Why I Bought in Panama—and Where I’m Going Next

In this week’s Your Overseas Dream Home Digest…

• VIDEO: Why I’m Going to “the Portugal of South America”
• WATCH: Is Portugal’s Other Coast Better Than the Algarve?
• VIDEO: Brazil’s Beachfront Opportunity From $93,000
• Your Questions Answered on Panama’s Beaches

Greetings from Panama…

I love it here. What other world city gives you a skyline of gleaming towers…and the chance to escape to cloud forest, tropical islands, and a village inside an ancient volcanic crater?

This weekend, I’m in El Valle de Antón, about two hours’ drive from Panama City.

Set inside the crater of an ancient volcano, this leafy village sits around 2,000 feet above sea level. The air is cooler here, and Panama City families have long come to escape the heat.

Being back in Panama reminds me how much this country offers.

But there’s another reason I’m delighted to have made my first property purchase here in more than 20 years.

I believe Panama City is still at a relatively early stage of a multi-decade transformation. And I see a much bigger Panama component in my next decade than in my last.

I recently bought a condo in Ipanema, a luxury three-tower development under construction on the waterfront beside Costa del Este, one of Panama City’s most prestigious neighborhoods.

I bought here in an exclusive off-market deal alongside members of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) group. The RETA price was $473,000. By my reckoning, the condo I bought is already worth in the region of $40,000 more than I paid, after a modest down payment and just a few weeks.

Alfredo Alemán—the developer behind Ipanema—walked me through the latest on the community this week. He’ll launch Ipanema to the local market on November 1 at significantly higher prices than RETA members paid.

Until then a handful of condos remain at RETA-only pricing and terms—for RETA members only.

I visited the waterfront site and recorded this short video.

In today’s digest, I take you to Portugal’s Silver Coast and a beach city in Brazil where you can still buy new-build real estate for under $100,000. But first…

On Tuesday, I fly to Uruguay to check out a potential deal for my RETA group. Here’s why this small country has my attention…

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Along with my team, I’ve been scouting Uruguay for two decades.

It has sweeping Atlantic beaches, sophisticated resort towns, and a reputation for stability—a haven for people and wealth.

Uruguay rarely makes international headlines. But in a region known for coups, protests, turmoil, and instability, that’s a very good thing.

It has an established democracy, strong institutions, and a long history of welcoming foreigners and their capital. Easy residency options and favorable tax policies add to the appeal.

For generations, wealthy South Americans have come for the summer.

Now, more foreigners are interested in building their lives here.

That’s why I think of Uruguay as “the Portugal of South America.” I watched Portugal attract new residents from around the world—and saw real estate prices soar.

In my new video, I explore what’s happening in Uruguay and what it could mean for real estate there.

Could Uruguay be the next Portugal? In my new video, I explain why I’m watching this coast so closely—and show you three ways to own here today. Click to view…

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Portugal’s appeal as somewhere to spend more time is something I understand firsthand.

Back in 2020, I chose a stretch of Portugal’s coast for myself…

I was looking for beachfront living…top-class golf…a temperate climate…and easy access to a major city and international airport.

I found it all about an hour north of Lisbon on the Silver Coast.

I paid €300,000 for a two-bed oceanfront condo. Recently, an identical property came on the market for €525,000.

But I didn’t buy here purely for the investment. This coast offered the space, uncrowded beaches, and relaxed Portuguese lifestyle I was looking for. And the climate here suits my personal preferences better than the Algarve.

To watch my deep-dive on this coast, click below…

I chose this stretch of Portugal for my own lifestyle base. In my new video, I explain what drew me here—and where I see value today. Click to view…

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Portugal isn’t the only place where I’ve found opportunity along the Atlantic coast.

Back in 2008, while markets in the U.S. and Europe were tanking, I was making real money from beach condos in northeast Brazil.

I bought with a down payment of just $736—and walked away with tens of thousands of dollars in profit.

Now, a new wave of opportunity is building in a beach city I know well.

A local contact is already tapping into it. He calculates his net rental yield on one apartment at almost 25%.

Yet you can still buy new-build real estate here for under $100,000. Click below to watch my video.

Most outsiders picture Rio when they think of Brazil’s beaches. In my new video, I explain why I’m watching a different city—and the shift creating opportunity there. Click to view…

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Have a comment for me or my team? A question about owning overseas? Share it here. I’d love to hear from you. Here’s a question I got from a reader recently…

Gareth A. asks: Can you swim in the sea off Panama City? Where would you go for a nice beach?

Ronan says: Panama City has spectacular waterfront views, but the bay along the city isn’t suitable for swimming. But you have plenty of options when it comes to beaches and swimming. Two examples…

For a beach escape, Playa Caracol is around 90 minutes’ drive from the capital, on the Pacific coast. This master-planned resort community is true beachfront, the kind where the farthest point from the sand is just 300 yards.

Or take the ferry from the Amador Causeway to Taboga Island. In about 30 minutes, you can swap the city for sandy beaches, a colorful village, and lunch overlooking the water.

Wishing you a good real estate investing,

P.S. If you have a question about buying real estate overseas or have suggestions for destinations my team and I should put on our scouting list, drop me a line here.