The most common mistake people make when moving to Panama is falling in love with a house before understanding the area.
Start with the climate
Panama has very different climates over short distances. David is warm year-round; forty minutes away, Boquete rarely exceeds 25 degrees; an hour and a half away, Cerro Punta can drop to 10. That difference shapes daily life more than any feature of the house.
Medical services
This is the factor that weighs most over the medium term, especially for retirees. Measure the real distance, in travel time, to a hospital with an emergency department and specialists, not just to a clinic.
Schools
With children, the education offering narrows the viable areas considerably. International schools are concentrated in the capital, with bilingual options in David and Boquete.
Connectivity
For remote workers, internet is not a detail. Fibre coverage varies by sector, even within the same town. It is worth verifying at the exact address rather than for the area.
Rent before buying
The most useful advice is also the least followed: rent in the area for three to six months before buying. A place feels different in the dry season and in the rainy season.
Every case is different. Immigration formalities are handled by a qualified lawyer.
