Panama Relocation Tours Blog

Last Updated Jun 29, 2020 - by Jackie Lange

Safe Pockets of Fortune

Since 2010 we’ve been helping people relocate to Panama. We’ve completed 122 relocation tours and taught 1000s of people the many benefits of retiring and living in Panama. With all the crazy things going on in the world, in the last couple of months I’ve received hundreds of calls and emails from people who are SO GLAD they live in Panama and took a Panama Relocation Tour for their road map to know exactly how to relocate to Panama. A few days ago I received the following message from Christine who came on a Panama Relocation Tour then relocated to the Volcan area in December 2019:
. . . . . .

My Good Fortune

Jackie, listening to the U.S. news tonight, I feel compelled to express my gratitude to you for playing such an important role in my move to Panama.

Look how it played out! I went on your tour a year ago at the end of March. You made it so clear to me how do-able moving out of the country is, how wonderful Panamá is, and I fell for it—-hook, line, and sinker!

I went home, put my home and property on the market, did everything as fast as I could, following all your valuable instructions, was successful, and landed here the first week of last December.

Then COVID-19 and the international pandemic happened. But I was already here, SAFE, among new friends and among the wonderful Panamanian people! I have met more people who share my values and philosophy in the few months I’ve been in Panama than I did in the past 13 years where I lived up in the mountains in my home State of California.

I’m sure there are quite a few people who are grateful to you for promoting such an important opportunity and alternative to natives of countries from all over the world.

I just want you to know that I am one of them.

Thank you so much, Jackie!
Christine
. . . . . .

Like Christine, many of us who are living in Panama feel SAFE even though the virus is active in Panama. We have about 15,000 active virus cases and 15,000 who have recovered. But, there are SAFE POCKETS throughout Panama where there have been very few cases!

The majority of the active Covid-19 cases are in Panama City, Colon and Panama Oeste (west) where it is very high density living. But places like the Las Tablas, Playa Uverito, Pedasi, Boquete, Volcan and Paso Ancho have had less than 25 cases and most of those have already recovered.

SAFE POCKETS EVERYWHERE

I’m sure in the state, province or country where you live there are towns that have had very few, if any, Covid cases. Small towns and rural areas have less Covid-19 cases. If you’re luckily enough to be able to work from home, you can live anywhere. You don’t have to stay in a big city where you are surrounded by a high number of virus cases.

It does not appear that this virus will be over anytime soon. So the best thing you can do for your safety and peace of mind is to find a SAFE POCKET where you can live. Panama should open their borders July 23rd. President Cortizo is making an announcement on July 1st to let us know the status of opening the borders and the economy in Panama.

We don’t know when we can start doing Panama Relocation Tours again. (hopefully soon) But you can get instant access to our Online Panama Relocation Guide to learn all the things you need to know to relocate to Panama quickly. The Online Guide comes with our support before and after you relocate to Panama.

This is what Bob Evermore had to say about Panama Relocation Tours, ” When you sign up for a Panama Relocation Tour, you have no idea how much your life will be blessed. PRT is not just a business for Jackie Lange, it’s her passion to help others improve their quality of life… and she’s really good at what she does!”

Many people who previously came on a Panama Relocation Tour, but who have not moved to Panama yet, have their bags packed and paperwork ready to move to Panama as soon as possible. You could too! We will help!

I updated our RENTALS page today and will continue to add new listings so you’ll know what’s available and where you can live in a Safe Pocket.

Check out the furnished Ocean front three bedroom three bath rental in Boca Chica! Would you like to wake up to that amazing view?

Last Updated Jun 22, 2020 - by Jackie Lange

Make $107,600 Tax Free Living in Panama

A lot of businesses are allowing their employees to continue working from home despite that some offices are partially open again. All you need to be able to work from home is a good internet connection. You can use Zoom or Skype to stay in touch with the office.

Even after the Covid virus, some companies may decide to keep all their employees working from home so they can reduce the high costs of rent and maintenance for an office. If you’re working from home, why bother to continue to live close to the office? Or close to the city? Or the same state? Or even the same country?

You could live anywhere!

If going in to the office is no longer necessary, that means that you could work from a home in Panama. Many areas in Panama have fiber optics with 100-600 mbps internet!

You may be able to significantly reduce your cost for housing by moving to Panama even if it’s just for a year or two. You can get a nice two furnished bedroom condo facing the Pacific Ocean in Coronado for about $1500 a month. Imagine waking up every morning to talk a walk on the beach before you start your work day.

Or you could live on Balboa Avenue in Panama City with an Ocean view for about $1500 a month for a furnished apartment. There is so much to see and do in Panama City. You’ll find plenty of others who are working from home in the City too and they have frequent get-togethers.

The laid back lifestyle in the heart of cultural events in the Azuero Peninsula may be more your style. There, you can get a great furnished two bedroom house close to town for $600 a month or live in a beach community about 10 minutes outside of town.

If you prefer cooler Spring-like weather where you don’t need an air conditioner, you could live in Boquete which is surrounded by spectacular mountains ideal for hiking, for about $700 a month for a furnished two bedroom house. When Panama opens up the economy more, there will be plenty of social activities including live music at multiple venues. From Boquete, you’re only about 90 minutes to some of the best beaches and fishing in Panama!

If you love the beach, surfing, and diving, you may want to try living on the Caribbean side of Panama in Bocas del Toro. It has a bohemian vibe. Recently, I’ve seen cute furnished two bedroom houses close to the beach for about $600 a month.

Panama is a small yet very diverse country. So you may want to try several different areas in Panama instead of just picking one!

An added bonus, if you live in Panama for a year, you could qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion which means you pay NO TAXES in the United States on the first $107,600 of your income. And you would not owe any taxes in Panama. You get to keep every single penny you make! (check with your CPA or the IRS website for details about qualifications for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion)

Move To A Place Where You Can Reduce Taxes Too!

If you’re working from home in Panama, you would not need to get a work permit in Panama. But you would need to get a residency Visa to live in Panama full time. Or, as a tourist you can stay in Panama six months (if you’re not driving) then you may be able to take a little trip to Costa Rica or Medellin Colombia for a week so you can reset your tourists status in Panama thus avoiding the expense of getting a residency Visa. Miami is less than a 3 hour flight from Panama City but you need to be careful not to be in the United States more than 30 days or you will lose your Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

Once things settle down with the pandemic, you may be required to go back to the office. But while you have an opportunity to work from home, why not work from home in Panama! You can also reduce your cost of living, reduce taxes, and explore how amazing life is in Panama. It’s the best of both worlds.

While you’re working from home in Panama, it’s also a great way to check out Panama for a potential place to retire to!

Tocumen International Airport is scheduled to open July 23rd.

What are you waiting for?

Move to Panama so you can avoid the snow and cold weather this winter!

Last Updated Jun 19, 2020 - by Jackie Lange

Immersion – How Much Is Right for You

by Ellen Bailey

When considering a move to another country, one of the most important decisions you will make is how immersed you want to be. Some choose to move to a community full of Expats where they will feel a little more comfortable, while others wish to move to one predominately populated with locals/natives. One of the best things about Panama is its diversity and the fact that you can find either of these or even a combination of the two.

Because moving to a new country can be daunting, and even downright scary, many people feel more comfortable moving to a location with a higher Expat population. These communities have a tendency to be a little more modern and have more of the amenities that you are accustomed to having in your home country. Most of the restaurants, pubs, pharmacies, grocery and hardware stores you visit will have English-speaking employees and have a larger selection of “import” items. Visiting a spa or salon will be somewhat similar to what you are use to as many of the same services will be offered (albeit at a lower price). You will be able to share your experiences living in your new country with the other expats you meet while you are out exploring your new country. Some people only hang out with other expats when they first move to Panama. For some, this is the perfect place to start when first relocating because you are living in a different country yet surrounded by those who are more like you, which can make the transition easier.

On the other hand, many people, myself included, chose to move to a different country to be able to experience a different culture and live amongst those who are not just like us. Moving just a couple of blocks from downtown Boquete, into a predominately-Panamanian neighborhood, was exactly what we were looking for. Although many of the employees in the businesses we frequent speak some English, the people and houses around my apartment are mostly Panamanian. Because of this, I am forced to step out of my comfort zone and try to use my rudimentary High School/College Spanish. At times it is downright painful because I KNOW what I want to say and can do so in my head, but actually verbalizing it is another story! Thank goodness for my Panamanian friends who know some English as well and are more than willing to help!

When we first moved to Panama and knew no one, we would go to the same places every weekend to do something we love: sing karaoke! Music unites everyone! It was here that we began to make a lot of friends, not only with the ones who sang, but also with the employees and owners of the restaurants. Some of these have become our closest friends and are actually more like family. 99.9% of these are NOT expats and I consider my life a lot richer because they are part of it. We have learned about some amazing Panamanian traditions and have been included in many celebrations. We have loved being part of a community that is so willing to share their traditions and culture. It has also allowed us to reciprocate and teach them a little about the U.S. and some of our traditions and interests including college football. While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, it has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Even if you initially move to a neighborhood that has many expats, you should make the effort to get to know Panamanians too. Panamanians are the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.

Panama is so very diverse and offers so many choices for those thinking about relocating here. While not one choice is right for everyone, you definitely will be able to find the right “niche” for you. It may even be that you want to start in a more Expat area and then transition to a different part of the country once you feel more comfortable. Perhaps you chose just the opposite and decided to become more immersed at first only to discover you miss being around others a little more like you. Thankfully, Panama has something for everyone and once you find that perfect balance, you will know, and feel like, you are truly HOME.

You could live anywhere!

Move To A Place Where You Can Reduce Taxes Too!

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