retiring in Panama Archives | Page 7 of 9

Last Updated Oct 17, 2018 - by Jackie Lange

Snowbirds in Panama

A snowbird is someone to goes someplace warm when it is winter where they live. The snowbirds in Panama are primarily from Canada and northern states in the United States. They usually live in Panama 3-6 months out of the year starting in November or December. But we also have snowbirds from New Zealand who have an opposite schedule and arrive in Panama in late May.

Being a snowbird is the best of both worlds because you can live close to family and friends part of the year, but as soon as the weather gets cold you can head to Panama where the weather is always fantastic.

Previously, snowbirds went to Florida, Arizona or south Texas during the winter months. But because of the high cost of living in those states, snowbirds now are flocking to Panama where it is much more affordable and the weather is great year round.

Living in Panama does not need to be an all or nothing situation. You can live in Panama part time, as a snowbird. Some snowbirds rent while they are in Panama. Other snowbirds own a home in Panama which they rent out while they are not here.

Here’s a great video of a snowbird couple explaining why they came on a Panama Relocation Tour:

Panama Relocation Tours delivers the reliable, unbiased information you need to make an informed decision about Panama. And you will never be subjected to a sales pitch! We do not sell real estate.

If you’re looking for a place to retire, or be a snowbird, where the weather is perfect and it is more affordale, you probably already know that Panama is the top retirement destinations in the world.

Panama has great weather all year, amazing scenery, the best infrastructure in Latin America, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.

No matter what your budget is, there is a perfect place for you in Panama. Panama has 1500 miles of coastline and some of the most beautiful and tranquil mountain towns too.

Panama’s Pensionado (retirement) Program offers huge money-saving benefits and incentives. Even if you only live in Panama part-time, if you have a residency Visa, you can take advantage of discounts like 25% off airfare to anywhere in the world, 50% off tickets to movies and sporting events, 20% off at restaurants, 25% off utility bills, 20% off
prescriptions, and much more.

During a Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll learn all about how easy it is to qualify for the Pensionado Visa PLUS our attorney charges less than half what other’s charge.

Not ready to retire? Panama offers many other Visa programs and opportunities for entrepreneurs too.

One of the biggest benefits to living in Panama is the ability to get really good and affordable health insurance – even insurance that will cover you internationally.

All this and much more will be covered in great detail during a Panama Relocation Tour. We offer 11 Tours a year. SEE THE TOUR DATES HERE

Last Updated Mar 5, 2018 - by Jackie Lange

The Tale of Two Expats In Panama

An “expat” is the nickname for an expatriate or someone who has moved from their home country to a foreign country. In Panama, we have a lot of expats from many different countries. Some make a smooth transition to living in Panama but unfortunately some do not.

I’d like to tell you the true story of two different expat couples to illustrate how to make the transition to living in Panama easier and how to avoid some pitfalls too.

Expat Couple #1 came on a Panama Relocation Tour. They spent 6-days touring Panama during an all-inclusive tour all while learning:

♦ which reliable and affordable attorney to use to get your Visa in a week
♦ what their Visa options are, which one is the best fit, and why they need a Visa
♦ how to find a rental & what not to do when renting
♦ which questions to ask and what to check out before renting
♦ how to bring their pets in to Panama (and get them out of other countries)
♦ how to save 30%-50% on health insurance
♦ how to get a Panama driver’s license
♦ what to do if you get pulled over by the police in Panama
♦ how to bring precious metals in to Panama
♦ the unique micro climates in Panama
♦ which towns/elevation have their ideal temperature
♦ which towns are the most affordable yet still offer the amenities you need
♦ what NOT TO DO and what to AVOID
♦ and much more!

Because they took a Panama Relocation Tour, they were completely prepared when they moved to Panama. They know what to do, when to do it, and how to relocate to Panama so the whole transition was smooth and easy.

Instead of renting a car then driving around Panama, those who take a Panama Relocation Tour get to sit back and relax in a very comfortable bus while our professional driver takes care of the driving.

Expat Couple #2 did not have such a pleasant experience. They did not go on a Panama Relocation Tour. Before moving to Panama, they did spend a week driving around Panama to decide where they wanted to live and talking to as many expats as they could find. But they had no clue how to get things done once they moved to Panama. They purchased a used car in Panama City when they arrived in Panama the second time. Little did they know that it is better to buy a car close to where you want to live because they will have to go back to Panama City every year to get their annual registration OR pay a lot of money to get their registration moved to the city where they live.

Next, they drove to Boquete where they rented a house after seeing an ad online. They signed a one-year lease by email, paid a $1000 security deposit through paypal, then paid the first month’s rent when they arrived. After a month of living in the house, they realized they made a big mistake. The metal roof is extremely noisy when it rains. To make matters worse, their neighbors have 6 dogs who bark all the time and roosters too. So, after a month, they moved to a different house (losing their $1000 security deposit because they broke their lease).

They paid $2000 to an attorney in David to get their Pensionado (retiree) Visa. But, unlike Expat Couple #1, instead of getting their Visa in a week, it has been 2 months and they still don’t have their temporary Visa let alone their permanent Visa. It is very possible that the attorney just took their money but they will never get a Visa. Yes, that can happen in Panama.

Expat Couple #2 went to one of the most expensive insurance brokers in Panama to get their car insurance and their health insurance. They paid WAY too much for both. This alone cost them an additional $3000! It is so sad. By the way, it is better not to use an insurance broker when buying health insurance in Panama.

After another month in Panama, Expat Couple #2 does not like the second house they rented either. They decided the weather is too cold and windy in that area even though they love the house and the views. They paid $800 for the security deposit and signed a one-year lease. They will lose another $800 if they move out early.

Now, in total frustration, Expat Couple #2 is moving back to the United States after being in Panama just a few months. They lost $1000 on their first rental, they will not get their $800 security deposit back on the second rental, they lost $2000 paying the wrong attorney to get a Visa, and they will likely lose $3,000 to $5000 when they sell their car. They will not be able to get a refund on the extremely expensive health insurance they purchased.

That’s at least a $10,000 mistake.. which could have been avoided!

Luckily, they did not rush in to buying real estate. They would have lost even more money if they tried to sell the house quickly. And they did not ship down their household goods to Panama since the houses they rented were completely furnished.

It’s too bad they did not take a Panama Relocation Tour because they could have saved all the frustration and avoided losing all that money too. During a Tour, we educate people about how to avoid all these costly mistakes and how to get everything done an easier and more affordable way.

You don’t know what you don’t know! Mistakes can be expensive.

A Panama Relocation Tour is not an expense, it is a WISE INVESTMENT in your future life in Panama. If you’re considering relocating to or retiring in Panama, you should consider taking a Panama Relocation Tours to avoid ending up like Expat Couple #2. We still have a few spaces available for 2018 Tours.

SEE DETAILS & OUR DATES HERE

To Life in Paradise,
Jackie Lange

P.S. Next Article – Amazing Incentives for Agriculture Businesses in Panama.

Last Updated Mar 6, 2019 - by Jackie Lange

Relax – Let Us Take Care Of Everything For You!

When you’re considering moving overseas there is a lot of research (and dreaming) involved. You’ve probably read a lot about Panama. You may have watched 100 youtube videos about Panama. Maybe you even attended a conference about retiring overseas. These things are all great.

But when it comes time to get serious about making a decision to move to Panama, you really need to come see Panama for yourself to know what it’s like. You need to have “boots on the ground” and kick the tires so to speak.

♦ You need to see Panama up close and personal.
♦ You need to meet other foreigners who have moved to Panama
♦ Enjoy the warmth of the coastal areas – take a stroll on the beach
♦ Experience the majestic mountain views & spring like weather in the highlands
♦ Check out the abundance of food available at a farmer’s markets
♦ See first-hand how friendly and welcoming the Panamanian people are
♦ Check out grocery stores to see if they have the items you need
♦ Visit pharmacies to see what the cost is for medications you take
♦ Visit department stores to see what’s available and check prices.
♦ Meet with an immigration attorney to get details about Visa options
♦ See rental properties to see what’s it’s like to really live in Panama
♦ Learn how to get your pets and household good in to Panama the easy and affordable way.
♦ Learn what you need to do to make a smooth transition to living overseas

During a Panama Relocation Tours, you’ll do all this and much much more.

RELAX! You can enjoy your trip to Panama without the stress of planning where to go, what to do, where to stay and how to get there.

RELAX! Instead of trying to plan a trip to Panama on your own, let us take care of everything for you. We’ll make all hotel arrangements, select restaurants for 3 meals a day, arrange for you to meet with expats in various areas, our bi-lingual driver will meet you at the airport when you arrive. We provide ground transportation in our private luxury bus. And we provide an in-country flight back to Panama City after the tour (starting in May 2019).

While the big yellow bus is rolling from one location to another, it’s like a seminar on wheels. You’ll learn about visa options, finding rentals, getting huge discounts on health insurance, how to get a Panama driver’s license (and why you need to), how to bring your household goods & pets in to Panama, how to buy a car, how to open a bank account, and so much more.

RELAX! Everything we talk about during the tour is already written down in a book so you can enjoy the scenery without taking copious notes.

RELAX! After you move to Panama you’ll have more questions and need more hand holding. We’ll be right here to help!

WE MAKE IT EASY! All you have to do is sign up for a Panama Relocation Tour HERE After you sign up for a tour, we’ll then put you in touch with our travel agent to help you find a great deal on a flight to Panama. We’ll take care of everything else!

WE TAKE THE STRESS AWAY!

You’ll learn about “off the beaten path” places where a couple can live well on less than $1500 a month…including rent.

You’ll learn about locations with every amenity you could imagine is available and English is spoken almost everywhere.

You’ll learn the pros and cons of each areas we visit. You need to know both sides to make an intelligent decision about relocating to Panama.

RELAX ..while our professional driver is doing all the driving in our luxury bus so you can enjoy the scenery and take it all in.

And at the end of a 6-day all-inclusive Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll know if Panama is a “yes” or “no.” You’ll know which community(s) pulled at your heart strings. After a Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll know exactly how to relocate to Panama with confidence. You’ll know what you need to do to make a smooth transition in to living overseas.

What are you waiting for? We still have a few openings for upcoming Panama Relocation Tours SEE THE DATES HERE

Come see why so many foreigners love living in Panama and why we bet you will too!

To Life in Paradise,
Jackie

P.S. Here’s what some of our guests have to say about the tour…

TAKE THIS TOUR. DO IT! Ten stars for Jackie and her crew. My husband and I visited Panama about 18 months ago and couldn’t get it out of our minds. I started looking around for information on moving there and Jackie’s name kept coming up. Add our names to the ever-growing list of those who recommend her. We knew where we wanted to live and felt we owed it to ourselves to be well informed. This tour more than exceeded my admittedly high expectations. I’m an information girl and Jackie has it and easily shares it. She loves Panama but doesn’t sugarcoat it. I like straight talk and Jackie gave it to us. I was so hot on the Relocation tour that a friend of ours decided to join us and I think (I hope) she’s moving too. – Whoo hoo! We toured the country from Panama City to Boquete and I couldn’t be more pleased. It was great to be with other like minded people and I feel like we made some new friends. Thank you thank you thank you.

Kathie Osterman Rose
February 2019 Tour

Jackie, I wanted to voluntarily write a review for the Panama Relocation Tour that I just attended from 2/8/19 – 2/14/19. First, I want to commend your daughter Melissa on the tremendous job of organizing and managing all the intricate details of a trip like this. She’s an amazingly talented professional and I’m glad she’s on your team.

Secondly, all of your drivers were amazing people with a thorough knowledge of effectively getting around in Panama. Having spent the most time with Jorge, I can’t say enough about this, “transportation genius.” The maneuvers he did with the relocation bus were nothing short of magical. His timeliness, professionalism and experience made the many trips we took absolutely enjoyable.

Lastly, Harriet Tubman birthed the “Underground Railroad” to move people from danger to safety. Jackie Lange birthed the “Panama Relocation Tour” to move people from existing to living. Many of us that are investigating relocating to Panama are doing so because the cost of living where we are living now has risen beyond our means to cover it comfortably. Jackie’s countless hours of research coupled with years of experience serve as a “guardrail” in our relocation efforts. I found Jackie to be brutally honest, experienced, warm, friendly, funny, caring and open to share with anyone that approaches her. If you are tired of all the slick sounding marketing material on the Internet about relocating to Panama, and you are ready for the pure and honest facts, ask Jackie. However, brace yourself for a dose of hard and honest facts birthed out of her experience. I unreservedly and unconditionally recommend the Panama Relocation Tour!

Author Terrence Biggs II
February 2019 Tour

P.S. Get updates about living in Panama on our facebook page at Facebook.com/panamarelocationtours