CHORD Real Estate Reveals Panama's Investment Potential at Summit

Panama is not what most North Americans imagine before they visit, and that gap between perception and reality is exactly what CHORD Real Estate is leveraging. The Nashville-based firm, led by founder Steve Luther, has organized two consecutive Invest Panama Summits, bringing groups of American and Canadian investors to tour the country’s primary real estate zones. Participants consistently arrive with a Caribbean-island mindset and leave shocked by Panama City’s scale: a modern skyline, more than 80 international banks, over 180 multinational regional headquarters, and major operations from companies like Dell and Caterpillar. The economy is anchored by the Panama Canal, which handles roughly five to six percent of global trade annually. Despite these fundamentals, Panama has historically underinvested in international marketing, leaving a significant awareness gap among North American buyers.

The summit tours highlight distinct zones, each with its own investment thesis. Playa Caracol and Amador attract interest for tourism potential, coastal scarcity, and major infrastructure projects including metro extensions, 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 with no domestic equivalent. Costa del Este benefits from nearshoring trends as multinational companies move regional operations closer to North American time zones. Luther notes, “I don’t know of an area in Panama I don’t like right now. That’s the problem.” The May 2026 summit drew a diverse group—return-focused investors, a digital nomad, seasonal-use buyers, and those exploring residency pathways—all finding projects worth serious examination. Beyond specific properties, the summit provides relationship infrastructure: meeting developers, walking construction sites, and sitting with attorneys and local agents. As Luther puts it, “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.” CHORD has announced the third annual Invest Panama Summit for January 21–24, 2027, in Panama City, with limited spots available at chordrealestate.com/investpanamasummit.