http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:27:55 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/01/06/064345.php#comment-735215 I purchased a pre construction condo unit in 02/07 and hope to flip it for a profit. I know it is a risk but I think I will do well. Panama City is very modern with malls, nice hotels and casinos. Inside one of the modern malls you would think you are in an expensive mall in Miami, Florida. I think the traffic is bad too, but I have faith in Panama. It has something for everyone. Beautiful beaches, wonderful hiking areas in the hills, attractive women and all this is along with stable banking and great tax exemption laws. 735215@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:27:55 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/01/06/064345.php#comment-686493 I ,ALSO, HAVE LIVED IN PANAMA 5 YEARS. A GRINGO FROM THE STATES. IT'S A GREAT PLACE WITH WONDERFUL PEOPLE BUT THE "HYPERS" HAVE SPOILED THE FLAVOR. TRUST ME THE BARGAINS ARE GONE AND THE GREED FACTOR IS EVERYWHERE. THE OLD BEAUTIFUL HOUSES OF MARBELLA, SAN FRANCISCO, BELLA VISTA ARE ALL GONE ,REPLACED WITH ANOTHER CONDO TOWER. THE TRAFFIC IS SO BAD THAT YOU ARE CAPTIVE IN YOU HOUSE.... UNLESS YOU WANT TO SPEND A FEW HOURS IN THE CAR. THEY ARE WORKING ON THE ROADS, BUT WILL NEVER CATCH UP. ELECTRIC RATES ARE THRU THE ROOF AND RISING AND YET THEY KEEP OOMING ....IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE... IT IS. I HATE TO HAVE SEEN IT CHANGE SO QUICKLY. 686493@blogcritics.org Wed, 9 Jan 2008 13:43:51 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/01/06/064345.php#comment-685676 I would agree with Jay except his last two sentences. Each countries culture is unique and made up from the people that live there. Yes Caribean has an influence similar to some influence from countries to east & west to a certain extent making it uniquely Panamanian culture. 685676@blogcritics.org Sun, 6 Jan 2008 18:50:40 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/01/06/064345.php#comment-685576 I moved to Panama in 2003. 5 yrs. ago the real estate boom was just starting. The real reason was that real estate investors began to promote Panama as a retirement haven. Later the Panama government joined this promotion efforts. The U.S. is not the largest foreign investor in Panama. If you take a look you will find that Spaniards and Venezuelan are investing heavily in Panama. The purchasers of the luxury condos in Panama are in its majority U.S., Canadians and European retirees. Wealthy Venezuelans running away from Chavez regime are starting to arrive to Panama. The Canal transfer 9 years ago has little to do with the real estate boom. The Canal expansion has to do it. The country has received a lot of exposure and more investors of all types have been attracted to this Caribbean country. Panama is basically a Caribbean culture. They have very little to do with Central or South America. Historical ties are inexistent and their culture has nothing to do with central or South America. 685576@blogcritics.org Sun, 6 Jan 2008 10:08:51 EST