For decades, the real estate investor's mindset was clear: buy to sell, accumulate wealth in bricks and mortar. But in 2025, that model is changing. Throughout Latin America—and especially in tourist and urban markets like the Dominican Republic—renting commercial spaces is becoming established as one of the smartest forms of investment.
Why? Because buying commercial properties has become increasingly difficult for the general public. In most new developments, retail spaces for sale are quickly snapped up by large corporations, banks, chains, or investment funds. Access to such property is reserved for a select few.
But the market found another way: renting as a cash flow generating asset.
The trend is clear and the figures confirm it:
- In the last 24 months, commercial projects with Build to Rent (BtR) models have grown by 22% in the region (source: CBRE Latam, 2024).
- Occupancy in urban shopping centers with efficient design exceeds 90% in mixed areas with high residential density.
- Premises rented on a long-term basis are generating returns of between 8% and 12% annually, with contracts of 3 to 10 years.
What was once underestimated as a "plan B" is now a gold mine.
For small and medium-sized investors who cannot afford to own a property, investing in BtR developments or acquiring shares in commercial rental funds has become one of the best ways to generate passive income.
Even for developers, the paradigm shifted:
- Today, the focus is on plazas designed for continuous operation, not just for immediate sales.
- The value of a property is not measured solely by its square footage, but by its ability to generate flow, stability, and controlled turnover.
- Brands don't buy: they rent locations that boost their sales and allow them flexibility.
The opportunity is open to those who know how to read the moment.
And let me be clear: in a market where commercial property ownership is concentrated in few hands, investing in rentals is democratizing real estate income. It's allowing more stakeholders to participate in the city's value.
Well-located commercial spaces, designed for the current urban flow, are not just square meters: they are revenue machines.
In a market where most commercial properties for sale are controlled by large corporations, acquiring a well-located property is the exception, not the rule. Therefore, when an opportunity arises—whether to invest directly or participate in a strategic rental model—it's not the time to hesitate.
Because in this new phase of the real estate cycle, a well-located property isn't something you wait for… it's something you seize. And if it also comes with intelligent design, guaranteed foot traffic, and a proven operating model, you're looking at something that not only retains its value but also multiplies it over time.
The next big wave of profitability lies not in what sells quickly, but in what generates steady income, adapts to the evolving city, and creates real assets for the future.
Did you come across a well-positioned business opportunity?
Don't overthink it. In this game, the one who understands first, wins best.
