Any companies or webmasters in Panama City?
 

I'm opening an IT development firm here in Panama City, Panama -- you know, the one next to Columbia with the big-ass canal -- and was wondering if there were any other expatriated Panamaniacs on the board with whom I could shoot the proverbial shit about life in this one-donkey town.

Employer experiences, taxes, company formation, nightlife, beaches -- I'm soliciting advice on just about everything. Hit me up at ICQ 81537174 or paul AT dollars.com, so I can shamelessly pick your brain over a large plate of food.

P.S. -- For those of you who have never been to Panama, this isn't really a one-donkey town. I've counted at least twelve.

P.P.S. -- Actually, I haven't seen any donkeys, but I'm looking forward to it.

Bump

What's up Paul? What's it like down there, I mean on the apartment rental or house rental and security situation? Good prices, stable?

Don't know where you are at right now Paul.. but I can tell you it's a lot easier to operate there than in the "civilized" world. Taxes? What's that? :-) Organize stuff right and you won't be paying any taxes (it is legal for those who don't know any different!)

Good luck!! Wise move! :thumbsup

Panama City is one of the safest cities in Latin America. You'd be shocked at how advanced it is. Everyone I've told about it has given me a look that says, "Why the fuck are you moving to the jungle?" but that's simply not the case. This is an international banking hub, for starters (not to mention a decent place for "asset management" or whatever you want to call a tax shelter); there are three internet cafes on every street (no bullshit) so there is no lack of tech industry; the US dollar is the official currency, and the skyline looks like NYC.

Real estate is pretty interesting down here as well -- I've been looking at 3-bedroom rentals with swimming pools and balconies overlooking the Pacific. The average price has been around $1200-$1500 a month. Not bad considering that these are all huge condos in new high-rises, but I think you can get even better deals if you don't go through an American realtor. I'm not looking at buying or building anything, but I've heard that if you build a new place, there are no property taxes for the first 20 years.

The government here is more stable than you might imagine. Sure, they've had some problems in the past *cough*Noriega*cough*, but the bottom line, as Rick wisely said, is that the US government would nuke any country in the world before they let someone fuck with the Panama Canal. 5% of the entire world's goods float through that big-ass ditch, so no one is going to let the government get too out of hand around here.

You should fly down here and check it out sometime, Digipimp. Perhaps around the Curucao show.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that the local beer costs 27 cents a bottle, and that the local girls really know how to appreciate it.

http://www.hydrogenbomb.com/atlas.jpg

adds panama city to his federal hideaway list

Hey how are things in Cristobol ?
I lost my cherry to a prostitute when serving in the navy, he he

Thanks for the info Paul. I wonder what a decent 2 bedroom would cost. You gotta website of a realtor that you used or know of down there that I can check out? I figured it was pretty civilized and up to date on tech.

Digi, my realtor down here is Guillermo Paredes with century 21. Their website is http://www.semusarealty.com. There aren't many pictures to look at on the web, but you should be able to find killer 2 bedrooms for a hell of a lot less than you would pay for a comparable place in Miami Beach, or another coastal city. I'll be happy to pass along any info I've learned through my research into Panama, if you're really interested.

BTW..... is spelled Colombia :) with o not u

Ding! You are correct, sir.