Plenty of things make Panama City, FL, a unique and desirable place to live or invest. Perhaps most notably, it's a bayside Gulf Coast community with a thriving, year-round economic base. While many of its neighbors along the barrier islands slow down dramatically outside of tourist season, this city has an industrial and military foundation that provides consistent activity, employment and growth.
As a result of this constant economic activity — along with the appeal of the pristine beaches and vacation atmosphere of nearby Panama City Beach and Laguna Beach, of course — Panama City is one of the major tourist and business centers in the Florida Panhandle area, along with Pensacola and Tallahassee. Most visitors to town fly in using the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, about 30 or 40 minutes from downtown. City Hall, right in the core of the contemporary urban area, sits at the corner of 5th Avenue and Harrison. Harrison continues down to the marina, lined with restaurants, shops event spaces, theaters and parks.
Although it's only minutes away from the beaches, resorts and family entertainment parks that dominate the nearby beach towns, Panama City remains diverse — and a little more down-to-earth. It's in a unique position to both benefit from the tourist trade and provide a quiet, residential enclave away from the hustle and bustle of the constant stream of high-season visitors. Certainly, many people own vacation homes here, but the general feeling outside of downtown tends more towards neighborly. Small businesses, community organizations, charming markets and tree-lined streets are more common than glitzy hotels, glistening condo towers and beach-related boutiques.
Access to military and industrial employers, pristine nature and a neighborly atmosphere all rank among the top reasons people love to live in Panama City. There are a number of different neighborhoods and developments, so please contact one of our agents. They will help you refine your search and focus on the best opportunities for your specific needs.