How is it that you can go to 'lesser' towns of Punta Barco, Gorgona, Chame, San Carlos, etc. and find wonderful roads? It makes no sense. And surely the same house will cost half if you get a tiny bit away!
There's a lovely road almost across from El Rey... maybe a few hundred meters back toward PC that goes through some lovely countryside and eventually up a mountain. No idea what town or road name is. I know the prices there are far, far lower and would be a lovely spot to build the dream house if you find the right lot. Be sure to compare your lot price "apples to apples", in other words find out if there is electric and water at the site, does it have an approved septic plan and well plan if that's needed; can you get cable, wireless, etc, and does the owner actually own the land!!! All features of the land affect the price. And use a lawyer! Biggest mistake ever is doing this without legal advice!
I agree with you that there is no need for most of us to have a big house here. 2 bedrooms, a small pool and a good size terrazo for the barbecues... what else do you need? Americans and Canadians come here and anticipate that all their friends and family will come to visit, but usually they come one family at a time and the visits are few are far between, so why the need for 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms? Why be in debt up to your eyeballs as you were at home?
I know that when I build my house however small, I will put a filter on the water supply. There is so much iron in the local wate! And I would use a top-notch plumber as I've seen a lot of substandard work here. There are some things that are more important than having grandiose homes and $5,000 gates!! And hot tubs.... what's with that? Panama is hot all winter!! No one I know that has one actually uses it. When I get wet I want the water a little cooler than my roasting body!!
Keep my posted if you find something!
Sunman
