Living in Panama Archives | Panama Relocation Tours

Last Updated Apr 3, 2019 - by Jackie Lange

How Panama Relocation Tours Saved Me $45,000

During a Panama Relocation Tours, you’ll learn a lot of ways to save money when you relocate to Panama.

♦ You’ll meet an affordable and reliable immigration attorney to help with your residency Visa.

♦ You’ll learn the most affordable way to get your pets and household goods in to the country.

♦ You will learn the one thing you should NEVER do when buying health insurance- this alone could save you $2,000 per person per year (which will pay for your tour).

♦ You will learn some negotiation techniques for getting a getting a better price when you rent or buy.

♦ Plus, when you get a Pensionado Visa, you get discounts on everything from restaurants, prescriptions, airfare, utility bills and so much more. These discounts apply to
Friendly Nations Visa holders too once they meet the age requirements of 55 for women and 60 for men.

A little savings here and a little savings there adds up to so many ways you can live BETTER for LESS in Panama.

There are other ways that Panama Relocation Tours can help you save money when you move to Panama. I’ve been a real estate investor for 27 years. Now, I invest in Panama real estate too. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of ways to get a better price when I buy real estate. This knowledge has come in handy for Panama Relocation Tour clients too!

A few months after John and Peggy came on a Panama Relocation Tour, they moved to Panama. Initially they rented a house in Panama but they knew they were ready to put down roots so they started looking for the perfect house to buy. They found a house a lot faster then they thought. It’s a spacious fully furnished home with a wrap around porch. It’s on several acres with many fruit trees. The asking price was $165,000. They asked me if I thought it was a good price. You can almost always get a better price so I taught them exactly what to say to get the price down to $120,000. I also recommended a great attorney to help with the contract and closing. They closed a month later and moved in. I don’t think John and Peggy have stopped smiling since!

So, my real estate investing experience helped John and Peggy SAVE $45,000 when they purchased a home in Panama! It’s a good thing they came on a Panama Relocation Tour!

Join us for a Panama Relocation Tour to meet John and Peggy and see their beautiful home and property. When you get ready to buy a house in Panama, I’ll help you save money too!

Another tour client, Dennis and Lenore, found their dream home just a few steps away from the beach. It was a bit more than they planned to spend so they thought they had two choices: (1) Cash in their 401k (which would require big taxes) or (2) get a mortgage in Panama which could take months. Most mortgages in Panama have to be paid off by the time you turn 70 so a mortgage was not a good option for them either.

As a real estate investor, I’ve purchased many houses with seller financing with 0% interest. So, I suggest that Dennis and Lenore make an offer to the seller to put some money down then pay him monthly payments. I advised them not to mention interest. The seller accepted their offer. They saved a fortune in taxes by not cashing out their 401k and saved a lot of time and money by not getting bank financing. With zero interest seller financing, every payment they make to the seller goes directly to reducing the principal amount they own because they are not paying interest.

This was all possible because Dennis came on a Panama Relocation Tours.

A Panama Relocation Tour does not end on the last day of a tour. I’m readily available to help all my tour clients when they relocate to Panama. When I find a great rental, seller financing or house sitting opportunities, my tour clients get all the details immediately. And when necessary, I’ll coach them on exactly what to say to get a better price or seller financing when they purchase a home in Panama. If you’d like to have access to this kind of assistance in Panama, join me for a Panama Relocation Tour.

Learn how to MAKE an extra $45,000 (or more) in Panama too!

There’s a lot more to a Panama Relocation Tour than just showing you around Panama and teaching you the things you need to know to make a smooth relocation.

I’ve also been an entrepreneur and online marketing expert for 27 years! During a Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll learn how to make money in Panama too. I’ve helped many tour clients set up an online marketing business that they can run from anywhere.

♦ You’ll learn about self-publishing books that you can sell on Amazon. You do the work once but the money keeps rolling in!

♦ You’ll learn creative ways to make money with real estate which do not require very much cash investment yet produce big profits!

♦ You’ll learn how to source products that you can sell on Amazon for big profits and without handling any of the fulfillment yourself.

♦ You’ll learn a variety of different ways you can make money while living in Panama which do not require getting a work permit.

And, if you are a US citizen, you’ll learn how you can make up to $105,300 per person TAX FREE when you live in Panama.

Last Updated Apr 1, 2019 - by Jackie Lange

Do You Need to Learn Spanish To Live in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. Some areas of Panama, like Coronado and Boquete, have a high concentration of expats so it is possible to get by there without learning very much Spanish. But even in those areas, there will be many times when you really need to be able to understand some Spanish and ask questions in Spanish, even if it is not a complete sentence.

At the very least, you need to learn how to be friendly in Spanish. You need to learn to ask for your bill at restaurants because they will not bring it to you until you ask… simply say “la cuenta, por favor” (the check please). When you enter an elevator or a doctor’s waiting room, it is customary to greet everyone with a simple “buenas tardes” (good afternoon – if it is after noon) or just “buenas” is fine too. In Panama, even when you pass someone on a sidewalk it is customary to be friendly by saying “Hola” or “Buenas”.

Just a little bit of Spanish and a big smile goes a long way in Panama. Panamanians will respect you for trying even if you do not pronounce the words just right. They might correct you to help you learn Spanish. Say gracias (thank you) often!

Just yesterday, I went to the farmers market in Boquete to buy two pineapples and papaya. They don’t speak English there. I asked how much (cuanto cuesta) and they told me $3.50 (tres cincuenta). They understood me and I understood them. The expat lady in front of me did not know how to ask how much or understand the numbers when they told her a price. The sales person could see the puzzled look on her face so she entered the numbers in a calculator to show her how much. It worked. But it would have been so much easier if the expat understood just a little Spanish. We cannot expect that Panamanians will speak English and should not get frustrated if they do not. Hint: talking louder in English does not help a Spanish speaker understand English any better!

The most affordable areas in Panama do not have a high concentration of expats. Most people in those town will only speak Spanish so you will definitely need to learn more Spanish if you want to live there. You don’t have to be fluent but you will need to learn more Spanish to live comfortably in those areas.

There are two courses I recommend to help you learn Spanish.

Duolingo offers free online training. They also have an app for your cell phone. You can set your schedule to 10 minutes a day, 30 minutes a day, whatever you are comfortable with. Duolingo will definitely help you learn some Spanish but it is all by memory. This course is good for starters, but when you get serious, you need to take it to the next level with…

Gary Scott’s Online Spanish Course is only $79 one time payment. I especially like this this online course because you can learn at your own pace. And it teaches the kind of Spanish that is spoken in Panama. (Mexico Spanish is different) I attended a three day live seminar of this course in Boquete a few years ago. It was amazing that everyone in the class could speak, write, and read some Spanish by the end of the first day.

With Gary Scott’s Online Spanish Course, you’ll learn a lot of little tricks which expanded our Spanish vocabulary right away. For example, did you know that any English word that ends with IC (like plastic), you just need to add an O to the end for the Spanish word… plastico!

If an English word ends with IVE, convert to IVO then voila, you have the Spanish word. Active becomes activo! Relative becomes relativo!

If an English word ends in TY, convert it to DAD. Activity converts to actividad in Spanish.

See how easy that is!!

Gary’s Online Spanish Course will teach you hundreds of these little “tricks” to help you learn Spanish really fast!

Gary’s Spanish Course utilizes a special method of learning, called Super Learning, which was created and refined by the Bulgarian educational master, Georgi Lozanov. Lozanov transformed the entire Soviet educational system to such a degree that this third world country beat the USA into space! When learning, you’ll listen to a special kind of music which puts your brain in to “super learning” mode to help you learn Spanish faster and retain what you learn too. I don’t know how it works but I saw it in action when I took this seminar — it really works.

Did you know that Spanish is the second most used language in the United States? Even if you never move to Panama, knowing some Spanish will come in handy!

MORE REASONS TO LEARN SPANISH

It will enrich your experience in Panama if you get to know Panamanians instead of just hanging out with expats. Some Panamanians will speak fluent English but many will not. If you know a little Spanish and they know a little English, you can communicate in Spanglish. It works and it’s fun!

When you move to Panama, you will want to explore the whole country because it is so beautiful and diverse. This is where knowing a little Spanish will come in handy. When you don’t know how to speak Spanish, you can always use Google Translate.

The more Spanish you learn, the better your experience will be while living in Panama.

Last Updated Mar 28, 2019 - by Jackie Lange

Where Will You Live in Panama?

During a Panama Relocation Tours I go to a variety of beach and mountain communities that have a variety of different price points. I do this so you can see the huge variety of what’s available in Panama. Some areas are more expensive than others. Some areas are more “high end” than others. Some areas are much more affordable. Some areas are definitely rough around the edges.

Too often, people read about a certain town in Panama then decide that is exactly where they want to live… without even visiting first or looking at other areas in Panama. That’s a huge mistake! Sadly, when someone actually sees the area they have read about, they are sorely disappointed because the article they read was so sugar-coated.

I know from nine years of experience doing Panama Relocation Tours that 50% of the people who think they want to live in a beach community change their mind after spending a day or two in the heat and humidity. And 50% of those who think they want to live in the mountains change their mind thinking the weather is too cool for them. That’s why it is so important to visit a variety of different areas before you decide where you want to live.

Luckily, there are plenty of towns that are half way between the beach and the mountains. So there is always a good compromise between the beach and the mountains. The temperature at sea level is 90 degrees +/- 5. Without an ocean breeze it can feel like 100! For every 1000 feet above sea level, the temperature drops 4 degrees. You can do the math to determine your ideal temperature. If you think 80-82 is your ideal temperature you will enjoy living at 2000 feet above sea level. If you like it a bit cooler, at 75-78, then you will want to search our communities in the 3000 – 3500 foot elevation. Pick the wrong elevation and it will be too hot or too cold for you.

Just last week, during a Panama Relocation Tour, a lady had always thought she would like to live at the beach but she changed her mind after several days of visiting beach communities during the tour. When we got to Boquete and Volcan, she thought it was a bit too cool. Then we visited previous tour clients at their home in Dolega (about half way between David and Boquete) and she thought that temperature was just right plus she loved the town too.

All these reasons are why I highly recommend that you RENT for at least 6-12 months before you even think about buying real estate in Panama. During every Panama Relocation Tours, we will show you rentals in each area we visit (we do NOT sell real estate).

To give you a preview of what Panama rentals look like and cost, check out the RENTALS PAGE on the Panama Relocation Tours website. I just updated it with some new listings today.

A 6-day 7-night all-inclusive Panama Relocation Tours is the best way to see a variety of different areas in Panama AND learn all the things you need to know to relocate to Panama in the most affordable and stress-free way.

This is our 9th year of offering Panama Relocation Tours! SEE DETAILS HERE

Be warned that our Tours sell out months in advance so it is a good idea to sign up early. We only require a $500 deposit to reserve your spot. You can reserve your tour by clicking on the BOOK A TOUR button above.

Join me for a Panama Relocation Tour — I will show you how you can live BETTER for LESS in Panama!

To Life in Paradise,
Jackie Lange

P.S. We’re your Panama Relocation EXPERT! We have hundreds of 5-star reviews like these that we received this week:

MOVING TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY HAS ITS CHALLENGES. DON’T MOVE BLINDLY!

My husband and I both came on Jackie’s Relocation tour in March and I must say it met all our expectations and more. Jackie has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to best places to live in Panama, immigration rules, the culture, the people, the laws and rules of the land and so much more. Jackie is quite patient with everyone in terms of the various questions that are posed to her during the tour. Everyday she chooses a topic and discusses it to the fullest. We were even given a book with all the necessary vital information should we choose to relocate.

Jackie shared many of her personal stories, some dos and donts, tried and true experiences, and basically equipped us with the knowledge to face the relocation challenge.

We are well pleased with this tour and would highly recommend to anyone who is thinking about moving to Panama. Moving to a different country has its challenges. Don’t move blindly. Take the tour and in the end you will have a lot more peace of mind as you will be making informed decisions.

Bob and Bess Singh
Calgary, Alberta
March 16-21, 2019 Tour

EVERYBODY KNOWS AND RESPECTS JACKIE

KUDOS to Jackie and the entire Panama Relocations Tour family! My friend and I attended the February 2-7 tour and the decision was made while we were there that Panama would be the perfect place for “Life, chapter 2”! As a matter of fact, she will be there in May to begin her process and I will be there in June, to start mine.Like many others, I had read all the posts, watched all the videos, received the emails from PRT about upcoming tours and life in Panama….but still with all that, there were many questions; and when I tell you that EVERY single question was addressed and answered either by Jackie, her team or their location guide you receive on day one. We received more solid information during this tour than we could’ve found by researching for years on our own.

Jackie was just getting over a slight illness when our tour began, but believe me, you would’ve never known it if she hadn’t told us, this lady never missed a beat! It seemed she knew the answers to the questions, before they were even asked! She is very open, honest and most importantly “down to earth”. The first contact was made through Melissa, she was very responsive, professional and thorough, we arrived several days early, and she made sure that we received the hotel discounts and that everything was in order for the beginning of our tour.

From Melissa, to Jorge to Jackie and all the people that we met along the way….and there were a lot of them, EVERYBODY knows and respects Jackie and the PRTteam!!! It was a good feeling knowing that we were in good hands. The transportation was very nice and clean, the hotels we stayed in were top notch and gave us a feel for some of the different areas and what to expect in each of them. Being able to view all the different living options was a “biggie” for me, seeing first hand, condo’s and homes for sale or rent was amazing.

I could go on and on…..but I won’t, I’ll just say if you want to experience Panama, and have a slight inkling that you may want to move or retire there, you will not be disappointed by taking this tour! You will have all of your questions or concerns addressed. Jackie is a walking GOOGLE…..she will give it to you straight, and even afterwards, she will assist you in any way she can.
Carla R.
February 2019 Tour

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