• The two Caribbean countries have excellent tourism and residential opportunities, financial stability and attractiveness for investors.
• From US$100,000 you can invest in real estate abroad.

Bogotá, September 2023. Investment in real estate is one of the main objectives that many people have to make their money work. Most of these investments were concentrated in tourist areas such as the coasts of the Caribbean Sea, and especially in the countries of Panama and the Dominican Republic, where tax exemptions, investment facilities and exclusive designs offer excellent returns that can reach an annual 10%.

Both countries offer great attractions for investors that go beyond the beaches of Cap Cana or shopping tourism in the Canal Free Zone. Although the strategic location of both countries is an element worth highlighting, so are the ease of entry and exit of capital, equal treatment between local and foreign investors and tax regulations favorable to foreign investment resources. All of this allows investors, with projects starting at US$100,000, to take advantage of these benefits and multiply their resources.

“Panama has one of the most complete financial systems in the Americas, with 85 entities in the country. In addition, the two countries have a wide variety of projects ranging from luxury apartments to retirement condominiums with golf courses, swimming pools and commercial areas, or middle-class residential developments,” says María Camila Zapata, expert in real estate investment. from Investing Latam Colombia.

These projects have turned regions such as Buenaventura, in the Panamanian Pacific, into very attractive areas for foreigners. In the case of the Dominican Republic, the government of this country has made large investments in infrastructure, which allows Santo Domingo and Punta Cana to be two hours away, with a large number of residential and commercial projects in development. Cities like Samaná and Las Terrenas are poles of this growth, especially for the tourism market.

It should be noted that these definitions are a sign of the dynamism of the market and contrast with the performance in other countries such as Colombia and the United States. In Colombia, the sale of new homes fell, according to Camacol figures, by 53% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year; In the United States, for its part, prices have increased by more than 15% between 2021 and 2022, making investments less profitable.

Stability for your investment

An important part of the attractiveness of Panama and the Dominican Republic as sources of investment is the legal and tax benefits for investors. The laws of both countries are designed with a view not only to attracting investments, but also to ensuring that they are maintained and can become permanent over time.

In the Dominican Republic, investments in real estate under the CONFOTUR law are exempt for 15 years in rental income, capital gains, transfer of real estate and ownership of property. “This, and an ROI (rate of return on investment) greater than 8% per year on average for rentals, make the island a perfect terrain to invest with low risk and high profitability. The best projects reach responsibilities that can reach 10% annually,” says María Camila Zapata.

For its part, Panamanian legislation allows benefits such as visas and residence permits for qualified investors who invest a minimum of US$300,000, with which they receive the same treatment as a Panamanian citizen. In addition, the growth of the economy in the country, which was greater than 19% in 2021, means that there is a great opportunity in purchasing real estate in the country, whether for own use or for rent.

“Real estate prices in Panama decreased in 2021 and 2022, but in this last year the demand for real estate has grown sustainably. The projection could show that starting in 2023 prices will increase in general, so those who invest may be at the tip of the wave,” concludes María Camila Zapata.

Through Investing Latam Colombia, these investments can be executed from Colombia with projects that start at around US$100,000, for new or used housing, and with a special emphasis on personalized attention to locate the best offers for a wide selection of properties. in Bogotá, Panama and the Dominican Republic.