rent prices in Panama City, Panama are falling
When I first came to Panama in 2004, I was impressed by the affordable the cost of living for such a cosmopolitan town.  I rented a spacious, fairly new, furnished, ocean-glimpse apartment in El Cangrejo with for $600 per month. In 2004, a beer at the neighborhood bar [...]

Filed under: Business, Real Estate on August 31st, 2009 | 17 Comments »

Panama put the real estate cart before the tourism horse
For the past 5 years, I have shouted to the rafters my beliefs on the vital role that tourism must play in Panama’s economic development.  When putting forth this concept here in Panama, I am often met with the following reactions:

Blank stares
Laughter
Anger

Some of these reactions seem [...]

Filed under: Business, Politics, Real Estate on August 27th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Panama is rife with investment opportunities
Despite what CNN may tell us, I know that not EVERYBODY out there lost their shirt in this recent economic meltdown.  Indeed, some of you eggheads are sitting darned pretty.  You go, you mini-Soros you!  Let me guess, you were probably that kid from highschool, who while the jocks were [...]

Filed under: Business on August 24th, 2009 | No Comments »

More often than not I wish I had a video camera during my taxi rides. Whizzing around the city while being serenaded, driving the wrong way down a one way street on a non-existent shoulder and talking about female lumberjacks from Oregon (my home state) are just a few of my top taxi experiences. On [...]

Filed under: Culture, Living & Retirement on August 21st, 2009 | 2 Comments »

I am my father’s daughter. My dad has been a follower and a believer in “woo woo” for as long as I can remember. You may notice this is not a scientific term, but in our family it is the term we use for anything falling into “new age,” “consciousness expansion,” “mind calibration”… Yanni. Throughout [...]

Filed under: Living & Retirement on August 18th, 2009 | No Comments »

Panama tourism needs a minister who is crazy for change
Dear Mr. Shamah:
“Los Locos Somos” was a great slogan for President Martinelli’s campaign.  I heard that you and your advertising team were behind that concept.  As a fellow marketing guy, I am hoping that you and I speak the same language.  Despite our differences of [...]

Filed under: Business, News, Politics on August 13th, 2009 | 13 Comments »

Panama City’s Skyline Growth Is Slowing
As Panama’s real estate boom teeters ever closer towards a little town I call “Bustville”, I am amazed by those in denial, who still shout to the rafters such brilliant defense as, “the fundamentals are still strong!” or “this is a different market”. These and other lines are too reminiscent [...]

Filed under: Business, Real Estate on August 10th, 2009 | 9 Comments »