What a foreign owner needs to know before building in Panama
These are the long-form references we wish every owner had read before the first site visit. Each one is sourced, dated, and written to be used rather than skimmed. Start with the pillar if you want the argument; start with a guide if you want the process.
The structural conflict at the heart of Panama construction for foreign owners
Why independent owner’s representation is a regulatory requirement in mature markets and a missing role in Panama, argued from the AIA Code of Ethics, the ABA Model Rules, Massachusetts Chapter 7C and the construction research. The long argument behind everything else here.
Read the essay →Building a house in Panama
The six-phase process, a realistic timeline, the budget envelope, and who actually needs to be on the team.
Read →Construction permits in Panama
The six authorities, the documental sequence, the DOYC in detail, EIA categories, and the mistakes that stall a file.
Read →Construction costs in Panama 2026
Why online figures mislead, cost per square metre by zone, finish multipliers, the budget lines, and three working budgets.
Read →Residency through property in Panama
The Qualified Investor and Friendly Nations routes, the territorial tax logic, and the 15 October 2026 deadline that changes the math.
Read →