I like to think of this as my million dollar question.
Many like myself, have moved out of the equities market for now as things are quite unsettled as many pundits are warning of the next recession, a second in three years. So where do you go with your money in these times, gold, treasuries, government bonds in countries not associated with sovereign debt? Personally, while I am shorting the world right now, I am also looking for some opportunities here in Panama, as this country offers the investor the benefits of a dollarized financial system, title laws and an official registry, title insurance and prices that can not be matched anywhere else, at least for some income producing and oceanfront property that you can get to within a 3 hour flight from the US. Like all other good things, finding the gem in the mine takes time, it requires caution against hazards and you must the ability to act quickly with cash, not promises. Like everywhere else in the world, there are people who need to sell and some are offering buying opportunities if you know where to look.
Panama remains one of the best buys in Central and South America and if you think this area is third world, you need to visit to see what is going on in most of the major cities here including Panama. Recently, Brazil has moved out ahead of the pack and as reported in the Latin Business Journal, Sao Paulo is now more expensive than New York and Rome, while Rio de Janeiro is more expensive than St. Petersburg and Helsinki.
OK, where can you put your money? It is as easy as one, two, three!!
Opportunity One
We have an income producing asset for sale where you can earn a 12% return as an entrepreneurial owner operator of this hotel in Panama City. This hotel is below replacement costs at $66,000 per room, there is the opportunity to push the rate with a modest room refurbishment and it has a restaurant that has good upside as there are few restaurants in the neighborhood that is a dense central business district with primarily office buildings. Find more on this investment by clicking on the picture.
Opportunity Two
Here we have just over 12 acres of land near the town of Pedasi and the resort community of Azueros where there are a number of multi million dollar estates and a resort hotel called Villa Camilla. Nearby is the estate home of Prince Maximilian of Lichtenstein who has a 10,000 sf retreat estate on over a thousand acres. You can buy this oceanfront property for $1,450,000 and you have title to the water without any setback, a rare find anywhere including Panama. Build your private estate, a few more with friends or hold the land for speculation. My friend just sold his oceanfront finca in Pedasi for over $10,000,000, where he paid $4,500,000 just 4 years ago and that is going through some rough times. Pedasi has more room to grow and it will.
Opportuntiy Three
The place is called Bluff Beach and it is a surfer’s paradise located in Bocas del Toro, a featured destination in this month’s edition of my blog THE PANAMA PERSPECTIVE. You can see a nice little video clip on Bocas that shows how idealic this place is. This is a very unique property with title to the beach front and land on both sides of the road on Bluff Beach. Develop your private retreat or a small eco resort. There are 260 frontage feet on the beach and the property has been improved with a two story house that has a master suite on top, bathroom and kitchen. Additional rooms on the ground floor include an open bar, dining area and requisite hammocks. There are three furnished guest cabins next door as well as beach front cabanas and foundation for a beach bar and restaurant facility. Bluff Beach has an excellent surf break. You get over 22 acres of titled land all for $795,000.
While you are focused on that picture of the beach calling to you, consider checking us out and see why so many people retire south of the border.
There are many more opportunties that you might want to consider as well whcih you can look at here.
Call me to discuss your interests in Panama and how we might be able to assist you at 305-448-1003 or in Panama at 507-6810-1074
Very truly yours,
Tom Brymer