Expovivienda Summer 2008 kicked off April 17th at the Atlapa Convention Center. Expovivienda is a housing expo organized by the Panamanian Camera of the Construction (Capac).

The fair has no cover charge and due to last year’s turnout, the organizers decided to extend the expo an extra day this year.

There are close to 250 projects represented and 14 banks. Many of the projects are targeted to the local market and designed to take advantage of the preferential interest rates offered by the banks, subsidized by the government. This year there are also hopes that the maximum price allowed to qualify for the preferential interest rates will soon be changed. Currently dwellings costing US$62,500 or less qualify and the law is being reviewed to elevate the maximum to US$80,000. Lobbyists claim that because of rising real estate prices, the current maximum doesn’t give the middle class many options.

The last day of the expo is Sunday t

he 20th. For those you think there are no deals left in Panama, this is the expo to find out for sure