Thread: what is the average house rental for Arrijan, Howard area?

Hello There,
Does anyone know what is the average house rental for a 2 bedroom house in the areas of Arrijan or Howard area?

I´m not a realtor but I would say between 1200-1500 USD.

If you go to Toucan Country club you are looking above 2500 USD.

Might be good to get a realtor thats not pushy and will just want to make a quick profit.

I am sure there are some good ones on this board you can ask.

Thanks Panamanian Offshore,
$1200 to $1500 sounds overpriced...but than again, maybe the members on this website are all expats trying to rent their house out when not in use. I will probably try and source out the Panamanian newspaper. I would need my friends to do the reading. My spanish is NOT that great...perhaps one day it will. I do plan to learn the language.
Panama Dreamer

The rental market is Panama City (and surrounding areas) in general is VERY expensive (compared to most of the world). $1200 to $1500 for THAT AREA for a house is probably a good estimate. If you can find anything around $1000 or below -- I would consider it a "steal". That being said, prices for rentals have been dropping over the last year or two. Let's hope it keeps going down...

Go for the dream!
Matt

Why would people pay so much to live in Panama? I just don't get what the appeal is. Is there any logical reason as to why people would pay nearly (or sometimes more than) U.S. prices to live in a 3rd world country?

Taxes, bookkeeping, IRS, traffic fines, parking enforcement, strict immigration controls to name some. Translates to big government I guess.

That's a good starting list Ed. I'll add: beautiful women, great weather, warm water beaches, surfing, good food and more personal freedom.

Originally Posted by EdBowers

Taxes, bookkeeping, IRS, traffic fines, parking enforcement, strict immigration controls to name some. Translates to big government I guess.

Hasn't all of the items you mentioned already come to Panama? Higher taxes (7% sales tax, 2.1% property tax, 30% corporate income tax, etc.), IRS setting up office in Panama, not to mention the labor department breathing down your back if you have employees, traffic fines (expired plate fine even though govt is 1 year behind making the plates forcing you to renew temporary tag every 3 months which is a pain), same idiotic traffic laws... must wear seat belt, cannot talk on cell phone, radar traps, etc. Checkpoints everywhere verifying passports for immigration and drivers' licenses, and this:

http://www.panama-guide.com/article....00621130714989

I'm not trying to be a smart ass. But I moved to Panama because of all the things you mentioned. Things have changed radically. Martinelli is rubber stamping every radical law that comes his way. Why is everyone living in denial? I saw all this coming a while back and planned for an exit. I know many of you living in the interior feel buffered from all this nonsense, but the laws apply everywhere in Panama. I live in the backwoods country roads and there was a road block there with a huge show of force, 7 cops and 2 with AR-15's, that nailed me for expired plates. They gave me a real hard time because they wanted my original passport instead of a copy. My bad, however the government needs to make the process more efficient to renew plates.

All of these facts of life get swept under the rug and all I hear is what a great place Panama is to retire in. There are many more problems here than just the manana syndrome.

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

That's a good starting list Ed. I'll add: beautiful women, great weather, warm water beaches, surfing, good food and more personal freedom.

Beautiful women, maybe, but the men are chauvinist pigs whistling at anything that resembles a female.

Great weather? Only if you like hot and humid. If you live in the mountains, you give up all of the major shopping and nightlife that you can only find in the city.

Warm water beaches... of course. All beaches in Central America have warm water.

Surfing? Mediocre at best. Only a few good spots along the coast.

Good food???? Only in the city and maybe a few places in the interior.

More personal freedom? Not for long.

You can chose from roughly 200 countries, no one is forcing you to live here if you don't like what Panama has to offer...

Felicity -- just a friendly reminder that this site is for those who LOVE Panama and WANT TO LIVE HERE. I think we've heard enough of your negativity, we've got 45 posts on it. We got it... You think Panama's gone to hell in a handbasket. Thanks for the newsflash.

If you still feel like sharing some Panamanian Hatorade -- I highly recommend you start a new forum/website called Panama-Sucks.com

Thanks,
Matt

Originally Posted by Thegreatoggy

You can chose from roughly 200 countries, no one is forcing you to live here if you don't like what Panama has to offer...

I already have chosen another country. I'm leaving very soon. Meanwhile, everything I am saying is relevant and truthful about Panama. I don't want to see other people get burned. This is my last post here so you can all relax and keep pimping your beloved Panama. Peace out.

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

Felicity -- just a friendly reminder that this site is for those who LOVE Panama and WANT TO LIVE HERE. I think we've heard enough of your negativity, we've got 45 posts on it. We got it... You think Panama's gone to hell in a handbasket. Thanks for the newsflash.

If you still feel like sharing some Panamanian Hatorade -- I highly recommend you start a new forum/website called Panama-Sucks.com

Thanks,
Matt

Matt, the problem with Panama is NOT Panama. Panama is a beautiful country. The problem is with the people and their attitudes. Not just the locals, but the ex-pats as well. I never get straight answers from anyone since I arrived in Panama. There is always a sense that you are being lied to and you can trust no one. Forums like these should deliver honest and truthful information whether good or bad so people can make wise decisions. It's not about being negative, but being truthful. Many people are fleeing the U.S. and Canada but little do they realize they may be jumping from the kettle to the frying pan. Everyone should be very concerned about recent laws being passed because they affect your freedoms and your finances. I am not saying don't move to Panama because that would be ridiculous. I am just saying to make sure you gather as much information as possible before you make the leap.

Panama isn't perfect but keep in mind that it's not because you had bad experience here that we're all "suffering" like you did...

Matt is right, we've heard enough of your negativity

Now just move on and do something else with your life other than some Panama-bashing on a forum for "those who LOVE Panama and WANT TO LIVE HERE" ....

Every country has it's issues and having lived and / or spent time in many Central American countries I feel Panama has alot to offer. If you want everything that the US or Canda offer; move back. I am forced to live in Canada right now and can hardly wait to leave. You have to accept and tolerate some deficiency in any country if you want to live there. Don't even get me started on what gets rammed down my throat daily in Canada...not a 3rd world country.

Thanks again Felicity for sharing "your truth". It's been heard and it's archived in these forums.

And that's the main thing to keep in mind -- there's no "absolute truth". There's only subjective truths based on your experiences, perceptions and opinions.

Personally: I've lived in Japan, Canada, USA (and visited many other countries) and Panama is THE PLACE FOR ME.

In my opinion, Panama is getting better and better every day... any problems are just growing pains that come from a country going from a 3rd world country to a 1st world lifestyle. And that's "my truth".

Felicity -- Espero que encuentre la felicidad en su país que viene!
Matt

Yes, I agree. All of those sux.

I look at this list normally: List of countries by tax revenue as percentage of GDP - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've got another thread about how the ATTT is making Panama a dump to live in :-). They are complete retards and I hope they all die.

The corporate tax rate you mention below only applies to locally sourced income, i.e. in reality it is MUCH MUCH lower.

Originally Posted by Felicity

Hasn't all of the items you mentioned already come to Panama? Higher taxes (7% sales tax, 2.1% property tax, 30% corporate income tax, etc.), IRS setting up office in Panama, not to mention the labor department breathing down your back if you have employees, traffic fines (expired plate fine even though govt is 1 year behind making the plates forcing you to renew temporary tag every 3 months which is a pain).

I don't know how a country can be "loved". A country is just a piece of paper that is recognized by a bunch of other pieces of papers. Most (all) countries in the world are run by retards and the administration stinks everywhere.

I just choose to live in one that is less painful, although I truly hate the Panamanian government and their retarded ways. The percentage of dishonest/lowlives in this country is also higher for sure.

Today I spent 8 hours (not done yet) renewing my driver's license while having a new foreign passport (number is new). Maybe tomorrow I will be done if I am lucky.

To get a new passport from my motherland I have to fly to Bogota ($600), pay $200 and stay in a hotel, so roughly $1,000 in total with exit permit.

Tax burden in northern Europe, 50 %, USA 25 %, Panama 10 %. Effective tax rate for me in Panama around 2-3 %.

Spending 3 days and $1,000 to get a new passport while paying 50 % is not going to happen... EVER!!!

10 hours to get a new drivers license while fantasizing spraying the whole office with an AK47. Worth it.....

Hi!
Back to the original question on rentals. Everything is about location, location, and location on rentals--especially if you want to be in the Howard area! I know of rentals out in the interior (Coronado, Copecito, Gorgona, San Carlos) where you can get a 2 bedroom home for $300-500 or $1000-4000. Everything is going to depend on location, does it have a swimming pool, how many bedrooms or bathrooms, etc.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Wow, thanks for everyone's input. Since joining the forum, I have found all your information resourceful.

My husband and I have traveled to a dozen different countries (Vietnam, China, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Jamaica, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Costa Rica, St. thomas and most recently Panama). It doesn't matter in what country you live in, there is always something bad about it, whether it is from the government or the service level. You are all right, the question is how much of the bad are we willing to accept? I am sure the good out weights the bad, especially for you single men there.

I am a happily married woman with two kids who wants to live in a tropical country. I am willing to take my chances. Nothing comes easy. I am thankful for the internet and this forum. It makes me walk a little more confident into the immigration office...prepared for the turtle pace and confusion. like any thing we start in life, it is always harder in the beginning....and things can only get better...right?

Panama dreamer

Thanks for your honest opinion Felicity.

If only good things are posted here, that's censorship is it not?

I'd be interested to know where you are going to. We are currently looking for somewhere nice and warm to spend the winters, and Panama is the best we have found so far.

Thanks,
Bill

It's not that I only want to hear good things. Actually, bad things have to be said.

It's just that when someone is always negative and all messages are the same...I think it's enough

Exactly Great Oggy -- and there's plenty of old threads that cover "the bad and the ugly".

I hear you guys. I've been away from this forum for a while, getting settled into our summer home up in the mountains of British Columbia (GREAT place for the summers, BTW), and I interpret that this particular thread is getting a bit thin.

I'd still like to know where Felicity is going though.

Bill

Hey Bill!

I used to live in Vancouver (before coming here). You're right -- BC ROCKS in the summer time!

Matt

Most beautiful place on earth, but only in the summer :-)

Bill

Amen.

I welcome the devils advocate. This forum should not be reserved for Panama cheer leaders only. The good, bad and the ugly needs to be expressed. Moving to a new country takes balls in the first place and most people who try it fail, and just return to their home country. A person has to be ready for a move such as immigrating to Panama. And, the bad points of living here should be right there for all to see. There are many good points about living here and this forum brings those points to the forefront well. But, I am not averse to hearing about someones bad experiences or opinions as well. In my mind, the good outweighs the bad at least for today. But, I live in the interior and my perception will be different than everyone else's.

Well said.

Bill

P.S., I still don't know where Felicity is going that is better.

Are you still there Felicity?

Bill