CHORD Real Estate, a Nashville-based firm with an international division focused on Panama and other emerging markets, has announced the third annual Invest Panama Summit, scheduled for January 21 through January 24, 2027, in Panama City. The summit follows two consecutive events that have consistently surprised North American investors with Panama's scale and substance, according to the firm. Steve Luther, founder of CHORD Real Estate, who has personally invested in the market and led both prior summits, said participants arrive curious and leave with a concrete understanding of the opportunities. "They all had a very similar reaction to what we did the first time we got to Panama," Luther said. "Everybody was just shocked. What is this place? How have we not heard about this?"
The shock, Luther explained, is not about aesthetics but about scale and substance. Panama City boasts a modern skyline, more than 80 international banks, and over 180 multinational regional headquarters operating under favorable tax conditions. Companies like Dell and Caterpillar have established significant operations there. The economy is anchored by the Panama Canal, through which roughly five to six percent of global trade passes annually. Yet Panama has not historically invested in broad international marketing, leaving a gap between perception and reality that draws investors who track markets before they become widely discussed.
Each zone visited during the summit reveals distinct indicators. Playa Caracol and Amador draw interest for their 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 in May 2026 drew a diverse group: investors focused purely on returns, a digital nomad looking to home base in Panama, buyers considering seasonal use, and others evaluating residency pathways. The available projects were diverse enough that each found something worth examining seriously. Beyond specific projects, the summit format offers relationship infrastructure. Meeting developers in person, walking construction sites, and sitting across a table from attorneys and local agents produce a confidence level that no amount of online research replicates. "I don't suggest wiring a bunch of money from a Zoom call," Luther said. "Shake hands, meet the people, get a comfort level, build that trust."
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. For investors in Long Beach and surrounding areas, the summit represents a chance to explore an emerging market that remains under the radar for many North Americans. As nearshoring accelerates and global trade continues to flow through the canal, Panama's real estate zones could offer diversification and growth potential. The hands-on approach of the summit, emphasizing personal connections and on-the-ground due diligence, may appeal to those seeking to understand a market before it becomes widely discussed. Luther, as Principal, Chief Strategist & Advisor of CHORD Real Estate, brings firsthand investment experience to the table. Additional details about the firm are available at chordrealestate.com.
