The Best Place to Invest in Real Estate

Best Places to Invest

Many consider this "New World Country" not only one of the Best Places to Invest but also the Best Place to Retire. What a great combination! Hopefully you are now saying, "Tell me more!" Well it's a small piece of land in shaped like an S. Its about 1100 mi south of Florida and it lies inbetween an ocean and a sea - the Caribbean Sea north, and the Pacific Ocean south. It's also located between two countries - west is Costa Rica and east is Columbia. Got it yet? Of course you do, its Panama. To get an idea of the relative size of this powerful little country, it is a total of 29,157 sq mi, or slightly smaller than South Carolina at 30,109 square miles. Its about 400 mi in length and runs west to east. It averages 50-70 miles wide from north to south. There are a number of mountain ranges crossing the country in various spots. The western most mountain range continuing from Costa Rica is named Talamanca Range and is found in the Province of Chiriqui. This mountain range has Panamas tallest mountain, Volcan Baru which is 11400 ft in hieght (3475 mtrs) and home to beautiful tropical rainforests. Plus close by is Boquete. Many consider this small town paradise and an excellent place to invest. In fact AARP ranked Boquete the third Best Place to Retire in the world. Based on that alone I'd say you could consider Boquete a Best Place to Invest in Real Estate. Back to some country stats - its 7 to 9 degrees N Lat and 77 to 83 degrees W Long putting it smack dab in the middle of the tropics. Panama is quite small by comparison to continental North America and Europe. Panama weather is affected largely by seas of water on both sides rather than by the land but it is protected from violent weather so you know your real estate investment is safe and secure. You might think of this land as a small bridge with a variety of landscapes floating in a big tub of water and basking in the sun! Check out Boquete Weather for their great research and super description of Panama. The Panama Canal, the eighth wonder of the world, cuts this country of lush jungles, rain forests, pine forrested mountains and rolling hills. North and south of Panama you'll find hundreds of islands close to shore - another solid potential place to invest. Click here for a map. So, if you're concerned about your investments and you wondering whether to continue to invest in mutual funds after the heavy losses the past two years have brought you may be back to the traditional best place to invest, real estate.

What area is the Best to Invest in? When you're ready to invest funds - invest capital in foreign real estate you really want to make certain the area you look at is safe and truly the Best Place to Invest. Are you considering real estate investment properties like investing in commercial real estate? Will you need an investment property loan? You might even be considering a rental property investment which will require a rental property mortgage. These are all big questions and important ones to consider. Once you step out side of American property investing you need to make sure there are real brokers who are legit and can help you. Is this A Low Risk Investment? Yes, and one of the reasons is the stable, democratic government. As a Constitutional Democracy since 1972 this is a stable safe country to invest in. The government has three branches, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Elections are by popular vote, held every five years. The President serves as the chief of state and the head of the government. The presidents chosen cabinet is also assisted by First and Second Vice Presidents. The legislature is 72 members and is elected by the people out of nine political parties. The Supreme Court has nine judges appointed for ten years. The Constitution, amended in 1990, abolished armed forces and replaced them with Fuerza Publica (Public Force) which is made up of National Police, Maritime Service, and Air Service. Their are a large number of multinational companies doing business here and this is a testimony to the confidence the international community has placed in this stable economy. Panama has become an investment place like many other leading markets - called 'The Hong Kong of the West' making real estate investment a Low Risk Investment especially when you consider the retirement real estate investment properities available as rental property investments. Its a ptrotected place to invest where you can rent out your real estate to ex-pats and know your investment is going to not only be safe but continue to generate revenues for you. Can I Invest my U.S. Dollars? The U.S. dollar is the money of choice throughout Panama making it easy for Americans to travel and as a place to invest. Panama still mints coinage, known as the Balboa however, the Panamanian and U.S. coins are of the same size and denomiation and are interchangable. Businesses, resorts, hotels in major cities and through out the country accept nearly every major credit card. Bank 'Debit machines' are called 'Clave' and accept all debit cards from around the world. You can find Clave machines in even the smallest communities. You can use travelers checks but, if cashing them at a bank, be prepared to pay a small fee. It's a good idea to carry a small amount of U.S. bills, in low denominations, for tips and spur of the moment purchases. When looking for a place to invest Panama's world class banking system makes it easy. Wire transfers from around the world are very common as this off-shore banking system is second in size only to Hong Kong. Commercial Property Investment Commercial investment real estate is really growing particularly in and around Panama City. The old Howard base is perfect with infrastructure already in place and ready for big companies who invest funds to manufacture or distribute products from here. Dell moved in a few years ago into the old airforce base and is now able to use this are as a hub to distribute their computers all over Latin America and South America. This type of commercial property investment is growing rapidly as companies can do so cheaply and find it best to invest here rather than shipping from further away. Can a foreigner purchase real property here? Absolutely. You have the choice of purchasing land or to invest in a house, a business either in your own name or through a corporation. Most real estate property in Panama is under freehold title, meaning you own your investment free and clear enjoying the same property rights as national citizens. Another real plus and another solid reason this is the Best Place to Invest. There are some areas still being reviewed by the government for proper title so uncontested ownership can be certain, some coastal portions of land and sometimes native Indian acreage is protected. As with all real estate investments in a foreign country, the importance of dealing with a reputable real broker and investment lawyer can not be emphasized enough. A good real estate investment lawyer will research your land documents ensuring that you hold free and clear title. He will make certain that all necessary legal documents are properly registered with the local municipality. A reputable lawyer protects your interests, providing you with peace of mind for your place to invest. Money Invest ing? As a place to invest Panama opens a window on the world and a world of opportunities. Certainly it could be considered best to invest here. Whether you are looking to stock invest, invest funds in bonds and other money market investments outside of your real estate portfolio the real brokers here offer excellent services and can provide property investment advice on funds, real estate, bonds and stocks for emerging and stable markets all over the world. Best to invest in Land or Condo? It's an important consideration when thinking of a place to invest but really comes back to personal needs and desires. If you are looking for the Best Place to Retire your investing needs to take into consideration where you want to live. Invest in beach property if you like the heat, surf and sand. Invest in mountain property if you prefer nature, hiking and the cool mountain air. A New - Old Place to Invest Yes, Panama is a new place to invest in an old world for many but many others have been investing here for decades. As we become more of a global economy maybe it's time for you diversifying your portfolio and considered this new 'Best Place to Invest in Real Estate'. Have you signed up for all of Mark's "Letters from Panama"? If not you don't know what you're missing! "Discover the Paradise of Panama!" Enter Your Name And Email Right Now to receive Mark's Special Reports, FREE! First Name: Primary Email: SECURE & CONFIDENTIAL Your email address will never be rented, traded or sold. We guarantee your confidentiality. Learn About Panama is your trusted source for Panama Lifestyle, Panama Real Estate and Panama Retirement information. Join the Panama discussion at the Panama Blog. Get the answer to that age old question - "Where Should I live?" The information expressed here is solely the opinion of the author. Nothing on this web site or in subsequent communications is to be considered personalized investment advice. Although we may answer your general questions, we are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment situation. No communication by any associate or representative of Learn About Panama is to be deemed as personalized investment advice.