News

A new article in the venerable New York Times follows a U.S. couple’s search to find the perfect beach dream home, illustrating why so many choose Panama.

Daniel Waters, 49, and Jodie Horton, 52, initially chose Panama for many of the same reasons as many Americans — beach markets in the U.S. were too expensive, while Panama offered easy travel connections and the use of the U.S. dollar. “Best of all,” the Times reports, was the country’s Qualified Investor Program, which offers a path to residency status for any real estate purchase over $300,000.

“Panama had us at warm weather, beaches, and affordable cost of living,” Mr. Waters said. “Add in vibrant culture, fewer natural disasters, and the chance to finally use the Spanish I sweated through in language school, and it felt like a smart life decision disguised as a tropical daydream.”

They had up to $650,000 to spend for a two-bedroom or three-bedroom condo in a new waterfront development with hotel amenities, preferably in or around Panama City. As a twist, they primarily focused on construction projects, taking advantage of discounted pricing.

“We looked at properties that were either just built or were going to be finished in 2026 to 2029,” Dr. Horton said. “I also thought living in a hotel residence is luxury. Like when you stay in a hotel and say, ‘I could live here.’ Foreigners buy property unseen all the time. It’s not unusual, and if we don’t like it we can use it as an investment.”

They narrowed it down to three choices, including Vervana in Playa Venao, which offers 20 private residences set amidst a 200-acre protected nature reserve. overlooking Achotines Bay.

In an interactive element, readers can pick which development they would choose, and which one they think the couple chose. (For the record, when I read the article, 48% of readers thought the couple should choose Vervana.)