The Invest Panama Summit is one month away: May 28-30, 2026 at Hotel La Compañía in Panama City's historic Casco Viejo district.
If you've been considering attending but haven't committed, here's why waiting longer works against you.
The October 2026 Deadline
Panama's golden visa program currently requires $300,000 real estate investment for permanent residency qualification. That threshold is scheduled to increase to $500,000 on October 15, 2026.
The legislation got pushed once before. It could push again. But currently it is scheduled for October.
"I think you're going to have a push toward the end of this year of people, not just Americans, but Panama gets a lot of investment from Canada, Germany, China, really all over the place," Steve Luther explains. "As people are looking for these footholds, as the world economy kind of stumbles, people are going to look at that $300,000 versus $500,000 and they may start to make a move."
CHORD's Panama team confirms this: transaction volume has surged with investors trying to beat the cutoff.
Why the Summit Matters Now
The summit provides everything needed to make informed decisions before October:
Meet Vetted Partners: Three days with CHORD's pre-vetted attorneys, real estate agents, property managers, and developers. Understand the residency application process, realistic timelines, and investment options.
Tour Properties: Guided tours through Panama City's key investment areas, completed projects, properties under construction, and developments in planning stages. See finished units to understand quality levels.
Understand Market Dynamics: Current inventory sits at nine-year lows. Rents have risen for 12 consecutive months, signaling price gaps will close between resale and new construction. City-wide growth projects 4-7% for 2026, with scarce neighborhoods potentially hitting 9%.
Access Pre-Market Deals: CHORD's developer relationships provide access to projects before public launch, typically offering better pricing on front-end opportunities.
The Regional Trend
Panama isn't alone in adjusting investment thresholds. Similar changes are occurring across Central American countries as international investor demand increases.
Getting established in Panama now, before the threshold increases and before neighboring countries follow similar paths, creates an advantageous position.
What Happens at the Summit
Thursday, May 28: Arrivals throughout the day. Evening welcome reception at Hotel La Compañía provides first exposure to Casco Viejo's charm and opportunity to meet fellow investors and CHORD team.
Friday, May 29: Full day of expert presentations covering legal frameworks, residency pathways, property management realities, developer presentations, and comprehensive market overview. Afternoon guided property tours through Panama City's key investment zones.
Saturday, May 30: Optional catamaran excursion to Playa Caracol showcasing beach investment opportunities. The Margaritaville development tour demonstrates infrastructure investment transforming seven miles of white sand beach into Panama's premier coastal destination.
Sunday, May 31: Officially departure day, but CHORD team remains in Panama through the week for attendees extending stays to revisit properties, meet individually with attorneys or managers, or explore additional areas.
If You Missed the March 19th Webinar
The webinar provided a comprehensive overview of Panama's investment landscape, summit details, and market fundamentals. If you missed it, CHORD offers individual consultation calls covering the same material OR watch the replay - HERE.
Schedule a call to discuss:
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Current Panama market conditions
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Golden visa program and October deadline implications
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Summit itinerary and what to expect
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Your specific investment criteria and how Panama aligns
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Logistics, travel arrangements, and preparation
Email [email protected] or call 615.988.1001 to arrange consultation.
Why Annual Matters
CHORD runs the Invest Panama Summit once annually. Missing May 2026 means waiting until 2027, after the October golden visa threshold increase takes effect.
The $200,000 difference between current $300,000 and proposed $500,000 threshold represents significant capital requirement change affecting investment strategy and residency qualification.
The Math
For investors considering $300,000-$400,000 property purchases:
Before October 2026: $300,000 purchase qualifies for permanent residency. Property serves dual purpose as an investment and residency pathway.
After October 2026: Same $300,000-$400,000 purchase no longer qualifies for golden visa. Residency requires additional investment or alternative visa pathway.
This changes the investment calculation significantly for buyers prioritizing residency optionality.
Current Market Dynamics
Five-year appreciation projections: 20-30% based on supply constraints, infrastructure investment, and visa programs driving expat demand.
Ten-year appreciation projections: 50-70% as tourism branding matures, nearshoring accelerates, and peripheral zones urbanize.
These projections assume continued economic stability, infrastructure development proceeding as planned, and sustained international investor interest.
What's Included
Summit attendance is free. Attendees cover personal expenses:
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Roundtrip flights to Panama City
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Hotel accommodations (CHORD provides recommendations and group rates)
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Most meals (group dinners included)
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Optional catamaran excursion
CHORD's partner TRAVELINK assists with logistics: flight bookings, airport transfers, hotel reservations, and extended stay arrangements. Contact Liz Hoover at 615.953.4643 or [email protected].
The Decision Timeline
One month provides adequate time for:
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Arranging work schedules and time off
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Booking flights and accommodations
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Preparing questions and investment criteria
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Reviewing Panama research and materials
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Coordinating with family or business partners
But one month doesn't provide an extensive buffer. International travel requires advance planning. Hotel availability in Casco Viejo during the high season can be limited. Flight pricing increases as departure dates approach.
The Bottom Line
The combination of approaching October golden visa deadline, annual summit timing, and current favorable market conditions creates a specific window of opportunity.
You can wait and hope the October deadline pushes again. You can attend next year's summit after the threshold potentially increases. Or you can commit now to the May 28-30 summit providing comprehensive exposure to Panama's opportunities while the current golden visa threshold remains accessible.
Register for the Invest Panama Summit
May 28-30, 2026 | Hotel La Compañía, Casco Viejo
[email protected] | 615.988.1001
Time is running out.
