Why This Music Industry Veteran Chose Panama Over Every Other Market He'd Seen Globally

Written by:

Heather Hook

Date:

10 Mar 2026

KeyCrew Studio

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Learn more at the free Invest Panama Preview Webinar on March 19th at 6:00 PM CST: chordrealestate.com/investpanamasummit

Van Hohe spent nearly three decades touring internationally with major music festivals and artists. He’s experienced business environments across continents, evaluated cities worldwide, and built relationships in markets from Europe to South America. Yet when his business partners at CHORD Real Estate suggested expanding into Panama, his response was blunt: they’d lost their minds.

Despite his global experience, international real estate investment felt like a bridge too far. His partners persisted for over a year. Finally, Hohe agreed to visit Panama. That trip changed everything.

What Global Experience Revealed

As CHORD’s Chief Experience Officer, Hohe evaluates opportunities through a lens that extends beyond spreadsheets. His role centers on creating memorable experiences for clients, which requires understanding what makes locations genuinely compelling rather than simply marketed well.

Panama delivered authenticity that promotional materials couldn’t capture. “I showed up nervous, because I flew in alone. I didn’t know what I was walking into. And I fell in love,” he says.

The revelation wasn’t about finding something cheap or undiscovered. Panama offered something American markets fundamentally cannot replicate: a sophisticated urban environment combined with untouched natural beauty, all wrapped in a culture that genuinely welcomes international participation.

The Casco Viejo Effect

Hohe’s favorite discovery was Casco Viejo, Panama City’s meticulously restored historic district. His description draws on the most atmospheric neighborhoods he’s experienced globally.

“If I were to envision it from a U.S. standpoint, I would say it was like morphing the French Quarter in New Orleans with what I imagine to be old Havana,” Hohe explains. The comparison captures Casco’s unique character: colonial Spanish architecture housing contemporary restaurants, artisan boutiques, and live music venues surrounding plaza spaces where community life unfolds naturally.

The neighborhood transforms as day shifts to evening. “The music starts up. You get all the smells start happening with all the cafes and the food that’s happening. My goodness, there’s nothing like it,” Hohe recalls.

This wasn’t tourist theater or manufactured charm. The cultural authenticity Hohe found in Casco Viejo reflected genuine community life that happens to welcome visitors and new residents rather than existing solely for them.

Beyond Tourist Dynamics

One element that particularly impressed Hohe was Panama’s approach to international visitors and investors. His global touring experience included markets where Americans faced resentment or were viewed primarily as revenue sources. Panama felt different.

“There is a love of all peoples there. Everybody seems to be welcome. No matter what country you’re from, when you’re in Panama, you’re Panamanian. That’s how it feels,” Hohe notes.

This inclusive culture extends beyond hospitality marketing into genuine business and social integration. Panama’s economy has incorporated international business and investment for generations, creating frameworks where foreign participation feels normal rather than exceptional or exploitative.

The country’s use of the U.S. dollar reinforces this integration. Financial transactions feel familiar rather than foreign, eliminating the psychological barrier of constant currency calculation that exists in other international markets.

The Conversion Moment

Hohe’s transformation from skeptic to advocate happened quickly once he experienced Panama directly. His post-visit behavior speaks volumes: “I’m telling all my friends, you have to come with me. We just have to go. The food, the people, the vibe.”

This evangelical enthusiasm from someone initially dismissive of international investment reflects a gap between perception and reality that only direct exposure can bridge. Hohe had toured globally for decades but never considered international real estate because he lacked context for evaluating it as a personal opportunity rather than just places to work.

Panama provided that context. The combination of sophisticated infrastructure, genuine cultural appeal, welcoming business environment, and geographic beauty created a package Hohe found nowhere else despite his extensive international experience.

Experience Drives Investment Decisions

For investors focused purely on cap rates and appreciation projections, Hohe’s perspective adds a dimension often missing from real estate analysis. Properties purchased for investment may eventually serve personal use. The lifestyle quality those properties enable matters, particularly for buyers considering retirement or extended stays.

“What’s there not to enjoy? Right. My goodness. This place,” Hohe reflects, summarizing why financial metrics alone miss crucial elements of international real estate value.

CHORD Real Estate created its Invest Panama Summit specifically to provide the firsthand exposure that changed Hohe’s perspective. The three-day event scheduled for May 28-30, 2026, brings potential investors to Panama City for property tours, expert presentations, and cultural experiences that spreadsheets cannot convey.

Before committing to the trip, interested investors can attend CHORD’s free webinar on March 19th at 6:00 PM CST to understand Panama as an investment destination and what the summit experience entails.

Reserve your spot for the free March 19th webinar or learn more about the May 28-30 Invest Panama Summit at chordrealestate.com/investpanamasummit or contact [email protected].