The Journal
Guides, stories and answers for building a FRESH® home in Panama.
Buying Land in Panama: What to Check Before You Build
A practical guide to buying land in Panama before you build — titled vs Rights of Possession, due diligence, access, slope, water...
May 25, 2026Building Permits in Panama: A Foreigner's Step-by-Step Guide
A foreigner's step-by-step guide to building permits in Panama — from anteproyecto to occupancy, who issues what, and how to avoid the...
May 25, 2026How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in Panama? Real 2026 Numbers
Real 2026 cost ranges for building a house in Panama — what drives the bill, what gets hidden, and how a fixed-price...
May 25, 2026The Complete Guide to Building a House in Panama in 2026
A complete 2026 guide to building a house in Panama — from land and permits to cost, timeline, and choosing between traditional...
May 25, 2026Coronado & Gorgona: Building a Beach Home Close to the City
A practical guide to building a beach home in Coronado and Gorgona — the Pacific gold coast hour from Panama City —...
May 25, 2026Bocas del Toro: Building Off-Grid on a Caribbean Island
A practical guide to building a home in Bocas del Toro — the archipelago, land titles, boat logistics, off-grid utilities, and a...
May 25, 2026Pedasí & Playa Venao: Building on the Azuero Surf Coast
A practical guide to building a home in Pedasí and Playa Venao on Panama's Azuero peninsula — coastal climate, infrastructure, and the...
May 25, 2026Boquete, Panama: An Expat's Guide to Living and Building in the Highlands
An expat-focused guide to building a home in Boquete: neighbourhoods, climate-specific build considerations, infrastructure, and how FRESH performs in the highlands.
May 25, 2026The Best Places to Build a Home in Panama: Mountain, Coast, Island
A regional guide to building a home in Panama — highlands, Pacific coast, Caribbean and lakefront — with the right FRESH model...
May 25, 2026Designing for Cross-Ventilation in a Panama Home
How to design a Panama home for cross-ventilation — high-low openings, shaded windward sides, deep overhangs — and why airflow complements insulation.
May 25, 2026Insulation in the Tropics: How to Cut Your AC Bill by 70%
Why most Panama homes are uninsulated, how heat really enters a tropical house, and how the right panel cuts cooling costs by...
May 25, 2026Earthquake-Resistant Home Design: What the Engineering Actually Looks Like
How earthquakes really damage homes, why steel-frame flex outperforms rigid block, and the seismic engineering FRESH developed with UTP for Panama's mountains...
May 25, 2026