Panama Title and Escrow, Inc. is the most experienced provider of Panama escrow services and title search services in Panama. With our Panama Title Services we protect Panama property sellers, buyers and lenders from problems affecting Panama title ownership. One way we accomplish this is by being agents for leading Panama Title Insurance companies like Land America Lawyers Title Insurance Company. The primary objective of PT&E is to offer Panama Escrow Services to buyers and sellers of real property in Panama (or any other asset or service outside of Panama), and to handle the receipts and payments for these transactions, including deposits in Panama bank accounts. (more)

Panama Offshore Legal Services (created in 1998) is a full service English speaking law firm specializing in Asset Protection, Offshore Corporations, Private Interest Foundations, Immigration, and Real Estate laws. We have offices in the Bella Vista District of Panama City and Bocas del Toro with 8 attorneys and 35 member support staff consisting of accountants, engineers, paralegals, webmaster, graphic designer, marketing specialist, and computer programmer. (more)

Imagine a global virtual marketplace full of all kinds of products, where local buyers and sellers as well as international visitors are all gathered in one place. www.encuentra24.com is just that - a virtual market where you can find, buy or sell almost anything. "Encuentra” is Spanish for "find", and “24” refers to the fact this ingenious market concept is open 24 hours a day, creating in effect a kind of virtual marketplace that can always be accessed and updated, a virtual Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in both English and Spanish for Panama. The one thing all of the listings have in common is that they are available in Panama.

Oasis Business Solutions specializes in the development and execution of business strategies and marketing plans for companies wishing to enter or strengthen their existing presence in the Central American market. We conduct in-depth research to analyze the market demand, competition, niche demographics, and potential market share for companies in every industry and sector. Working closely with our clients, we closely inspect all aspects of the business operations and prepare a feasible and realistic action plan to streamline operations, and make your business more time and cost efficient. We also coach management on effective leadership and management skills. Oasis Business Solutions is a consulting group comprised of a team of experienced and knowledgeable professionals with diverse backgrounds covering everything from pharmaceuticals & biotechnology to corporate finance, investment banking, mergers & acquisitions, real estate investment, agriculture, international trade, security, and more. (more)

The General Manager and Executive President of Cable & Wireless Panama S.A., Jorge Nicolau, handed a check for more than $21.5 million dollars ($21,532,968.95) to the government of Panama as owner of 49% of the company. Employees of the company, who own 2% of the shares, received a payment of $878,896.69 as payment for their share of dividends and accumulated earnings of the company through 31 December 2006. The company, Cable & Wireless Plc., will receive a share equal to that received by the Panamanian government, $21.5 million dollars, as holders of the other 49% of the shares in the company. In addition to the dividend payments, the Panamanian government will receive and additional $1.7 million dollars ($1,713,322) for income taxes owed on the money being payed to the Cable & Wireless company and employees, raising the grand total being paid to the government to more than $23.2 million dollars. In addition, this distribution represents only a partial payment for 2006 income because their contract obligation runs from 1 April to 31 March of every year, and this distribution was part of the celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the company.

One of my best-kept secrets in Panama is Alvaro. He's a very good and much more than competent mechanic who will either fix your car or find someone who can if he runs into something that's beyond his capabilities. You really should write this down and stick it in your wallet. He has two cell phone numbers, his "old" number is 6-593-8844 and his "new" number is 6-634-8101. He answers both of them so you can use either one to get in touch with him. He is bilingual, has years of experience working in the former canal zone and knows how to take care of his customers. He has a rolling garage in the back of his mini-van with enough tools and equipment to get you running again no matter where you are if your car breaks down on the side of the road somewhere, at least enough to limp back to his shop. And the most important part is that he's honest to a fault. This man will not rip you off, and I think he's physically incapable of telling a lie. And if you've got squeaky brakes or something you've been putting off to get fixed, now (a couple of weeks before Christmas) would be a good time to get it taken care of and you'll be throwing some work to a good man. Tell him "Mr. Don" sent you, and he will hook you up.

Expose your products to the international market in our first anniversary edition. On September 15th, 2006, the first anniversary edition of Panama 9°80° will be released. Our first year has been one of distinct growth, improvement and enjoyment and we would like to thank all our collaborators for their support so far. At Panama 9°80°, we are very proud of the market position we have achieved in this short time; we now have a client base of over 50 distinguished companies, many of them long-term advertisers and the magazine has become known as one of the country’s leading real estate and travel magazine. Committed to providing clients with the greatest exposure possible, we are constantly seeking new methods to maximize the power of your advertisement. Consequently, we are proud to announce that the anniversary edition will be present at numerous international and local real estate events, among them ExpoCapac Panama in September and SIMA USA New Orleans in November. Other events are yet to be announced. Advertising space in this special edition is limited. For more information, contact our sales office. Tel.: (507) 212-3848 / (507) 6678-7675 (507) 6678-6748 / (507) 6678-8859 Email: info@panama980.com

by Kevin Bradley: Panama has very reasonable Homeowners protection to cover the contents of your residence for Fire, Theft, Liability and more. In Panama, we insure the building and the contents under separate policies. We recommend that you insure a portion of the contents under a homeowner´s multirisk policy. This policy will include coverage for fire, theft, explosion, earthquake, hurricane or windstorm, flood, smoke and water damages. It will also cover your electronic equipment (% of the basic sum insured); theft (% of the basic sum insured); assault (up to $250.00 cash); breakage of windows; general liability up to $100,000.00 and ambulance service. Fire legal liability is also a provided for damage sustained by your neighbors from a fire originating in your residence. Claims are paid based on a "depreciated value" of the item insured. I encourage you to save your receipts or proof of purchase certificates, in case of a claim. I have had experience where a friendly adjustor will just tell my client to go out and buy the same TV, Radio etc. that was stolen or damaged.

What do I want to do with my life? This is the hardest question to answer, yet it is the most important answer in any person’s life. This question is commonly phrased, “What should I do with my life?” It is generally answered in the voices of your family, teachers and social circle. In other words, all the folk who know exactly what you should do with your life. Their voices imply that you must live-up to certain standards. The trouble is, those standards are not your own. When you answer this question, your life takes on resonance and purpose. You define success in a way that has meaning and vibrancy for you. You may even start having more fun! Tyler grew up believing he wanted to be a Fire Fighter. His Uncle, a Fire Fighter and a local hero, got a lot of attention. Tyler’s eyes lit up whenever he saw his Uncle, just like most other people in the town. Tyler wanted to be just like him, and when asked “What are you going to be when you grow up?” he would say “a Fire Fighter!” This response got lots of positive reinforcement from adults.

"Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get." ~ Dave Gardner "The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness." ~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi "I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." ~ Martha Washington. As human beings, our goal is to find that which makes us happy. We are brought up to believe that happiness lies in achieving things. With this belief in place, we go after careers, possessions, bank balances and soon find out that the joy of getting there is trapped in the ‘doings’ of maintaining the status quo. We get pulled in 40 directions at once by the expectations of others and current responsibilities. Many successful people end up having all the comforts of life and still feel empty, stressed out and alone at the core of their being. What is missing?

Just a reminder that there are only 75 days left to qualify for the property tax break. The deadline is 30 June 2006, and if you take advantage of this break you can cut your property taxes in half for a long time. If you own property in Panama, I suggest that you don't just read, but STUDY this article, and then hire someone to evaluate your property and prepare the paperwork for you. If you don't do it before 30 June, it will be too late...

http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20051205132617591

(By Brett Mikkelson) Upon purchasing a safe, there are several general things that you should account for to ensure you are buying the right one for your needs. Security is obviously the first and foremost point that you need to take into consideration. There are safes to hold documents, (fire resistant for 1-2 hours), and there are three levels of theft prevention safes as well (high, medium and low). There are simple residential safes that are made with solid iron with electronic or mechanical locks. They offer a low level of security for intruders, but a high level of security for house-based employees; these are not fire resistant whatsoever. These are not easy to open in a non-violent manner and are resistant to simple manual tools such as hammers and chisels depending on the quality of the safe. There are fire resistant safes with a thin plate of metal which creates a mold that is filled with a low density material against fire. They are however vulnerable to simple manual tools such simply because the plate of metal is so thin. These safes provide a low level of security against intruders, a medium level of security against house-based employees and a medium level of security against fires. http://bminvestigations.com/article.php?story=20060314171429241

Here's one for the ladies. An experienced beautician is offering exclusive professional services in the Panama City metropolitan area. Rossana has years of experience working in health spas and clinics in five star hotels in Latin America. She is now working independently in her own small facility here in Panama City, and is offering services on a limited basis by appointment only. If required she will make house calls. Services include massages for weight reduction and relaxation, topical negative pressure (TNP or "Vacuum therapy"), trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS or "passive gym"), waxing, peeling, and facials. Treat yourself...

My name is Ruth Mizrachi. I represent Design Matters, a full service interior design group in Panama City, Panama. I am from Mexico City, lived in San Diego, Ca. for many years and decided to move to Panama 10 years ago. I know what foreigners expect when it comes to service and attention. I am a Certified Interior Designer with experience in remodeling, furniture design, space planning including Auto Cad, color consultation, etc. Design Matters works with several associates to create a design/build team, striving together to complete a project, to provide a sense of style based on customer’s budget and needs; from beach properties, new properties, to existing units, and remodeling. It is our company’s passion and mission to create beautiful interiors regardless of style. Our design group can provide a turnkey service; all the client needs to do is turn the key and open the door, everything will be in place such as furniture, bedding, window coverings, lamps, recess lighting, appliances, wall texturing and color, wall décor, accent carpets, etc. (more)

A Company Created with Your Needs in Mind... Thales Securities is one of the first brokerages to be licensed by the Comision Nacional de Valores of Panama. Thales Securities was founded in 1998 by Jochem Buse and Danny Scheers and is now one of the largest independent brokerage of the 32 registered brokerages in Panama. Online or by telephone trading of stocks, options, futures, forex and cfds on 30 plus markets, global bonds, the best mutual funds, multi currency accounts, asset management, structured notes, Visa debit card, offshore legal services. Investors find what they want with Thales Securities. Panamanian Advantages – with a European Flair. Influenced by a rich European heritage of individualized service, the pair wanted Thales Securities to set a new standard for customer support, investor privacy, and asset protection. With this in mind: Thales Securities personnel speak many languages. Thales Securities brokers can assist you in English, German, Dutch, Spanish, or French. You never have to worry about misunderstandings or frustrations due to a language barrier.

As a follow up to our previous article in which we explained, hopefully clearly enough, the benefits of recent Tax Law changes in regards to property taxes and the Alternative Tax, we have additional news that may benefit those property owners that are selling, or will be selling in the future, properties in the Republic of Panama. As established in the Law, the taxable income when a property is sold is the difference that results from deducting from the declared sale amount the BASIC COST of the property, the value of the improvements made and the expenses required to execute the transaction. (By: Eng. Ramses Cordoba, President of AVANCE INSPECCIONES, S.A.)

Panama has taken a top position in the list of overseas retirement, it has been ranked number 1 country in the world to retire, praises come from different sources and everyday more and more people come to find for themselves what thousands are talking about, but only a few are enjoying. This February 16, 2006, you’ll meet leading experts in Panamanian immigration, health care and insurance, real estate, banking, and legalities. In addition, we have invited expats who will share their experiences in a round table setting. They are expatriates living and prospering here, willing to answer questions about why they chose Panama and how they have adapted to this warm country. We want you to have a great time and find out everything that you need to know about this land of opportunity.

If you're planning on moving to Panama, then you're going to need insurance for your health, home, and car. Kevin Bradley works with the "Grupo Central de Seguros" and has been in the insurance business in Panama for more than 35 years. In that time he's seen all of the mistakes people can make with regards to their insurance coverage, and he will do his best to keep you out of trouble. Regular readers of Panama Guide know I rarely make personal endorsements. Kevin is a friend of mine and he's one of the nicest people I've ever met. He will give you the shirt off his back if you need it, he'll come out to help you with your fender-bender, and he will find the best possible combination of insurance coverage for your particular needs. So this one is personal. I trust Kevin to handle my insurance, and so should you.

Anyone who owns property in the Republic of Panama should be aware of recent changes to tax property tax laws; specifically the Fiscal Reform Law #6 of February 3rd, 2005, amended in Law #34 of 9 November 2005. This law is relatively new and it contains an opportunity for property owners to apply for an "Alternative Tax" break. This law was just recently passed, and not very many people know about this "Alternative Tax" window of opportunity. By: Ramses E.Cordoba D, Avance Inspecciones S.A.

Panama Offshore Services International, Inc. is a dynamic and growing legal services company providing professional services to foreigners in Panama. Their primary emphasis these days is on the facilitation of real estate transactions, and they offer a wide variety of legal services, including corporations, immigration and visas, escrow, and others. Over the years "POSI" has established a reputation for getting the job done with honesty and integrity, and have compiled a long list of satisfied customers.

B.M. Investigations, Inc. is a Private Investigations company based in Panama City, Panama. We focus on Latin America as our primary area of expertise, and we can assist clients and other investigators with immediate operational capabilities. We are part of a global network of collaborating professionals and associates, allowing us to obtain results in any part of the word. We set high standards for ourselves and our employees and our dedication to professionalism has spurred our growth and enhanced our recognition as one of the most substantial private investigation companies in Latin America. Our staff of experienced and well-trained investigators includes past law enforcement officers, government agents, military intelligence officers, and security specialists.