Global markets falling, the greatest economic recesion since the American Depresion... but Latin American Idol is here to save us! at least to remind us we still have what it takes to solve this.

Looking for apartments or commercial spaces for under $280,000 ? you can browse or website, or look at our map right here!

Every day, clients ask me about real estate prices in Casco Antiguo. So far, it has been difficult to organize, but I feel a word has to be put out there to educate both buyers and sellers on the reality of the market. So many times owners would price things out of range, or buyers would be confused by what might be a good deal or not. These charts might give you a good overview on what has happened on the latest transactions on both residential and commercial.

Last week the world went bananas on the trade market. A rollercoaster that has more than one at the edge of a heart attack, it has been really worrysome for all of us to see gigants fall and take with them everything they can. Markets in Asia, Japan and Europe have been affected. In Panama, however, things have been slightly different.

The World Bank is investing heavily in Panama. Yesterday, they announced that they are considering a $400 million dollar financing for the Panama Canal Expansion project.

"A Cultural Cornerstone" is today´s New York Times travel article about Casco Viejo, Panama, featuring our favorite hotel Canal House Panama as editor´s pick and businesses like Karavan Gallery and Indigo Restaurant. I love it when people visit, but the best for me is to live here...

In many countries, cultural activities fuel tourism, which becomes one of their main economic revenues. With Casco Antiguo, Panama has a unique opportunity to be launched into the world´s cultural map. Check out the details here...

An ambitious project is being announced: the World Bank and the Office of Casco Antiguo will invest close to $2M to promote cultural industries in the historic city. Here is the article in Spanish, by La Prensa...

KLM and Air France flights to Panama keep increasing. In a world where most air companies are actually doing the opposite, this is highly unusual. Learn why!

If you are planning to travel to Panama and exploring real estate will probably be part of the fun, this is the people you’ll need to meet:

I suddenly realized Casco Viejo might be in the middle of the most important Presidential Campaign of our times: John McCain vs Barak Obama. How?

A new client recently asked me “Is Casco Viejo gay friendly?” For a moment I had to think about the question. You see, growing up as a ballet dancer I never even gave a thought to it.

Panama has been growing very fast for the last 8 years. A "miracle" made by a curious mix of tourism, investment and other countries misfortunes (Alias Venezuela and Chavez or Colombia and the FARC). Although on the short term there´s been a great impulse by the construction sector, consider Panama´s big three big long term fundamental investments: the Panama Canal Expansion project (which has already started), the relocation of the regional office of very important companies such as Caterpillar, Maersk, Dell, Procter and Gamble, Aventis and finally the oil refinary project in Puerto Armuelles

Travel like a local with The Guardian. Surfing the web as I usually do, I found this article on Panama´s nightlife at The Guardian, featuring Casco Viejo. And not only Casco Viejo, but my favorite spots: Baños Publicos and La Casona! Check it out here!

The Fish Market rocks. It is at the very entrance of Casco Viejo, just off Avenida Balboa. A white and light blue building with the Japanese flag and the Panamanian flag on the top of the building (the new fish market installations where a donation of the Japanese government). As you approach, the characteristic smell of fresh fish will hit you: don´t get discouraged.

Calle 4ta is getting artsy! Galería Vida is Casco Antiguo´s new kid on the block, next to Entre Pulgas and to Casa Gongora. With years of experience in working with indigenous communities you can get high quality stuff at great prices!

Multiple websites and adds mention Panama as Paradise. Is it really? what about Casco Viejo?

Do you know what is SENACYT? find out! they are launching their 4th Technology and Innovation Awards with an amazing budget of 8 million dollars to distribute between the winners!

Last Saturday a nice article came out about Casco Viejo (which in Panama is known as San Felipe, Catedral, la Ciudad... so many names!). I looked for it in the electronic version of La Prensa, but couldn´t find it. So here is my translation and the original piece scanned at the bottom. It talks about speculation, restoration, patrimony (human and architectural) and what has been done in the past 10 years.

La Casona has a new home! wonderful (and huge) Citi Bank, just at the corner of Plaza Herrera. Welcome!

While everybody is excited today about Beijing´s dramatic opening for the Olimpics (which, by the way, where simply amazing! wao), another bright sun shined this morning over the newspaper as they announced

While the Panama Canal Expansion has gotten all the national and international media attention, oil companies like Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and Qatar Petroleum have entered almost through the back door...

A new business has opened in Casco Antiguo! It is called "Indigo", an oriental-mediterranean fusion restaurant ...

So few times we get to meet the faces behind the places. Daniel, Dan and David are the "3 amigos" from Luna´s Castle, Casco Viejo´s new youth hostal at the entrance of San Felipe.

Buying a restored apartment is one of the best investments you can make in Casco Viejo. It is an almost risk free enterprise where your costs are known and very little variation occurs. Also, you can get it rented almost immediately and your big gain is in the appreciation, so you can legally "sit on it" forever. But there are a couple of things you need to know.

Ciudad del Saber or City of Knowledge is literally a city within one of the former US military bases called Clayton. One of the most visionary compounds in Panama, it has become a technopark that holds universities, laboratories, incubators for young entrepreneurs and just all sorts of new stuff. If it is revolutionary, ground breaking, you can get in and benefit from a wide platform of incentives. So who is there and what is it exactly that they do? for example,

The Oficina del Casco Antiguo has been quite busy. From cultural events to the urban planning of the Casco there are very few aspects where they aren´t present. It´s Director is a dinamyc architect with a passion for historic cities, which makes it perfect. In this interview, he speaks about the train project , the advances against speculation, the controversial projects at Hotel Central and the old Club Union.

Panama will have a Renaissance Hotel (by Marriott) by 2011. This announcement was made by Edward Fuller, president and executive director for Marriott International in the region, who mentioned this would be an investment of about 40 million dollars. "Panama´s economics are strong and the hotel industry is in constant growth". Renaissance Panama Hotel is expected to have

Looking to open a business in Casco Viejo, Panama? Or maybe to rent an apartment? There is always limited product, but from time to time things will come to market (and get rented right away). I actually had to pull out 2 units while writing this issue!

Have you seen those TV shows where they take a one level house and turn it into a mansion or where they promise you to look at least ten years younger by changing your makeup, style or even surgery? I have seen some incredible human makeovers in a show that is all about plastic surgery. Well, in a way, restorations at Casco Viejo have the same incredible effects.

Ah! La Bella Roma! From the cradle of Western civilization to a huge melting pot, for those who have visited or lived in Rome it blows your mind away and steals a piece of your heart. But if you actually want to own a piece of Rome, you’d better be prepared to give also your kidney away (the good one), an eye and seriously consider adding up one of your lungs to sweeten the deal. Wao. The incredible thing isn’t that prices are astronomically high; it is that at over $20,000 US dollars per mt2 or $2,000 per ft2 people are still buying.

From time to time, I like refreshing some information that has been useful to my readers as where to stay and what to do in Casco Viejo is constantly changing:

Someone once told me that if he wanted to know who was going to win the elections he would ask a taxi driver. To know how a country is doing on the investment side, my taxi driver is called hotel occupation. Who is showing up and how frequently will tell you a lot about the current state and the future of a place. Check out the latest Panama news!

Ok. So Panama is about 20 years behind on releasing its E Commerce legislation, but ... hey! ... at least it is out there now! know more about it, download the law.

Often your best memories of places where you have been are actually from people you have met. In Casco Antiguo we are lucky to still have with us "antique" residents that are very much part of the different textures of this neighborhood. Miss Daisy is one of them...

Panama hosts DHL´s largest hub in the region. This small phrase means a lot for a country so small. But then again, Panama has always been in the middle of the Americas, joining land and separating oceans. From Columbus to the Colon Free Trade Zone, the phrase "all roads lead to Panama" might not be too far off...

This might be Friday the Thirteenth, but it not to worry, there is far too much excitement in Casco Viejo...

One of these days, the headline in La Prensa might read, “Tram Service in Casco Antiguo Returns”.

Most buildings are transformed in Casco Antiguo after two or more years...

The advantage of living in Casco Viejo is the variety of small shops within a couple of blocks of my home in Casco Viejo.

Casco Viejo, the jewel of Panama is also a UNESCO Heritage Trust site.

Meditating about what has value and what doesn´t is a profound activity, almost zen-like. It has to do with the fundamentals of the property, but on a bigger picture even that is subdued to one and only factor: what makes a human happy.

Entrepreneurship is a beautiful thing to see. Locals getting up by themselves and actively being part of Casco Antiguo´s revitalization. That is fantastic. VIP Fruits and Sandwiches is here!