The Journal

Guides, stories and answers for building a FRESH® home in Panama.

Build to rent

Build-to-Rent vs Buy-and-Hold: The Panama Investor Math

The two strategies Panama investors actually run — build-to-rent and buy-and-hold — compared on capex, time-to-revenue, ongoing costs, exit liquidity, and visa...

Jul 27, 2026
Investment

Reselling a Modular Home in Panama: Will It Hold Value?

An honest read on Panama's young modular-home resale market — what buyers actually pay for, where engineered spec carries documentary weight, and...

Jul 25, 2026
Absentee owner

Property Management in Panama: Lock-and-Leave Done Right

What a Panama property manager actually does, the two common operating models, the legal context for domestic staff, and why a FRESH...

Jul 23, 2026
Foreign owners

Insurance for a Home in Panama: What Foreign Owners Need to Know

The coverage categories Panama homeowners think about, how underwriters evaluate construction and location risk, why an engineered modular build helps the conversation,...

Jul 21, 2026
Investment

How Property Values Have Performed in Panama: What Investors Should Actually Look At

Why most published Panama appreciation numbers are anecdotal, the structural drivers that actually anchor value, and how a fixed-price modular build adds...

Jul 19, 2026
Airbnb

Vacation Rental Returns in Panama: How to Think About the Math

A framework for thinking about vacation rental returns in Panama — the drivers behind ADR, occupancy, capex and operating cost, without the...

Jul 17, 2026
Design

Pool Design in Panama: Saltwater, Maintenance, and the Real Trade-Offs

How to think about a pool on a Panama lot — sizing, sanitation, placement, and what the climate actually does to maintenance.

Jul 15, 2026
Airbnb

Building for Short-Term Rental in Panama: Design That Books Itself

What short-term rental guests in Panama actually search for, the locations that fit, and why a FRESH home arrives ready for the...

Jul 13, 2026
Design

Interior Design in the Tropics: Materials, Light, and Furniture That Survive Panama

How interior choices change in Panama's year-round warmth and humidity — materials that last, light strategy, furniture, and the role of a...

Jul 11, 2026
Casita

Designing a Casita or Guest House on Your Lot in Panama

How to plan a casita or guest house on a Panama lot — sizing, sequencing, shared utilities, and why a fixed-price modular...

Jul 09, 2026
Building in Panama

Solar Sizing for Your FRESH Home: Cabana, Casa, and Villa Worked Examples

How to think about solar sizing for a tropical home, why insulation comes first, and worked daily-load examples from the FRESH brochure...

Jul 07, 2026
Aging in place

Aging in Place in the Tropics: Single-Level Design That Lasts a Lifetime

Single-level tropical design that supports aging in place: door widths, bathrooms, lighting, and how FRESH standard models give retirees a home for...

Jul 05, 2026