Panama Experience- Considering Retiring in Altos del Maria? Driving to see 2 Properties For Sale.

Driving in an absolutely gorgeous gated community Altos Del Maria- less than 2 hour drive from the Panama City, featuring realtor Carlos Camano of Region Panama Realty. Higher elevation, cooler temperatures than on the Beaches, Guard at the Gate, 19 idyllic walking trails, stunning mountain views, pristine nature full of birds- this is a really nice place. Just like a coin has two sides, please take a look at the very steep hills you'll be driving to your property. Many folks used to driving on flat roads, the extreme mountain roads with no guard rails on the sides of the roads can be a deal-breaker for some? We have not been able to find a video that would clearly show how the driving inside the community would be like. This can come as a surprise, since the 11km/7 mile Carretera via Bejuco leading to Sora/Altos del Maria is a very pleasant, interesting, and fun to drive. This is a community where one will certainly need a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to be able to live there. During the rainy season, it would be adviceable to get all your shopping done during the morning hours before the big rains arrive. If you are comfortable/OK with the driving, you may have found your place.
Link to our other videos here:
/ @panamatobeexperienced...

[@davidd6635]

Mmm, just drop me off anywhere there. Beautiful. Hills, trees, green, mountain views, Yes.

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

Altos del Maria is truly a gorgeous community. Once a resident or renter/tenant, with a sticker on the windshield you get to drive the idyllic private "back-road" directly to el Valle de Anton without having to drive all the way back to PanAmerican Highway first. Benefits also include a proximity to the Panama City if one needs to fly abroad, use world-class hospitals (Punta Pacifica- Johns Hopkins/ or Paitilla Hospital- Cleveland Clinic, etc), official business, movies/theaters/culture- compare this to for example Boquete from where a trip to Panama City becomes an all-day task and prepare to pay for a hotel room or AirBnb and come back the following day. Yet Altos del Maria is secluded, tucked away with a good security- manned gate. No-one drives in without a permission from a property owner. The lack of services/stores is precisely what some residents are looking for and gladly exchange that to more privacy. Cooler comfortable climate, fantastic outdoor activities with 19 walking trails, active clubhouse, and so on. You'll get friends quickly. The monthly HOA is approx. $85,-/mo. Just make sure you bring your wife to experience the driving of the very steep hills prior to purchasing or renting, some of them rival the best rollercoasters available to the general public- if she has white knuckles holding on to the handles while driving directly up or down, this may be something to take into consideration.......

[@ourblazingworld]

@@panamatobeexperienced1355 what about locals to hire? Are many willing to come to the area for house cleaning service, gardening etc.>?

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

@@ourblazingworld Yes- there are many Panamanians performing house cleaning, gardening, and other services. You would not have issues getting help, simply talk to your neighbors for references to get good people. Neighbors are friendly and will get you started. If you’d like, you can always talk to the Sales Center of Altos del Maria as well, and residents will be promptly assisted- this really is a nice community.

[@hamiltobiermann2333]

Thank you for this wonderful video, amazing and peacefull place!

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

We are happy you enjoyed the video- this is a unique beautiful gated mountain community.

[@Int.pablo.e.arias.c]

I love Altos de Maria

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

It is truly a beautiful community, with a very comfortable climate, amenities, safety & security- great location with convenient proximity to shopping in Coronado, Panama City, and Valle de Anton.

[@richardcalisi9188]

Im IN !!! Just beautiful

[@gregoriousgotti5115]

Waoo ..Altos de Maria ..very.Beautiful..❤🇵🇦

[@pjinpa]

Thanks for the heads up on the roads within AdM! We are headed down to look in this area in just 2 weeks (staying a week), and are primarily interested in the area between Sora and Chica... as we want a highland home with a view of mountains AND sea ("it all", of course!). This area has not only that, but proximity to Coronado and PC. We don't see a need to live in a development, as expats are everywhere there... and easy enough to visit, without being so confined. Besides, the main roads are much easier to deal with! ;-)

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

Totally agree. Sora has some really nice homes available. If you find a home you really like, it is good to drive also during the weekend after dark. There are many Panamanians who own second homes and use it during the weekends to get away from the City heat and hustle- this is designed to find out if your neighbor(s) have very loud parties (every weekend?). Once you have closed on a property, all of your neighbors have a right to stay and enjoy their homes=cannot change the loud ones- lol., and should it be unfortunate to have loud party people next to your property, there is very little, if anything that can be done. Meaning, it is wise to do some footwork prior to purchasing, in Central- and South-America there are no noise ordinances like there are for example in the US & Canada. Best of luck and I hope you have an enjoyable trip and great time in Panama!!!

[@pjinpa]

@@panamatobeexperienced1355 - Your video helped on our trip! Couldn't rent a standard shift, so got a turbo auto - which in low gear, did the trick when touring homes for 8 days in Altos and El Valle! Man... that upper "private road" just past the last gate is a KILLER, but we survived! Meanwhile, our house here is going on the market tomorrow... and we're hoping it sells quick enough for us to get the home we love the most, which you drove right by in your video!

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

@@pjinpa Outstanding!! This way, you were also mentally prepared for what's coming. Driving in Altos for the first time is a shocker for folks who are used to driving on flat roads. Best of luck in your home sale, we keep our fingers crossed you'll get your dream house. It is also possible to negotiate a deal, where you put a deposit in and pay the rest for example within 2 years, or whenever your house sells. This guarantees, that no-one else will get the home you love giving plenty of time to complete the transaction.

[@normagertz9055]

I wanted it to see the inside of the house 🤨

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

Please find enclosed link to the property description. This property has been on the market for a number of years- the reason it has not sold because there are no bedrooms, only a living room. Buyers would have to build another building, and most people do not want to go through a complicated construction process. Originally, this small building was designed/intended to be a maid's/housekeepers residence. Altos del Maria is a truly a beautiful community. regionpanama.com/estate_property/altos-del-maria-villa-alicante-id-cc-10-ali278/

[@KeithCindyPanama]

Always use lower gear for hills. With automatic use 3rd or 2nd .

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

Yup- it is easier to drive with manual transmission on steep hills, for sure. Some vehicles have even both manual/automatic- VW/AUDI Tiptronic, where you can lock in any gear so you don't gain excessive speed going downhill pressing down with both feet and wear out your brake pads prematurely. Still, I think 4-wheel drive is the best for extreme conditions. Rental vehicles, compact cars with 100HP or so are clearly not intended for these steep hills, and are lucky to be able to pull themselves.

[@marilynnarnold811]

Don't ride brakes, drive in low gear

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

Driving in low gear is the only safe way to drive in this community. Visitors should be informed and prepared for what's coming- they are up for a surprise and most of them are used to driving on very flat predictable roads. Experienced few extreme hills- going downhill first, then immediately uphill- had to get a little extra speed to make it to the top. Then, hitting the brakes once reached the top (almost stopping) just to try to see over the hood which way the steep downhill goes on the other side of the hill so wouldn't drive directly off the road (huge drop, and no guard rails....... wink, wink). I absolutely love this gorgeous community, but I assure this place is not designed for the average driver.

[@ourblazingworld]

@@panamatobeexperienced1355 sounds like driving the Grapevine from LA to Northern CA

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

@@ourblazingworld A bit except in California the weather can be really hot and very cold depending on the season where the climate in Altos del Maria is pleasant ALL YEAR ROUND. If you’ll take a trip and get to see it in person, I think there is a good chance you will no longer want to leave……… Spending a week or two in an Airbnb for example, is a great way to experience the area first hand. If all of them are booked, staying close-by and having a rental car is a nice option as well. Please remember, that there is a manned gate to get into the community, so you’ll need to have either someone you know already living in there to call you in or arrange a visit with a Realtor to show you available properties.

[@ourblazingworld]

its a beautiful area but walking is my only exercise and I would be very worried someone wouldn't see me and hit me.

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

No worries, the walking trails are truly beautiful nature trails with no chance of being hit by a vehicle- they are all safe. Instead of vehicles you’ll get to see amazing nature and large number of bird species- more than entire continental US and Canada combined.

[@KeithCindyPanama]

We were considering this place but no sidewalks nor the hills are very steep.

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

Some hills are extremely steep. Altos del Maria does not have all the shops close by compared to for example El Valle de Anton, but features amazing outdoors opportunities with 19 walking trails and community is stunningly beautiful.

[@hotglasschick]

Why didn't you show the inside and give the price?

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

The first property, a small 1BR/1BA house is offered for $275K- the second one 2BR/2BA house with an amazing mountain views was offered for $335K (American builder) and it sold very quickly after we released the video. We hope this video informed also about what driving within the beautiful community will be like. If you'd like, you can get more information, including inside pics, from realtor Carlos Camano (the listing agent), www.regionpanama.com- please choose "mountains" as an area to narrow down the search.

[@hotglasschick]

@@panamatobeexperienced1355 thank you!

[@holgermessner851]

Far away from civilization and the property prices… Sorry. They are a joke. Not one Panamanian person would pay that. That’s Gringo Prices. Especially North Americans don’t use their healthy senses when it comes to buying a property. You see. Here, like in most countries - there is no bidding race to buy a property. No! Here you negotiate the prices down. Because most properties are on the market for years. Don’t let you tell anything different. If you are interested in a property, go by yourself without an agent and ask neighbors how long it is on the market and how long since the owners moved. You will be surprised to hear the different stories the neighbors told you to the agent telling you. And again. How far is the supermarket, hospital etc. . Just the basic stuff you would expect in your own country. Enjoy Panama. I live here already for 5 years.

[@paulbrungardt9823]

I visited Altos de Maia: Beautiful but too remote... One has to drive everywhere. I am too social and need people to visit.

[@panamatobeexperienced1355]

And that is exactly why people should see many places all over the country to become familiar with them. I believe the residents have a lot of get togethers- active community with a clubhouse. But what we have seen from all offerings, beautiful homes with impressive scenery- no real estate ads nor KZbin videos have shown realistically what the driving over there will be like within the community. There will become a day when coming back home, big thunder rain, very limited visibility and perhaps slippery roads with leaves and no guard rails...... Not everyone is comfortable driving in the extreme conditions, but if you are used to/OK with that- you may have found your paradise. We noticed the difference between Altos de Maria compared to some other areas- with the exception of few super minis in Sora and really beautiful restaurant Los Senderor (right outside the gated community), residents need to drive to Coronado for shopping whereas el Valle de Anton & Boquete have services galore right there.

[@paulbrungardt9823]

@@panamatobeexperienced1355 I agree. My advise is to spend a year (anywhere, not just in Panama) before buying. The rainy season is much different than the dry season. Real estate in Panama is not as easy to resale after purchased