The platform, created by young Dominicans Enmanuel Henríquez Marte and Génesis Jiménez Suárez, allows users to learn about the history of construction companies, view apartments in 3D, and receive personalized recommendations, in addition to returning 100% of the commission to the buyer as a credit towards their home
SANTO DOMINGO– Buying a home off-plan in the Dominican Republic can be a decision fraught with uncertainty for those looking to invest their savings in a property that doesn't yet exist. The lack of information about construction companies, permits, and the development of real estate projects represents one of the main challenges for buyers. In response to this reality, Instadigs has emerged, a technological platform that seeks to transform the way Dominicans find and acquire housing.
The initiative was developed by Enmanuel Henríquez Marte and Génesis Jiménez Suárez, two young entrepreneurs who identified an opportunity in the Dominican real estate market and decided to use their technological knowledge to offer an alternative that allows buying with more information, transparency and security.
"The idea came from seeing how difficult it is to buy something that doesn't yet exist. In the Dominican Republic, buying off-plan is almost an act of faith. You make a deposit based on a rendering and a promise, often without really knowing who is building," explained Genesis, who pointed out that, working closely with the real estate sector, they were able to observe how many people made the most important financial decision of their lives without having enough information.
Based on that reality, they both decided to develop a tool that would reduce risks and facilitate the process of buying a property from its early stages of construction.
A platform that combines technology, information, and artificial intelligence
To that end, Instadigs functions as a digital platform where users can enter their desired investment amount, income, and preferred area of residence. Based on this information, the system presents real estate projects that align with their budget and preferences.
Enmanuel explained to El Inmobiliario that buyers can also access information about construction companies, learn about their track record, and review project permits. One of the most innovative features is the ability to take a virtual three-dimensional tour of an apartment before it is built.
"You go to Instadigs and tell the assistant how much you want to invest, how much you earn, and where you'd like to live. It then shows you the projects that are truly right for you, and for each one, you can see the construction company, its track record, and its permits. You can even take a 3D tour of your apartment before it's built," he explained.
In addition to these features, there is Digger, the platform's artificial intelligence assistant, designed to function as an advisor to the buyer, offering alternatives according to their economic capacity and needs, instead of prioritizing the seller's interests.
"Instadigs has an artificial intelligence assistant that works like an advisor for the buyer. It shows you the options that are truly best for you, not the ones that are best for the seller. It gathers information from official sources and the construction companies themselves, and presents it clearly so you can make a better decision," Enmanuel stated.
In this sense, the search process begins with basic information. To receive the first recommendations, the user only needs to provide three fundamental pieces of information: their budget, their income, and the area where they wish to purchase the property. According to the entrepreneur, the more information shared, the better the system's recommendations will be.
From high school classmates to entrepreneurial partners
Behind Instadigs' technological development lies a working relationship that began long before the platform's concept emerged. The two creators met during their high school years at the San Ignacio de Loyola Polytechnic, where they studied Computer Application Development.
From then on, they shared their interest in programming and began developing projects together.
"We met in high school, at the San Ignacio de Loyola Polytechnic, studying Computer Application Development. From there we both programmed, and from there we started building things together," Enmanuel recalled.
Genesis added that her first projects were related to sargassum and that they later continued to undertake projects during her university years, eventually leading to Instadigs.
"First there were projects for sargassum, then the university, and now Instadigs. We've been entrepreneurs together for more than seven years," he said.
Regarding their responsibilities within the company, they have both taken on complementary roles. Genesis explained that Emmanuel leads technological development and was responsible for building the three-dimensional virtual tour and the artificial intelligence assistant.
For his part, Enmanuel highlighted that Genesis is in charge of the buyer's experience and that his studies in artificial intelligence and neuroscience allow him to better understand how people process information and make decisions when making an investment.
Both emphasized that they developed the platform directly thanks to their programming skills. "We both program, so we built everything ourselves," they noted.
Return 100% of the commission to the buyer
Beyond its technological tools, Instadigs also proposes a business model that aims to financially benefit those who acquire a property through the platform. This involves a 100% refund of the real estate commission, through a loan applied as a down payment on the property.
Regarding this mechanism, Genesis explained that the sales commission is usually included in the price of a home and ends up being assumed by the buyer, although the buyer is not always aware of it.
"When buying a home, the commission is already included in the price, and the buyer ends up paying it even if they don't realize it. We return it in full as a down payment on their property, once they've paid the initial amount. That money stays in the family's home, which is where it should be," he said.
In this way, the proposal seeks to convert the money that normally represents a real estate commission into a direct contribution towards the acquisition of the home.
This benefit is precisely what sets its creators apart from traditional real estate marketing mechanisms, where buyers often rely on videos, renderings, and sales promises.
"The traditional way is to watch a video, trust what they tell you, and wait. With Instadigs, you see your house before it even exists, you know who's building it, and the commission comes back to you. It's not just another real estate agency; it's a different way of buying," said Genesis.
Transparency and verification of real estate projects
Another key aspect of the proposal is to offer information that allows buyers to better understand the companies responsible for real estate developments and the conditions of the land where the homes are built.
To this end, Instadigs plans to consult various official institutions, with the aim of providing data on construction companies, permits and the legal status of projects.
Enmanuel explained that the sources consulted included the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII), to verify that the construction companies were active and up to date; the National Office of Industrial Property (ONAPI), to identify who was behind each project; the Ministry of Housing, to consult the construction licenses; and the Real Estate Jurisdiction, to find out the status of the land.
"Artificial intelligence brings everything together and presents it clearly to the buyer, so they can decide with all the information at hand," he explained.
The platform also plans to offer information related to construction companies and the performance of real estate projects, including potential delays, so that users have more information to consider before committing their money.
CLERHP Structures supported the development of Instadigs
However, turning this proposal into a functional platform involved overcoming significant challenges, especially in terms of financing and technological development.
Enmanuel noted that the process took more than a year, a period during which its creators had to combine programming work with the search for capital to finance the initiative.
"What took us the longest wasn't the technology, it was raising the capital. We spent more than a year developing and seeking investment, even in the San Francisco community in California, until CLERHP Estructuras decided to trust the project and invest," he recounted.
Regarding financial backing, he explained that the Spanish company CLERHP Estructuras made an investment to cover the development costs of the first version of Instadigs. This is a publicly traded company that develops projects in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, and other countries.
For Genesis, the support of this company represented an important validation for the venture, especially after more than a year of seeking investors.
"For us, that's a huge validation. After more than a year of knocking on doors, a company with that international track record placed its trust in two young Dominicans," he said.
Alongside the financial challenge, the team also had to resolve technical aspects related to the property viewing experience. Enmanuel identified one of the biggest challenges as enabling a non-existent apartment to be explored in three dimensions on a standard cell phone, ensuring the experience was both fast and realistic.
Punta Cana will be the starting point for its expansion
With the first version of the platform developed and the backing of their investor, the entrepreneurs are preparing to consolidate their presence in the Dominican real estate market.
In that regard, they explained that Instadigs began its operations focusing on Punta Cana, due to the concentration of real estate projects in the planning stages and the interest of both Dominican buyers and residents of Florida.
Enmanuel indicated that during the first few months they are looking to position the platform as a consultation tool for people interested in acquiring a home under construction.
"In the first few months, the goal is for anyone buying off-plan to first ask if it's listed on Instadigs," he said.
He also explained that users interested in the platform reaching other cities can request it directly from the application, which will allow its creators to identify new markets for expansion.
The vision, he assured, transcends the Dominican territory, as they aspire to take the model to other international markets.
To achieve these goals, the entrepreneurs acknowledge the need to strengthen their commercial and strategic alliances. Genesis indicated that they are looking to incorporate more construction companies willing to transparently showcase their projects, as well as establish agreements with financial institutions that facilitate access to financing for buyers.
"More construction companies willing to showcase their projects transparently, and partnerships with financial institutions to make financing easier for buyers," he said.
In addition, there is the possibility of bringing in new partners who share the entrepreneurial vision. Enmanuel confirmed that they are open to such opportunities, although he emphasized that their immediate priority is to demonstrate that the model works.
A platform that aims to support the buyer beyond the handover of the keys
Finally, the creators of Instadigs plan to turn the platform into a comprehensive tool that accompanies users during the different stages of acquiring and enjoying their home.
The intention is not to limit ourselves to the moment when a person searches for and selects an apartment, but to maintain the link with them even after they receive their property.
Genesis explained that they aspire to offer an experience that accompanies the buyer from the moment they discover their future home until years after its delivery.
"We want to accompany the person from the moment they see their house in blueprints until years after receiving the keys," he stated.
Enmanuel, for his part, summarized their shared vision with the aspiration that acquiring a home that has not yet been built should convey the same confidence as making a reservation from a cell phone.
"We want buying a house that doesn't yet exist to feel as safe as booking a trip from your phone. And for people to say it like this: check it out on Instadigs," he said.
With this proposal, Enmanuel Henríquez Marte and Génesis Jiménez Suárez seek to introduce a new experience in the Dominican real estate market, betting on technology, artificial intelligence and access to verifiable information as tools so that buying a home off-plan ceases to be an act of faith.
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