Real Estate in Panama

How do I find a place to live in Panama?

We asked expats how they chose their neighborhood and found a place to live. They answered:

"The first condo we found in Nueva Gorgona was through VRBO. We didn't know a lot about the area here, but we rented so if we decided it wasn't for us, we could always move to another area. After that, it's been by word of mouth that we have found places to live," said another person in Nueva Gorgona .

"I lived in Leon, Nicaragua and was tired of heat, The temperatures here suit me well. I found an apartment in Alto Boquete on the Internet, and took a 6 month lease. I will be moving closer to town as I don't own a car," added another expat who made the move to Boquete.

"We lived in Panama City for a short time while we were waiting for our goods to arrive. The heat is almost unbearable. We had visited Boquete on previous visits and decided that its mild weather is a good choice. Never too hot or too cold. We purchase a dehumidifier for the rainy season, but you don't need an air conditioner or space heater. A lighted ceiling fan is all you need," explained one foreigner living in Alto Boquete, Panama.

"Most good rentals are found through people you know. Ours was never advertised, only word of mouth. Good rentals are difficult to find," said another in Boquete.

"We wanted to live in a safe local neighborhood near the ocean. I listened to my friends who were already here and looked in those areas," explained one expat in Bocas del Toro.

"I made a visit here in August,stayed in a pretty basic place in el Cangrejo, and felt quite at home. It reminds me of Greenwich Village in NYC. I'll be staying in the same place for a month, plan to begin the Pensionado process with a recommended-by-expats att'y., and then move about 1 1/2 hrs.outside the city, coming back in as needed to complete the paperwork," explained one person living in Panama City, Panama.

What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Panama?