The Rise of the Panama Apartment Rental Industry

With a progression from the late 1990’s into early 2000, the Republic of Panama began to realize it’s potential for tourism and real estate as viable economically sustainable industries. Up until that point, Panama had relied, unswervingly albeit, on trade, banking and agriculture: but with the rush of a new century and timely changes in international investment and travel patterns, Panamanians found themselves sitting on a proverbial goldmine.
The first real thrust was the real estate boom which anchored itself in Panama City and the rural eco-town of Boquete. This boom came to be symbolized by radical changes in skylines, giant increases in building materials and labor, as well as a need to draw people to the isthmus.
Enter the resulting tourism roar, characterized by the nation’s tourism board (IPAT), spending millions of dollars throughout the world to promote Panama as a tropical vacation destination. This campaign saw TV commercials, magazine ads, and an overall buzz about a Panama, which so few people even knew.
The original goal in Panama, as was in similar destinations like Costa Rica and Mexico, was to use tourism to drive real estate sales. But with the investment sector already so well underway in 2007, tourists found themselves arriving in Panama to an oversupply of real estate and an undersupply of hotels, especially in the capital city.
The obvious way to cope with this imbalance was to utilize that which Panama City had plenty of (condominiums) and use them to fill the void (hotel rooms). As a result a number of property management companies arose, offering both short and long term stays to tourists in apartments.
Fully furnished apartments were welcomed warmly by tourists, who truthfully preferred living like a local as opposed to the generic hotel room they’d become accustomed to over the years. Condo hotspots like Punta Pacifica, Avenida Balboa, El Cangrejo, and Casco Viejo (the old quarter) began to see clients flock to their product, offering maid service, cable TV, wireless internet, and full kitchens: all the luxuries of a hotel but more space and more privacy.
In 2008, a record number of new hotels were announced to fill the supposed void. But many tourists found themselves liking too much the lifestyle that Panama apartments for rent provided. Further, businessmen and businesswomen in town for weeks to months at a time, decided to stick with the model of rental apartments, thus keeping the industry healthy and alive.
What the future will bring to Panama no one knows. But over the past decade, trends and voids have seemed to even themselves out impressively, allowing the now-booming tourism industry to do what it does best: show off a beautiful country.For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Decorating your First Apartment

Planning and decorating your first apartment can be baffling and overwhelming. Apartment units or outdated brownstones are often small, sterile and architecturally deprived. But you can transform them into a personal, unique space. Don't be a confused, first-time decorator: Enjoy the adventure.Ponder these seven points as you transform your new apartment into a home that reflects your personality.
A similar style in each room will create flow and rhythm. Photo courtesy of IKEA.1. Develop a point of viewThe trick to creating a cohesive, put-together apartment is to decide what kind of "look" you want. Study magazines and watch home decorating shows to help you determine your favorite style. Rustic? Sleek and modern? Traditional? Country French? Once you find your preference, try to stick to your theme in every room. The similar style in each room will create flow and rhythm, which will give your place a sense of harmony and balance.But keep in mind you're not decorating a movie set—not every detail has to perfectly match. The odd accessory gives your place personality and should tell something about the person who dwells there—you. Avoid creating a "circus" atmosphere by using too many styles, too many different colors and too many patterns. Carrying your point of view throughout an apartment can also make your place seem larger.Select several colors and use them throughout your apartment. Photo courtesy of Collegiatemall.com.2. Choose a color schemeSelect three or four of your favorite colors, and use them throughout your apartment. If you use objects and fabrics of wildly different colors in each room, your place will seem choppy, broken up and visually distracting. For example, if you like blue and white, create a living room that features white walls, ivory slipcovered furniture, blue and white porcelain accents, and light-wood tables and shelves. In your bedroom, you could use a deeper blue and more of it via a patterned bedspread, pillows and curtains. Your kitchen could carry the theme by using blue and white checked curtains, while introducing yellow as an accent color.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

Some Cleaning Tips For Your Apartment

Every now and then I pick up some great tips and ideas to help give my place that clean, gleaming feel with as little stress as possible. Cleaning and keeping your apartment in tip-top guest shape can be an overwhelming thought when you are limited for time. Then, sometimes, no matter how hard you clean and try to keep your place in shape, it just gets out of shape again...
Here are a couple of tips to help you keep your place suited for visitors and keep them from going "Ewww."
Sparkling Mirrors - I used to get so frustrated that every time I cleaned my mirror, it always ended up spotty. Turns out I was doing a major thing wrong. I was spraying the mirror directly with Windex rather than on a clean lint-free cloth. To get sparkling results in your mirror cleaning spray commercial window cleaner on a lintless cloth like an old T-shirt and wipe down the mirror. Dry immediately with another clean lintless cloth to prevent streaking. Do this once every couple of weeks and you'll be sure to impress when your guests are glancing back at themselves.
Handle the Wobblemeister - Have a wobbly chair or table? Don't pull the restaurant fix and shove a folded napkin or sugar packets underneath. A much better solution is to re-use old corks. Just take an old wine cork, cut a horizontal slice, and place it underneath the leg of the chair or table that is doing the wobble-wobble.
Fresh Flowers - Don't receive flowers as often as you'd like? Let your man know he needs to pick up his game and then try extending the life of the ones you do get. A common solution for this is to make sure and cut the stem of the flower at an angle rather than straight across , but for even better results and a longer lasting flower, add a little bit of sugar and a small amount of an acidic ingredient like Sprite, which allows for better water absorption. But...you should still get on your man about stepping up his game...

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

New Renter? Decorate Your New Home on a Budget

New Renter? Decorate Your New Home on a Budget!By Kathy Wilson
Perhaps you are just starting out in your first apartment rental home, or are starting over again and you don't know how to begin decorating your new place? Here are some easy, inexpensive, landlord friendly ideas for making a space your own!
Choose a feeling you want in your apartment or rental home. Since apartments and rentals tend to be smaller spaces, choosing a set of feelings as a theme to cover the whole space can both visually enlarge the space, and make the job much less complicated. Want a relaxed, calming atmosphere to unwind in? Choose neutrals or cool colors such as blues and greens. Want to express your colorful personality? Try using bright, energetic color combinations.
If you are in need of furniture, check out yard sales, classified ads, and even thrift shops to save yourself big bucks. Keep your choices to simple pieces that will blend with any décor, in the case of a move or a change of taste. You can make a simple platform bed with concrete cinder clocks and ¾ inch plywood or mdf board. Futon mattresses are less expensive then regular mattresses, and can offer good firm support.

Add Some Personality. Now that you have a few pieces of furniture and have chosen your color scheme to represent the feeling of the room, its time to add some personality! Throw pillows and throw blankets add color and charm, warm up the room, and disguise imperfect furniture.
Most renters can't paint the walls, so add color in creative ways. Pick up a collection of dollar store frames, spray paint them black for sophistication, then frame unusual things such as pretty pieces of fabric, cd covers, soup can labels, or even sheet music! Pick something you love, then display them as a grouping on the wall.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson