For the purposes of this analysis, I define a "high end" Coronado house to have approximately 375 square meters with 3-4 bedrooms with ensuite baths, a ceramic lined swimming pool, a colonial tile roof, exceptionally smooth walls and high gypsum ceilings (9.5 feet), granite top kitchen counter, teak kitchen cabinets, teak exterior doors, split air con systems in all major rooms, security bars on windows, and full landscaping etc.

You get the picture.

This "high end" house is priced on a "drip line" basis which measure includes all terrace areas under roof and even the roof over-hang which of course is the drip line.

The current "price per square meter" for the Coronado houses that I have recently facilitated works out to about $435-$450 per square meter.

This price per M2 is increasing, however, by at least 1.5% per month; I have started to quote much higher prices because of the high demand and the shortage of good workers. 

Other things being equal the target "profit" for an "investor house" is about $75,000 with a target selling price (June 2008) under $400,000.

The cost of a good piece lot in Coronado (at least 1000 square meters or a quarter acre) is about $75,000. The sales commission eats up about 5% or roughly $18-20,000 of the selling price. This leaves approximately $200,000 to build the house and the pool. 

There still remain many opportunities of this sort in Coronado.

In this scenario, an "absentee or passive investor" has two major responsibilities: design and financing ... neither of which should be taken lightly. 

I generally help to identify/purchase a suitable lot and manage/oversee the construction and even the marketing of the house if desired through local real estate agents. 

Such an "investor property" is best owned in a separate Panamanian corporation.