When Singapore gained independence in 1965, it was one of the poorest countries in the world.
More than two-thirds of its 3 million people were living in slums. More than half were unemployed. It had few manufacturing industries…no natural resources…and very little infrastructure…
But fast-forward to today and tiny Singapore is the fourth-richest nation on earth, with some of the most expensive real estate prices anywhere on the planet.
The story of how this transformation happened is relevant to us today. Because right now, another city is undergoing a similar transformation.
This city is very close to the U.S., and it’s already emerged as one of the best places in the world to own an overseas dream home…
On Singapore’s waterfront, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is one of the world’s iconic buildings. Six decades ago, Singapore was an economic backwater. Now it’s one of the wealthiest nations on the planet. (I prepared a report to explain how this happened…and why it’s now happening again, closer to the U.S. Check it out here.
When Singapore achieved independence, it was desperately poor. But its leaders realized it had one key advantage: It sits at a crossroads of global trade. An estimated 40% of world maritime trade now passes through the Straits of Malacca, right past Singapore.
Singapore leveraged its strategic location by pursuing business-friendly policies, investing in infrastructure like ports and airports, and flinging open the doors to foreign talent and businesses. It created a perfect environment for major corporations.
And they came in droves…
Today, Singapore is a global banking hub and a regional base for multinationals. Its port is one of the busiest in the world and its Changi airport is the fifth busiest on the planet.
In the decades since, many cities have tried to replicate Singapore’s model. Virtually none have succeeded…
That’s because to follow the Singapore model, you need three key ingredients: You need the right policies…the right infrastructure investment…and you need to sit at a global crossroads…
Lots of destinations could potentially achieve the first two. But very few places have the third element.
One of the few that does is Panama City.
Like Singapore and Dubai, Panama City sits at a key crossroads of global trade and finance.
For centuries, Panama has sat at one of the world’s great geostrategic crossroads. It links North America with South America…the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic.
The Panama Canal was built in the early 20th century to unleash this potential. And it was a huge success. Today, about 40% of all U.S. container cargo passes through the canal.
Despite this, Panama City remained a sleepy backwater for most of the 20th century. You see, while Panama’s economy was dependent on the canal, the country did not control the canal or its revenues. The U.S. government built the canal, so it retained control of it.
But in 1999, the U.S. handed back the canal to Panama. This presented an incredible economic opportunity: the chance to transform the country into a Singapore for Latin America.
Panama has grabbed this with both hands…as I explain in this special report on the astonishing rise of Panama City.
Today, Panama City boasts one of the world’s most impressive skylines…and the biggest in all of Latin America..
As in Singapore before it, Panama’s government launched a series of reforms to turn the country into a safe haven and magnet for multinationals. This included big tax incentives to any major company that made the country its regional headquarters for Latin America.
Scores of major global corporations rushed in to take advantage. Panama City’s skyline was transformed, with skyscrapers shooting up at a dizzying pace.
At the same time, Panama launched major infrastructure initiatives, including a $5.25 billion project to double the capacity of the canal and a $917 million upgrade to the airport.
This has cemented Panama’s place as the “Hub of the Americas.” Last year, the airport handled 17.8 million passengers, a new record high. This year it’s already on track to beat that record.
Downtown Panama City has become trendy and affluent. Nestled amid its colonial buildings, you’ll find high-end boutiques…luxury hotels…world-class restaurants…
I’ve been scouting Panama City and investing in real estate there for 20 years. When I first scouted it, the city was edgy, with crumbling colonial buildings and untended parks.
But walk the streets of Panama City today and you’ll pass trendy cafés…craft beer bars…fine-dining restaurants…designer clothing boutiques…expansive shopping malls… All the hallmarks of an population with money in their pockets.
This city now has the greatest real estate investment potential of any major city on the planet. In my special report on Panama’s rise, I explain in detail why this is the case.
But here’s the CliffNotes version…
The population of Panama City is constantly rising, as is demand for housing in the city center.
In 2010, there were 3.3 million residents in Panama. That number is now at more than 4.4 million. And it’s projected to hit 5.8 million by 2050, with more than half of the population living in and around Panama City.
But there’s almost no prime land left in the capital…
I call this the “big squeeze.” The huge number of skyscrapers is clear evidence of this.
Members of my Real Estate Trend Alert group have been buying ahead of this squeeze for many years…using our contacts here to own the kind of luxury real estate that the wealthy executives flocking to Panama City want to rent and buy.
And we’ve seen big gains as a result.
For instance, I’ve brought members of our group several deals to own in Santa Maria Golf and Country Club. This exclusive master-planned community just outside the city’s downtown core covers 692 acres, every inch set apart from the outside world.
A view from Santa Maria toward the city…
Santa Maria is exclusive and luxurious… It boasts a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. A Marriott Luxury Collection hotel (with a chic café and great restaurant). And the top-notch country club is open, at a level that has not been seen in Panama before, with an Olympic-sized pool, bowling alley, spa, gym, running track, yoga, squash, and tennis…
And yet, thanks to our connections with the developer, Alfredo Aleman and his GLP group, RETA members were able to buy here at incredible, RETA-only prices.
- In September my scouts were in Panama and stumbled upon an outstanding performance in Santa Maria. We had a RETA deal in October 2020 in Ocean House and a RETA member bought a two-bed condo for $268,200. My guys went to check it out. They were told it would list today for more than $368,000. And that it’s renting long term for $2,600 a month.
That’s an uplift of almost $100,000 and a gross yield of nearly 12%.
Renting long term!
- In September 2021, only six RETA members were able to buy spacious three-bedroom condos from $540,020 in a community within Santa Maria called Pinnacle. The retail list price for similar condos in the same community was $736,629—that’s $196,609 more.
Then there are our deals in Ocean Reef…
In June 2019 and June 2021 I brought RETA members a chance to own condos in Seascape on Ocean Reef, an exclusive man-made island community off downtown Panama City, made up of two islands with a marina in between.
This will be one of the globe’s sought-after addresses. A home on Ocean Reef islands is for the kind of person that international CEOs report to. The marina is for the mega-yachts of the super-wealthy. Everything on the islands has 5-star luxury built in, the Yacht Club, the gyms, the planned Wellness Center, restaurants, retail area, spa, tennis courts…
Yet, once again, because of our connections to the best-in-class developer and our group-buying power, RETA members could lock in sweeping ocean-view condos starting at $783,000. Resales are rare on Ocean Reef, but in 2022 a condo in Seascape listed for $995,000.
That’s a boost of $212,000.
Ocean Reef is a stunning man-made island community off downtown Panama City…and proof that the city is running out of prime land for development.
Panama City is the only capital city in the world where I recommend RETA-grade deals. No other capital has Panama City’s immense potential.
Ocean Reef speaks to the incredible squeeze on land. Developers literally have to create land from the sea!
Which is what makes the upcoming RETA opportunity in Panama City so astonishing.
Five months ago, I brought RETA members the chance to own in a landmark new community in Panama City called Ipanema.
Ipanema is right on the water, on the last prime piece of waterfront land of its type. That’s worth repeating. This is the last prime waterfront land of its type in Panama City.
And it’s right next to Costa del Este, the 766-acre master-planned district successfully designed and developed to attract multinational companies and their staff to Panama.
The planned amenities in Ipanema will be resort-level awesome. I’m talking pools, park, bistro, gym, bar, manicured beach, and more.
And there are already uplifts for RETA members who bought in Ipanema just five months ago. For instance, RETA members were able to buy penthouses in Ipanema for $632,200. In August 2024, the developer sold the exact same penthouses albeit in a different tower for $732,150.
That’s an uplift of $99,950 in less than three months!
Now, I’ve gotten RETA members a second chance to own in Ipanema…
Views from the landmark Ipanema community will be outstanding, as will the amenities, including a 50-meter lap pool, waterfront park, gym, bistro…and more. (Renders like this shouldn’t be considered final, but give you a good idea.)
The developer, Alfredo Aleman, has a high degree of respect for RETA and values his relationship with RETA members. He’s given me the opportunity to handpick just 15 luxury condos with RETA pricing and exclusive financing…
Members can own one of these 15 luxurious condos from a screaming RETA-only $328,600.
And I expect gains of $271,400 eight years after delivery and gross yields of nearly 11%—that’s income of $36,000.
If you’re a RETA member, you’ll be getting my full deal briefing this Saturday, November 16.
And this RETA-only deal will open on Wednesday, November 20, at 1 p.m. ET. Be ready.
If you’re not yet a RETA member, and would like the chance to act on this opportunity, learn how you can join RETA here.
Ronan McMahon, Founder,
Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. Make sure to check out my full report on the rise of Panama City. In there, you’ll find information on visas, healthcare, the best district in the city to live and invest, why Panama is a safe haven for businesses and investors, and much more.
Click here to start reading it now.
