According to publications in various international media, real estate sales on the four main platforms of the metaverse: Sandbox, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels and Somnium, reached USD $501 million in 2021 alone; and it is estimated that this figure will double by 2022.
SANTO DOMINGO.- The world of the metaverse is increasingly attracting attention in the real estate sector, and Mobiliapp, the platform used for publishing and searching for real estate assets through the use of geolocation technologies, has launched an application to show properties to potential clients around the world using augmented reality.
Analysts state that for the real estate sector, the Metaverse represents a great opportunity for both the marketing of physical spaces and the creation of virtual spaces, since with it properties evolve to a hybrid model including a fully digital space designed in virtual reality that increases the dynamics in physical spaces by bringing digital elements through augmented reality.
According to several international media outlets, real estate sales on the four main platforms of the metaverse: Sandbox, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels, and Somnium, reached USD $501 million in 2021 alone; and it is estimated that this figure will double by 2022.
Rafael Paredes, general manager of Mobiliapp, answered some questions about the new features of his platform.
What does the platform consist of?
A metaverse is a virtual environment where humans interact socially and economically through avatars. In this space, they meet people from all over the world and can access themed areas, art exhibitions, museum galleries, and more. The metaverse application we use is called Spatial, which you can access via glasses, a mobile phone, or a computer. Meta (Facebook) is one of the biggest proponents of the metaverse.
What is the purpose of the application?
To be able to support our clients in their process of selling off-plan properties
Initially, and to be a channel for showcasing real estate projects without borders, you only need a smartphone and an internet connection.
What is the logistics like?
Our client purchases one of our plans, shares the renderings of the project or apartment with us, we adjust them to actual size or as a display, and put them on display. The user visits and tours the project or apartment with the client or alone, and can appreciate all the details shown in the renderings and, above all, experience that sense of ownership.
Is the Dominican market ready for that step?
The reality is that there aren't many Dominican companies entering that market for various reasons, such as lack of awareness, low popularity, etc., but we understand that the market is ready.
Why the novelty?
This combination of the real and virtual world (the former through our mobile application or website and the latter in the metaverse) is not currently very common in the country or the world. The main focus of the real estate sector in the metaverse is on the purchase of digital spaces or objects through NFTs, which is widely used in international markets.
Through this platform, our clients can interact with buyers worldwide and take a virtual tour, showcasing and explaining projects on floor plans as if they were real. This goes far beyond simply viewing a photo or video. This technology can be seamlessly integrated with the client's website, if needed, providing multiple channels for promoting their properties.
How is the international market doing in that regard?
This market is more focused on the buying and selling of digital spaces in the metaverse, through the use of NFTs, which are Non-Fungible Tokens; in other words, these spaces do not have a physical existence, they are only digital.
