Panama offers perks to U.S. retirees

A growing number of Americans -- especially older people who are selling their home for a handsome profit -- are moving to Panama to take advantage of its low home prices, tax breaks and discounts.

Q. My wife and I are about to retire from our jobs. We were thinking about using the profits from the sale of our house to move to Mexico because it's cheaper to live down there, but now we hear that Panama is an even better place for retirees. What makes that nation so attractive? Also, how is the medical care there?

A. Panama is attracting a growing number of retirees, thanks largely to its relatively low home prices, close proximity to the United States, a good health system -- and lots of tax breaks.

The nation of 3.4 million people is less than a three-hour plane ride from Miami, which makes it easy for most ex-pats to visit relatives here in the states, and vice versa. Its medical system is also considered top-notch (in part because many of its doctors were trained at American universities), and prices for everything from pharmaceuticals to surgery are generally much lower than they are in the U.S.

Equally important, "Panama offers what is probably the best package of financial benefits for seniors on the planet," according to a recent report by Smart Money Magazine, which is published by The Wall Street Journal. Among the perks: no property taxes on real estate purchases for up to 15 years, no duty taxes on imported cars or on household goods, and no income taxes on foreign-generated income.

Seniors also get 50 percent off on virtually all entertainment, as well as a 30 percent discount to use public transportation and 25 percent off restaurant and utility bills.

Several Internet sites can give you more information about living abroad, whether you're thinking of moving to Panama or somewhere else. The best sites include EscapeArtist.com and InternationalLiving.com, both of which provide details about home prices in other nations as well as the benefits and drawbacks of moving to each country that interests you.

Q. One of the homes that is being advertised in our local newspaper says that it has a "butterfly roof." What is that?

A. It's a roof that peaks at both ends -- often with the use of gables on each side -- but dips in the middle. When you stand on the sidewalk and look at it, the roof sort of looks likes a butterfly and its wings.

Q. I lost my job two months ago, and soon began collecting payments from the state's unemployment insurance fund. Will the fact that I am getting weekly "unemployment checks" hurt my credit score?

A. No. Credit bureaus don't keep track of things like unemployment benefits or disability payments you may receive, so the fact that you're getting jobless payments will not have a direct impact on your credit rating.

You'll keep your current credit score, and maybe even improve it, if you continue to meet your mortgage payments and other debt obligations on time.

Q. We wanted to sell our house a few months ago, but we decided to wait until this spring because there were a number of foreclosed homes that were for sale in our neighborhood. The foreclosed homes were dragging everyone's property values down, and it didn't make sense for us to put our own home on the market until those properties were finally sold. Do you think that foreclosures will drop soon?

A. Yes, the wave of foreclosures that has swept across the nation during the past year finally appears to be ebbing, which, in turn, should help prices stabilize and then start going back up again.

The number of foreclosures across the U.S. dropped 10 percent in November, its first double-digit decline in 18 months, according to a recent report compiled by California-based consulting firm Realty/Trac Inc.

The decline is important to note, because foreclosure sales hurt every homeowner's value -- even those who don't plan on selling soon. Their fire-sale prices decrease the amount that other sellers can charge. And when prices start falling, it gets harder for owners to refinance a mortgage even if they don't plan to move soon.

© 2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.