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Top Latin America Real Estate markets
Panama City is in the midst of transforming its skyline. More than 30,000 units worth about $5.7 billion have come on the market since July 2007.
Part of what's driving growth in Panama City, is a wave of retirees from North America looking for a place in the sun. So far, few Americans have moved permanently, but many are buying second homes or just speculating. Europeans are there also, and there's plenty of new wealth in Latin America, in places like Venezuela and Colombia, looking for a safe haven to house their families.
Certainly the decision to spend $5.2 billion to double the width of the Panama Canal despite the global recession is a sign of Panama's stability. The addition of a new lane and a new set of locks will allow post-Panamax container ships, the world's largest, to pass through the canal.
Also several multinational corporations have moved or are moving their Latin American headquarters to Panama City, including Caterpillar, Sanofi-Aventis and Samsung just to name a few.
As the largest economy in Latin America with a population of 199 million and the ninth largest economy in the world, Brazil is quickly emerging as the dominant investment market in Latin America.
The country is in a buyer's market, with prices low because there are more homes for sale than there are buyers. Brazil also has a strong economy that is in a good position to grow further in the future.
In light of the possible future energy crisis, Brazil may be a smart place to invest. It is a self-sufficient country on the energy front, a position that has been further strengthened by the recent discovery of one of the biggest oil find since 2000.
Brazil is also a superpower in terms of agriculture, leading the world exports of soybean, orange juice, coffee, beef, chicken meat and ethanol.
Brazilian oil reserves plus biofuels and hydroelectric power generation availability are additional guarantees that investing in Brazil is safe due to the confidence that energy will be available to sustain the economic growth.
Chile has maintained a stable political environment and economy for more than 15 years. Many experts consider Chile to be the hidden jewel of Latin America that is ready for commercial real estate investment.
Chile has enjoyed political and economic stability for a decade now, and it will maintain a favorable investment climate.
Chile does not get the press and investor excitement it should. With the most stable and advanced economy in South America, Chile enjoys a high standard of living. Chile ranked eleventh-one spot behind Canada-in terms of the country's degree of economic freedom, according to the 2007 Index of Economic Freedom put forth by The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal.
Chile has two things not easily found in Latin America, stability and security.
Chile's capital, Santiago, is a dynamic metropolitan center with first-class infrastructure. More than a third of Chile's population resides in the metro area of Santiago. The capital is a business hub for Latin America and welcomes an abundance of business travelers.
It is the second least corrupt country in Latin America, after Chile; it also boost a good health care, and is one of the most affordable places in the world to live."
The capital city of Montevideo is a major hub for investment and home to approximately half the country's population. It is a relatively modern city where investors can find a variety of residential facilities to choose from, from elegant apartments to old colonial homes.
The city of Punta del Este, on Uruguay's southern border, has also attracted a large amount of foreign investment. The city is considered by some to be a playground for the rich.
Uruguay is famous for its cattle ranching and meat industry. The country has seen healthy economic growth over the past few years.
Peru has been generally overlooked as a place for major investment; consequently, property prices have remained low. Prices may rise as the country becomes the subject of more media attention. Peru made headlines in 2006 when it had the best stock market performance in the world, with a staggering gain of 182 percent, according to the annual review of world stock market performance by Thomson Financial
The investment climate is made even more favorable by the rapid growth of Peru's economy. Peru's tourism industry is also gaining speed thanks to attractions such as Machu Picchu, announced as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
In addition, Peru's government has extended investment-friendly policies to attract foreign capital. The capital city, Lima is almost entirely industrialized with most, if not all, of the comforts found in the United States, and offers a diverse selection of residences, from colonial mansions to beachfront bungalows.
Content by MercaTrade.com