Buying vs Renting in Panama: What We Wish We'd Known

Coming from a background of residential property investment across the Manawatu, we had strong opinions about buying versus renting before we arrived. Panama adjusted most of them.

The case for renting FIRST is overwhelming. Panama has distinct micro-climates, distinct neighbourhoods, and a real estate market where local knowledge matters enormously. Renting for your first year gives you the information you need to buy well.

Foreigners can own freehold property in Panama with the same rights as citizens in most cases. The process involves a public registry search, a purchase agreement/ promise to purchase , and transfer through a Notary Public. Legal fees and transfer tax together run about 3–4% of the purchase price.

Rental prices vary dramatically by neighbourhood and property type. A furnished two-bedroom apartment in Marbella or El Cangrejo runs $900–1,400 USD per month. The same quality in a beach community like Coronado is $600–900 USD. In Boquete, you can find excellent three-bedroom homes for $700–1,000 USD per month .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Our Friends, John & Coral, rented in an area that they really liked, however after living there, they found it exceptionally noisy due to the city based Panamanians who "party hard and loud" when on holiday. So they looked further afeild from the beach and found a lovely unit in a small condominium in the Punta Barco area  

Our recommendation: rent for a while, visit three or four different regions, and let the country show you where you actually want to live before committing to a purchase. Get to know the local realtors and have a good look around . Aim to arrive in the wet season when rents are much cheaper and there is more choice in the rental market as a lot of the Canadians and Americans ( snow birds) are seasonal .