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The Panama Guide
I love The Panama Guide. I read it a few times every day. If you really want to keep up with life in Panama, this is the place to do it.
Don Winner, the owner, operator, and Senior Editor and Chief Cook, has insights that few others have. He writes with an entertaining style, and has a unique propensity for cutting through the bullshit you might find on other news sites and blogs. He has a knack for not only knowing what needs to be reported on, but also getting tough questions answered by people who usually don't want to be interviewed.
I think that's called 'trust', and Don Winner has earned a lot of it.
Here's the decription from the web site:
The #1 English Language web site about the Republic of Panama. There are currently over 6,600 articles in our ever-expanding database and we update daily so check back often. About 4,700 people visit Panama-Guide.com every day to follow current events and to use the other resources available. We provide English language Panama news as well as information about all of the other things you need to know if you plan to visit or live here. We focus on those topics and issues which are of greatest importance to the English speaking expatriate community. And if you can't find what you need to know, we take requests. Welcome aboard, and tell your friends.
Submitted: 07/15/2008 (Edited 09/04/2008)
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By Jerin Tate for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a - About three years ago when the real estate boom was in full swing, suddenly a whole bunch of Donald Trump wannabes (I call them Trumpitos) sprang up all over Panama. The big problem is that none of these guys had any experience in any kind of real estate. The bottom line was making as much money as possible before everything came crashing down. Back in those days all you had to do was sell 30% of the building and a bank would finance you for the construction. Apartments were being snatched up at an amazing rate, but mostly by speculators. Their plan was to buy a few apartments, and then flip them for an immediate profit or hold on to them and double their money. This was actually making a lot of people a lot of money. Panama had a full on real estate boom, but actually had very few finished buildings. The buildings that were finished had been constructed by the guys who had been around for a while and were relatively good quality. This made the Trumpitos drool even more, and in 2006 the rush was on. (more)I don´t recall the exact numbers but thousands of building permits were issued. In 2007, the speculators drove the prices to ridiculous levels which started to drive away the people who originally came for the good deals. In December of 2007, the world recession was starting, but Panama kept building (or planning). In February of 2008, I knew of a large apartment in Punta Pacifica that a client that had purchased in 2006 for #36;350,000. We had buyers lined up to get it, and it finally sold for #36;850,000. That was the peak of the Panama real estate boom. A few months later similar apartments in the same building couldn´t sell for #36;550,000.pThe problem is that the wave of apartments that came available in late 2008 were the first ones built by the Trumpitos. The apartments were of rather poor quality, very late in delivery, and not even the same size and layout as purchased. Another thing started happening. The Trumpitos were discovering that apartments they sold 3 years ago could be resold for 3 times the original amount. They started trying to kick people out of their contracts in order to resell the apartments at current prices. This drove even more people away from preconstruction projects. pAll of a sudden credit started getting tighter, buildings started to finish up one after the other, and the Americans and Europeans were mysteriously slowing down their buying habits. You had a bunch of apartments that were empty, owned by speculators, and very few buyers. The good deals (but advertised as Not Distressed!) listings started to come online. A lot of these good deals were actually equal or very close to the 2006 preconstruction prices. Right around the middle of August, it was obvious to anyone who had a brain (which wasn´t too many people at the time) that any pre-construction project not yet under construction was not going to happen. However, the powers that be kept pushing Panama as invincible. Finally in September of 2008, the whole world economy came crashing down. pTime to throw in the towel and try to salvage what little bit of a market (Venezuelans) was left, right? Wrong, full steam ahead. The Trumpitos started a campaign of, What recession? and claimed that things had never been better. Let´s get this straight: first home markets all over the world are falling apart; nothing is selling even for primary residences in the world´s strongest markets? No more SUVs, boats, or similar toys are selling anywhere? But by some miracle, Panama, with an overbuilt second home/luxury/ vacation home market is not affected in the least bit? Not at all, they would say. As a matter of fact, it´s better than ever. pThe goal, get as many suckers as they could to sit money in a project that is never going to be built, and sit on that money until the last possible minute. This money is put in high yielding savings accounts and are a small form of profit for the Trumpitos. Imagine, you have 5 projects (a small number for a lot of the Trumpitos), and can find just 10 people in the whole world to buy preconstruction on your semi-ocean view city center built on 600 mts2 of land Jewel of Panama. Average cost of apartment is #36;350,000 and at 30% down for each apartment you have #36;1,050,000 per building, or #36;5,250,000 total sitting in a high yield account. Of course all 10 of your buyers think the building is 90% sold, so they put up with the delays in beginning of construction that seem to pop up every 6 months. pI am not sure whether the Trumpitos are in actual denial or know exactly what is going on and are milking it for everything. In my past experiences working with them I get the feeling that they are genuinely thinking that things are OK with the market, but that would seem unlikely unless they were all complete idiots (well, actually .never mind). None of the Trumpitos will admit that they are not selling anything, especially to each other. A strange phenomenon that I am starting to see lately is with the new buildings that are getting ready to come available. The speculators who purchased 3 years ago are about to owe lots of money when these buildings finish and they are scrambling to sell them off before they default on the contracts and lose their deposits. They are pretty much screwed and starting to sell with little or no profit just to keep from losing money, and we are starting to see 2006 prices resurfacing. Doesn´t matter, there aren´t many buyers even at those prices. But in the same buildings, you are seeing 2006 prices from the speculators and 2009 prices from the Trumpitos in denial on the units they never sold. On the same floor of the same building, you can see one apartment for #36;400,000 and the one right next to it for #36;225,000. Everybody has heard of those, right? Oh wait, the real estate agents, who work on percentage commission, never said anything about the apartment next door that is nearly half the price? That´s strange. So all of the new buyers coming into Panama (Show of hands, please. Anybody? Nobody? Didn´t think so) have the opportunity to buy at these mythical 2006 prices that we always hear about, but the Panama real estate market seems to be controlling its news and image better than Kim Jong Il. Its a dangerous mix of denial, media control, and greed. pThey have finally admitted that things are slowing down in the last few months, but still insist that anyone can make a profit by investing in their projects. You can see how the Trumpitos and the speculators have completely destroyed any integrity this market might have once had. I am thinking it is only a matter of time before it is time to give back the money on one of these projects and the money has somehow disappeared as well. But that is just my speculation, and speculation is harmless, right?pCopyright 2009 by Jerin Tate for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
style type=text/css.autotagframe1 { float:right; padding:5px; width:210px; border: silver solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center;}/stylediv class=autotagframe1a href=http://www.panama-guide.com/mediagallery/media.php?s=20090627161939846img src=http://www.panama-guide.com/mediagallery/mediaobjects/tn/3/3_angelmira_correa.jpg height=192 width=200 border=0 alt=Angelmira Correa - Governor-designate of the Kuna Yala Region title=Angelmira Correa - Governor-designate of the Kuna Yala Region/adiv style=clear:both;/divdiv style=width: 200px; text-align: center;font-style: italic;font-size: smaller;text-indent: 0; Angelmira Correa - Governor-designate of the Kuna Yala Region /div/div By DON WINNER for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a - This afternoon in a press conference held in the headquarters of the Cambio Democratico political party in Costa del Este, Judy Meana, the spokesperson for President-elect Ricardo Martinelli, announced the designation of career educator Angelmira Correa as the next Governor of the Kuna Yala region, and Alberto Gomez as the Vice Governor. Anglemira Correa has been chosen by the President-elect, Ricardo Martinelli, for her professional capabilities and her achievements in the field of education, having served the Kuna Yala community for more than 32 years, said Meana. The Governor designate helped establish 23 new schools in the region with funding from the World Bank, worked as a teacher in five different villages during more than 17 years, and has represented Kuna Yala women as a teacher in Colombia, Cuba, and Costa Rica. With this designation, she will become the first Kuna Yala woman to hold the position of Governor. At the press conference she said her priorities would be to address the primary problems affecting our region, which are drugs, corruption, education, and health. Her designation follows the resignation of Martinelli's first extremely controvertial pick, Rogelio Alba, who was forced to resign the designation because of the various drug and corruption related investigations pending against him.pCopyright 2009 Text and Photos by Don Winner for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
img width=186 height=280 align=right src=http://www.panama-guide.com/images/articles/20090627143048644_1.jpg alt= By MARY TRINY ZEA for La Prensa - La Prensa consulted with the promoters of twelve real estate projects, whose prices vary from #36;120,000 to #36;300,000 dollars, and confirmed that only one of these has openly dropped their asking price and that four others were prepared to negotiate possible price reductions. The Pine Hills apartments in Albrook were being offered for #36;295,800 in April 2009, and now they are being offered for #36;275,000. According to Procasa, the prices were lowered because we only have a few units left and we wish to promote their sale. The apartments of the Quartier tower, in San Francisco, were being sold for #36;132,500 dollars and the lowest offer accepted was for #36;130,000 from one client who only had to finance 50% of the purchase price and who included appliances. There have been some lower assessments, but nothing radical, said Raul Machado, the director of May House, a company that does assessments. There is an over supply, the apartments valued at more than #36;200,000 must come down, he said. For Bolivar Alvarez, the manager of HL Developers, the price per meter has come down for the cost of production, but now the tendency is to go up. Everything is connected to the price of the barrel of petroleum, he said. Osvaldo Lau, a real estate consultant, said the promoters are prepared to lower their prices, but not to say it publicly.pFECTOS DE LA CRISIS ECONÓMICApPrecio del metro se mantienepBajas de precios del sector inmobiliario se limitan a casos muy específicos. Pine Hills es uno de los pocos que admite haberse abaratado.pLos apartamentos de más de #36;200 mil deben abaratarse. LA PRENSA/Gabriel Rodríguez pMARY TRINY ZEAmzea@prensa.compLa Prensa consultó a los promotores de 12 proyectos inmobiliarios, cuyas viviendas tienen precios que oscilan entre #36;120 mil y #36;300 mil, y corroboró que solo un proyecto disminuyó su precio abiertamente y que solo cuatro se mostraban dispuestos a negociar rebajas.pLos apartamentos Pine Hills en Albrook se vendían en abril desde #36;295 mil 800. Actualmente se ofrecen desde #36;275 mil 800. Según Procasa, esa disminución se hizo porque les quedan pocos y desean impulsar la venta.pLos apartamentos de la torre Quartier, en San Francisco, se vendían desde #36;132 mil 500 y la mayor rebaja aceptada fue a #36;130 mil, a un cliente que solo financió 50% y al que se le incluyó línea blanca.pSe han dado avalúos a la baja, pero no es algo radical, dijo Raúl Machado, director de May House, empresa de avalúos. Hay sobreoferta, los apartamentos de más de #36;200 mil deben bajar.pPara Bolívar Álvarez, gerente de HL Developers, el precio del metro sí bajó por el costo de producción y ahora la tendencia es al alza. Todo se rige por el barril de petróleo, comentó.pOsvaldo Lau, consultor inmobiliario, destacó que los promotores están dispuestos a bajar el precio, pero no a decirlo públicamente.
img width=280 height=186 align=right src=http://www.panama-guide.com/images/articles/2009062714181072_1.jpg alt= By MARY TRINY ZEA for La Prensa - If you are waiting for real estate prices to drop due to the global economic crisis, you should know that prices are not coming down, and some sellers are even raising their asking prices. I would not say prices have fallen; there are fewer buyers, said Wilson Ruiz, the Vice President of the Panamanian Association of Real Estate Agents and Promoters (Acobir.) Lower demand has caused the buyers want to negotiate more, said Wilson, but this is not necessarily reflected in prices, but with offers of cruises, cars, and other incentives. The office of Economic Subjects of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) reported that the price per square meter on Ave. Balboa and San Francisco has dropped between 15% to 20% from 2008 to 2009 as a product of the crisis. Manuel Ferreira, who is in charge of this office, said their report was based on information provided to them by real estate companies. The companies negotiate with the buyers, depending on the size of the purchase, if it has financing, or other strengths, he said.pPrecios del mercado inmobiliario no han bajadopAcobir niega que los precios de los proyectos se hayan abaratado. La Cámara de Comercio indica que las empresas sí han reportado una baja.pacuerdo. El precio baja según la negociación con el cliente, por su tipo de compra y financiamiento: CCIAP LA PRENSA/Gabriel Rodríguez pMARY TRINY ZEA mzea@prensa.compSi usted estaba esperanzado que los precios del mercado inmobiliario bajaran por la crisis, sepa que estos no han disminuido, e incluso algunos se atreven a decir que subirán.pNo diría que los precios han bajado; ha disminuido la cantidad de clientes, dijo Wilson Ruiz, vicepresidente de la Asociación Panameña de Corredores y Promotores de Bienes Raíces (Acobir).pLa caída de la demanda ha provocado que los clientes quieran negociar más, señaló Wilson, pero esto no necesariamente se refleja en precios, sino con ofrecimientos de cruceros, carros, y otras ofertas.pLa dirección de Asuntos Económicos de la Cámara de Comercio, Industrias y Agricultura de Panamá (CCIAP) reportó que el precio del metro cuadrado en la Avenida Balboa y San Francisco bajó 20% y 15% de 2008 al 2009 producto de la crisis.pManuel Ferreira, encargado de la dirección, dijo que se basaron en información proporcionada por empresas de bienes raíces.pLas compañías negocian con los clientes, dependiendo del tamaño de la compra, si tiene el financiamiento y otras fortalezas.
img width=250 height=250 align=right src=http://www.panama-guide.com/images/articles/20090627141051374_1.jpg alt= By: Melanie Grimes for a href=http://www.healthnews.com/blogs/melanie-grimes/natural-health/lower-your-blood-pressure-chocolate-3366.htmlHealthNews.com/a - With one in three Americans suffering from high blood pressure, chocolate could be the new wonder drug. Harvard University studied a tribe of Indians from a Caribbean island off Panama who have perfect blood pressure numbers and a lower incidence of death from heart attacks and strokes, diabetes and cancer. The Kuna Tribe - What is their secret? The Kuna tribe members drink five cups of cocoa each day. Researchers are investigating the tribe, their diet, and the effect of chocolate on their health. They have discovered that chocolate has a relaxing effect on blood vessels, allowing for better blood flow due to the presence of flavanoids. Flavanoids are a type of antioxidant and chocolate is one of the best sources. Researchers suspect that the flavonols stimulate the production of nitric oxide, which increases blood flow and acts as a blood thinner. Nitric oxide also stimulates insulin production so chocolate may be an aid to diabetics, as long as the chocolate contains no damaging sugars. (more)pChocolate and Blood Pressure - A study published in 2003, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reiterated the same findingsthat chocolate lowers blood pressure. The research, conducted in Germany, studied 13 people between the ages of 55 and 64 who had blood pressure numbers of 153 over 84. After consuming a 100-gram bar of either dark or white chocolate daily, the numbers showed the health benefits of the dark chocolate. pOther Nutrients in Chocolate - Chocolate contains other beneficial nutrients as well, including large quantities of potassium zinc, magnesium and iron. Magnesium is known to help with muscle cramps. Magnesium defliciency is considered one of the reasons that women crave chocolate during PMS. The cacao bean contains fiber that can lower cholesterol levels, especially when combined with the healthy fat in chocolate. As a cholesterol reducer, studies have shown that chocolate increases the HDL-C levels (the good cholesterol) and decreases oxidation of the bad cholesterol, LDL. Chocolate also contains copper, which is utilized in numerous metabolic functions. Also containing Vitamin E and Vitamin B, chocolate may prove an aid to memory retention. pChocolate and Mood - Chocolate has long been touted for its effects on mood. The phenylethylamine in chocolate raises the seratonin and the dopamine receptors that control brain chemistry and even pain reactions. Stimulating these receptors is known to reduce hunger and increase libido, leading the chocolates reputation as a gift for lovers. pMany chocolates are now on the market with low sugar content, or alternatives to sugar. Dark, raw or organic chocolate will contain more of the healthy nutrients. Fair trade and sustainable beans are also being imported and used by boutique chocolatiers, providing greater access to healthy chocolate for all.
The Love Affair Between the Trumpitos and the Speculators
by on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:28:50 -0400:By Jerin Tate for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a - About three years ago when the real estate boom was in full swing, suddenly a whole bunch of Donald Trump wannabes (I call them Trumpitos) sprang up all over Panama. The big problem is that none of these guys had any experience in any kind of real estate. The bottom line was making as much money as possible before everything came crashing down. Back in those days all you had to do was sell 30% of the building and a bank would finance you for the construction. Apartments were being snatched up at an amazing rate, but mostly by speculators. Their plan was to buy a few apartments, and then flip them for an immediate profit or hold on to them and double their money. This was actually making a lot of people a lot of money. Panama had a full on real estate boom, but actually had very few finished buildings. The buildings that were finished had been constructed by the guys who had been around for a while and were relatively good quality. This made the Trumpitos drool even more, and in 2006 the rush was on. (more)I don´t recall the exact numbers but thousands of building permits were issued. In 2007, the speculators drove the prices to ridiculous levels which started to drive away the people who originally came for the good deals. In December of 2007, the world recession was starting, but Panama kept building (or planning). In February of 2008, I knew of a large apartment in Punta Pacifica that a client that had purchased in 2006 for #36;350,000. We had buyers lined up to get it, and it finally sold for #36;850,000. That was the peak of the Panama real estate boom. A few months later similar apartments in the same building couldn´t sell for #36;550,000.pThe problem is that the wave of apartments that came available in late 2008 were the first ones built by the Trumpitos. The apartments were of rather poor quality, very late in delivery, and not even the same size and layout as purchased. Another thing started happening. The Trumpitos were discovering that apartments they sold 3 years ago could be resold for 3 times the original amount. They started trying to kick people out of their contracts in order to resell the apartments at current prices. This drove even more people away from preconstruction projects. pAll of a sudden credit started getting tighter, buildings started to finish up one after the other, and the Americans and Europeans were mysteriously slowing down their buying habits. You had a bunch of apartments that were empty, owned by speculators, and very few buyers. The good deals (but advertised as Not Distressed!) listings started to come online. A lot of these good deals were actually equal or very close to the 2006 preconstruction prices. Right around the middle of August, it was obvious to anyone who had a brain (which wasn´t too many people at the time) that any pre-construction project not yet under construction was not going to happen. However, the powers that be kept pushing Panama as invincible. Finally in September of 2008, the whole world economy came crashing down. pTime to throw in the towel and try to salvage what little bit of a market (Venezuelans) was left, right? Wrong, full steam ahead. The Trumpitos started a campaign of, What recession? and claimed that things had never been better. Let´s get this straight: first home markets all over the world are falling apart; nothing is selling even for primary residences in the world´s strongest markets? No more SUVs, boats, or similar toys are selling anywhere? But by some miracle, Panama, with an overbuilt second home/luxury/ vacation home market is not affected in the least bit? Not at all, they would say. As a matter of fact, it´s better than ever. pThe goal, get as many suckers as they could to sit money in a project that is never going to be built, and sit on that money until the last possible minute. This money is put in high yielding savings accounts and are a small form of profit for the Trumpitos. Imagine, you have 5 projects (a small number for a lot of the Trumpitos), and can find just 10 people in the whole world to buy preconstruction on your semi-ocean view city center built on 600 mts2 of land Jewel of Panama. Average cost of apartment is #36;350,000 and at 30% down for each apartment you have #36;1,050,000 per building, or #36;5,250,000 total sitting in a high yield account. Of course all 10 of your buyers think the building is 90% sold, so they put up with the delays in beginning of construction that seem to pop up every 6 months. pI am not sure whether the Trumpitos are in actual denial or know exactly what is going on and are milking it for everything. In my past experiences working with them I get the feeling that they are genuinely thinking that things are OK with the market, but that would seem unlikely unless they were all complete idiots (well, actually .never mind). None of the Trumpitos will admit that they are not selling anything, especially to each other. A strange phenomenon that I am starting to see lately is with the new buildings that are getting ready to come available. The speculators who purchased 3 years ago are about to owe lots of money when these buildings finish and they are scrambling to sell them off before they default on the contracts and lose their deposits. They are pretty much screwed and starting to sell with little or no profit just to keep from losing money, and we are starting to see 2006 prices resurfacing. Doesn´t matter, there aren´t many buyers even at those prices. But in the same buildings, you are seeing 2006 prices from the speculators and 2009 prices from the Trumpitos in denial on the units they never sold. On the same floor of the same building, you can see one apartment for #36;400,000 and the one right next to it for #36;225,000. Everybody has heard of those, right? Oh wait, the real estate agents, who work on percentage commission, never said anything about the apartment next door that is nearly half the price? That´s strange. So all of the new buyers coming into Panama (Show of hands, please. Anybody? Nobody? Didn´t think so) have the opportunity to buy at these mythical 2006 prices that we always hear about, but the Panama real estate market seems to be controlling its news and image better than Kim Jong Il. Its a dangerous mix of denial, media control, and greed. pThey have finally admitted that things are slowing down in the last few months, but still insist that anyone can make a profit by investing in their projects. You can see how the Trumpitos and the speculators have completely destroyed any integrity this market might have once had. I am thinking it is only a matter of time before it is time to give back the money on one of these projects and the money has somehow disappeared as well. But that is just my speculation, and speculation is harmless, right?pCopyright 2009 by Jerin Tate for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
Martinelli Designates Angelmira Correa As Governor of Kuna Yala
by on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0400:style type=text/css.autotagframe1 { float:right; padding:5px; width:210px; border: silver solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center;}/stylediv class=autotagframe1a href=http://www.panama-guide.com/mediagallery/media.php?s=20090627161939846img src=http://www.panama-guide.com/mediagallery/mediaobjects/tn/3/3_angelmira_correa.jpg height=192 width=200 border=0 alt=Angelmira Correa - Governor-designate of the Kuna Yala Region title=Angelmira Correa - Governor-designate of the Kuna Yala Region/adiv style=clear:both;/divdiv style=width: 200px; text-align: center;font-style: italic;font-size: smaller;text-indent: 0; Angelmira Correa - Governor-designate of the Kuna Yala Region /div/div By DON WINNER for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a - This afternoon in a press conference held in the headquarters of the Cambio Democratico political party in Costa del Este, Judy Meana, the spokesperson for President-elect Ricardo Martinelli, announced the designation of career educator Angelmira Correa as the next Governor of the Kuna Yala region, and Alberto Gomez as the Vice Governor. Anglemira Correa has been chosen by the President-elect, Ricardo Martinelli, for her professional capabilities and her achievements in the field of education, having served the Kuna Yala community for more than 32 years, said Meana. The Governor designate helped establish 23 new schools in the region with funding from the World Bank, worked as a teacher in five different villages during more than 17 years, and has represented Kuna Yala women as a teacher in Colombia, Cuba, and Costa Rica. With this designation, she will become the first Kuna Yala woman to hold the position of Governor. At the press conference she said her priorities would be to address the primary problems affecting our region, which are drugs, corruption, education, and health. Her designation follows the resignation of Martinelli's first extremely controvertial pick, Rogelio Alba, who was forced to resign the designation because of the various drug and corruption related investigations pending against him.pCopyright 2009 Text and Photos by Don Winner for a href=http://www.panama-guide.comPanama-Guide.com/a. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
Real Estate Price Per Meter Hold Firm
by on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:30:48 -0400:img width=186 height=280 align=right src=http://www.panama-guide.com/images/articles/20090627143048644_1.jpg alt= By MARY TRINY ZEA for La Prensa - La Prensa consulted with the promoters of twelve real estate projects, whose prices vary from #36;120,000 to #36;300,000 dollars, and confirmed that only one of these has openly dropped their asking price and that four others were prepared to negotiate possible price reductions. The Pine Hills apartments in Albrook were being offered for #36;295,800 in April 2009, and now they are being offered for #36;275,000. According to Procasa, the prices were lowered because we only have a few units left and we wish to promote their sale. The apartments of the Quartier tower, in San Francisco, were being sold for #36;132,500 dollars and the lowest offer accepted was for #36;130,000 from one client who only had to finance 50% of the purchase price and who included appliances. There have been some lower assessments, but nothing radical, said Raul Machado, the director of May House, a company that does assessments. There is an over supply, the apartments valued at more than #36;200,000 must come down, he said. For Bolivar Alvarez, the manager of HL Developers, the price per meter has come down for the cost of production, but now the tendency is to go up. Everything is connected to the price of the barrel of petroleum, he said. Osvaldo Lau, a real estate consultant, said the promoters are prepared to lower their prices, but not to say it publicly.pFECTOS DE LA CRISIS ECONÓMICApPrecio del metro se mantienepBajas de precios del sector inmobiliario se limitan a casos muy específicos. Pine Hills es uno de los pocos que admite haberse abaratado.pLos apartamentos de más de #36;200 mil deben abaratarse. LA PRENSA/Gabriel Rodríguez pMARY TRINY ZEAmzea@prensa.compLa Prensa consultó a los promotores de 12 proyectos inmobiliarios, cuyas viviendas tienen precios que oscilan entre #36;120 mil y #36;300 mil, y corroboró que solo un proyecto disminuyó su precio abiertamente y que solo cuatro se mostraban dispuestos a negociar rebajas.pLos apartamentos Pine Hills en Albrook se vendían en abril desde #36;295 mil 800. Actualmente se ofrecen desde #36;275 mil 800. Según Procasa, esa disminución se hizo porque les quedan pocos y desean impulsar la venta.pLos apartamentos de la torre Quartier, en San Francisco, se vendían desde #36;132 mil 500 y la mayor rebaja aceptada fue a #36;130 mil, a un cliente que solo financió 50% y al que se le incluyó línea blanca.pSe han dado avalúos a la baja, pero no es algo radical, dijo Raúl Machado, director de May House, empresa de avalúos. Hay sobreoferta, los apartamentos de más de #36;200 mil deben bajar.pPara Bolívar Álvarez, gerente de HL Developers, el precio del metro sí bajó por el costo de producción y ahora la tendencia es al alza. Todo se rige por el barril de petróleo, comentó.pOsvaldo Lau, consultor inmobiliario, destacó que los promotores están dispuestos a bajar el precio, pero no a decirlo públicamente.
quot;Real Estate Prices Have Not Gone Downquot;
by on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:18:10 -0400:img width=280 height=186 align=right src=http://www.panama-guide.com/images/articles/2009062714181072_1.jpg alt= By MARY TRINY ZEA for La Prensa - If you are waiting for real estate prices to drop due to the global economic crisis, you should know that prices are not coming down, and some sellers are even raising their asking prices. I would not say prices have fallen; there are fewer buyers, said Wilson Ruiz, the Vice President of the Panamanian Association of Real Estate Agents and Promoters (Acobir.) Lower demand has caused the buyers want to negotiate more, said Wilson, but this is not necessarily reflected in prices, but with offers of cruises, cars, and other incentives. The office of Economic Subjects of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) reported that the price per square meter on Ave. Balboa and San Francisco has dropped between 15% to 20% from 2008 to 2009 as a product of the crisis. Manuel Ferreira, who is in charge of this office, said their report was based on information provided to them by real estate companies. The companies negotiate with the buyers, depending on the size of the purchase, if it has financing, or other strengths, he said.pPrecios del mercado inmobiliario no han bajadopAcobir niega que los precios de los proyectos se hayan abaratado. La Cámara de Comercio indica que las empresas sí han reportado una baja.pacuerdo. El precio baja según la negociación con el cliente, por su tipo de compra y financiamiento: CCIAP LA PRENSA/Gabriel Rodríguez pMARY TRINY ZEA mzea@prensa.compSi usted estaba esperanzado que los precios del mercado inmobiliario bajaran por la crisis, sepa que estos no han disminuido, e incluso algunos se atreven a decir que subirán.pNo diría que los precios han bajado; ha disminuido la cantidad de clientes, dijo Wilson Ruiz, vicepresidente de la Asociación Panameña de Corredores y Promotores de Bienes Raíces (Acobir).pLa caída de la demanda ha provocado que los clientes quieran negociar más, señaló Wilson, pero esto no necesariamente se refleja en precios, sino con ofrecimientos de cruceros, carros, y otras ofertas.pLa dirección de Asuntos Económicos de la Cámara de Comercio, Industrias y Agricultura de Panamá (CCIAP) reportó que el precio del metro cuadrado en la Avenida Balboa y San Francisco bajó 20% y 15% de 2008 al 2009 producto de la crisis.pManuel Ferreira, encargado de la dirección, dijo que se basaron en información proporcionada por empresas de bienes raíces.pLas compañías negocian con los clientes, dependiendo del tamaño de la compra, si tiene el financiamiento y otras fortalezas.
Lower Your Blood Pressure with Chocolate
by on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:10:51 -0400:img width=250 height=250 align=right src=http://www.panama-guide.com/images/articles/20090627141051374_1.jpg alt= By: Melanie Grimes for a href=http://www.healthnews.com/blogs/melanie-grimes/natural-health/lower-your-blood-pressure-chocolate-3366.htmlHealthNews.com/a - With one in three Americans suffering from high blood pressure, chocolate could be the new wonder drug. Harvard University studied a tribe of Indians from a Caribbean island off Panama who have perfect blood pressure numbers and a lower incidence of death from heart attacks and strokes, diabetes and cancer. The Kuna Tribe - What is their secret? The Kuna tribe members drink five cups of cocoa each day. Researchers are investigating the tribe, their diet, and the effect of chocolate on their health. They have discovered that chocolate has a relaxing effect on blood vessels, allowing for better blood flow due to the presence of flavanoids. Flavanoids are a type of antioxidant and chocolate is one of the best sources. Researchers suspect that the flavonols stimulate the production of nitric oxide, which increases blood flow and acts as a blood thinner. Nitric oxide also stimulates insulin production so chocolate may be an aid to diabetics, as long as the chocolate contains no damaging sugars. (more)pChocolate and Blood Pressure - A study published in 2003, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reiterated the same findingsthat chocolate lowers blood pressure. The research, conducted in Germany, studied 13 people between the ages of 55 and 64 who had blood pressure numbers of 153 over 84. After consuming a 100-gram bar of either dark or white chocolate daily, the numbers showed the health benefits of the dark chocolate. pOther Nutrients in Chocolate - Chocolate contains other beneficial nutrients as well, including large quantities of potassium zinc, magnesium and iron. Magnesium is known to help with muscle cramps. Magnesium defliciency is considered one of the reasons that women crave chocolate during PMS. The cacao bean contains fiber that can lower cholesterol levels, especially when combined with the healthy fat in chocolate. As a cholesterol reducer, studies have shown that chocolate increases the HDL-C levels (the good cholesterol) and decreases oxidation of the bad cholesterol, LDL. Chocolate also contains copper, which is utilized in numerous metabolic functions. Also containing Vitamin E and Vitamin B, chocolate may prove an aid to memory retention. pChocolate and Mood - Chocolate has long been touted for its effects on mood. The phenylethylamine in chocolate raises the seratonin and the dopamine receptors that control brain chemistry and even pain reactions. Stimulating these receptors is known to reduce hunger and increase libido, leading the chocolates reputation as a gift for lovers. pMany chocolates are now on the market with low sugar content, or alternatives to sugar. Dark, raw or organic chocolate will contain more of the healthy nutrients. Fair trade and sustainable beans are also being imported and used by boutique chocolatiers, providing greater access to healthy chocolate for all.
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