Last Updated on November 13, 2020 - by Jackie Lange

Finding a Rental in Panama

The process of finding a rental in Panama is different than what you are familiar with. There is not one website like Zillow where you can see a lot of available rentals. You can’t just walk into one real estate office and ask to see all the rentals in your price range. Instead, you’ll need to take a much more proactive approach to find a rental in Panama. Listen to the replay of a conference call discussing how to find a rental. You’ll learn what NOT to do too!

See the top 10 takeaways from the call below. Listen to the replay for many other tips and tricks for finding a rental in Panama.

1. You’ll need to take a much more proactive approach to find a rental. Check Facebook groups in the area you want to move to. Check craigslist Panama and other websites like Encuentra for rentals. Rent a car and drive around looking for rental signs or hire a driver to take you.

2. The best rentals are usually found by word-of-mouth and rented directly from the owner. Don’t be afraid to ask people you meet if they know if any rentals.

3. Never ever rent something without seeing it first. It’s good to see the neighborhood during the day time and at night before signing a lease. Listen for barking dogs, roosters, noisy neighbors.

4. Don’t assume that it has hot water at every faucet. Verify.

5. Most rentals come completely furnished including dishes, pots, pans, tv, coffee pot, sheets, towels, and furniture.

6. Verify that the house has a reserve water tank.

7. Make sure there is a written lease. Write down everything they told you would come with the house (like electricity, water, gardener, etc) then very that those things are listed in the lease.

8. For condo/apartment complexes, ask if there is a generator and what it powers in your unit (hopefully the elevator too). East versus the west side of the building can make a big difference too!

9. Beware that some landlords charge twice as much during high season. You can avoid this if you rent before or after high season.

10. Insist that you be able to talk to the owner to verify what the correct rent is so you can avoid a net listing.

Our Online Panama Relocation Guide contains all the information you need to know to relocate to Panama. It also has a list of reliable property managers/real estate agents who can help you find a rental. It’s a good idea to contact the agents about a month before you come to Panama so they can have some rentals lined up for you to see.

Last Updated on September 28, 2020 - by Jackie Lange

Renting in Panama- The Do’s and Do Not’s from a Pro

With so many people planning to move to Panama and looking for a rental, I thought you could use some advise from a pro! So, I asked my friend Elaine Hayes to write an article about renting in Panama. She has lived in Panama five years and moved TEN times. She’s uniquely qualified to advise you about what to do and what not to do too. She and her husband Don have made every mistake in the book. Read this article and follow her advise to avoid making costly mistakes.

Hello! Let me introduce myself. My name is Elaine and my husband Don and I decided to retire in Panama in 2015. Before I begin, I want to stress to you that we will always live in Panama. For us, it is the best place on earth and there are wonderful places to live where you will be so happy and retire in paradise! But this article is letting you know the mistakes we have made, so hopefully we can prevent others from making the same. I have lived in some great places and made a lot of mistakes! Don and I have moved 10 times in 5 years. We are pro’s at moving! So here is my story:

I always prided myself on doing my research. I researched the entire world when it came to deciding where to retire. I researched where other expats lived, the money exchange, the crime, the weather, the language. We picked Panama because it checked out all the boxes and we have never regretted our decision. But one thing I did not research was how to go about renting a place in a foreign country. It’s something so new to most expats. For instance, most of the rental places for expats here are furnished. Completely furnished, with everything you will need just to move in with your clothes. A rental will come with kitchen appliances; pots, pans, silverware, plates, bowls. It will be equipped with towels and bedding. You will have a TV and may have a washer and dryer included. Most of us have owned homes in the countries that we have lived in, or if we have rented, we knew the ins and outs of what to do and not to do. But doing all of that in another country is different. So, I am here to gladly tell you my story. I can help you with your research. Panama is a wonderful country to live in, and renting is definitely the key. You can always buy a house or apartment once you get the lay of the land. But renting is the only way to go when you first arrive. So here are some “dos and don’ts” that I have learned from experience! I will give you a list first, and then explain in the next paragraphs some of our specific experiences!

-GO AND INSPECT THE PLACE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE LIVING. INSPECT EVERYTHING YOURSELF, DO NOT RELY ON THE LANDLORD TO TELL YOU THINGS ABOUT THE HOUSE (DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING). DON’T RENT A PLACE BY JUST RELYING ON THE INTERNET PHOTOS.

–ASK AND VERIFY – MAKE A LIST OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU – HOT WATER IN THE KITCHEN, WASHER AND OR DRYER, HOT WATER ON DEMAND. ALSO DECIDE WHAT YOU CONSIDER YOUR “DEAL BREAKERS”. VIEWS, WALKING DISTANCE TO STORES AND RESTAURANTS? YOU NEED TO PERSONALLY CHECK THE HOUSE AND THE SURROUNDINGS OUT FOR YOURSELF!).

–CHECK OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD – (ARE THERE BARKING DOGS AND CHICKENS CLOSE BY? IS THERE TIMES WHERE THE AREA YOU LIVE IN ARE GOING TO BE LOUDER AT TIMES THAN OTHERS?)

–DOES A GARDNER COME WITH THE RENTAL? HOW OFTEN DOES HE COME – (SOME PLACES HAVE SOMEONE COME A FEW TIMES A MONTH, AND SOME COME A FEW TIMES A YEAR.)

–WHAT UTILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RENT, AND WHAT TV/INTERNET SERVICE IS AVAILABLE IN THE RENTAL?

–TALK TO NEIGHBORS. SEE HOW THEY LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. GET THEIR ADVICE.

-DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE IN PANAMA, THE LOCATION OF THE SUNRISE/SUNSET MAY BE VERY IMPORTANT. LIVING ON THE OCEAN IS WONDERFUL, BUT BE AWARE WHERE THE AFTERNOON SUN WILL BE IN YOUR RENTAL. DO YOU WANT THE SUN TO BE BEATING DOWN IN YOUR LIVING ROOM? ARE THERE BLACK OUT CURTAINS THAT YOU CAN SHUT WHEN THE SUN IS AT ITS HOTTEST? WHEN YOUR LIVING ROOM GETS TO BE A SAUNA, WHERE THE SUN IS LOCATED AT WHAT TIME BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT.

–REALIZE WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING, YOU WILL HAVE TO MOVE IT. BUYING AN OUTDOOR GRILL IS WONDERFUL. BUT JUST KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO MOVE, YOU WILL HAVE TO MOVE YOUR GRILL AS WELL. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH YOU ACCUMULATE.

Don’t Do This!

Now for the story of what Don and I did when we were still in the States. I was scrolling the internet and saw a cute house that was close to the town we wanted to live in. The pictures looked so nice, and the location seemed perfect! It was a fellow expat that owned it, so naturally I trusted him with no questions asked. He wanted first month, last month rent with a security deposit. He was willing to sign a 3-month lease. That appealed to my husband and I. If we didn’t like it, we had 3 months to find another house or apartment! We sent him the money using a wire transfer, and we were set! We sold everything we owned, kept 5 suitcases and a chihuahua to take with us, and off we went to start our new adventure! [Read more…]

Last Updated on March 11, 2020 - by Panama Relocation Tours

Pros and Cons of Living in an Expat Community

An expat community is a town that has a high concentration of expatriates or expats.

Relocating to Panama will be much easier if you move to a community where there are already many expats. With an established expat community English will be widely spoken at the banks, doctor offices, restaurants, and other services like cell phone or internet providers. It will be easier to get things done.

The three main expat communities in Panama are Panama City, Coronado, and Boquete. There are about 3,500 expats in Boquete and most of the expats live there full time. Boquete has a population of 30,000 so expats are about 10% of the population.

I’m not sure how many expats live in Coronado, but I see expats everywhere I go when I’m in Coronado. I’ve been told that approximately 40% of the expats are Canadian, 30% Americas and the rest are primarily European. Many of the expats in Coronado do not live there full time. My guess would be that there are more total expats in Coronado than Boquete but fewer of them live in Coronado full time.

There are also a lot of expats in Panama City but expats are harder to find because it is such a large city with almost 3 million people.

No one knows for sure how many expats there are in Panama because there is no requirement to register with any Embassy.

Other areas like Volcan, El Valle, Las Tablas, Sante Fe, David, and Pedasi certainly have expats living there but a tiny fraction compared to Coronado or Boquete. English is not widely spoken in any of these other areas.

COMMUNICATION

The good thing about living in Boquete is that English is widely spoken. The bad thing about living in Boquete is that English is so widely spoken that you don’t need to learn Spanish. It’s much harder to learn Spanish if you live in an expat community. You will have a much better life in Panama if you learn at least some Spanish.

In non-expat communities few locals will speak English. So you will need to learn at least some Spanish before you make the move. A smile and “Buenos” goes a long way!

An easy way to learn Spanish is by taking an online Spanish Class. You can learn at your own pace and from the comfort of your home. I really like Gary Scott’s Learn Spanish in 3 Days Online Class. I attended this “live” class in Boquete Panama a few years ago I was amazed that by the end of the first day everyone in the class was speaking, reading and writing in Spanish! With this online Spanish class, your confidence to communicate in Spanish will go through the roof!

In non-expat communities, because English is not widely spoken, it will be harder to get anything done if you don’t speak some Spanish. This could cause frustration. I highly recommend that you order Gary’s Online Spanish Class and start studying before you move to Panama. Most towns will have translators you can hire too.

Panama is a Spanish speaking country so it is good to learn at least some Spanish. The more you learn, the easier your life will be in Panama. Plus you will not be limited to speaking only with other expats or only Panamanians who speak English.

Because there are so many expats living in Panama, some service providers now have English speaking support. If I have problems with my internet service, I can select #2 for English when I call support. If I need to call my 24/7 help line at my banks in Panama I can press #2 for English support. English is spoken at some local businesses. You can always use Google Translate to communicate if necessary.

ACTIVITIES

When you live in an expat community there will be plenty of weekly activities like live music events, theater, poker games, yoga classes, art shows, Zumba, chili cook-offs, and plenty of charities to get involved in. Some restaurants also have trivia or bingo nights.

In expat communities there seems to always be a reason for a party or a get-together. That’s certainly the case in Boquete.

In non-expat communities you’ll need to create your own expat activities. There may be a few activities but they will not happen often.

Expats who live in expat communities seem to be much more social. They like going to lots of events and hanging out with other expats. Of course, you don’t have to participate but the events will be readily available.

If you need social events, you’ll enjoy your life in Panama more if you live in an established expat community.

PRICES

House prices could be more expensive in an established expat community. But, you’ll find more North American style houses in expat communities.

Finding a house for less than $80,000 in an established expat community in Panama is not easy. Affordable houses are out there but they are hard to find. It is rare that you will find houses in that price range listed on a real estate agent’s website. You are more likely to find affordable houses by talking to Panamanians.

Yet in non-expat communities buying a house for less than $80,000 is much easier to find.

Rentals in expat communities could cost a little more than a non-expat community. An example is the furnished house like I rented when I moved to Boquete is $695 per month for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath house. In Volcan the same house would rent for $500. In Coronado, the same house would rent for about $1,000 per month.. or even more if it were close to the beach.

Keep in mind that these are no-frills type houses. I’m talking about a basic 1200 SF house without granite countertops or any high-end finishes. It does include a laundry room too. My house has vaulted ceilings and large windows to let in the natural light. And the views… OH MY... you should see the spectacular views.

For a bigger house, you’ll pay more.

In Chitre, during a Panama Relocation Tour, we meet with a couple who rents a nice furnished two-bedroom house for $400…. with an Ocean view! Another couple I know in Volcan rents a furnished 2 bedroom, 2 bath house for $500 per month. In warmer areas, electricity may not be included in your rent so you’ll have additional expenses for air conditioning.

If you live in an area like Boquete or Volcan, or anywhere above 3000 feet, the weather will be Spring-like year-round so you will have no need for an air conditioner. This saves a lot of money on utility bills. If you live at a lower elevation it will be hotter and more humid so you will have additional utility costs.

The quality of homes in expat communities will usually be much better than the quality of homes in non-expat communities. Hot water at every faucet is NOT a given in Panama. But in expat communities you are much more likely to have hot water at every faucet in the house.

If you want to live close to an expat community but you’re on a limited budget, you can usually reduce your costs if you move 15 or 20 minutes away. You’re still close enough to participate in all the activities. Caldera is about 20 minutes away from downtown Boquete. Last year an expat bought a 2 bedroom house on a large lot for $35,000 there. You’d never find that price in Boquete.

I helped a friend find a nice, furnished one-bedroom house in Alto Boquete for $200 a month and it includes all utilities, internet and electricity. The deals ARE out there!

We strongly recommend that you rent for at least 6 months before you even think about buying a property in Panama. In some cases, it makes more sense to just be a renter and not buy. Rents are affordable. Renting gives you the flexibility to try out a variety of different areas in Panama. Buying is easy but selling could take many years.

CONVENIENCES

In expat communities you are more likely to have a wide variety of restaurants with very good food. In Boquete, we have may traditional Panamanian food ($5 a meal) restaurants, fish restaurants, Italian, Mexican, Peruvian, Spanish, Pizza, Egyptian, sandwich shops, and more. We even have a microbrewery in Boquete!

In non-expat communities your choices for eating out will be extremely limited and there will be limited choices at the grocery stores.

If you live in a larger town like David or Chitre, you’ll find a plethora of restaurants and many excellent grocery stores, hardware stores, and malls. These towns will even have a McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Subway. You will not find these “chain” type restaurants in smaller communities.

Even in small expat communities like Boquete and Coronado you’ll have a better chance of finding a good grocery or pharmacy.

In small non-expat communities like Sante Fe and Pedasi there will be less of a selection so you’ll need to make occasional trips to a larger town to get the things you need.

IN CONCLUSION

There are always trade-offs in Panama.

Moving to a non-expat community will be more affordable and have a bigger upside potential if you buy. As more expats move in to the area it will be converted in to an expat community with more services, more restaurants, and more amenities. Home prices will go up as there is more demand. But you need to learn Spanish.

Moving to an already established expat community will make your transition much easier.. you’ll have more social activities, and you’ll have more conveniences ..but all that comes at a price. You’ll pay more to live in an expat community. English will be spoken at most places.

Where you decide to move to in Panama will depend on your personal preferences and your budget.

No matter what you’ve read about each area in Panama or seen on videos, you can’t really get a “feel” for what it will be like until you go visit the town.

PanamaRelocationTours.com will show you a VARIETY of different areas during our 6-day all-inclusive tour. You’ll get the chance to meet with expats every day during the tour. Panama has something for every budget and every preference. Come see how you can live better for less in Panama.

Join us on a Panama Relocation Tour to find your paradise!