Panama Expat Experience - Living near the beach in Boca Chica
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- After taking a Panama Relocation Tour, Dennis & Lenore moved from Reno, Nevada to Boca Chica, Panama. Watch this video to learn what life near the beach in Panama is like for them.
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Thank you for loving my beautiful country. 🇵🇦 I sure love yours 🇺🇸 😘
We enjoy ALL of the Panama Relocation Tour videos. Each give us a take on what it is like. That said, Dennis and Lenore did a great job together and find that this video is a favorite. I could watch it again and again.
We hope we meet you one day either on our tour or when we move there. 👍
I'm so glad you enjoy the videos!!
I thought maybe the Dominican Republic would be the place for me, but no, it is a mess there. Panama looks much nicer. When this virus situation is over I am going to sign up for this tour. I am so hopeful ... it looks beautiful, and I think the visa process is better than in Costa Rica.
Curious if you have looked at Belize? Only reason for me is you can eventually get an option for citizenship and they allow dual citizenship, where Panama doesn’t.
@@coocoocachooglin I am a dual citizen and I'm from Panama. My grandpa was a tripple citizen. Also, I really don;t think that John McCain ever renounced his Panamanian nationality. lol He was born in Panama, and, interestingly, there were no birther issues in the States with him, but perhaps that was because of his complexion. I was even a dual citizen during the war between Panama and the U.S. where the U.S. invaded and occupied Panama and was never given guff about it. Dual or triple or quadruple citizenship is a non issue in Panama. It's just vestigially on the books but it's never ever been enforced, and this has gone on for many generations. So you can rest at ease in that category. Nobody has been asked to renounce their other citizenship. And you can be the holder of several passports, ala James Bond. :D
Great interview Dennis and Lenore - well done !
This is one of the best and most informative interviews I’ve seen about the area. I’ve been looking for information about Boca chica, so this was very helpful. We’ll return to Boca chica to take a closer look, the last visit there we explored Boca Brava.
Matthew, glad you enjoyed the video! Check out some of the other "beach" videos too.
Interesting interview and perspective on moving to Panama. I hope to visit for a couple of weeks next spring.
I follow you in the phillipines, and Panama is also a good choice.
I hope you are still loving your Boca Chica life and I hope to meet you one of these fine days when I make it to Panama. Thank you for your observations and advice, and take care.
Dennis and Lenore are still loving their Boca Chica lifestyle!
@@PanamaRelocationTours nice
I'm from Reno too...thanks for sharing your experience with us!
My pleasure!! Thanks for watching.
Quite a treat, great story. Research from Michigan I have grown fond of Rincon estates. (lobster cove) & surrounding areas. One more winter in Key West then pulling up stakes & heading to Boca chica area. Love to fish...
David, glad you enjoyed the video interview.
David Eustache where r u living in key west? Are u buying or rent? We live in Satellite Beach, a barrier island near the Atlantic, but am open to relocating also. R u heading to Panama also and have you been there yet?
Great to see them again on video, regards daniel from south africa
So glad to see how well you are doing in Panama. We are exploring retiring in Panama from South Africa and very pleased to hear that there are some South Africans living there. But would love to meet some true Panadians?? as well as all the rest.Sounds like a very Cosmopolitan kind of living. Hope to come out on a tour next year.
One of the major things to look into in any country before you buy is property rights.
In Panama, foreigners have the same property rights as Panamanians. However, not all properties are titled in Panama so that is definitely something to be aware of. This article has more details panamarelocationtours.com/buying-real-estate-in-panama
"TITLED" homes here are the same as in the states. Mine is fully titled. ALso here though, most homeowners end up putting thier houses into a "Corporation" , which Jackie also discusses on tour can help guide how to arrange if you should need one.
@@dennism6544 Where do I get a detailed map of Boca Chica, say to come and look at your community?, what is the best transportation, say I come to David, rent a car or take the local bus and hire a ride?. I'm planning to come to Boca Chica and look at the area, need proper map, like you said most people come to the fishing village and go back. I'm Coming from Dallas TX
Beatiful Expats!!!
I want to move to Panama
Ana Maria Bojorquez
Me too
Great video!
Diversity!!
I like!!
Beautiful
BOCA CHICA LOOKS NEAT---IM THINKING ABOUT COMING DOWN--IM RETIRED 2,000 A MONTH WOULD I BE OK RENTING SOMETHING THERE LIKE A HOUSE AND WOULD IT BE NICE, LOVE THE BEACH AND WATER --LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP
$2K/m is more than enough. Even $1K/m is enough. lol You'll be fine. :D
I would think that one of the draws of going to a place like Panama is to escape a place like home depot or lowes?
HEY IM COMING FROM VEGAS HELP ME OUT WITH INFO I NEED WILL YOU--MIGHT NEED TO DRIVE DOWN TO BOCA CHICA AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON
Make a new video pleas I want to move to Boca Chica in two years when I retair.Thanks Gary
I like! 👍👏
Can You easily grow avacado and Citrus in Panama?
It depends on where you live in Panama but generally YES!
I had avocado trees in my back yard as a kid and we lived in the outskirts of Panama city. Also citrus on our farm house on a hill. In the back yard where the avocados were (2 varieties) we also had several other fruit trees including mango, cashews, coconut, bananas, pineapples, chayote, and many more. You won't go hungry. lol
We have started two avocado trees when we moved in, a lime, an orange and an anon tree, all are growing extremely well. Also lots of mango trees here, 3 differnet kinds so they ripen at different times.
Thank you for the information. I am very happy for you two! If I can ask, how much is the property tax for the year? I am four years away from my dream of moving to Panama. Cheers!
Why does everything seem to be on the Pacific coast in Panama and not the Caribbean? The Caribbean waters are much clearer and the sandy beaches much whiter. At least that’s how it seems to be in Mexico. And are the Pacific waters of Panama warm enough for swimming and snorkeling without a wetsuit?
It's not that way in Panama. The Pacific is warm enough for swimming without a wetsuit. Some parts of the Pacific side have white sand. Check out the Pearl Islands on the Pacific side. Chame also has white sand
Very informative, thank you! Two questions: how is the road getting there from the hwy? And are riptides a big problem on your beach as they are in La Barqueta?
The road to get there is terrible. Dennis and Lenore live on a cove so there are no rip tides.
@@PanamaRelocationTours Thank you!
With all the vegetation are there problems with critters getting into your home.
I hear there are cockroaches 6 inches long in the tropics. that would make me a little crazy.
I totally agree! I scare easily.
@@justgivemethetruth You must be talking of the ones that live in the dirt. Yes, those are big but they usually don;t want to go into your house. They prefer the dirt. That said, I would much prefer to have an encounter with one of those than being hit by a rubber bullet in the eye or shot pepper spay in the face point blank or suffer from a drive-by shooting or killed from Police Brutality or be the victim of a gun massacre or be ambushed and shot while jogging or and on and on and on. So I would venture to say that even if you encounter a critter, it is due to Panama being one of the most biodiverse places in the world, and yet it's much safer overall. But I do understand that phobias can be phobias. There is a variety of natural bug repellents which can be made from locally available plants and herbs.
WHen we moved in, we had a LOT of brush in burn piles all over the property and much of it close to the house. That was one of my first tasks. With it there we did have a fair number of scorpions and a few snakes (Boas nothing dangerous). Now that I've cleaned up all of that and the improvments we have made, very few bugs in the house ever. In two years, I have not seen a cockroach down here. We do get mosquitos and the chitres (noseeums) here so we take care of protection when they are heavy.
In CA, there is no way they would even let you start cleaning up your own property and improving your home. You have to get permission from all these stupid local boards. It's worse than Cold War East Europe in CA now.
I'm sitting in CA right now ... that's nonsense. There are building codes of course.
@@DestimoniumTremens Not many earthquakes in Panama unless you are near Costa Rica in a place called Puerto Armuelles. Also due to its geography and positioning, the eyes of hurricanes never go over Panama. In those two regards Panama is blessed.
Living close to the beach has its price... please tell me how you keep from getting eaten by the bugs ??
They use a lot of natural bug repellent mixed with coconut oil. Works great!
Again, mostly Mosquitos especially the first week or two when rainy season just starts, and early evening time is there peak time. And the chitres or noseeums as they are called in the states. Yes, some natural repellants plus we have planted many different kinds of plants around the house which also are natural repllents, Lantana, lemon grass and others. Then Pricesmart always has cans of OFF if you get deperate.
Just googling "Boca Chica "
17:00 min mark..Did he just tell his wife's medical issues but he freezes up when telling how much he is paying for housing??
IJS...
Wasn't meant to be missed. We purchased the 3 bdrm 3 bath house for $225k Many of the homes here sell for much more as they are ON the beach where we must walk a whole 2 minutes. And we got ZERO percent financing as Jackie recommended asking for.
Dennis M , do you mind Sharing the bank name? At this rate and price I am very interested. Was that a Panamanian bank?
WHY DIDN'T YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR FROM RINO
❤🇵🇦🌎
👍😃
Dennis & Lenore , How much did you pay for this house 4 years ago?, just to get an estimate
low 200's
@@PanamaRelocationTours What is the yearly property tax for this type of house a year
How is the weather in bocas chica?
The weather anyone along the coast in Panama is about 90 degrees +/- 5 ever day. And more humid because it is close to the Ocean.
on the weather app of your cellphone, punch in Boca Chica, Panama and you'll instantly get a forecast.
It stays between 80-90 degrees most every day all year. Humidity is higher than the mountains as well. We've grown accustomed to it and the beach which is just beautiful, is right here makes it easy to cool off when ever needed.
What provision have you made for when you get sick?
They said that they purchased catastrophic insurance for major illnesses and accidents. Other than that they pay whatever Panama charges, which is generally what you'd pay in the U.S. if you had an HMO, except without having to pay the monthly HMO insurance payments. They paid a fraction of that monthly for their plan.
We are likely also going to get the Panama hospital plan here as well. Costs about $100 a month. My wife had our dog pull her off our porch and she had 3 breaks in her ankle and dislocated as well. 5 days in the hospital, a 4 hour surgery, three months of Physical therapy and the entire cost before insurance was $17,900. I like the Panama plan from what all I see it includes.
I see properties priced high and then drop significantly. In reality if you see say a $300,000 house what can you really buy it for? What are wages for renovation costs?
prices are all over the place in Panama. The price depends on the location location location and condition of the property. Repairs also depends on who you hire. A good Panamanian electrician is about $30 to $40 a day. But if you hire an expat electrician they want $30 an HOUR for the same job.
Renovation costs truly depend on the level of quality, the amount of time you're comfortble it takes and how flexible you can be with any project. I have done much of our own work but we just had a major remodel of our kitchen done and have a great gentleman Panamanian who is exceptional at looking ahead on the whole project and doing it right the first time. The biggest issue is the language as you really need to be able to work with them through the project. I would not recommend building a home unless you can be on site most every day or so just to check on progress and make sure you catch any corrections early. Two close friends here have gone through it and it can be challenging. I wiuld say the amount of work in our remodeling was less than half the price I would have paid for similar work in the states.
If some one moves from France etc to the United States... would we refer to the United States born citizen be referred to as a local...
Thanks for the great information! We live in Florida on a barrier island, but r thinking of doing something different I understand the Chinese run the canal and r in control. Is that true or a problem? Can u own a gun there for safety? You both look very happy!
The Chinese do NOT own or run the Canal. Only a Panamanian can even work at the Panama Canal. You can own a gun after you get a gun permit, which you cannot get until you get a permanant residency Visa. However 99% of the people in Panama do not own, or feel the need, to own a gun. Most areas are very safe.
@@alicecoppers8980 Although you can obtain a gun permit once you become a perm resident, after you've been in Panama for a while, you'll find it will be collecting dust in the gun cabinet. Hardly anybody ever feels the need for one in Panama.
Unlike other Latin American countries, Panamanians are not very bellicose. It was actually hillarious when the U.S. Special Operations folks and the CIA were trying to get Panama to insurrect against the dictator it had planted there. They thought to paint Panama in the same image as all of the other countries wherein the USA had intervened and backed military coups, but no, Panama had no guerrillas, no contras no appetite for armed insurrection. Instead all it would do were peaceful demonstrations wherein people would march while dressed in white and bang pots and pans and chant peacefully. This was aggravating the heck out of the American Psychological Operations folks in that they couldn't get Panama to form a bloody rebellion. It was a major disappointment for American Social Engineers no matter how much they attempted to poke Panama with a stick. The U.S. even tried inserting agent provocateurs and instigators, but no, so, even in the middle of all of this you were not likely going to get shot, by any stretch of the imagination. Not even with a bow and arrow. lol
So after the U.S. grew impatient it did what it knows best: The USA invaded the Republic of Panama in 1989 and occupied it until it could capture and apprehend its leader, a leader the U.S. had groomed and aided into power without the Panamanian people even knowing that that General had been on the CIA payroll ever since he had been a young cadet in the academy! So, the biggest chance of actually being shot, or peppered with bullets or even firebombed or bombed from above, or burnt by a laser, for that matter, was when the U.S. invaded and occupied Panama to extract its head of state.
Luckily, after the U.S. retrieved what it wanted, Panama was able to pull itself up from its own bootstraps and become a stable society with little foreign debt, a high standard of living, a thriving banking sector with still low taxes and a low cost of living and a great happiness index. Also, you will find that Panamanians don't hold a grudge against Americans over what the actions of its government have been. There seems to be an appreciation that the American government does not necessarily reflect the will of the American People and that everyday Americans are often oblivious as to the foreign policy actions of its Military Industrial Complex around the world and that is why Americans are forgiven and treated on an individual basis based on their own attitudes and not on past Nation to Nation affairs.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the American people as the COVID-19 number skyrocket and exceed that of 107,000 deaths as well as the provocation of peaceful demonstrations to the point of violence and current military occupation of major cities and martial law within the U.S. May the good nation reach a sense of atonement for the legacy of slavery, segregation, lynchings and Jim Crow so that all peoples may live in dignity, and peace and perhaps, one day, the need to carry a gun may be obsolesced to that of keeping it as an ancient relic in some gun cabinet as a conversation piece of times of yore when things were once violent and distrustful.
@@alicecoppers8980 As someone who has both the blood and ancestry of a Native American slave as well as an African slave ancestry running through my veins and the stories that were passed on to me from generation to generation I understand the anguish. I would not lump all "3rd word" countries together tho. Just as with the United States of America, it depends upon the principles upon which each nation was founded.
For example, when the southern confederacy in the U.S. was defeated, a little known fact is that some of the resentful white plantation owners decided to expatriate to Brazil "where at least they knew they were 'free'" ... _to own slaves and resume with their vision of domination_ where slavery was still legal and where they also submitted native american populations to indentures servitude. This is never taught in American History books. Not even Native Americans in the U.S. have been taught this regrettably unfortunate piece of White American History because history is written by the occupiers, by the controllers. And that is why the narrative is called His-Story.
I am who I am because my great great grandmother (A Native American Slave from Colombia, escaped and settled in Panama with her son who ran away from home after he began to be discriminated against in Colombia because he "looked different" in his social circles. The royal who was his dad had a son against her will with my great grandmother and then banished her from the plantation ordering her to never be seen again. This son at the age of 16 ran away and found his mom and became fugitives for many years until finally settling in Panama where slavery was not legal on Panamanian soil. This son then married the descendant of an Afro Caribbean slave, a strong lady that was known to be a horse whisperer. Her commanding presence saved some children from a horse stampede. It's like she spoke in a voice and took on a posture and the horses listened and simmered down and calmly walked by as she stood watch in their midst on the street of her town. A Panamanian town in Bocas del Toro where she also found her freedom. And her hubby who was half Native became the 1st owner of an apothecary there and eventually the town mayor. Because these things were possible in Panama! To be socially free and to be allowed to tell stories such as these with the spoken word without fear of reprisal.
If you look around to other Latin American countries, most of the Native American populations were decimated or no longer existent. In Panama the original proudly nations remain! And it is all due to a very curious past. The "conquest" did not occur in the same manner in Panama as it did elsewhere. For a very laughable but very fortunate reason. The conquerors "conquistadores" were noblemen or royals that came to conquer. The 1st governor of Panama, Vasco Nuñez of Balboa was a fake one. He was a con man who faked his way by smuggling himself onboard an early ship on his way to the new world, a fugitive from Spanish law who was wanted for some form of fraud or something and onboard the ship he conned the passengers into lending him fancy attire and he managed to convince all on board that he was a nobleman. That is how he became the 1st Governor of Panama! A fake nobleman, but without the privileged nobleman agenda. He established good relations with the local 1st nations and his household partner was a local native american closely related to a tribal elder. Back in those days it took ages for word to get back to Spain about such an "atrocity". Eventually some jealous real 'noble' gentlemen had had enough and made their way to Panama to capture and decapitate him. But by then a very strong legacy of much better mutual respect, acceptance and cooperation and non-subjugation had already been established. Unfortunately for places like Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil and Puerto Rico (where the entire 1st Nation population was decimated) the real conquistadores did set a strong foothold of domination and ethnic cleansing plus an attitude that remains to this day.
Notice and pore through the interviews of the expat minorities who have taken the tour and resettled in Panama how for them it is a breath of fresh air and the immediate high degree of acceptance and relief from racial tension that they exhibit. Pay close attention. It is a beautiful thing!
The Chinese helped build the SECOND canal right along the first which handles the supertankers that wouldn't fit in the older locks of the original. My understanding is they don't run it but they get special concessions as they build and run many of those super tankers that pass through. The Chinese had been making aggressive property moves with the last President, but with the new one, much of that has been halted.
@@alicecoppers8980 🤣🤣🤣🤣😁 Every where is not like the USA. You have to shed that fear and paranoia. Get out more to other countries and see how different things are. You don't need a gun in Panama. I doubt if you need alarms on your house either.
How hard is the citizenship test
You can't apply for citizenship until you've had a permanent visa for 5 years. The test is about Panama's history and all in Spanish
Do these houses have City water or sewage?
Municipal water but a septic system for sewer
@@PanamaRelocationTours Does US GPS system work in Panama to drive, or do I need to load some maps of panama in my GPS unit? to drive around Boca Chica and David.
How much what are the numbers
For?
Whats the fishing like there?
@@brentclampitt8061 if you go out on a boat or panga, fishing is excellent.
2 big of a house for me. Any small homes under 100k?
Mr. C, Boca Chica is one of the most expensive areas in Panama. There are PLENTY of much more affordable places to rent or buy in Panama.
@@PanamaRelocationTours ok. Pedasi looks nice
@@PanamaRelocationTours If you could elaborate on that it would be great , thank you.
Down nearer the town of Boca Chica there are some smaller homes that might qualify or the town on the way in to here is Hornconcitos. In the gated communities, no, but now and then things nearby to open up.
I hope that these video's aren't going to cause the cost of living to start jumping up and up and up. Californians began leaving California going to Texas about 20 yrs ago. It's increased to an Exodus now. 20 yrs ago, one could get a brand new house fully landscaped 2 story brick home, with double car garage, fully fenced back yard in a very nice neighborhood in Ft Worth for around 80 grand. Thanks to Californian's big mouth's ... the prices started jumping back then, Doubling. Then tripling. Now it's getting to the point you can't touch it. And the Cali transplants are now destroying Texas. They bring their dumb politics and goofy cult worship ideas with them and ruin any state they converge on. I hear Idaho and even Georgia are having issues now.
I hope that doesn't happen to Panama. Even though I currently live in California ... Originally I'm a native Texan, but I was looking at Belize a few years back. Decided against it. I have a friend that currently lives in the Yucatan for the most part. Spends a few weeks out of the year in Texas.
Panama does look quite beautiful. It sounds like the Panamanian people are Awesome People. They sound like honest, big hearted people .. which makes sense to me. That's how Texans used to be before California invasion. I would like to visit Panama. And who knows, after that? I hope Panama doesn't change. I really hope that these tour business doesn't cause drastic negative change to Panama's cost of living affordability or the kind hearted people.
in the 10 years that I've been in Panama, i've actually seen prices go DOWN in Panama areas! Some areas of Panama are more expensive than others. But there is always a perfect place in Panama to fit any budget.
@@PanamaRelocationTours - Thank you :) I hope I didn't sound to hateful. I just feel frustrated at whats happened both in California and now in Texas and .. yeah it's a concern. All over.
I'm not ready to go down and take the tour yet, gotta get my passport in order and my son's passport .. but, I was wondering about infrastructure in the way of waste water management there in Panama.
Could you elaborate on that topic a bit, Please? :) I don't mind the rain myself. I think I can get by for a couple days without electricity but waste water management is very important.
@@PanamaRelocationTours - And thank you for responding :)
Beva Lee, I live in Texas and have same experience Californian moving to San Antonio cause the house increase and taxes. It's time for me to go so I am getting an inside here as you.
@@ih7924 - Are you by chance related to the founders of the town of Hildago Texas?
Or Gonzales Texas? Or by chance related to Any one by the Spanish title Gonzales de Hidalgo?
Just wondering.
How is your Spanish? Or not an issue?
Dennis is still learning Spanish. He knows enough to get by just fine!
In my opinion nice for a holiday but not enough infrastructure to live the whole year. Also a little bit dangerous living in a house in such a remote area. Crime has gone up a lot in Panama due to unemployment and economic downturn. Real Estate is not very liquid. It takes a lot of time to sell a property and buyers should negotiate heavily with seller.
Some people like living in remote areas. Some don't. Some people like the beach. Some don't. There's something for everyone in Panama! Crime is actually WAY down in Panama and the economy keeps on going up and up. But real estate prices have come down because of an over supply, especially in prices over $200k
I would disagree from our experience. One, we really aren't all that remote and there are many folks reasonably close and in 2 years we have had no real crime of any kind any where near us. Some areas outside of Panama city are tough neighborhoods but I have never felt safer in decades compared to where we live right now. ANd here, the locals become like family. Treat them well and with respect and they take care of you very well. Crime here is NOTHING close to most any where in the states in all the places I lived.
Do you think a guy that is a strict vegan could find a social group there because I can't stand the smell of burning flesh.
Not in Boca Chica. But some areas of Panama has big vegan groups -- check out Coronado and Boquete.
Seems like a nice enough place. But for those who want to get a 2nd citizenship, Mexico or Columbia would be better.
It is easy to get a 2nd citizenship in Panama Too. Five years after you get a permanent Visa, you can pay $600 to get citizenship and get a Panama passport after taking a simple history test.
@@PanamaRelocationTours That may be the THEORY. But is it the reality? I've heard... from multiple sources... that the Panamanian government is very reluctant to give out citizenship... even to people who have met all of the ostensible requirements.
@@dlukton i know a LOT of people who have obtained Panama citizenship
@@PanamaRelocationTours OK; good to know.
Really?