Retirement Properties in Panama

Lately, I've been looking at properties in Panama. I’m just sitting here on my balcony, reading the paper – La Prensa, practicing my Spanish, drinking my coffee in Panama City, enjoying my retirement in Panama. It’s a Sunday morning, early, about 8:30. It rained for about five minutes earlier this morning but the day is warming up to it’s usual humid, beaming down on your head heat. I like that, much better. Rather have the heat and humidity than the freezing cold wind in your face and trudging over the snow as it squeaks underfoot. Brrrr!

Currently, I’m renting an apartment in Panama, getting adjusted to life in Panama and perfecting my Spanish. I am searching for a property in Panama, but I’m looking around before I buy because I don’t want to make the wrong choice. I want to buy the right house or condo for me. I actually want beach front property, but that’s just my personal choice. There are real estate agents in Panama who are all leaping up to help me. Tomorrow, I am headed up to Bocas del Toro to look at properties there. There’s plenty of websites available about properties in Panama and if you have a look, you can see there are all prices ranges for property, varying locations all over the country, both beachfront and mountain and city locations. The price ranges I’ve seen go from anywhere like as low as $70,000 and up. Much cheaper to retire in Panama than in the United States and there are deals to be had, for sure. I’ve got an appointment tomorrow with one who is going to show me some of the properties in Panama that are available for me to my exact specifications.

So far, I’ve looked at properties in Panama in Playa Serena, Vista Mar, Santa Clara and Coronado and Tucan Country Club on a real estate tour of Panama. I decided to take to get a good overview of what’s available. I want a beachfront property in Panama, nothing too big, just two bedrooms – that’s all I need. An extra bedroom for an office space and perhaps some of my guests. I could get a three bedroom place, depending on whether I think my kids are going to come down often enough. I’ve already got friends emailing me telling me they are coming down to visit when I get my place.

There are lots of benefits added to retire in Panama and the government of Panama made it pretty easy to do so with the Panama Retired or Pensioner visa – the Visa Pensionado. The Visa Pensionade allows foreigners to get legal residency in Panama if they have a pension or are retired. The minimum age is 18. You have to show that you earn at least $500 US per month with your retirement income and that this income last for life. The complete rules for immigration to Panama for retirees are pretty standard and simple to follow. Sometimes you can get a real estate company in Panama or a Panamanian lawyer to handle all this for you.

The Panama government also allows all kinds of discounts and for retirees in Panama which is an added bonus. I haven’t heard of any other country in the world that makes it this easy for you to retire in their country.

Here’s a list of the discounts you can get if you are a retired pensioner in Panama, age 55 or over:

• 50% off entrance to recreation and entertainment activities, such as theaters, movies, sports and other public productions
• Public transportation
• 25% discount off the price of airfares
• Discounts at hotels and motels
• 25% discount at restaurants
• 15% discount at fast food restaurants
• 20% discount for consultation fees for hospitals and private clinics
• 15% discount for dental services
• 15% discount for optometrists
• 20% discount for technical and professional services
• 50% discount for passports
• 25% discount for electricity
• 25% discount for phone services
• 25% discount for the water bill

So, as far as my decision to retire in Panama goes, I’m one happy guy. The prices for property in Panama are very reasonable, the people are friendly, the weather is great. I can’t complain. It’s safe here and the music is drifting out from somewhere. The sun is starting to beam down hot. Living in Panama is a dream come true.

Retirement in Panama – a Viable Option

For many people, where to retire is an issue. I’m suggesting a retirement in Panama for you to consider because I’m here and assured I have made the correct decision with my life and retirement plans. Most of use would like to retire in sunny Florida or California. However, both these places have become to be very expensive, housing has gone up exorbitantly in cost and the daily cost of living is continuing to increase. Also, Florida is congested with too many tourists, too many retirees and also has many hurricanes- which is okay but one has to have expensive home insurance.

One of the newest places to retire is Panama Central America. If there is paradise, then it has to be this country. With two oceans on either side of the country, this peaceful haven is a much sought after destination for many Americans and Europeans. The country has a heavy Spanish/American influence but has all the amenities of the North America lifestyle. The country is blessed with year around warm weather, a lush countryside, minimal crime and wonderful scenery. Some call Panama City the Paris of South America, others call it “the second Miami”.

For North Americans, there is no difficulty in getting a visa for retirement. The country, in fact, encourages people to buy Panama property and to retire in Panama. Property is much cheaper than most North American real estate. For a first time visitor, buying property is not the first thing to do. One must go and get to know the place first. There are ample real estate agents in Panama City. The laws of buying Panama real estate are similar to North America and there are safe guards to prevent fraud. However, it is wise to conduct all real estate dealings with the help of a Panamanian lawyer. It also helps if you speak a bit of Spanish which isn’t difficult to learn. Any foreigner who purchases a home which is worth more than $200,000 is entitled to a residency visa.

Since the country is situated on the Panama Canal, it has some of the best banking facilities in all of America. There are, at last count, 85 international banks located in Panama City. Money transfers, withdrawals, ATM machine and credits cards are widely used.

Moving to Panama is not a big deal; most airlines fly to Panama City from major cities in North America. For those thinking about retirement in Panama, there are no taxes on household goods up to $ 10,000. Even a car can be shipped. Shopping is very similar to North America and the prices are the lowest because of the lowest tariff rates in all of the Americas. This is because of the free trade zone and the Panama Canal. However, Panama does not have as many furniture stores and not many sales or discount stores. Because some parts of the countryside still have power outages, it is best to buy American products which can withstand the abuse of these power surges.

Living in Panama is easy. Grocery shopping is even better than North America, hey, it’s cheaper! Panama grows a wide variety of tropical fruits, vegetables, locally grown coffee and most North American foods are readily available at a lower cost. One of the other great benefits of retiring in Panama is that the cost of a maid is less than $200 a month.

The country has a solid infrastructure and both transportation and communication are first rate. High speed internet is easily available in the country.

For the retiree, the Panamanian government has created lots of perks, making retirement in Panama simpler, irrespective of citizenship. One is entitled to many discounts on loans, airline tickets, hotel accommodation, dental and prescription medications, health care services, monthly energy and phone bills and so on.

Currently there are thousands of North Americans who have made the choice to retire in Panama and they love it. It’s been a warm day, I read some online news about how cold it’ been in Canada and the northeastern United States. It’s been a warm day here, a little on the warm side. I see the beach, serene, always there, with those lush palm trees. The sky is a gorgeous blend of pinks, purples, and blues. It’s early evening, now, and I’m watching the sun set from the verandah, laptop on my table, updating my blog with this article, really, really enjoying my Panama retirement. You couldn’t pay me to miss the snow.

What’s So Great About Retiring in Panama

Well, like I said before in a previous article, one of the first great things about retiring in Panama is the weather. Escaping from the freezing cold of a North American city in the winter has to be one of my main reasons from getting the hell out of there in my old age, if you call 54 years old, old. My bones feel the cold too much now, so that’s why I decided to retire in Panama.

There were other reasons why I decided to retire in Panama. You can get some great deals on property in Panama and the government of Panama makes it relatively easy for foreigners to retire in Panama. Other countries make it kind of difficult to retire or else they’ve got political instability and who the hell needs that when you retire? So I like the hot weather, the beaches and the people of Panama. And, I kinda like a peaceful environment for my retirement and who doesn’t. Your working life is full of struggles and who needs the hassle. Retirement in Panama was an obvious choice.

What’s some more great things about retiring in Panama? Well, it’s got a lot to offer. Business wise – Panama has great business capabilities. There’s the Panama Canal the gateway to the Pacific to the Atlantic. Its got some economic free trade zones, which is good for business and shopping.

It’s got an abundance of luxury resorts, spas and hotels which are open for tourism in Panama and also close to Panama City. The Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa is only 15 minutes away from the capital city of Panama. There are some fantastic rainforest properties and resorts near at hand. There are properties available in the mountains and villages such as Boquete in Chiriqui province. There is thriving and lively cultural scene in Panama and lots of history.

The way of life is a blend of Latin American/American. The people are so friendly and laid back. It might be the fact that they are close to the beaches, they have a sense of enjoyment of life. It might be because of the time when the Americans were here. They love the festivals, the good life. They call Panama City – the “second Miami”. Sounds good to me.

There are plenty of beach front properties available for your retirement in Panama. Many of the best properties are a couple of hours’ drive from Panama City. The beaches are stunning, and if you like sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling or even surfing, you’ve come to the right place. One thing good about the beach front property in Panama is the price – it’s still affordable and you can even find properties for under a $100,000 US. If you’ve got more in the bank, you can afford higher end real estate, townhouses, villas and more luxurious condos in Panama.

You can buy property on the Atlantic coast of Panama and one of the most popular places to buy is in Bocas del Toro but the property prices are climbing and sometimes you will have title issues on some parts of the Atlantic/Caribbean side. There are still some good deals in real estate on this side of Panama, but you’ll have to take your time in finding them. Buying beach front property on the Pacific side is easier and the prices are more reasonable.

Oh, if you’ve stopped by here recently, you’ll notice that I put up a couple of nice photos from Panama which I found on the web. They are taken by a guy named Seracat. I emailed him and he said it was okay to use them. To me, they are the perfect retirement real estate properties in Panama – I guess I like the simple life. A little hut on the beach in Panama, close to the water, fishing, peace and all the modern amenities, a spoiled old guy like me needs is perfect for retiring in Panama.

Retire in Panama | A Dream Come True

To retire in Panama is something that many people around the world dream of these days. The sunny weather, miles of beaches and low cost of living are some of the attractions that is drawing retirees to this beautiful country. A peaceful retirement in Panama coupled with the lure of plenty of ecotourism and adventure is something that you can look forward to in Panama.

For a long time, Panama was overshadowed by some of its Central and South American neighbors. It is not the case anymore with Panama fast becoming the most preferred destination of retirees from various different parts of the world. People can look forward to a peaceful retired life enjoying myriad activities ranging from bird watching to deep sea fishing or long strolls along sandy beaches in Panama.

With so many attractions on offer it is no wonder that Panama is ranked as the top destination for retirement these days. One of the reasons for this popularity is the sheer variety of landscape available in Panama. On the one hand you can find palm fringed beaches stretching for miles together, while on the other hand you can find mountainous areas offering you the best of rainforest experience. Moreover, whatever may be the kind of landscape you are looking for the common factor of affordability is another reason for the immense popularity that Panama enjoys as a retirement destination.

The government of Panama has realized the potential of the country as a perfect place for retirement and has left no stone unturned to tap its potential. Panama City, the capital, for instance boasts of world-class infrastructure, complete with a skyline full of high rises along with huge shopping malls and plazas. The combination of urban infrastructure coupled with natural splendor is something that is the unique selling benefit of Panama. In fact Panama City must be the only place in the world where there is a rainforest right outside the city.

The city offers plenty of beautiful apartments facing the sea with all modern amenities, at a fraction of the price that you would get them in other cities. Most of the modern apartment complexes here come complete with swimming pools, walk ways and even spas. Panama City also has a number of first class hotels, classy restaurants and numerous fast food outlets, making it a dream destination for those looking to lead a peaceful life. To make brief, a Panama retirement allows you to enjoy everything that a modern city has on offer while enjoying abundant nature, miles of unspoiled coastline, without burning a big hole in your pocket.