EPISODE · Jun 9, 2025 · 1H 8M
Investing Abroad: Life by Design in Panama with Melissa Darnay - Episode #329
from In The Lab with Ruben Kanya · host Ruben Kanya
In this immersive episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Melissa Darnay, founder of Choose Panama and host of The Panama Podcast. Melissa shares her remarkable story of turning personal tragedy into purpose by relocating to Panama and building a thriving real estate and hospitality business. What started as a leap of faith became a decade-plus journey of entrepreneurship, lifestyle freedom, and helping hundreds of expats find their own piece of paradise.Melissa reveals the practical and financial benefits of living in Panama—from 50% lower living costs to property tax exemptions and affordable beachfront real estate. She breaks down residency options, cultural differences, and how her vertically integrated business helps newcomers transition smoothly through real estate, rentals, and concierge services. Ruben and Melissa also explore mindset, manifestation, and how building a life abroad is both a financial and personal evolution.If you’re looking to design a lifestyle of freedom, explore international real estate, or discover what’s possible beyond U.S. borders, this episode is your invitation. Tune in now to learn how Melissa built a 40+ unit short-term rental business, developed a powerful expat network, and created a life by design—one bold decision at a time.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:08:59 Melissa talks about the “richness of life in Panama48:19 Melissa talks about breaking down hard things to make them easier to deal withKEEPING IT REAL:05:00 – How grief and change led to a new life abroad10:08 – What “richness of life” means in Panama13:16 – How far your dollar goes: real estate, insurance, and cost of living20:05 – 50% cost savings and comparison with Dallas & Miami22:05 – Real estate journey and early education26:03 – Transitioning into Panama real estate and finding her niche29:16 – Using vacation rentals to help expats experience Panama32:02 – How to buy property or establish residency in Panama36:20 – Building a property management and STR business from scratch40:43 – Why concierge services matter for expats43:04 – Learning through mistakes and building a team47:00 – Navigating culture and building a high-end brand abroad48:44 – Melissa’s mindset on grit, problem solving, and manifestation53:11 – Choose Panama’s vertical integration: buy, manage, rent, repeat54:04 – The Panama Podcast: content formats and funnel strategy59:06 – Sneak peek at virtual reality tour experience launching soon1:01:16 – Final thoughts on taking your life and talents overseas CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://www.choosepanama.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadarnay/?originalSubdomain=paInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/melissadarnayuncorked/#ChoosePanama #ExpatsInPanama #InternationalRealEstate #LifestyleDesign #ShortTermRentals #RealEstateInvesting #LiveAbroad
What this episode covers
In this immersive episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Melissa Darnay, founder of Choose Panama and host of The Panama Podcast. Melissa shares her remarkable story of turning personal tragedy into purpose by relocating to Panama and building a thriving real estate and hospitality business. What started as a leap of faith became a decade-plus journey of entrepreneurship, lifestyle freedom, and helping hundreds of expats find their own piece of paradise.Melissa reveals the practical and financial benefits of living in Panama—from 50% lower living costs to property tax exemptions and affordable beachfront real estate. She breaks down residency options, cultural differences, and how her vertically integrated business helps newcomers transition smoothly through real estate, rentals, and concierge services. Ruben and Melissa also explore mindset, manifestation, and how building a life abroad is both a financial and personal evolution.If you’re looking to design a lifestyle of freedom, explore international real estate, or discover what’s possible beyond U.S. borders, this episode is your invitation. Tune in now to learn how Melissa built a 40+ unit short-term rental business, developed a powerful expat network, and created a life by design—one bold decision at a time.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:08:59 Melissa talks about the “richness of life in Panama48:19 Melissa talks about breaking down hard things to make them easier to deal withKEEPING IT REAL:05:00 – How grief and change led to a new life abroad10:08 – What “richness of life” means in Panama13:16 – How far your dollar goes: real estate, insurance, and cost of living20:05 – 50% cost savings and comparison with Dallas & Miami22:05 – Real estate journey and early education26:03 – Transitioning into Panama real estate and finding her niche29:16 – Using vacation rentals to help expats experience Panama32:02 – How to buy property or establish residency in Panama36:20 – Building a property management and STR business from scratch40:43 – Why concierge services matter for expats43:04 – Learning through mistakes and building a team47:00 – Navigating culture and building a high-end brand abroad48:44 – Melissa’s mindset on grit, problem solving, and manifestation53:11 – Choose Panama’s vertical integration: buy, manage, rent, repeat54:04 – The Panama Podcast: content formats and funnel strategy59:06 – Sneak peek at virtual reality tour experience launching soon1:01:16 – Final thoughts on taking your life and talents overseas CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://www.choosepanama.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadarnay/?originalSubdomain=paInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/melissadarnayuncorked/#ChoosePanama #ExpatsInPanama #InternationalRealEstate #LifestyleDesign #ShortTermRentals #RealEstateInvesting #LiveAbroad
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Investing Abroad: Life by Design in Panama with Melissa Darnay - Episode #329
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