How This American Couple Relocated to Panama in One Week (And Found Their Dream Home for $900/Month)

Picture this: You're three days away from flying to a foreign country where you don't speak the language, don't know the neighborhoods, and have no idea if you'll even find a place to live. That was Greg and Ann's reality. They'd booked their flights to Panama, driven by frustration with what was happening back in America, but they were far from 'secure' about their decision. Then they discovered DoPanama online and scheduled an emergency Zoom call with COO Austin Hess. What happened next is the opposite of the horror stories you hear about expats getting lost in bureaucracy or scammed by unethical operators. Austin didn't just promise help - he immediately activated a coordinated team response. With only 72 hours until Greg and Ann's arrival, Austin connected with operations manager Matt, who then deployed two of DoPanama's 'superstars': David Aguila in Panama City and Luis Diego, a licensed attorney and real estate agent based in the Chiriquí province. This rapid-response approach is what sets professional relocation services apart from DIY attempts. According to International Living's 2023 Annual Global Retirement Index, Panama ranks #2 in the world for retiree benefits, but the same report notes that 'navigating residency requirements and finding legitimate housing remain the biggest challenges for newcomers' - exactly the obstacles DoPanama eliminated for this couple.

Greg and Ann spent their first couple of days in Panama City getting acclimated with David Aguila's assistance. But their hearts were set on the cooler mountain climate of Boquete, a charming town in Chiriquí province that's become legendary among expat communities. Boquete sits at about 3,900 feet elevation in the highlands, offering year-round spring-like temperatures that average 60-70°F - a dramatic contrast to Panama City's tropical heat. To get there efficiently, David arranged a domestic flight to David (the provincial capital of Chiriquí, not to be confused with their guide David Aguila!). This is insider knowledge that saves days of travel time. While tourists might take a grueling 7-hour bus ride on the Pan-American Highway, expats in-the-know take the short flight to David's Enrique Malek International Airport, then it's just a scenic 45-minute drive up into the mountains to Boquete. At the airport, Luis Diego was waiting - and this is where Greg's face literally lights up in the video. He calls Luis Diego their 'mission impossible leader,' and based on what happened next, that title was earned.

Here's where things get real, and where Greg's testimonial reveals something crucial about Panama's real estate landscape. Finding available properties isn't hard - finding legitimate, fairly-priced properties with transparent lease terms is an entirely different challenge. Greg mentions that Luis Diego encountered real estate agents who 'weren't really being very cooperative.' This is diplomatic language for a common problem: some local agents either don't take foreign buyers seriously, inflate prices for gringos, or simply operate on 'Panama time' that doesn't match the urgency of someone who needs housing immediately. Luis Diego's response? He went around the uncooperative agents entirely and tapped into his local network - personal connections that only a licensed attorney with deep roots in Chiriquí province would have. According to a 2023 study by Panama's Chamber of Commerce, Construction and Real Estate (CAPAC), approximately 68% of residential rental transactions in Panama still happen through personal networks rather than formal MLS-style listings. This is why having someone like Luis Diego - who Greg describes as 'so personable, so helpful and friendly and knowledgeable, licensed attorney, licensed real estate agent' - is absolutely essential. Within that one-week timeframe, Luis Diego found them a brand-new, two-bedroom, 2.5-bath house that was completely furnished with all utilities included, great security, nice kitchen, modern appliances - everything turnkey. The price? $900 per month. For comparison, Numbeo's 2024 data shows that a similar property in a mid-tier U.S. city would cost $1,800-2,500 monthly.

Finding the property was only half the battle. Greg mentions 'a series of issues with the lease' that Luis Diego identified and insisted on correcting. This is the moment where having a licensed attorney becomes not just convenient but potentially life-saving for your financial security. Panamanian lease agreements operate under different legal frameworks than U.S. contracts, and landlord-tenant laws vary significantly. According to Panama's Law 93 of 1973 (as amended), residential leases have specific requirements regarding deposits, termination clauses, and maintenance responsibilities - and these aren't always clearly spelled out in standard contracts. An inexperienced expat might simply sign whatever is put in front of them, eager to secure housing. Luis Diego did the opposite. He took the issues 'to heart and wanted to correct' them, leading to a 'good solid negotiation' that protected Greg and Ann's interests. This is the value proposition of working with DoPanama: you're not just getting a real estate agent who wants to close a deal quickly; you're getting licensed legal professionals who prioritize your long-term security in Panama. Greg's comment about the DoPanama team not playing by 'mañana rules' but instead 'doing things right and doing things now' captures the hybrid approach perfectly - combining American-style efficiency and follow-through with genuine Panamanian legal and cultural expertise.

What makes Greg's story so powerful is how he repeatedly emphasizes the team effort. In the span of one week, he interacted with four key DoPanama team members, each playing a crucial role: Austin Hess (COO) provided the initial consultation and orchestrated the entire operation from the top level. Matt (Operations Manager) coordinated logistics and team deployment. David Aguila handled the Panama City phase and arranged regional transportation. Luis Diego executed the on-ground search, legal review, and negotiation in Chiriquí. This isn't how most real estate companies operate in Panama. Typically, you'd work with one agent who may or may not have expertise in your target area, may or may not have legal credentials, and may or may not follow through with urgency. DoPanama's model - licensed and bonded under PJ-1430-2023, with offices in the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Panama City - delivers coordinated, multi-specialist service. Greg's enthusiasm is genuine and unscripted: 'Couldn't have done it without Luis. Couldn't have done it without Austin, David, Matt, the whole team.' He even jokes that if they could adopt Luis Diego, they would, but 'his parents are very lucky and Austin has it very rocky.' The video ends with Greg and Ann preparing to fly back to the United States - not in defeat, but to wrap up their affairs so they can return immediately to their new Panamanian home. Luis Diego already has 'a new mission' with 'a number of items' he'll be handling to prepare for their permanent integration.

Greg and Ann's experience offers a blueprint for anyone considering relocation to Panama. First, don't go it alone - the money you save trying to DIY your relocation will be lost multiple times over in mistakes, overcharges, and missed opportunities. Second, timing doesn't have to be perfect - even a last-minute connection with the right team can produce remarkable results. Third, location matters tremendously. While Panama City offers urban amenities and international business opportunities, places like Boquete provide a completely different lifestyle: cooler climate, tight-knit expat communities, lower costs, and a slower pace. According to the Boquete Chamber of Commerce, the town's foreign resident population has grown by approximately 145% since 2010, with North Americans comprising about 60% of expat residents. Fourth, the quality of your local representative makes or breaks your experience. Greg's description of Luis Diego as someone who 'made a mission out of finding us our property' reveals the level of personal commitment that should be standard, not exceptional. Finally, successful relocation requires both cultural understanding and legal precision - the 'mañana culture' is real, but working with professionals who respect your timeline while navigating Panamanian systems authentically creates the best outcomes. The fact that Greg and Ann are 'flying back to the states today and ready to come back immediately and live in Panama' says everything about the confidence DoPanama instilled in just one week.