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Panama real estate
Panama Country Guide
Everything you need to know about moving to Panama
How to Purchase Real Estate in Panama
The real estate purchase process in Panama is relatively straightforward
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Panama Real Estate Purchase Process Overview
Consider taking a discovery trip to Panama
View listings and make a decision on where to buy
Make an offer and negotiate with the seller until a price is agreed
Engage a lawyer and draft a promissory contract
Arrange a property survey by a licensed surveyor
Sign promissory contract and send any down payment to seller
Search and verify the title, and research encumbrances or other problems related to the property
Sign the final deed and pay the balance on the purchase price
Register the contract with the Public Registry for title transfer
Attorneys receive final deed from Public Registry and prepare final documents (may take 2-30 days)
Not sure where to start?
Speak with an international relocation specialist for free
Buying Real Estate in Panama as an Individual or Corporation
You can purchase property in Panama as an individual, as a corporation, or as a private interest foundation. Panamanian lawyers may recommend forming a corporation or foundation, largely to simplify estate planning. There are good reasons for this:
Probate: property held in an individual’s name will go through probate in court, which is usually a long and costly process
Right of survivor-ship: This right does not exist in Panama. If a property is registered under more than one person’s name, it does not automatically pass to the other owner(s) upon one owner’s death.
The U.S. has fairly onerous tax reporting requirements for Americans who are officers of foreign corporations. We recommend checking with a U.S. tax specialist before agreeing to create a corporation in Panama.
How to Transfer Money When Buying a House in Panama
When making a large purchase in Portugal, buyers typically make international transfers.
There are two companies that we recommend using to make international transfers: RegencyFX and Wise.
RegencyFX is one of the fastest-growing, privately owned currency exchange companies in the world.
Regency FX is a simple, easy way to guarantee one of the best exchange rates on the market. RegencyFX assigns a dedicated account manager to each client, so it is a great option if you are looking for hands on, tailored support. You can learn more about RegencyFX HERE. StartAbroad has a partnership with RegencyFX, and may earn a commission on sales made through this platform.
Wise is an excellent option if you have a straightforward transaction to make. Wise offers excellent exchange rates, and is very easy to use. You will not receive any hands-on guidance or support, but it gets the job done quickly and easily.
Regardless of how you transfer money to Portugal, keep in mind that the receiving bank may take a commission. This is the responsibility of the buyer to cover.
Possession Rights in in Panama
Not all properties have title deeds with the Public Registry Office. Some real estate, particularly in special tourism zones, only offer “possession right” or “limited ownership” instead of a title
Rights of Possession property is exempt from property tax
These types of property typically have lower market prices than titled property because of the higher investment risk
Purchasing this type of property requires more careful due diligence by a trusted attorney. You’ll want to be very careful that possession is awarded by relevant government authorities.
Many properties in Bocas del Toro falls into this category
Associated Costs When Purchasing Property in Panama
For buyers
Legal fees (including notary and public registry): typically 2%
(optional) incorporation fee if you buy as a Panama corporation: ~$1,000
For sellers:
Real estate agent’s fees: 5%
Transfer tax (for individuals): 2%
Capital gains tax (for individuals): 3% of sales price or 10% of gain
Share transfer tax (for corporations): 5% of sales priceerty Purchase Fees
Inheritance in in Panama
Inheritance proceedings regarding local property are dealt with in Panama. You may have any will made outside of Panama authenticated, legalized, and translated, but it is often easier to make a formal will in Panama to cover assets within the country. Regardless of having a will, in Panama probate will always go through the courts, which can be a lengthy and costly process. Many people also use corporations or private interest foundations to protect their assets (see the real estate section above). There is also no right of survivor-ship in Panama, meaning that the death of one owner of a property does not automatically result in ownership being passed to other owners.
Important Things to be Aware Of
There are financing opportunities for foreigners buying property in Panama, although they will differ from opportunities for locals. For example, foreigners must usually meet a 30% down payment rather than the 10% typically required for Panamanians.
Panama does not have a MLS (central database of property for sale), so it can be difficult to compare home values during the search process and searching can be fragmented. Working with a vetted buyer’s agent can give you more confidence during the process.
Browse our Panama Country Guide
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StartAbroad client reviews
StartAbroad made the process easy and manageable. Anna is the BEST, she informed me of the necessary steps to get me to Portugal. StartAbroad helped with housing, needed documents, and the million questions I had. I highly recommend their services if you want an easy and very manageable process to travel and live overseas.
Joyce L.
Portugal Concierge Client
5/5
We hired StartAbroad to help us find a long-term rental in Portugal and we’re extremely happy that we did. Because we wanted to be in the Algarve where longer term rentals aren’t easy to find, Anna from StartAbroad helped us create a wish list that matched our budget [and] still managed to check the boxes that were important to us. Based on that, she compiled listings for us to see as soon as we touched down in Portugal from the US. Armed with that, and a little bit of luck, we were able to find a home that was everything we’d hoped for!
We feel very confident recommending StartAbroad to anyone looking to relocate abroad.
Richard F.
Rental Search Client
5/5
We greatly appreciated the personable…concierge service that StartAbroad offered. [They] listened to what we said and what we did not say and helped us plan a very fun, but strategic exploratory trip. We were able to see multiple cities during our very brief visit and have a lot of fun along the way.
Tea N.
Exploratory Trip Client
5/5
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