Nashville-based CHORD Real Estate has announced the third annual Invest Panama Summit, scheduled for January 21 through January 24, 2027, in Panama City. The event follows two prior summits that took groups of American and Canadian investors on guided tours of Panama’s primary real estate zones, and it underscores a persistent theme: the country’s investment profile remains largely undiscovered by North American buyers.
According to Steve Luther, founder of CHORD Real Estate, participants in the first two summits shared a common reaction upon arriving in Panama City. “Everybody was just shocked. What is this place? How have we not heard about this?” Luther said, describing the gap between pre-visit perceptions of a Caribbean-style destination and the reality of a modern metropolis with more than 80 international banks, over 180 multinational regional headquarters, and major corporate operations for companies like Dell and Caterpillar. The economy is anchored by the Panama Canal, through which roughly five to six percent of global trade passes annually.
That disconnect matters for investors. Panama has not historically invested in broad international marketing, leaving its profile among North American buyers far behind what the country actually offers. For those who track markets before they become widely discussed, that gap represents a potential advantage.
The summit’s itinerary highlights specific zones with distinct investment cases. Playa Caracol and Amador draw interest for tourism potential, coastal scarcity, and infrastructure investment, including metro extensions crossing the canal, highway widening, and a new bridge connecting Panama City to the western province. Santa Maria appeals to buyers seeking long-term stability, anchored by an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and a master-planned community of a scale with no real domestic equivalent. Costa del Este attracts attention from those watching nearshoring trends, as more multinational companies position regional operations closer to North American time zones.
“I don’t know of an area in Panama I don’t like right now,” Luther said. “That’s the problem.”
The second summit, held in May 2026, reflected a diverse group: return-focused investors, a digital nomad seeking a home base, buyers considering seasonal use, and others evaluating residency pathways. The available projects were diverse enough that each found something worth examining seriously.
Beyond specific properties, the summit format offers what Luther describes as relationship infrastructure. Meeting developers in person, walking construction sites, and sitting across from attorneys and local agents produce a confidence level that online research cannot replicate. “I don’t suggest wiring a bunch of money from a Zoom call. Shake hands, meet the people, get a comfort level, build that trust,” Luther said.
The third summit will follow the established structure: a welcome reception on the first evening, guided property tours across Panama City’s development zones over the following days, and an excursion to the Pacific coast, including Playa Caracol, before the group returns. Spots are limited, and more information is available at chordrealestate.com/investpanamasummit.
As Panama’s real estate market continues to mature, the summit offers a structured entry point for investors who might otherwise overlook a country whose reality consistently outpaces its reputation.
