| One of the most common questions I get - "Is | | | | mix of the country no one really stands out as a |
| Panama a safe country?" | | | | foreigner - or different. So, when you or I arrive in |
| Yes, without a doubt. In fact Panama has been | | | | Panama we are immediately accepted - we tend to |
| ranked one of the safest tourist destinations in the | | | | blend in. |
| world right along side Canada. Let me give you some | | | | The US dollar contributes to safety as well. Often |
| personal examples and then let me give you some | | | | when traveling in foreign countries we are taught to |
| additional reasons why I believe Panama is so safe. | | | | keep our dollars out of sight - it's just too tempting |
| For some time we lived near the village of Boquete in | | | | to the locals. In a country where the local currency |
| the highlands region. It was a daily scene - young | | | | may be devalued, the US dollar has a certain allure. |
| children and young women walking many miles to | | | | But in Panama everyone is using the same money be |
| work or school. My wife and I are exercise addicts | | | | they a farmer, banker or tourist. |
| and you might recall we were in the health club | | | | Another Safety issue many investors fail to consider |
| business. At that time there were no health clubs in | | | | is the weather. In recent years hurricanes throughout |
| the area so I purchased a used mountain bike. I just | | | | the southern US and most of Latin America have |
| found one so my wife and I had to share. Each | | | | brought this issue to the forefront. As you saw in |
| morning I would go out around 6am and then about | | | | my last Letter about Safety, Panama lies in a unique |
| 7am my wife would go. She would cycle through | | | | region where violent weather is almost unheard of |
| town and out of town on the quiet winding country | | | | and it is the only Latin American country which is |
| roads for about 10 km. Not once did she feel unsafe. | | | | Hurricane Free - that's right, records dating back to |
| At the time my boys were just 11 & 9. They would | | | | 1851 show that Panama is in a safe zone where |
| walk out to the road and grab one of the local taxis, | | | | hurricanes never hit. (Click on this image to see the |
| pay 25c each and get a lift into town where they | | | | map) As investors from Florida to Texas can attest |
| would buy 25c ice cream. Honestly, I would not have | | | | rising insurance rates can take a dramatic bite out of |
| had that much comfort and trust back in our home | | | | your return. In Panama your vacation and your |
| town in Ontario Canada. In fact I wouldn't have done | | | | investment will never get blown away! |
| it there. | | | | It's also very safe to buy Real Estate in Panama |
| So what makes Panama so safe? | | | | Foreigners, whether residents or non-residents, enjoy |
| First, I believe we need to look back at Panama's | | | | the same rights and privileges when purchasing and |
| history. Panama is a peaceful republic and for most of | | | | selling real property as do Panamanian citizens. Foreign |
| the past century has been under the watchful eye | | | | investors are given a 10-year stability guarantee that |
| of the United States. Today's Panama was born of a | | | | all legal, tax, customs, municipal and labor rules will |
| multi-culture mix of peoples from around the world | | | | remain identical to those in force at the time of the |
| thanks to the Panama Canal. To this day the people | | | | investment registration. Law # 54: Foreign Investor |
| debate "Who is the true Panamanian?" Most agree | | | | Protection Law provides these guarantees |
| that the 7 indigenous tribes probably have the best | | | | The U.S. Embassy publishes the U.S. Government |
| claim. For the rest they are all immigrants of one sort | | | | Report on Buying Panama Real Estate and says, |
| or another. As a result it is difficult to tell the | | | | "Titled land, and the process of buying this, is similar |
| Panamanians from the visitors. You may see | | | | in concept to that in the U.S., and land and deeds are |
| someone who looks very much like an American, a | | | | duly recorded with the Public Registry". |
| Canadian, maybe they are from India or China - the | | | | Buying real property in Panama is so safe that major |
| reality is they could all be Spanish speaking 2nd or 3rd | | | | U.S. Title Insurance companies like like Land America |
| generation Panamanians. Because of the multicultural | | | | Title provide low cost policies in Panama. |