I tried sending you an email but it was bounced and told me to post these comments here.

I think you are underestimating the chance for renewed Miami ascendency that is presented by Obama likely efforts to reform immigration and normalize USA’s arcane entry/exit requirements and laws.

If these efforts lead to the opening up of USA labor markets to more skilled foreign labor, Miami will likely continue to attract the best/brightest and richest from Latin America.

To me it seems the biggest turn off and beef that well healed Latin Americans have with miami is that its a pain to get the visas and they now need a visa just to tranfer at the airport (big advantage for Panama and Copa). Other than that, Miami still is THE destination for the upper middle class and much of the upper class in Latam. I think this has the ability to grow even more as some other traditional off shore banking locations like swiss are degraded.

Latin americans love miami cause its the best of both worlds. Part gringolandia part latin.

While I’d love to buy into the hong kong of the americas story regarding Panama, I think this new administration and all their doing to improve our image abroad is a big risk to that scenario. While Obama perhaps so far hasn’t done anything concrete to make USA more welcoming to foreign tourists and foreign talent (thus reversing the decline in international arrivals experienced during the bush years), I think there is a good chance that the image building he has done will have positive effect on boosting the arrival numbers and that this will ultimately lead to more concreate measures.

So from a Americans point of view, Panama may be a great location to escape to, from a latin american’s point of view, they arelikely to always give mia the benefit of the doubt.

There can only be ONE capital of Latam in the short run do you agree?
If that’s the case, I think mia wins.

What says you?

On the other hand, the Locks contract for the Canal expansion was awarded last month, which should add new demand for housing at some point. Any insights on when you think the condo situation might bottom & begin to turn around?