The atmosphere in Panama is more pro-American than many other Central American countries.

So you want to retire south of the border? Here’s some advice from expatriates who’ve been there:

¢ Date awhile before committing. Take six months to a year to get to know a town. Watch seasons change, run errands, meet locals, explore. Hold on to your U.S. home while you decide.

¢ Resist sales hype. Some real estate agents sell on fear: If you don’t get in now, they say, you’ll regret it when prices rise. But a cheap house is no bargain if you end up regretting a hasty decision.

¢ Learn from the pros. If you follow No. 1 and No. 2, you’ll have plenty of time to get the lowdown on just about any subject from locals and experienced foreigners. Talk to your accountant about the tax consequences of a move and your insurance broker about health coverage before you make the leap.

¢ Do the math. People assume Latin America is dirt-cheap. That might be true, depending on where and how you live. Big cities and areas with a lot of expats cost more. Some things in Latin America are more expensive than in the U.S., such as telephone service in Mexico.

¢ Weigh the trade-offs. If you are easily frustrated by language barriers and a host of things that simply don’t work as well as they do in the U.S., you’ll probably be happier finding a warm, inexpensive locale in the States. You need a sense of adventure – and a sense of humor – to thrive in a foreign country.

¢ Find your spot. Areas that cater to Americans bring U.S.-style housing, consumer conveniences, English-language publications and familiar social networks to plug into. They also attract crowds of fellow Yanks who dilute the Latin flavor that attracted many in the first place. Find a place that strikes the right balance.