If anything dominated the changing real estate market in the last year, it was uncertainty. It is not new in the Argentine economic scenario, but the variables that most impact activity are, precisely,so they did not finish finding a definitive configuration in the dynamics of the economic program: purchasing power, the price of the dollar, the interest rate and the availability of credit.
The cost of money. The sharp rise in the rate to contain the dollar, inflated by devaluation expectations, deflated the promise of a reasonable cost to mobilize a market that had been paralyzed for six years, with falling dollar prices and that could only recover the rental segment when the contracts were released and inflation was once again in the annual double digits. Matías ChiromCEO & Co-Founder Baigun Realtyexplains that in this scenario, developers and buyers are opting for alternative schemes, which is why direct financing plans, which allow payment in installments during construction or even after delivery, have become a key tool. “The Argentine buyer has become more strategic: he no longer waits for mortgage credit to return, but rather seeks combinations of own savings, partial financing from the developer and private tools, in a new investment culture, which allows the idea of access to one’s own home to become possible.”, he points out.
Short and long term. A modality that has begun to gain ground is the sale of bare property with lifetime usufruct, a widespread practice in Europe that provides liquidity to older adults without them having to leave their home. In Argentina, the figure also exists and is fully contemplated in the Civil and Commercial Code, although it is still little known. Mariano García Malbrán, president of CAMESI explains that in this way it is possible to sell the bare ownership of a home and reserve the usufruct for life. That is to say: the buyer acquires registered ownership, but the seller retains the right to use and enjoy the property for life. When the usufructuary dies, the usufruct is extinguished and the “owner node” begins to have full ownership.. This tool is generally used in urban housing when older adults seek liquidity without losing their home and in succession planning schemes, because of less future conflict.
Imported buyers. Another segment that began to appear is that of foreign investors, attracted by the good prices of cities like Buenos Aires and scared away from the large European cities that saw market values rise between three and four times above annual inflation. But also due to a subjective factor: foreign buyers are no longer just looking for a property; They want a complete experience that includes legal and accounting advice, property management and local lifestyle recommendations. Francisco Bosch, Co-founder of Miranda Bosch Real Estate & Artpoints out that in that context, Buenos Aires is establishing itself as an attractive destination for international buyers, who are looking for luxury properties in exclusive neighborhoods such as Recoleta, Palermo, Belgrano and Puerto Madero.
The real estate market consolidates its recovery process, with clear signs of reactivation both in prices and in the volume of operations. According to the latest surveys of the sector, the value of the square meter registers sustained increases and accumulates a rise of more than 10% in the last twelve months, reflecting a change in trend after several years of retraction and adjustment of values. In the Construction Report prepared Zonapropthe square meter of apartments in CABA is at an average of US$2,452, (+5.9% year-on-year) with premium neighborhoods such as Puerto Madero (US$6,163), Palermo (US$3,411) and Núñez (US$3,344).
For Bosch, lhe international investors who arrive are not only looking for a property but a lifestyle. They prefer spacious units, with contemporary design, hotel-level amenities and good connectivity with green areas or cultural circuits. The most popular neighborhoods are Recoleta, Palermo Chico, Puerto Madero and Belgrano Rwhere apartments predominate in remodeled classic buildings or boutique developments with fewer than ten units. Another target is houses with gardens or large terraces, especially among buyers who plan to combine residence and home office.
A new buyer profile. The combination of attractive prices, stability in foreign demand and the growing interest in living in Buenos Aires—recognized by Time Out among the 10 best cities in the world to live in 2025—places the local market at a turning point.
In this niche market, it is increasingly common for clients themselves to connect directly with each other in private negotiations. This trend redefines competition in the sector: it is no longer just other real estate agents, but the clients themselves acting as informal intermediaries. This represents a greater challenge for professional firms that must rethink what value they provide in the process of searching and defining operations..
For example, for this last segment of sophisticated investors, the importance lies in offering a 360° approach, which implies: international accounting and legal advice; curating properties in strategic areas, with a focus on design and architectural quality; lifestyle guidance, including personalized services, cultural recommendations and even a post-purchase support process. A shift that is just beginning because demand changes but never abandons its obsession with becoming owners.
by Marcelo Alfano
