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Newest Naos Owners Share Their Story

Dave and Bonnie Diehl spent years looking for the perfect second home–a place to where they could enjoy life, maybe retire and provide a solid investment, at the same time. They found it at Naos Harbour Island Residences and Marina, the exclusive community perched on the Amador Causeway waterfront.

“We are extremely pleased with our purchase, especially when we sit on our balcony on Naos and watch the ships waiting to enter the Panama Canal,” Bonnie says.

The Diehls, from Georgia, USA, join a new wave of happy buyers at Naos, which has been experiencing record sales. Buyers are responding to the beauty and growth of Amador, where a new convention center and a cruise port are under construction. Amador is also home to miles of beautiful bike and hiking paths and a lifestyle that seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of Panama City, even though it’s only a 15-minute drive to the center of the city.

Naos is also one of the few projects in Panama City that allows short-term rentals, a huge benefit for investors looking to generate revenue with their apartment. The short-term rental program has been shown to provide significantly larger returns than long-term rentals. And PPR manager Brian Kelly, who lives on site, has earned the status of an Airbnb “superhost” for various consecutive periods, making rentals a seamless and easy experience for owners.

The short-term rental program definitely played a role for the Diehls, who like the idea of generating revenue with their new home when they are not using it. And they really responded to Brian’s management style.

“We have already experienced Brian’s ‘super host’ service,” Bonnie says. “He could not be more accommodating, friendly and willing to make your stay a great experience!”

But their decision to buy in Naos went beyond dollars and cents. They clearly have fallen in love with the Amador lifestyle and the excitement of life in Panama City. They bought a two-bedroom, high floor corner unit for less than $450,000 and they’ve already been taking full advantage of their new home.

The Diehls were gracious enough to answer a few questions about their new home for PPR Insider. Here is what they had to say.

How long had you been looking for a place?

We have been looking for a foreign investment for the past 10 years.

Where else did you look?

We considered Costa Rica and in fact went out there four times to look at properties.

What were your priorities as you looked at different places?

Our top priorities were affordability; walkable to restaurants, small stores; safe areas to walk and ride bikes; and a friendly environment.

What did you like about Naos?

Although we saw many lovely communities and properties in Panama City, we fell in love with Naos, as it checked off all the requirements on our wish list.

What role did the short-term rental program play in your decision?

Although our primary motivation in purchasing on Naos was not for short-term rental capability- the fact that short-term rentals are available–with an expert property manager on site–was a huge plus that we had not anticipated


What did you learn about the Panama City market from your research?

Panama City is a growing area, with beautiful views. It’s a very clean and friendly city where the U.S. dollar is the currency and English widely spoken. Naos, in particular, is growing as evidenced by the new convention center and cruise port. There is also a lot to do here from shopping malls to sloth sanctuaries—and, of course, the Panama Canal!

What are your plans and goals for your new Naos home?

We are excited to begin furnishing our condo to make it our home–many friends and family members are equally excited to visit Panama for the first time!  In the next few months, we hope to be ready to offer our home with its spectacular view for short-term rental through Punta Pacifica Realty!

Welcome to Naos, Dave, and Bonnie! For more information on Naos, contact us at +507 6670-8011. To read Dave and Bonnie’s testimonial of their experience on Naos in their own words, click here.