Jan 1, 2017 I get asked that question all the time. Or more specifically, “How much does it cost/square foot to build a house in Puerto Armuelles?” I always feel reluctant. I want to give a definitive answer, but it is complicated. "What will it cost to build", is a hard question to answer Read More
Why Buy An Empty Lot – And 4 Hidden Costs
Why Buy An Empty Lot? Vacant land is the most plentiful and affordable type of property you can buy in Panama. 1) There is a lot of it. So there are many opportunities of buying the location you want at a price you can afford. 2) Vacant lots cost less. Somewhat surprisingly, even a lot with a Read More
Shipping Container Construction in Panama
If you look online, there are dozens of articles about shipping container construction. In this post, I explore containers as housing in various locations, including the tropical climate of Panama. I am particularly interested in ways to keep a shipping container's living space cool, Read More
Think Carefully Before You Build A Wooden House In Panama
For over 20 years, I was designer and builder in Seattle. So I am very familiar with 2x4 “stick” construction. And the 1st building project I did in Panama was wood construction. I bought and remodeled an old Chiquita Banana house in Puerto Armuelles. It is the house we live in. However, Read More
Why Use Concrete To Build Your House in Panama
Most housing in Panama is made of cement, cement block and a zinc roof. By using those simple building materials you get a sturdy house that is impervious to bugs, mildew, or fire. Concrete Construction Which is why cement is the typical building material of all of Latin America. It is also Read More
3 Little Pig’s Quandry: What To Use To Build A House In Panama
Like anywhere else, in Panama there are tons of things to do and decide when remodeling or building a house. What building materials you will use is a critical one. Our readers often ask me about building houses in Panama. Usually they also want to get my opinion on these 4 building Read More
ROP Property Demystified & Explained
Rights of Possession (ROP) land is somewhat unique to Latin America. It often makes North Americans uneasy. But the concept is not as unfamiliar as you may think. A little history may help. In the beginning, land in Panama did not belong to anyone. The indigenous people used it Read More