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We're diving into a lively podcast episode today, opening the mailbag to your unfiltered comments! This session is all about engaging with our audience participation, tackling questions and answers, and sharing feedback examples, both curious and spicy. Get ready to hear our candid thoughts and boost engagement with this fun conversation. We even address some of the more cringe comments we've received, making for a truly funny and engaging discussion.

#melissadarnay #choosepanama #thepanamapodcast #amandagleeson #staceyjenks #therealexpats #choosepanamarentals

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Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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Panama offers a truly unique geography, allowing cruise ships to cross from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean—a feat few places can match. This video challenges the common perception of Panama as just a brief stopover, emphasizing its global significance. For more travel tips and insights into this incredible country, watch our latest cruise vlog!

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #cruise #panamarealestate #panamarealestate #visitpanama #cruiseindustry #cruiseship

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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Buying property abroad can feel daunting, but understanding property title and ownership rights in Panama clarifies the process. This video addresses common concerns about real estate investing, assuring you that your name is directly on the title in Panama. Discover how straightforward living in Panama can be with transparent property ownership – visit ChoosePanama.com for more information.

#thepanamapodcast #melissadarnay #choosepanama #panamarealestate #realestateinvestment #buyingoverseas #isitsafetobuypropertyinpanama

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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If you’re thinking about moving to Panama, this episode will prepare you in ways no checklist, relocation guide, or spreadsheet ever could. Get ready for culture shock in Panama, told by a Gringa in a tongue-in-cheek way.

In this special storytelling episode of The Panama Podcast, I’m sharing my origin story—all the way back to 2012, when Panama still felt a bit like the Wild West. Before the polished expat guides, before the infrastructure boom, and long before I became a trusted expert on Panama real estate and relocation… I was just a very Type-A American woman trying to figure out how to live in a country powered by mañana culture, sunshine, and vibes.

This episode is intentionally different from my usual interviews and deep-dive guides. It’s funny, unfiltered, and deeply real. From buying a GPS in Panama that didn’t include a map of Panama… to learning that “mañana” doesn’t actually mean tomorrow… to realizing that culture shock is often the thing that teaches you the most—this story captures the emotional side of moving abroad that people rarely talk about.

If you’re researching living in Panama, moving to Panama, or expat life in Panama, consider this a behind-the-scenes look at what the transition really feels like—especially in your early days.

Sometimes the best way to understand a country isn’t through advice… it’s through stories.

📩 Thinking about your own move to Panama? Schedule a free consultation with my team at 👉 ChoosePanama.com/contact

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #LivingInPanama #MovingToPanama #PanamaExpat #PanamaLife #ExpatStories #PanamaCulture #expatcultureshock

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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In 2026, wealthy individuals aren’t asking if they should diversify internationally — they’re asking where. In this episode, I break down the offshore move affluent North Americans are quietly making and why Panama has emerged as one of the most strategic destinations for relocation, real estate investment, and lifestyle diversification.

After living and working in Panama since 2012, advising high-net-worth clients through multiple global cycles, I can tell you this: offshore moves today are no longer about secrecy or tax gimmicks. They’re about optionality, stability, lifestyle quality, and intelligent asset placement — and Panama checks those boxes in ways few countries do.

Why Panama is attracting wealthy offshore movers in 2026

✅ Dollarized economy with long-term stability
✅ Strong property rights and full foreign ownership
✅ Strategic location with global air access
✅ A mature luxury real estate market — not speculative
✅ Residency options designed for investors and retirees
✅ A high quality of life without the friction found elsewhere

In this podcast, we discuss what’s actually driving the offshore movement — from global uncertainty and capital concentration risk to lifestyle arbitrage and geographic diversification. If you’re researching moving to Panama, buying property in Panama, or creating a smart offshore strategy in 2026, this episode offers clarity without hype.

At Choose Panama Real Estate, this is exactly the type of conversation we have with clients before they make a move — helping them understand not just where to go, but when and why. The goal isn’t escape. It’s positioning.

If Panama has been on your radar — or quietly recommended by friends who already made the move — this episode will help you understand why momentum is building and why early positioning matters.

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation at https://ChoosePanama.com/contact.

About Melissa Darnay:
Melissa Darnay is the Founder of Choose Panama Real Estate and one of Panama’s leading experts in luxury real estate and expat relocation. Since moving to Panama in 2012, she has helped hundreds of affluent North Americans invest, retire, and build a better life in Panama. As the host of The Panama Podcast, Melissa blends deep local expertise with concierge-level service — making her one of the most trusted advisors in Panama’s real estate market.

Explore more insights at https://www.youtube.com/@choosepanama

GUESTS:
- Francis Hunt: @TheMarketSniper1
- Mike Brown: Fort Kobbe Vault - www.fortkobbevaults.com

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #francishunt #themarketsniper #fortkobbevault #protectyourwealth #panama #panamaplanb

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

Send us a text

What really surprises people about living in Panama isn’t the visas, the paperwork, or the cost of living—it’s the emotional reality once the honeymoon phase wears off. In this episode of The Panama Podcast, I share the four things that genuinely shocked me after moving to Panama, based on my first months of real life here—not vacation Panama.

If you’re considering moving to Panama, buying Panama real estate, or exploring a Panama relocation as a serious life decision, this conversation will give you something most videos don’t: context. Not advice. Not hype. Just honest insight into what it actually feels like to build a life here.

In this episode, I talk candidly about:

✅ What surprised me most about expat life in Panama
✅ Why making friends is easier than expected—but not always permanent
✅ How renting vs. owning impacts how quickly you feel settled
✅ What changes emotionally when Panama stops being a destination and starts being home

This episode is especially helpful if you’re in the "thinking about it" phase—curious, cautious, excited, but wanting clarity before making a major move or buying property in Panama.

At Choose Panama Real Estate, my team and I help clients move beyond the fantasy phase and into smart, well-planned decisions—whether that’s Panama investment property, a primary residence, or a long-term relocation strategy.

If this episode resonates and you want to talk through what your own transition could look like, you can schedule a conversation with my team at ChoosePanama.com.

Subscribe for honest conversations about:
✅ Panama real estate
✅ Moving to Panama
✅ Panama relocation & investing
✅ Expat life in Panama
✅ What it really feels like to build a life abroad

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #PanamaRealEstate #MovingToPanama #PanamaRelocation #ExpatLifePanama #LivingInPanama #BuyingPropertyInPanama

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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Panama’s Red Carpet Visa has changed—and if you’re considering moving to Panama or investing in Panama real estate, these updates could directly impact your residency strategy. In this episode of The Panama Podcast, I sit down with Panamanian immigration attorney Ricardo Faraudo to break down the most recent changes to Panama’s Qualified Investor Visa, commonly known as the Red Carpet Visa.

Over the past few months, Panama has updated the investment thresholds, expanded real estate eligibility, tightened documentation requirements, and introduced a brand-new benefit for investors. Whether you’re buying property in Panama, exploring residency through real estate investment, or looking for a faster path to permanent residency, this episode explains what’s changed—and what you need to know before you apply.

In this episode, we cover:

✔️ The new minimum investment requirements for the Red Carpet Visa
✔️ How pre-construction and promise-of-sale contracts now qualify
✔️ Changes to proof of funds and compliance requirements
✔️ Updated rules for bank deposits and securities investments
✔️ The new special investor passport and who qualifies
✔️ Common mistakes investors make when applying for Panama residency

As Panama continues to position itself as one of the most attractive destinations for international investors, understanding the legal details behind Panama residency visas, buying property in Panama, and moving to Panama has never been more important.

If Panama is part of your Plan B—or your next chapter—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

👉 Thinking about relocating or investing in Panama?
Visit ChoosePanama.com/contact to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with my team and get expert guidance tailored to your goals.

🔍 Keywords & Topics:

Panama real estate
Buying property in Panama
Moving to Panama
Panama residency
Panama investor visa
Red Carpet Visa Panama
Qualified Investor Visa Panama
Panama immigration
Panama relocation
Expat life in Panama
Investing in Panama real estate

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #panamarealestate #movingtopanama #panamavisa #panamarelcoation #investinpanama #expatlifeinpanama

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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Panama property prices are at an inflection point — and buyers who understand what’s happening now are positioning themselves ahead of the curve. In this episode, I break down why Panama real estate prices are poised to rise, what’s driving demand, and what smart investors need to know before the next wave hits. If you’ve been watching Panama from the sidelines, this is the clarity moment.

As someone who has lived, invested, and worked in Panama real estate since 2012, I’ve seen these cycles before. When fundamentals quietly align — economic stability, global migration, limited inventory, and international buyer demand — prices don’t inch up… they move decisively. And Panama is checking every box.

What’s driving the next surge in Panama real estate prices?

✅ A growing influx of North American buyers seeking a Plan B
✅ Limited oceanfront and prime-city inventory
✅ Infrastructure and development already in place — not speculative
✅ A strong, dollarized economy attracting global capital
✅ Buyers shifting away from overheated markets like Costa Rica, Mexico, and Portugal

In this video, I explain why now is different — and why waiting for prices to “cool” in Panama may be a costly assumption. Whether you’re considering buying property in Panama as a second home, an investment property, or part of a relocation plan, understanding timing is everything.

At Choose Panama Real Estate, this is exactly the moment when we help clients move from interest to intelligent action — identifying value pockets, securing properties before competition increases, and avoiding the mistakes I see buyers make when markets accelerate.

If you’re researching Panama real estate, moving to Panama, or evaluating international property investments, this episode will give you the context most buyers never get.

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation at https://ChoosePanama.com/contact
.

About Melissa Darnay:
Melissa Darnay is the CEO of Choose Panama Real Estate and one of Panama’s leading experts in luxury real estate and expat relocation. Since moving to Panama in 2012, she has helped hundreds of affluent North Americans invest, retire, and build a better life in Panama. As the host of The Panama Podcast, Melissa blends deep local expertise with concierge-level service — making her one of the most trusted advisors in Panama’s real estate market.

Explore more insights at https://www.youtube.com/@choosepanama

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!