Panama’s highest peak, the 11,400 foot Baru Volcano (pronounced “bah-ROO”). The jagged peaks of this sleeping giant carve through a swirl of clouds and mist.

Volcan sits in a valley that opens westward onto a wide plateau. At 4,200 feet, it’s easy to see why the town is famed for its “eternal spring” climate. It is framed to the north by the Tizingal Mountain and to the east by the slopes and volcanic plain.

The combination of spring- like weather and abundant fresh fruit and vegetables has led some writers to describe the area as the “Shangri-La Valley.” A brief look at the gravestones in the local cemetery reveals that many residents lived well into their eighties and nineties.

Volcan is a bustling town of about 10,000 people, of which about 250 are expats from the U.S. and Canada. The town has four supermarkets, four hardware stores, three banks (two with ATMs) and over 30 places to eat. If there is a global recession, the people in Volcan haven’t heard.

The local economy has been buoyed in part by nearby hydroelectric projects. This will soon make Panama virtually energy independent and pump millions of dollars into the local economy. But agriculture is the real driving force behind the provincial economy. Chiriqui provides up to 80% of all the milk, meat and vegetables consumed in Panama.

The greatest savings here stem from the climate. There is no need for air conditioning, fans or heating. I use an electric washer, dryer and dehumidifier, but my average power costs stay low at around $68 a month. I cook with gas that costs me about $2 a month; my water bill is $4 a month; and garbage pickup is also $4 a month.

At Dalys’s restaurant a bottomless cup of coffee will cost you 40 cents. A hearty breakfast is about $2.50. Dalys’s is famous for serving an enormous glass of wine for $1.35. If you want to eat tipico, or “typical fare,” for lunch, a tasty mound of beans, rice and chicken will set you back a princely $1.75.

Volcan’s supermarkets offer just about everything that would expect to find in North America. And at the local organic kiosk you can walk away with a bulging bag of vegetables—the freshest in the county—for less than $8.

Prices for homes range from $37,000 to $150,000, and there are also lots available on  which you can build the retirement home of your dreams. If your pocket book is well funded, then the clear blue mountain sky is the limit; there are large land tracts, trout-bearing rivers and streams, and views to die for. If you are spending over $150,000, you’ll have a selection of North American-style homes to choose from.

Note: This is the very last day you can sign up for the Ultimate Overseas Retirement Plan. It’s the complete package for anyone interested in Panama, including the new edition of the Panama Owner’s Manual…a special report detailing a step-by-step guide to The World’s Best Retirement Program…and a collection of recordings from a special seminar held in Panama.

The recordings are a real bonus—they include presentations from expats, experts, doctors, and retirees about living in Panama.

This entire package is worth more than $170…but you can get it for just $79 if you sign up with this link -
Ultimate Overseas Retirement Plan

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A few weeks ago I suggested some dates for getting a group together to tour Panama.

Well, I heard your feedback loud and clear!

The consensus for the best date is the week of November 28.

So, that’s when we’ll go!

Check out all of the details here -

http://www.learnaboutpanama.com/tropical-pathway-to-panama.html

Oh, and you’ll find the tour e-mail and phone number on that page. So, if you have questions about anything at all related to Panama give us a ring. We’ll answer all of your questions and I guarantee ‘NO pressure’ – we’re just here to help.

This is a great time of year to visit Panama!

The time to invest and do your research couldn’t be better!

I often tell people ‘Green Season’ is the best time to visit Panama and we’re just at the tail end so you will get a chance to experience a little of our Panama rain.

• It’s off-season so you can typically save money on air fare.
• It’s quiet in Panama so you don’t have to worry about the tourist crowd.
• Plus, it’s the “Green Season”. You can see for yourself why the locals love and prefer this time  of year and why you will too!

Learn all of the reasons and the best strategy I know to make it happen.

GO HERE -  http://www.learnaboutpanama.com/tropical-pathway-to-panama.html

You’ll discover how to Safely and Quickly get in on the ‘Best Place to Retire in the Western Hemisphere’

…All Without Spending years of research, countless return trips and thousands of dollars figuring it out on your own!

And some more exciting news!

But I’ll leave that for you to read…

HERE – http://www.learnaboutpanama.com/tropical-pathway-to-panama.html

See you in Panama soon!

Save up to 70% on your airline ticket to Panama booking with Flight Network

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On 27 March La Prensa reported that the government has allocated $283 million dollars to expand several highways. The size of the expenditure and the location of the changes broadcasts the intent. Panama wants more residential tourism, more immigration of people with money into the interior of the country.

Divisa to Chitre gets four lanes, this is the gateway to the Azuero Peninsula, a rapidly developing area of beaches.

San Felix to David gets four lanes, this part of the Interamericana between David and the Capital currently has no passing lanes. This will make the trip to David from Panama City much faster and safer.

Finally four lanes from David to the little mountain pueblo of Boquete Panama. I can report the survey crews are all over this project already.  I have no idea how or even why they are doing this unless they also plan to eventually continue the road on to Bocas del Toro.

Boquete is now a dead end and although four lanes will make the ride to David faster and less dangerous the current need is not there. This is an investment in Boquete.

If you are here and can remember 3 years back in time and look at the changes and investment in both David and Boquete over three years the effect is startling.  David has a major shopping center with a large three story department store, Conway. It has new hotels, it has new restaurants, now retail stores. I notices today a BMW dealer is opening, Honda opened last year. The cow town is in transition, fast.

This government is following through on the expansion of the David Airport so Copa and other airlines can stop here. They want the wild west of Panama to grow, fast.

If you are  from the school of thought that says get in when things are about to explode and profit from it, this is the time to jump on Western Panama. If however you are from the group that came here because it was not Florida or Arizona, it might be time to start looking for alternatives.

When I arrived I felt I had entered a time machine and went back fifty years, now it is only thirty, soon there will be continuity with North America. I am not sure if this is good for anyone, except the investors and the people who want to terraform Panama into another mini USA. Panama is an opportunity now but the change might destroy the very essence of why I am here.

By Lee Zeltzer of boqueteguide.com

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In fact, almost everyone we know who has come to retire in Panama has capitalized on the opportunities here, and many have begun businesses of some sort…guesthouses, property developments, resorts, eco-tourism projects, forestation projects, charter dive operations—even boat repair outfits.

If your plans in 2010 and beyond include starting a business—look to a Panama Business. If you don’t yet have a good business idea of your own, Simon Black, below, shares some of his.

Panama Business Opportunities

By Simon Black

I see a lot of opportunity in Panama right now for entrepreneurs and small businesses; in fact, I see more opportunity here than in just about every other country in the western hemisphere with few exceptions.
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–Recommended Reading –

Do you know about the “No-Savings Retirement Plan”?

Thousands of Americans are now retiring luxuriously… even though they didn’t save ‘enough’ during their working years.

They are using a Retirement Plan that Fortune Magazine claims is “a way to double your retirement dollar… trade up to a larger house, get a pool, hire servants – and guarantee visits from your kids.”

Here’s how you can Retire in Paradise on $30 a Day
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Why?

Panama has two strong emerging consumer markets.

The first is the obvious low hanging fruit: foreigners. Their ranks in Panama are growing by the day, swelling the country with their capital and their consumer demands. Simply put, they are accustomed to certain products and services, not all of which are available in Panama. That spells opportunity.

Sure, there are droves of foreigners here already posing as real estate agents trying to sell the next expat on an overpriced, generic condo in Panama City…but that business model is dead for now. There are better options.

One possibility is a professional property management company. There are thousands of new condo units in the city whose owners might only visit a few times a year. During the vacant periods, there are bills to be paid, maintenance to be performed, and in many cases, tenants to be found and managed.

Only a few companies in Panama focus on this business model, and they’re completely slammed. The market could use some competition, especially considering all the new construction coming online in the next 12-months.

Another consumer demand that needs to be addressed is high-end storage. Panama’s heat and humidity can be disastrous for sensitive belongings like wine, paintings, and antiques; thus, a high-end self-storage facility would likely do quite well here, and it would be fairly inexpensive to start up.

One idea that I have been considering myself is providing services for companies involved in Panama’s two major construction engines right now—the Canal expansion project, and the Panama Pacifico redevelopment project.

(Panama Pacifico is a $1 billion mixed use commercial/residential development on the former Howard Air Force base just outside of the city near the Canal.)

These two projects are attracting a myriad of foreign companies, and right now there are limited options available for corporate services, especially lodging for business travelers.

Nearly every reasonable hotel in Panama province is tucked inside the city, making for an unreasonable commute, and the first business class hotels outside of the city aren’t due to be rolled out until 2016. A well-located existing structure could be renovated, marketed, and profitable as a business-class hotel within 12-months.

The second consumer market worthy of an entrepreneur’s attention in Panama is its emerging middle class, and this is another group that is growing by the day thanks to the income effect of Panama’s growing economy.

The wealth of most developing countries is concentrated in the hands of the few, leaving the remainder of the population living on scraps; these types of markets should generally be avoided by smaller enterprises.

The mark of any well-developed country is a solid middle class—roughly 60% to 80% of the population that earns enough to provide a comfortable standard of living, savings, and discretionary spending.

Panama is clearly moving in this direction; middle class households earn between $800 and $1,500 per month, which is enough for them to buy a house and car while having plenty of money left over for savings and mindless consumption.

One clear opportunity is the current shortage of housing units for middle class Panamanians, which fall in the range of $60,000 to $80,000. The government projects that roughly 70,000 units are needed just in the area around Panama City; existing approvals show only around 8,000 in various stages of planning or development.

Retail opportunities also exist; by nature, Panamanians are a consumptive group—as a culture, if they have money, they’ll spend it. It seems like everyone has a new car these days, and given how poorly everyone drives here, there’s opportunity for maintenance and body shops.

Assisted living facilities and elderly care is also a fantastic opportunity, particularly when targeting the Panamanian middle class; for the first time ever, this group now has the income to outsource the care for their elders, and they’re starting to do it. The few facilities that offer this service in Panama are booked solid.

These are just a few small business ideas in Panama that I’ve noticed recently; if you spend much time on the ground here you will probably come up with several more on your own.

One thing I would caution you about is running any employee-intensive business; Panamanian labor laws, while relatively relaxed in comparison to the rest of Latin America, clearly favor the employee.

Between the mandatory “13th month” annual bonus, 40+ days off, increasing minimum wage, and Byzantine termination rules, it’s in your best interest to keep the workforce slim and/or temporary.

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If you are looking for a great place to retire, vacation or invest you may want to consider Panama. This small and often overlooked country has something to offer people from all over the world. Over the past five years people from the United States and Canada have been discovering Panama to be a great place to live and many consider it the best place to retire.

The official language of Panama is Spanish with English being the official second language. Many native people of Panama are bilingual and with plenty of shop owners, taxi drivers, police and government officials speaking English. If you are not comfortable rediscovering your high school Spanish or playing charades with the locals then you may want plan on spending more time in Panama City. However, adventuring out into the interior is nothing to shy away from. Just make sure you carry a good Spanish-English dictionary and a playful heart. The people of Panama are very friendly and gracious. They will go out of their way to understand and to help you. If you are planning to move to Panama, your best bet is to learn at least a little Spanish so you will be more comfortable in your environment and better able to blend in with the community.

Panama uses the US currency which makes it very easy to shop and get around in Panama. No hassles with exchange rates and no worries over the ever changing value of the dollar. The one thing you will notice right away is that everything is cheaper. It’s often unnecessary to break a $20 bill for a nice dinner and thats for a party of two. Food is cheaper and so is travel and accommodations. If you decide to move to Panama you will discover Panama Real Estate for a fraction of what it would cost in other places. You will find beautiful Panama City condos, ocean-side properties, cool mountain retreats and much more.

A booming Panama City is another reason why Panama is considered one of the top places to live. Don’t mistakenly think this country is underdeveloped or underprivileged just because it is so cheap to live there. The capital city of Panama has been a major financial center for two decades and it is continuing to grow each day by becoming a popular vacation and retirement spot. New shopping centers, restaurants, night clubs and other attractions are being built in this beautiful area, giving you plenty to see and do.

The sense of community in Panama is strong and vibrant. The people are very friendly and peaceful. Community members work together to achieve common goals and to help their fellow neighbors. Neighborhoods are safe and residents look out for one another. Just another reason why Panama is one of the Top Places to Live. For more Panama information visit LearnAboutPanama.

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This contributes to the safety of Panama and continues to make it the Best Place to Retire.
A preliminary agreement on the bases was reached recently in New York between Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

A final treaty is expected to be inked in the coming days, reported Panama’s La Prensa newspaper, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti.

“The US and Panama will sign before October 30 an agreement on the deployment of two naval bases on the pacific coast of our country to fight international drug-trafficking,” Minister of Government and Justice Jose Raul Mulino said Sunday.

“One of the bases will be located in Bahia Pina…450 kilometers [280 miles] east of the capital, Panama City, and another one – in Punta Coca about 350 km [217 miles] west of the capital,” Mulino added.

The US dismantled all its bases in Panama and withdrew its military forces from the country at the end of 1999 in accordance with the Panama Canal treaties.

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Almost anywhere in Panama is affordable provided you know how to begin your search  and how to make contact with reputable vendors. Whether you long for active city living, a warm and laid back beach lifestyle or the cool and comfort of Boquete in the highlands of Panama you will find  most anything you’re looking for – all in an affordable range when compared to that of other countries. In addition to cheap real estate, it’s important to know the many reasons why Panama is such as great place to live and why it can save you so much money.

You may be surprised to hear that Panama is actually one of the cheapest places to live. There are many other great things about this county- including property rights for foreigners guaranteed by law to exceptional retiree discounts. You can live in Panama for a fraction of what it costs to live in many other countries and the best part is that you don’t have to sacrifice.  With the moderate climate and abundance of fresh local produce and sea food you can live better in Panama on the same amount of money than what you did in your home country. If you buy or build a new house in Panama, in some cases you don’t even have to pay property taxes for up to 20 years!

There are other areas where you can save by living in Panama, too. For example, have you ever thought about your food expenses and how much it costs you to buy those “convenience” foods all the time? You can save on your food costs as well since many fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables are available and very affordable. They are also healthier than manufactured foods. In addition to great housing at affordable prices, there are also numerous off-shore tax benefits to living in Panama.

When it comes to Panama weather you can enjoy a pleasant tropical climate which is mild and sunny most of the year. Not only is this a pleasant place to spend your time but it also helps you save on heating and cooling expenses that come with living in other parts of the world. Panama adopted the US currency back in 1904 and has not printed its own money since. If you are already from the US and moving to Panama, this will be an easy adjustment for you. There is also the added bonus of a Panama retirement and you don’t have to wait until you are 60 to make it happen.  Moving to Panama is a smart decision for anyone looking for a cheap place to live in the tropics.

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Boquete Panama, a unique community in the western highlands area of Chiriqui is 30 to 40 minute drive north from David Panama the capital of the Chiriqui Province. The Boquete climate is temperate and the population is a mixture of ethnic groups from all over the globe.

As the world economic melted down has been happening many are wondering how it is effecting Boquete Panama Real Estate market. Janeth Gomez-Suarez of Casa Solution is one of the most visible real estate brokerages in and around Boquete Panama.

Janeth says houses and properties are selling and even though the prices have fallen in the US and in Panama City to it is surprising to discover that Boquete Real Estate is alive and doing well. People are still arriving in Boquete to shop for houses. Most prices are still in the $200 to $300 thousand dollar range. Sellers are a becoming more open to entertaining an offer and some are accepting less than asking price. However, most vendors feel no pressure to sell just becauase  prices are not increasing. Boquete properties are not being offered or sold at fire-sale prices.

Also, there are many prospective buyers waiting to sell in the US so they can move. When the re-sale house markets in the US recover the Boquete Real Estate market is sure to boom.

The big question is ‘How Come?’ There are many buyers coming to Boquete who are not affected by the current politics or econmics.  People who are realists and some who are just looking to change their lives. The politically disaffected come in cycles as the politics in US changes. Many Boquete ex-pat residents left the US under George Bush and the new group equally dislike the new Obama administration.

More interesting are those baby boomers who now realize they have less. Lower equity in their homes, less money in retirement savings, but also less need to consume and a great desire for a chance at change in exchange for a simple lwo-cost lifestyle.

Boquete land and homes are certainly not the least expensive in Panama. The cultural and environmental aspects along with a new pro-investment government are becoming encouraging indicators of future growth. The crystal ball for Boquete seems pretty clear, growth is happening now, growth will continue and accelerate.

In July Business Week called Panama the “New Florida”, their reasoning is a mirror of mine and a harbinger of a bright future for Boquete Panama. Certainly still the one and still thought of by many as the Best Place to Retire.

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If you can do it properly, the time to buy may be now. Recognized as one of the Cheapest Places to Live and Best Place to retire Boquete Real Estate just got better.

The new government is committed to giving occupants title to their land protecting their rights and creating a stable environment for investment. President Ricardo Martinelli said in his inauguration address that “We will begin a massive land titling program, so what I can tell everyone who’s listening who has possessory rights, prepare these rights because you’re going to have your piece of land titled.”

The new governments first attempt at improving the titling process, Law 23, 2009, is a promising piece of legislation that equitably accounts for the needs of residents, investorsand government. Even if it isn’t implemented as well as it’s conceived, it’s only a matter of time before all ROP land is titled.

Purchasing Panama ROP Real Estate can pose  Challenges

Some of the best Panama property is claimed under the confusing ROP system instead of being fully titled. The best deals will be for land that isn’t fully titled. This is one thing that makes Boquete Panama one of the Cheapest Places to Live and Best Place to retire. Once titled, the competition for prime Panamanian properties will be much greater and the price much higher, but the risk will be much lower.

Under the ROP system, it is quite possible to find several conflicting claims to a plot of land, both registered and unregistered. This can cause a situation where the person selling the ROP may not actually be in a position to sell. The difficulties that some developers have had with ROP has scared a number of potential investors, but it has also educated people about the risks so they can now do something about them. There isn’t much Boquete Real Estate that falls into this category but there is plenty of property on the Caribbean Coast that does.

Trick to Investing in Panama ROP Real Estate

All it takes to discover these problems is a little investigation. Competing claims typically come from family members and neighbors so it is fairly straightforward to send investigators in to a potential land purchase to interview and get signed affidavits from  the family and neighbors.

Even with the recent correction in real estate prices, Panamanian vacation and retirement properties have a lot of promise. Tourism continues to grow and so do the number of foreigners looking to buy a holiday property in Panama and Boquete Panama in particular. It’s possible to buy ROP land quite safely with a little knowledge and effort and soon those ROP holdings will be fully titled.

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