Driving? Gasoline is now about $2 per gallon. Most of the roads are well maintained.

Are there any specific tax incentives relating to the purchase or development of real estate?
If you submit the blue prints of a project and build it within the proposed time table, the cost of the building (excluding the land) will be tax free for 20 years.

Real estate taxes, how are they determined and applied?
Real Estate taxes are established according to the following values: properties up to US$20K, tax free / from 20K to 50K = 1.95% / from 75 K up = 2.10%.

The title is protected in Panama?
In Panama all property titles are registered at the "Registro Público" (Public Registry) through a bureaucratic yet straight forward process.

Do foreigners enjoy the same property rights as Panamanian citizens?
Yes, everybody can own real-estate and land

Can I drink the water? Are there any health concerns?
Panama is the only country in Latin America where you can drink the tap water. There are no special other health concerns and no shots necessary etc.

How are the Prices in Panama?
The tourism industry in Panama is just developing and so prices are low and some of the most inexpensive anywhere.

What is the national currency?
The US dollar freely circulates in Panama. This is one country where you don't have to be a mathematical genius to figure out how much things cost!

I don't speak Spanish. Will that be a problem in Panama?
Most Panamanians speak English and many speak it fluently, especially those catering to tourists. For 85 years Americans were present in the former Canal Zone. Furthermore, Panama is traditionally an international crossroads. Panamanians are accustomed to working side by side with foreigners and English has truly become a second language.

Do I need a visa to visit Panama?
Citizens of most countries including the USA and Western Europe do not need a visa. Tourists from some countries including the US need only purchase a $5 tourist card from their airlines, at the ticket counter on the day of departure for Panama. A tourist card gives you an automatic 30 day stay in Panama and is extendible for another 60 days. Citizens of most other countries need only their passport. If your children are traveling with one parent only, Panama, like many countries requires a notarized letter of permission from the other parent.