Starting in the month of June 2012, the National Authority of Land Management (Anati) will initiate a massive effort to issue titles for 350,000 properties, said the general manager of the authority, Franklin Oduber. The process will begin this Monday, 12 March 2012, with a meeting for interested service providers at the headquarters of the ANATI, said Oduber on TVN News, after saying that the effort to issue titles will be "titanic." After the announcement he confirmed that the controversial parcel of land in Paitilla has already been transferred in the Public Registry, and after the scandal that arose around this parcel of land, it is now wholly owned by the Panamanian Government. "I understand the president wants to build a park," he said. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: Hmmm. Interesting. All of the past governments have said they were going to be doing "massive" efforts to issue land titles, and none of them have really come through. In this case, however, it seems like the national government is going to hire, through the ANATI, an outside contractor or service provider to handle the paperwork and to do most of the work. Excellent. In Panama many people live on land that they "own" as "Rights of Possession" property, and in that condition they do not hold a title on their land. As soon as a parcel of land is titled, then the value goes up substantially, mostly because there is some greater degree of protection and less of a chance that someone else will come along and claim ownership. Nothing is guaranteed, however. Remember that there have been many cases of fraudulent land titles issued using forged documents. Crooks come along and create false or forged documents and "steal" the land from the rightful owner. The property is then quickly re-sold or "flipped" several times, in order to put more distance between the original crook and the new victim. Then finally at the fourth or fifth sale, the crook sells the stolen land to a new, unsuspecting victim. There is a whole lot of this sort of stuff going on, and your land can be stolen and gone, right out from under your ass, before you even know it. If you own titled property you damn well better know how to check the public registry online to make sure there's no funny business going on. Normally, if you catch this crap happening early, you can put a stop to it before it's too late. Sleep, and you're screwed.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Well, what to do know about that? I received the following this afternoon via email: "Hi Don, here are a few shots of the closing of the dump. It finally came true. Even the fine combing of the area along the road was accomplished after carnival. Looking forward to meet you again at El Paraiso next week, KB."

Editor's Comment: Last year the dump located on the road to the Playa Blanca resort was on fire. The smoke was terrible, and the residents bitched and complained and held demonstrations and raised a ruckus. Then in February 2011 the Director of Tourism Solomon Shamah visited Playa Blanca and promised residents the dump would be closed and history no later than 15 March 2011. Well, in reality it took more than a year, but apparently it got done. Here are the photos KB sent - you can see that the roadside has been cleaned up, and there's heavy equipment cleaning up and/or burying the piles of trash;

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hey Don, Im a huge fan of panama-guide.com and read the news daily. I have a question that I thought you might know something about. I rented an apartment on November 1st, 2011 and I am still waiting on some of the items promised in the lease agreement. Namely the installation of the water heater and the curtains. Are there any legal channels in Panama that I could go through to 'force' the landlord to fulfill their end of the contract? I tried withholding payment but they sought to evict me right away and short of moving I was forced to pay and keep accepting this. Is there a ministry I can go to? Like the ministerio de vivienda or would I just be spinning my wheels? Thanks, JD."

Editor's Comment: Yeah, that's sort of a tough one. You could go to the Ministry of Housing and bitch about the apartment owner not holding up his end of the bargain when it comes to things like the installation of the hot water heater and curtains. However they tend to look at it like the apartment itself is 97% of the value of the contract and the rent. If you don't pay the rent then the owner can and will evict you. I don't know if I have ever heard of someone who has been able to successfully "force" a landlord to comply with this kind of an element in the rental contract. I bet some of the real estate brokers out there who deal with the rental market have probably run into this kind of stuff, and maybe someone could offer some more valuable advice in the comments section. If it were me, I would install my own hot water heater, use it while I lived there, and take it with me when I left. Same for the curtains.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

The real estate boom will continue in Panama in 2012 and for savvy buyers looking for below-market deals, this could be the year that things in Panama get really interesting. As has become apparant over the years, the key to making the right investment in Panama is finding a well-researched, well-connected real estate agency.

In an industry where good information is hard to find, Panama Equity Real Estate’s insightful 16 page report is a must read for anyone invested or thinking about investing in Panama’s dynamic real estate market. Founder and sales director Kent Davis has built a reputation in Panama as one of the hardest working professionals in the country. Over a period of 5 years of real estate mayhem, Kent has undoubtedly emerged as an industry leader.

Highlights of Kent's newest uncensored report include:

• Construction statistics
• Pricing trends and analysis
• Areas poised for appreciation
• Buying and Selling strategies

Click here to see the full 2012 Panama Real Estate Report

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In a ceremony involving the President Ricardo Martinelli, the government delivered the keys to the first 240 apartments of the first 15 apartment towers built as part of the project to rebuild Curundú. The event was attended by the Minister of Housing and Land Management José Domingo Arias, the Minister of Social Development Guillermo Ferrufino, the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ricardo Quijano, and the Director of the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Giselle Burillo. Martinelli didn't make any statements to the press upon his arrival to attend the ceremony. The Curundú project includes the construction of 1,000 apartments in four story buildings. Each apartment has a cost of $50,000 dollars, and of that total $35,000 will be subsidized by the government. The project includes the canalization of the Curundú river to mitigate floods, improvement of basic water services, and the construction of 6 synthetic soccer fields, 6 tennis courts, and 6 multi-use playgrounds. (TVN)

Editor's Comment: You can't deny it - the administration of Ricardo Martinelli has gotten more done in the first two and a half years than all other presidents have done in their entire five year terms. This is one more example. When fully delivered he will have completely changed the face of Curundu forever. More than 1,000 families with affordable housing solutions ($15,000 cost to the family) located right in the middle of the city. Who do you think those guys are going to vote for? Balbina didn't do squat for them while she was the Housing Minister, for example, except tour the smoking remains of the burned out wooden shacks when they caught fire...

Over the last six weeks, owners of Trump Ocean Club residential and condo hotel units have been relatively in the dark as to periodic updates and status reports. After a recent visit to the promoter’s office within the project, Panama Equity can share the following exclusive information:

-Fees have been reduced across the board and we expect further reductions on the hotel management charges. Common area maintenance (CAM) charges in the residential units have been reduced from $4.05 per meter to $2.84. This means that owners of a typical two bedroom measuring went from $620.00/month to $434/month. CAM charges in the Trump Ocean Club project include cable, internet, and phone service.

-Condo Hotel fees and the overall economics of the owner’s investment are still an issue of contention. Two weeks ago, Hotel management (Trump Hotel Collection) enacted an across-the-board reduction of hotel fees, including a 17% reduction in the CAM charges and 40% per-use fee reduction. We are expecting condo hotel demand to pick up again as investors return due to the fee reduction and increased returns.

-Closings have started again and are up to the 53rd floor, with the Developer’s commitment to close out remaining sales by the end of the second quarter.

-Rumors about Trump International pulling out of the project appear to be unfounded, as Eric Trump in a December interview in Capital Finaciero remarked “we as the hotel administrators are incredibly happy about the last six months. Our occupancy and success rate was 160% higher than what we had projected and (Trump) is without a doubt the most luxurious hotel in Panama and Central America.

-Although Newland Development missed a November bond payment, the bondholders are still willing to work with Newland on a successful completion of the project. In short, things are looking better than an ever for the Trump project in Panama.

-Sales in the project in the fourth quarter of 2011 topped over 10 million dollars. The majority of these sales were resales and default reassignment, meaning new inventory absorption has been stagnant in the project. The majority of resales in the residential side were coming in on average of $3,000 per square meter.

Panama Equity: Panama Equity has been working with past investors and inside sources at Trump to connect buyers for the last four years in the Trump Ocean Club. We are expecting to see strong sales in Trump over the next four months, which is Panama's high season for tourism. The best deals rarely get published, and because of our relationship with investors and contacts within the Trump organization, we are the go-to source for defaults and contract reassignments in the Trump Ocean Club.

Panama Casa, founded nine years ago, has grown over the years and is now recognized as one of Panama’s leading real estate enterprise. The company has an extensive listing of properties available for rental both long-term and short-term; it also provides a wide range of related services, including property sales, commercial real estate management, asset management, airport pickup, tours and more. With 20 years of experience in the real estate industry in the US, Jeff Duda founded Panama Casa Services, which has become the premier property management company in Panama and is now expanding internationally. Under the name Janelbi based on the same principles of providing consistent top quality service in the corporate housing and vacation rental industries. (more)

Global Finance & Investments, S.A. is the first to announce available, ready to occupy office space for rent in the brand new and luxurious Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower in Panama City. Located in the Punta Pacifica district on the ocean front, Trump Ocean Club boasts some of the most desirable attractions for any size company seeking office space in a high end and multi function building. Aside from the standard-setting name of Trump itself, the Tower offers a five star hotel, several delicious and well staffed restaurants, a 24 hour gym, infinity pools overlooking the ocean, office space, and soon to be casino as well as a spa. Whether you are a one to three person operation that can take advantage of our business center floors, an international business with a large employee base that requires a large and private space, or simply seeking a virtual office from outside of Panama, we have a very diverse and ample inventory with unmatched flexibility ready to meet your needs.

GFISA has many flexible options that you are able to consider when looking for office space at Trump Ocean Club. We offer spaces ranging from 100mt2 to 700mt2 (size of a complete floor) that can be built to your specific needs and wants; we can assist in this process as we have nearly a decade in construction experience in Panama alone. We also offer fully furnished office space in our all-inclusive Business Center configuration which is always the most popular. Another service we offer is the “Virtual Office”, ideal for a company that requires the services of a business center, but simply does not require a physical office every day of the month.



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Welcome to Bern Beach Projects: Since 1978, Empresas Bern has been on the cutting edge of real estate in Panama. From residential and commercial projects to hotels and resorts, proud to be a leader in the industry. The exciting condominium and hotel beach projects on the Pacific Coast in and around Coronado are now available.

Coronado Bay: The brand new beachfront Coronado Bay Project located in the heart of Coronado is quickly becoming an icon of this beachfront community. It is the new desirable place to experience resort living at its best. Residents and their guests have access on-site to private restaurant, bar, monthly soirees in the beach club, onsite personal trainers in state of the art gymnasium, yoga classes and an array of other services and activities.

Coronado Golf: The Coronado Golf Community has to be one of the best locations in Panama to build lasting connections with family and friends alike. A stunning project set in the heart of the prestigious Coronado Golf Club with facilities such as bars, restaurants, fitness centre, beach club, equestrian club, tennis courts and health and beauty parlor. It is a superior lifestyle with something for every one of your moods.

Solarium Hotel: The Solarium Hotel offers luxurious rooms with incredible ocean views. A spectacular destination, surrounded by a blend of white and volcanic sands, with a majestic view of the Pacific Ocean,located on one of Panama´s most exclusive beaches. We offer a choice of three room types as well as fully appointed condominiums.



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By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hi Don, I read the article on your site about the Malibu development. I know you consulted for Marco Shrem on the original development so I was wondering how much you know about this newly resurrected Malibu project? Is Marco Shrem still involved? Are the buyers of the initial project included, or excluded, in the new project? I have two family members who bought into the original project and they are curious to know what is happening now. Thanks for any light you can shed on this. Ray."

Thanks For Asking: For the record I'm still working for Marco Shrem as a consultant and to help him promote the resurrection of the Malibu project. If you will remember, Marco Shrem was basically the victim of a fraud committed against him and his company by another Panamanian real estate development company called Econoplade. In the original deal for the first Malibu project, Marco Shrem was to put up the land for the development and the Econoplade company was supposed to do everything else. Meaning, they were responsible for promotion, advertising, signing the contracts, handling the money and deposits, building the infrastructure and houses, and delivering those to the customers, etc. The land underneath the project (owned by Marco) would not be legally turned over to the buyer until the new owner actually took paid for and took receipt of the newly constructed house in the Malibu project. However in fact Econoplade received a total of about $8 million dollars in deposits from about 400 sales contracts. They spent about $4 million on the project (roads, underground "invisible" infrastructure such as electrical and plumbing), and the other $4 million dollars they basically "misappropriated" - meaning, they stole the money. The whole Econoplade company melted down and the local Panamanian lawyers descended on the carcass. When all was said and done, Marco Shrem was left holding the bag for the disaster left behind by the collapse of Econoplade - and in short he had been ripped off - the victim of a $4 million dollar scam perpetuated by Econoplade. And, there was nothing left of Econoplade of any real value worth going after legally.

Building A Way Out: Marco Shrem was going though a really rough patch when he first contacted me back in October 2009. There were more than 400 contract holders - both Panamanian and foreigners - who were beating down his door, all of them looking to exact a pound of flesh for the debacle. I helped Marco develop a strategy that would allow him to return to the playing field with honor. He carved out a piece of the land in Gorgona and established a specific trust fund for those who had laid down a deposit in the original Malibu development. The parcel of land would be sold, and those deposits would be refunded from the money (first and foremost.) It takes a very long time to legally establish and register this kind of a complicated Trust thing, and now all of that has been done. About ten months ago or so all of the original Malibu owners were contacted and given the opportunity to join this Trust. Their deposits were well documented by the lawyers, and once the land is sold (it is now on the market) then they will receive their refunds.

Marco Shrem Did Not Steal The Money: Most importantly - and this is critically important for everyone to know and understand - Marco Shrem did not steal the money. He did not receive those deposits taken in by Econoplade on the original 400 contracts they signed for the Malibu project. In fact, Marco Shrem did not have any legal responsibility to repay those deposits, either. In short, Marco is going to sell a parcel of land and return those deposits even though he is not legally obligated in any way to do so. One person tried to sue him in a Panamanian court and the case was summarily thrown out. Marco Shrem is doing this because it's simply the right thing to do - and he's getting almost no credit for it, beside what I talk about in these articles.

About The New Project: Anyone who paid a deposit on the original project can have that deposit recognized in the new project. The paperwork will be done, a new contract signed, the old contract goes away, and off you go. The biggest hurdle for Marco Shrem was the legacy represented by those 400 original contacts in the first project. Marco was caught in a sort of catch-22 situation. Even though neither he nor his company was legally responsible for those 400 contracts, his land was under them. Marco basically inherited the Malibu project from the ruins of what Econoplade left behind, but no bank in Panama was willing to take a risk or loan him any funds to build the project with the legacy of those 400 contracts hanging over the land (legal obligation, or no). Now, almost all of those original contracts have been accounted for, one way or the other. Some people were just given refunds or they negotiated some sort of a settlement to just go away. Most were either put into the Trust, or have since been converted to new contracts in the new project. By now everyone who was an original buyer should have cemented their status one way or the other. And now, with that taken care of, the banks can grant loans without having to fear legal action from the original contract owners. The parcel of land designated for the trust can be sold and he deposits repaid. And, the project can now be developed as a new entity - this time properly controlled, audited, and managed.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.