Sora Rivals Boquete as a Near-Perfect Retirement Destination
Date: 01/30/2008
January 30, 2008
Panama City, Panama
Over the past five years, Boquete has been touted as one of the world's top retirement destinations. Certainly, the expansive mountain views and cool climate continue to be a draw…but there are those who rule out Boquete because it's so far from Panama City (and not particularly close to any beaches). Enter Sora, just 60 miles from Panama City and a 45-minute drive from some of Panama's best beaches. If you need to visit Panama City frequently—for sophisticated medical care, for business reasons, or simply because you like "going into town" for dinner or a show—then you should consider Sora…especially if you also want to be near the beach. For our current issue of Panama Insider, we went to Sora to find out if it had more to offer than just cool weather and a prime location, and we were mightily impressed by the property prices...here is an excerpt:
Read OnReturn of the 90-Day Stay
Date: 01/28/2008
January 28, 2008
Panama City, Panama
It looks like the 90-day tourist visa is back…for U.S. citizens, at least. Last May, the Panama government decided that U.S. and Canadian visitors here on tourist visas were allowed to stay for a maximum of only 30 days rather than the 90-day stays that had been allowed before. Since then, local lobbies have been pushing for the return of the 90-day tourist visa. Business people, real estate associations, and others claimed that the measures were deterring retirees from moving here and were hurting tourism—including what they call "residential tourism," referring to snowbirds who spend up to six months in Panama without obtaining legal residency.
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You Can Live Well…and Pay 4% Below Regular Mortgage Rates
Date: 01/25/2008
January 25, 2008
Panama City, Panama
We may soon see an extension of the Ley de Interés Preferencial, or Preferential Interest Law, that allows buyers in Panama to obtain very low mortgage interest rates. If we're lucky, a new pricing threshold will apply to a wider range of property.
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Areas of Juan Diaz Poised for Major Change
Date: 01/15/2008
January 15, 2008
Panama City, Panama
No wonder everyone is looking for "the next Costa del Este." The area is a success story unlike any Panama has ever seen. As soon as lots and homes came on the market in 1995-96, Costa del Este exploded, surpassing even the most optimistic estimates as projects sold out within months. Ten years before, none of Panama's elite would have considered living here, but the advent of the Corredor Sur, or south highway, increased accessibility, completely changing the area's appeal.
Read OnNew Properties Built by Dec. 31, 2009, Will Be Exempt
Date: 01/02/2008
January 2, 2008
Panama City, Panama
We have some very good news to kick off the new year. As you know, one of the big incentives to buy property in Panama has traditionally been the 20-year property tax exemption law, first passed in 1990 to encourage economic development and investment. The exemption freed buyers of new homes or condos from paying property tax (improvements value) for up to 20 years.
Read OnEnjoy the Holiday Season in Panama…and Get Ready for 2008
Date: 12/21/2007
December 21, 2007
Panama City, Panama
Another year is coming to an end, and we'd like to thank you for spending it with us. We hope our First Alert tips help you realize your Panama dreams…and wherever you are, we hope you're gearing up for your best holiday season ever.
Read OnWho Wouldn't Want to Pay 50% Less?
Date: 12/13/2007
December 13, 2007
Panama City, Panama
Whether you’re suffering from cataracts or a deviated septum, minor surgery can be expensive and even prohibitive in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Too many of us go without procedures that could greatly improve our quality of life. But we don't have to do that…"medical tourism" in Panama is an increasingly popular, viable option. IL’s Dan Prescher discovered that in Panama he could save $5,000 on cataract surgery. For our current issue of Panama Insider, we asked Dan to write about his experience of having this surgery in Panama. Here's an excerpt:
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Now Might Be the Time to Invest in Veracruz
Date: 11/30/2007
November 30, 2007
Panama City, Panama
We've been talking about the Veracruz area in Panama Insider for some time now. In our February 2007 issue, we said, "There seems to be a good foundation to develop there." And now it seems Veracruz is about to take off as predicted.
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