"The dynamism of Piantini increased with the opening of shopping centers that further raised its score and motivated new investors to set up shop.".
SANTO DOMINGO – For most real estate agents, focusing solely on selling in a specific area limits their business opportunities. “Why put all your eggs in one basket?” goes the popular saying. With the National District encompassing more than 60 sectors, there’s no justification for reducing the market to just one.
But being born and raised in a certain sector offers unparalleled connections, and if that sector is called Piantini, things look promising. This doesn't mean you should let your guard down and settle into your comfort zone waiting for luck to fall into your lap; it simply means that if you do the work, you'll always have an advantage at home.
Whether by coincidence or divine intervention, Gina Bacchi has seized the opportunity life presented her and rejoices when she recounts the confluence of factors working in her favor. “I was born and raised there; it’s the area that houses the city’s financial center, it has the best bilingual schools, all foreigners want to invest there, resale values don’t depreciate even as time passes, the best development firms are located there, prestigious shopping centers—in short, it’s the most sought-after area.”.
And if you add to that the fact that the "Queen of Piantini," a well-earned nickname, loves nightlife and the hustle and bustle of big cities, the sky's the limit because this lucky agent never stops. "There's always business; sometimes I have more requests than offers, everything gets rented at once, occupancy is high both for rentals and resales.".
Through his real estate agency, Red Inmobiliaria, he lists properties starting at US$150,000. It's no secret how well he earns commissions, not only from direct sales but also because anyone looking for a property in Piantini has to go through him. He has 80 pre-owned properties available, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to penthouses.
In 22 years of practice, the only weakness he observes in the neighborhood he knows like the back of his hand is the traffic situation, which is not exclusive, but is an issue that affects the entire city.
He acknowledges that the area's dynamism increased with the opening of shopping centers that raised its score and motivated new investors to set up shop.
“Getting a plot of land in Piantini is difficult,” says Bacchi, who explains that the price per square meter is around US$3,000 due to scarcity. “When someone asks for a plot, it doesn’t exist, and if it does, it’s either unaffordable or being reserved for future development. People are living there until the land is handed over, because of the paperwork process.”.
Despite all the advantages of the area, for the Queen of Piantini, making money isn't exactly easy. Working with that target clientele can sometimes be difficult, as many don't want to advertise their properties and demand stricter protocols for showing them. Similarly, multinational companies establish their own specific requirements and conditions.
Biacchi's portfolio includes projects, resales, and rentals of furnished and unfurnished homes, commercial spaces, land, etc. His clients are Dominicans and foreigners who come through referrals from satisfied customers. They also come through colleagues, signs, and social media.
His team adopted the model of working by zone: Serralles, Piantini, and Naco. “Specializing by zone improves efficiency,” he concludes, offering advice.
