Are you thinking about relocating to a new place? That’s nothing strange, as from time to time, we all envision ourselves making a big change in our lives. And quite frankly, there’s no bigger change than moving away from your current home. But as great as a change of scenery can be, moving and settling in a new area is never easy. If you don’t approach it with the right mindset, the whole process can become quite an ordeal. Don’t worry, though, we’ve got some of the most important advice you’ll hear on this topic right here.
Shipping your car
When you consider moving and settling in Panama, there are all kinds of factors to consider to organize your move perfectly. For example, if you’ve got a car in the US – what will you do with it? Is shipping to Panama a good idea? Generally, the shipping itself isn’t such a difficulty. It’s the maintenance afterwards that might present a problem. You’ll find that car parts in Panama are mostly different to the ones that North American cars use. Thus, if you need to replace something, you might be in a bit of a bind. Plus, while the shipping is not an issue, its cost might make you think twice about bringing your car here.
After all, you’ll need to register these cars in Panama as well, and until then they’ll have to remain in storage on the docks. This isn’t cheap – it can cost $100 a day, which is enough to make you rethink the process on its own. That’s why we recommend just saving up for a car here, whose parts you can easily access if need be. Plus, most people in Panama walk and use public transportation, as cars can be a big monthly expense here.
Shipping in general
While you’re moving and settling in a faraway place such as Panama, it’s not just the shipping of your car that you have to consider. When you find a company on bestcrosscountrymovers.com to handle your relocation, that will make the logistics easier, but you still have to think about what you want to bring. If you ask us, leaving everything that’s not overly expensive or a true necessity at home is a good idea. In Panama, you can basically find everything you need in local or international brands, at prices that won’t be too steep for someone from the US.
On the other hand, for such a big international relocation, shipping weight can be an issue. Often times, you’ll find that just buying something new in Panama is cheaper than transporting it from the US, especially if we’re talking about bulky items. The only notable exception to this could be personal care brands. These are very specific things, and people are pretty accustomed to the brands they use.
Real estate
Apart from the relocation logistics of moving and settling in Panama, you still have to think about one crucial aspect. Primarily: where exactly you’ll live. First of all, you need to make a call on whether you’ll rent or actually buy a house. This is a big decision to make, as investing in real estate is definitely a sizable monetary burden anywhere. And Panama is no different in that regard. So, what should you do? Really, there’s no one good answer to this question, as it depends on a huge number of factors, which differ from person to person. With that in mind, though, our advice would be to test the waters first.
Before fully relocating here, why not rent a piece of beachfront property for a couple of months? Live here without any ties and obligations first, and see how you like it. After that initial tryout period, you can start looking for actual properties to buy or keep on renting. We advise finding a gated community or an apartment building with good security. There are gorgeous beach areas on the Pacific side, like Punta Barco, Coronado or Santa Clara. The choice will, naturally, depend on your personal lifestyle. But for an expat, Coronado may be a good bet, seeing as there are plenty of expats already settled there; plus, it’s a quiet area.
Banking and Road Infrastructure
As we mentioned above, there are a couple of different things to consider. The logistics of an international move are obviously not simple, for many reasons. One of them is banking and the options you have. When it comes to sending money between the U.S. and Panama, it’s not always that easy. Easily moving money between banks in Panama and Northern America is not that simple to achieve.
There is Scotiabank, which is technically viewed as an international bank, and they do have franchises in Panama. However, while the Canadian branches are pretty much connected to the U.S. ones, things aren’t the same with Panama. The banks here don’t have a direct connection to other banks in the world. However, there are reputable Panama banks where you can have your social security or pension deposited directly. Or, you can have someone collect your checks in the U.S. over time, and then just wire you the money when you need it.
Also, before you fully relocate here, you might want to learn everything you can about the local traffic infrastructure, such as the metro lines, bus stations, and public transport in general. This is something people should first learn about any new place that they’re visiting.