The premier modern-day trading route, Panama, with its strategic geographic position and its Canal, is an increasingly important point on the world map. You name it...it passes through Panama in some way at some time going somewhere. Largely as a result of its crossroads positioning...but also thanks to its reputation worldwide as a top retirement, offshore, and banking haven...Panama is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world...and the fastest-growing market in the region. The country's economy grew by 11.2% in 2007 and is projected to grow by a further 9% at least in 2008.

Panama City, especially, is showing signs of strain, thanks to the pressures accompanying all this rapid growth. But the Panamanians are working hard to improve their infrastructure to keep up.

Meantime, be you in the market for a new home or a good investment, Panama should be at the very top of your list. The secret is to understand that Panama is not one market, but many. Panama City, for example, is over-priced, over-hyped, and over-played. Now is not the time to shop for a pre-construction buy in one of this city's many high-rise aparmtent towers, for example.

Boquete, too, in the country's highlands, is too known and too pricey for our tastes.

Best buy in the country today? Pacific beachfront well beyond the capital city, in particular along both the east and (thinking earlier-in and offering the potential for a bigger pay-off longer term) the west coast of the country's Azuero Peninsula.