The New Face of Panama

One of the things that is dramatically changing is the height of buildings around Panama. While single family homes are still the most common form of housing, the development of condo projects has grown exponentially in the last 40 years from nothing, to this sort of amazing collection of condos.  On the Pacific beaches and in the interior around Boquete and on the Caribbean in Bocas Del Toro there are amazing residential communities which are all governed by the same law that governs these high rise developments.

There are also numerous new malls springing up all over the place to provide services to these new condo dwellers.

Like many places in the world with condo developments, Panama has had to create and bring into force laws that would allow them to sell condominiums and so the Horizontal Property Act was born. This law not only covers the high rise condominiums like you see in this picture but also covers the many beach front communities that are springing up all over Panama. Just be sure you have your lawyer carefully reviews the Horizontal Property law with you and the By-laws as it relates to the development that you are considering buying into.

There are even developments that are not covered under the Horizontal Property Act and if this is the case then you really need some understanding of how your rights will be protected and how the rights of other home owners may affect your rights and how those rights are being enforced.

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New Folks in Panama

I just had some friends from Canada and the US arrive in Panama.  They have jut spent a month in Peru, and now their month in Panama begins

First impressions are always fun to share  as it doesn’t matter how many times they have seen the pictures, they are completely stunned by the construction boom that is happening in Panama.  Heading down the causeway into Panama for the first time truly takes your breath away as it is sky high skyscrapers as far as the eye can see and when you see it, you are driving along the edge of the ocean.  Panama is truly a breathtakingly beautiful city.

Then they report on the cost of their rooms and the trip to the hotel restaurant for breakfast.  Expensive is the assessment.  The prices in Peru are only 1/3 as high as the prices they are finding in Panama, but they are here right as Carnival begins, the middle of Panama’s summer and the point in the cycle where everything is full, full, full.  Prices too are up, up up.  But if you are looking to invest, doesn’t this sound like opportunity?  Panama offers great financial incentives to those who want to come and build or invest in tourism projects.

They have just arrived at the Royal Decamaeron Resort and Hotel which is where we live and they are in awe.  The view form the hotel down to the ocean is fantastic.

Then of course we discuss the differences in temperature.  They have been in Lima, Peru, where the temperature is equivalent to here but they have recently been in Cusco which is located an at an altitude of 11,000 feet.  It is much, much cooler.

Generally they are excited by the energy in the air that they find in Panama and looking forward to some beach, sun and the beautiful and welcoming ocean. 80F is the temperature and it really does not ever change much.  What is terrific for people coming to our beach area is the friendliness that they will find and the safety.  Panamanians are so friendly and so helpful they  just can’t help themselves.

I promise them that we can go to areas of Panama that are cooler if they like and in the meantime they are off to try the ocean.  That is what is so wonderful about Panama.  You have choice of temperature but you never have to deal with true extremes of any sort.

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Historical New President in the US

It is January 20th, 2009. Barack Obama is being sworn in as the President of the United States. Here in Panama there is just no getting away from this news as it is compelling here as it is to people the world over.

What does his Presidency portend? While there is a lot of hope and there is no question for the black movement in the United States, and perhaps in other countries where there is a black minority, there is now no going back. A black man is the President of the United States.

But the question which holds the world’s rapt attention is the financial crisis. Can Obama somehow get the economy in the US moving again? Can he somehow stem the flow of red ink that is overwhelming the financial sector.

For Panama one of the important questions is world wide trade as the traffic through the canal yields substantial fees which definitely help support the economy of Panama. In addition, Panama has a huge expansion planned for the canal. Can they get all the money they need to complete that and does it make sense in the current economic climate?

In addition there are a lot of developers in Panama who are concerned about the sale of their projects. It was reported in the press this past weekend that some of the developers who have luxury-high-end condos to sell may be having trouble finding buyers for those units. If that is true, is there any chance of that slowdown spreading generally throughout Panama’s burgeoning real estate market?

While only time will tell what really is true with respect to all those questions, the promise of Obama plays a big role in so many of those answers. And so a new era with Barack Obama at the helm in the White House starts today.

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Multi-Plaza Shopping Mecca

MultiPlaza Mall is the closest you will get in Central America to being in a high-end mall in Miami, Florida. There is a complete range of stores including (and this is a small list) Nike, Cartier, Ralph Lauren Polo, Armani, Louis Vuiton, Tiffany, Carolina Herrera and on and on and on.

There is a movie complex with 12 movie screens showing the latest in American movies in English subtituled in Spanish.

The food court has a great mixture of American and Panamanian food for casual dining and there are also higher end tablecloth restaurants like Benihana and 10 Bistro, a Panama City gourmet delight.

All in all you’ll not find a more satisfying or stimulating shopping experience anywhere that will beat Panama City’s MultiPlaza!

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Elmec – Premium Home Fixtures

Elmec is Panama City’s most complete store for everything you need for your home renovations. They have a particularly excellent choice of kitchen and bathroom fixtures from Europe and America. The price range varies from economical to expensive and there will be something for every budget.

Elmec is centrally located it Panama City on Via Fernandez de Cordoba. There are also store located in Panama in David, El Crisol and La Chorrera.

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Felipe Motta – Spirits Emporium!

Every year, in the mid-October in Panama City, the Felipe Motta Wine Store in Marbella holds their annual wine fair, which takes visitors on a journey through the main wine producing regions of the world, accompanied by renowned industry professionals and vintners.  There, you will have the chance to talk directly to representatives of the invited wineries, while enjoying exquisite wines from Argentina, Chile, Spain and Italy among other places.

This year the Felipe Motta wine fair will be held on the 17th and 18th of October.  If you live in Panama or will be in town on these dates, you cannot miss this event.

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Capital Bank

Capital Bank is a bank located in Panama City, Panama. The bank has been recently created solely by Panamanian businessmen, who saw an opportunity to initiate a new banking institution at a time when the market began to consolidate with a number of Panamanian banks being acquired by larger international banks.

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Financial Pacific

Financial Pacific is a Panamanian licensed brokerage house located in the banking district of Panama City Panama with premier banks and broker dealers relationship such as Wachovia Securities, UBS Warburg, Stanford Bank, Credit Suisse, Oppenheimer & Co. and Saxo Bank. The firm provides a wide range of products, personalized services, and client satisfaction is a fundamental  commitment with every customer.

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BioFit Center

BioFit means “Being Biologically Fit”. It is based on the fact that everyone, at any given time, has a “chronological age” and a “biological age”. BioFit believes that your chronological age only represents the number of years you have lived and it doesn´t necessarily have to reflect the state of health the body is in. Your biological age is the state of health that governs your body and it reflects “how old” you really are at any given “age”.

Bill Cortright Creator of the Biofit Program
& Founder of the Biofit Center
http://www.biofitprogram.com/center.html

Bill Cortright is the creator of a totally new and ground breaking approach to achieve health, fitness and permanent weight loss called  THE BIOFIT PROGRAM.This Program is the result of over twenty five year of research and experience.

Bill grew up obese, losing and gaining 100 pounds three times. After trying everything in the market he realized that nothing worked on a long term basis and began to find his own answers.   Thanks to his medical background as a Physician Assistant in the US. Navy and the experience he acquired as the Health and Fitness coordinator at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, Bill was able to put together the BioFit Program. First for himself and consequently for all the thousands of clients whom he has helped since the late 80´s.

After leaving the Navy Bill opened the first personal training studio in Miami, Florida.  During this time in Bill´s career he became a member of the Miami Dade school board of physical education and an active speaker for the community.  Bill gave lectures on Corporate Wellness to companies such as American Airlines, Continental Hotels, Northern Trust Banks and many others.

In 2002 Bill and his family moved to Panama and opened the first Personal training Studio there.

Today, Bill and his team, are the force behind a new concept of Health and Fitness facilities called The BioFit Center.   The BioFit Center is the final evolution of Bill´s career and program and it is a testament to his dedication to helping people become healthier and live a better quality of life.

We cannot stop the passing of time and the addition of years to our lives but we do have control over the speed and intensity at which we age.

BioFit empowers each person to understand the variables that determine their biological age and gives each person the tools they need to make sure they are biologically healthier and hence “younger” than their given chronological age.

BioFit starts by helping each individual to establish their current biological age and then to determine the proper nutrition and exercise plan they need to improve their state of health through a scientifically proven and tested Program.

BioFit is the result of over 20 years of research and experience and it has helped thousands of people to find the lifestyle plan they need through a complete, user-friendly and simple step by step program they can follow for life.

The basic criteria at the heart of BioFit is:
• You can improve any potentially dangerous health conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome and others by following the BioFit program.
• Exercise and nutrition programs need to be designed individually for each person. Following mass marketed diets may help people to lose weight temporarily but, the only way to lose weight (body fat) permanently and create a completely healthy lifestyle can only be done through an individualized program.
• It doesn’t matter how old someone is. It is NEVER TOO LATE to start moving and becoming healthier with the BioFit Program because it is designed to adapt to each individuals conditions, goals and needs.
• Weight loss occurs when the body begins to “work” right. BioFit gives you the tools to help your body work right again.
• Men and Women’s health and weight loss abilities are directly linked to key hormones.
• Everyone has a chronological age (years lived) and a biological age (state of physiological health). You cannot control your chronological age, but you CAN control your biological age and hence, your aging process.

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Hotel El Panama

Hotel El Panama offers historical tropical sophistication in a convenient location in Panama City’s financial and commercial district.

The hotel features an outdoor pool with a poolside bar, as well as a health club with a sauna. Three restaurants, a nightclub, and a casino are also on site. Wireless Internet access is available in public areas and guestrooms.
The on-site convention center offers more than 30 halls, catering services, audiovisual equipment, simultaneous translation, and an expert event-planning staff.

The grand Multicentro Shopping Mall, with a casino, nightclub, movie theater, upscale shops, and about 30 restaurants, is 4 km (2.5 miles) away. The Casco Viejo (Old Quarter), Palacio de las Garzas (Presidential Palace), Plaza de la Catedral, and Teatro Nacional are all within about 6 km (3.75 miles).

http://www.elpanama.com/

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