Thread: Penonomé as a possible retirement spot?

Has anyone spent much time near Penonomé, or heard much about La Pintada?

Any opinions on this area as a possible retirement spot?

I looked at that area a little bit, seems to have nice highlands. Land is still pretty cheap, it is really starting to develop. When you come down to visit make sure you already have contacted a real estate agent in that area and start looking at land. The real estate agent will be able to give you good info on the area.

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

I looked at that area a little bit, seems to have nice highlands. Land is still pretty cheap, it is really starting to develop. When you come down to visit make sure you already have contacted a real estate agent in that area and start looking at land. The real estate agent will be able to give you good info on the area.

My wife and I are planning on retiring to the Penonome area. She is from Anton, so we know the area pretty well. We hope to find some nice land up high and then build our retirement home in two to three years.

Just take your time and do not rush. Meet with real estate agents, check it out, rent for 6mos to a full year before plunking down your cash. You may actually find yourself a nice rental for really cheap.

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

Just take your time and do not rush. Meet with real estate agents, check it out, rent for 6mos to a full year before plunking down your cash. You may actually find yourself a nice rental for really cheap.

Those are our thoughts exactly!

You are wise. There is plenty of places and land for sale everywhere.

As long as we can find some property with utilities close by, we'll be in business sometime after Christmas!

Utilities are good. One of these days I have to travel to the highlands in Penonome.

Originally Posted by TennVol

As long as we can find some property with utilities close by, we'll be in business sometime after Christmas!

My husband and I will be moving to Peno in July. Have you made connections with any real estate agents that have been helpful? We have been communicating with a young man who lives in one of the towns above Peno. He says that there are many new developments being built with rents running in the $220/mo range. He loves it there.

Gotta love those interior prices, WOOOHOOOO!!!

Originally Posted by EllieDW

My husband and I will be moving to Peno in July. Have you made connections with any real estate agents that have been helpful? We have been communicating with a young man who lives in one of the towns above Peno. He says that there are many new developments being built with rents running in the $220/mo range. He loves it there.

We haven't found a real estate agent yet. We were planning on driving around initially, seeing what was available, writing down some phone numbers from the "For Sale" signs and proceeding from there. The last time we visited (Jul 09) we thought that Altos del Maria was going to be the location for our home. After we saw how much they wanted for the land, we decided that ADM wasn't for us. Don't get me wrong, it's a great develpment, it's just a little too pricey for us. We're pretty sure we can find some decent land to build on near Penonome and it will be MUCH cheaper than ADM. Granted, it won't be in a gated community with everything that offers, but we really don't need a gated community. We want to be relativley close to her family, but not TOO close, if you catch my drift. My wife was born and raised in Anton and I've lived in Panama for about six years, so we have a pretty good feel for what we are getting into.

What area around Penonome are you looking at (up high or down low)? My wife's father used to live up a little ways in the hills, but not as far up as La Pintada. This next trip (after Christmas) we are going to devote more time to looking for a place to live, and less time visiting her family. Where are these developments being started? Are they down around the highway, or are they up in the highlands? $220/month sounds like a steal!

We do not want to be too high up. We like moderate temps and we understand that La Pintada can get a bit chilly. We are Southerners (US) and like our warm weather. We have tried emailing several real estate agents in the area but they only seem to want to respond with land for sale. Once we get there we will track down someone who is willing to help. We are determined to rent at first to make sure this is the right area for us. We will not be rushed just because someone else wants to make a commission. However, we will venture there in July and will be happy to report back to you with our findings. The young man who we have been corresponding with just loves the area and is planning to hook up with us when we get there. We would appreciate your passing along any tips you might find as well.

Would be interested in your report. It seems much of the areas closer to PTY have gotten pretty pricy.

Originally Posted by hhunter

Would be interested in your report. It seems much of the areas closer to PTY have gotten pretty pricy.

We will be more than happy to post our findings. We have found this forum to be very helpful and want to retrn the favor.

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

You are wise. There is plenty of places and land for sale everywhere.

When we come down in July we would like to meet you. Will you be in the country then?

We loved Penonomme and we also loved Altos del Maria.

Originally Posted by EllieDW

When we come down in July we would like to meet you. Will you be in the country then?

I will be here, feel free to give me a shout.

There are many options to living in Panama. I do recommend traveling around frequently to get a feel of the country. It's cheap and easy to do.

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

I will be here, feel free to give me a shout.

There are many options to living in Panama. I do recommend traveling around frequently to get a feel of the country. It's cheap and easy to do.

This is just what we plan to do. Our initial visitations will be to Penonome, El Valle, Las Tablas, La Chorrea as potential places to live. Any other reccomendations? We are open.

Hi!

I have heard of only 1 retirement development in the La Pintada area, La Pintada Estates. One of the major players in the development is Pedro S. and he was the major salesman for Altos del Maria from 2001-2006/7. I know of a couple that purchased land in the area of La Pintada and built their retirement home.

Altos del Maria has a bunch of homes for sale and lots for resale. There are spec homes up there and other homes are owned by people that have moved back to Canada or the States.

Along the road to El Valle there have been a couple of developments started and abandoned (El Valle Highlands and Estancia Santerra). There is also a development on hold right now called Las Cascadas (www.panamawaterfalls.com) that has great ocean views.

I have been recommending people to take a look at a road that runs parallel to the road to El Valle. The paved road ends at a lagoon. The easiest driving directions so you don't miss the road is to drive to Coronado. At the entrance to Coronado (McDonalds & El Rey entrance) make a "U-turn" and head back towards the city. Take the FIRST LEFT turn lane and follow the road up the mountains. There is a development called Los Pozos up there, expensive because you are buying minimum of 10,000 sq. meters. There are great ocean views along the road and various lots/property available along the way.

There are certain areas where you don't have to go all the way up into the mountains to get the cooler less humid temps. We live in such a place where I am 10 minutes from the PanAmerican Highway and 20 minutes from Coronado. We don't have a/c because we get the nice mountain breezes.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

hi,

This is a great forum for information. I have looked on other forums about the Coronado area, and nobody seems to talk much about those pacific towns and cities along the coast. Any thoughts would be interesting.

Hi!

Also look at www.playacommunity.com as it is the website for the Coronado area. There are a lot of great little towns along this area and other areas that you want to stay away from.

Mary

Thanks for the post. Which areas should I stay away from?

I want to live where you live...10 minutes up the hill, cool and close to the beach...how can it get better than that! We're on fixed income and not interested in gated communities...can we find a small house to rent for a few months while we check out the area? This winter we are going to Merida, Mexico where we will rent a small casita for $380/mo. Is that price range possible down near you? tks,
Jim and Laura
Asheville, NC

Hi Ellie, Laura and I are southerners also, although we live in the southern mountains of Asheville. Our goal would be to duplicate the moderate climate and have the beach be closer than it is here (6 hours). We'd be very interested in your experiences in Panama. We want to avoid gated communities, but be in or very near a small city with the conveniences, including good internet. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Jim and Laura
Asheville, NC

Hi!

There are several casitas or houses for rent on the way to El Valle for between $400 - $500 range. I know of one particular 2 bedroom home that will be available around March 15 for $400 plus utilities.
Here is the website: Picasa Web Albums - Jim House - Rental#


Mary
www.whypanama.com

Mary, thanks for the house info. We're all set for this winter (Merida, MX), so I'm looking ahead to a trip next winter to Panama. If we wanted to look around the Penomone area I guess the best plan would be to fly into Panama City and then bus. We'd probaby stay in a small hotel or nice hostel for a few days to get our feet on the ground, then start looking for a house. Are the beaches near Penomone very nice? Good swimming? thks, Jim G

Hi!

People will probably contradict me, but I don't think there are any decent beaches near Penonomee. Playa Blanca and Santa Clara are about 30-40 minutes from Penonomee have the best beaches. The info on the house I sent is close to the PanAmerican Highway on the road to El Valle. It is about 45 minutes from Penonomee.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Mary is correct in that the closest beaches are Playa Blanca and Santa Clara. Depending on where you live in Penonome, they are under 1 hr travel time to either beach (Playa Blanca being the closest - just on the other side of Rio Hato). I've never been to Playa Blanca, but Santa Clara is a very nice beach. Just be careful of the strong tides in the area. The last time we were there (Jul 2009), there was a VERY strong riptide and no one was going into the water.

I would reccomend people do what Mr Woohoo and others have suggested and rent before you buy. Renting for a year or so lets you try Panama "risk free" lol. Panama is a beautiful country and it is easy to get swept up in the emotion, purchase a house and then be stuck with it should you regret your decision later. Renting also allows you to make local friends who can help you locate a properties who may not be available at the local real estate office. I also firmly believe living in the interior of the country is the way to go. The people are friendlier, it is safer, more quiet and property is much less than the over valued city market.

Hello everyone. One of the concerns of older folks is easy access to medical facilities on a routine basis. Real Estate agents with whom I have spoken suggest that we would only be happy in Panama City due to that. Sounds like outside of Panama City, you had better be prepared to drive yourself where you need to go; but I don't know that for sure. Also, I hear that Coronado has a new (?) clinic, but what about the rest of the country? We also would like a temperate climate, perhaps with a little altitude, and that is NOT Panama City for sure. I also know from experience that with shade and a nice breeze, the tropics can be rather comfortable, even without air conditioning. We are likely not interested in the David / Boquete area. Probably not interested in the gated community option either, although perhaps if the price were right -- mid-west prices instead of California prices (no offense to anyone from CA). Any comments from you folks with first hand experience, about where we should be looking and about the medical care issue? We will be visiting Panama in mid-January for an initial look around and to tend to some business. Thanks.