Legal certainty is not just a legal concept, but a daily practice that requires coordination between authorities, real estate agents and consumers.
SANTO DOMINGO. – The nearly 250 professionals who gathered yesterday at the Catalonia Hotel left happy and satisfied with the quality of the exhibitors and the opportunity to put into words some aspects of the real estate and construction business that are usually discussed in small groups, but rarely heard from a group of “gurus” in the same space.
This is the case of legal security, the central theme of the Forum El Inmobiliario Metros Seguros: Inversión Inmobiliaria al Cuadrado" (The Real Estate Safe Meters: Real Estate Investment Squared), which was masterfully developed by speakers and panelists, leaving attendees wanting more.
Among all that was experienced and learned, many also remembered the festive moment when the master of ceremonies, Danielis Fermín, invited everyone to stand up, find a partner and take a selfie with the #ForoElInmobiliario2025 hashtag, filling our social networks with smiles and colors.
First of all
The El Inmobiliario team welcoming the participants. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
Everyone looked very elegant, arriving early. Amidst coffees, cups of tea, selfies, and hugs, the lobby gradually filled up into a crowd. Several screens and banners, strategically placed, reminded everyone that they were in the heart of the Forum. The tables, draped in elegant black, blended into the dim light, while flashes of blue light traced a visual path to the stage. There, a solitary podium, serene and expectant, seemed to hold its silence until the voices of the first speakers would awaken it, beginning a day that would ultimately sow seeds of profound reflection.
The Grand Ballroom of the Catalonia Hotel was filled with excellent content and hundreds of attendees. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
Among the audience were figures from the sector such as Pedro Martínez, deputy of Alianza País; Riubell Montes de Oca, president of Ascode; Eliseo Cristopher, president of Copymecon; and Alberto Bogaert, president of the AEI, along with Yesenia Toribio, Olga Gómez, Mélido Marte, Bienvenido Paulino, Marisol Shanlatte and other real estate and construction leaders.
Among those present was Congressman Pedro Martínez. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
Each seat was adorned with the classic blue bag containing printed copies of El Inmobiliario and Mujer de Concreto, along with supporting materials. The thoughtful touch was appreciated by the attendees, who were already gearing up for a busy day.
As the room filled up, attendees eagerly browsed the copies of El Inmobiliario and Mujer de Concreto magazine placed on each table. The leaders, smiling and conspiratorial, searched for each other among the pages to read the profiles published about them, sharing gestures of pride and discreet comments.
Ariel Grasso reads the new printed edition of El Inmobiliario that was circulating at the forum. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
Amid the murmur of greetings, the clinking of coffee cups, and impromptu photos, there was a vibrant anticipation that foreshadowed the intensity of the day.
Minutes later, a cheerful "Good morning" signaled the start of the activity.
It all began
Various representatives from the real estate and construction industries gathered. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
El Inmobiliario
Media Group , gave a warm and direct welcome speech:
“This forum stems from the conviction that trust and legal certainty are the foundation of any sustainable investment. Talking about real estate is not just about buildings: it's also about the future, heritage, and the peace of mind of those who invest in our country.”
With an emotional voice, she recalled her team's recent achievements: the Mujer de Concreto magazine, the renewal of the digital portal and the Ventana program, "a space where the voices of the sector have an expedited way to express themselves.".
Her words were met with applause and the master of ceremonies emphasized the central idea: “El Inmobiliario has become a benchmark in the sector thanks to useful and truthful journalism, always committed to transparency.”.
El Inmobiliario Media Group team to the audience, introduced them, thanked them for their professionalism, and above all, for the enthusiasm they bring to their work.
The Best Path:
The first presentation was given by Ana Bello, an expert in real estate law, who shared the essential steps for transparent property purchases in the Dominican Republic. She emphasized that “comprehensive advice, with a broker and a specialized lawyer, is indispensable for protecting your investment.”
The summary of this presentation was clear: preparation, due diligence, and transparent closing. These three steps became a kind of mantra, repeated in the lobby and during coffee breaks.
The Real Estate Agent's Challenge
Next up was Luz Sarmiento, CEO of Urban Group, with a presentation that portrayed the new post-pandemic client: informed, comparing options, and demanding in terms of legal security.
“The stability of the Dominican Republic is an asset we must capitalize on. In an environment where other countries are experiencing crises, our political and economic certainty generates confidence,” she stated.
She listed the four pillars of current challenges: legal security, professionalization, specialization, and technology. “Real estate agents must know about law and finance, but also connect with the client's emotions. We cannot disconnect from what they feel,” she emphasized.
The master of ceremonies concluded with a resounding statement: “Preparation and innovation are the keys that Luz Sarmiento leaves us with to face a changing market.”
Vivian Reyes, Annerys Meléndez, Reyna Echenique, Hernando Gómez, Ana María Ramos, Ana Bello, Idamis Lozada, Luz Sarmiento, Joan Trilla and Javier Donoso. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
Foreign capital spoke
Joan Trilla and Javier Donoso being interviewed by María Laura González. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
In a friendly tone, María Laura González spoke with Spaniards Joan Trilla and Javier Donoso, leaders of Gesproin Group and partners in Coral Golf Resort. Trilla, with extensive experience in the energy and construction sectors, shared how rigorous and sustainable technical management translates into high-quality and efficient projects.
Donoso, for his part, highlighted the importance of thoroughly understanding the Dominican market and projecting confidence to investors, a combination that has allowed Coral Golf Resort to position itself as a leading destination.
Their remarks made it clear that the Dominican Republic offers not only stability but also a solid platform for long-term international investment. They spoke of transparency, market consolidation, and the opportunities afforded by local permitting processes, although they criticized the duplication that occurs in certain cases and suggested reviewing this aspect of the process.
María Laura, an actress, announcer, and professional model, conducted the interview with both professionals, who revealed that their company arose from the failure of someone else's experience, from which they learned
The most
anticipated moment came with the presentation by Reyna Echenique, who titled her talk “Legal Security: The Master Key to Investments.” “Keeping promises, delivering projects on time and in the proper manner, and communicating transparently are elements that define trust. And trust is the engine that sustains long-term real estate investment in the Dominican Republic,” she stated firmly.
He presented figures and trends: 25% of foreign direct investment in the last decade has gone to the real estate sector, with centers of growth in Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, and Santiago. He warned that a lack of information can increase investment risk by up to 30% and proposed the use of digital transparency platforms.
He also spoke about sustainability, highlighting that projects with green certifications achieve up to 15% higher valuations. “Innovation and sustainability are now key differentiators for attracting capital,” he noted.
The attendees took notes. Some, with serious expressions, nodded at each statement. The room was completely silent.
A forward-looking conclusion
The day culminated with a panel on legal guarantees, which brought together highly experienced professionals such as Annerys Meléndez, a specialist in registry law and titling processes, who provided a technical perspective on how document security is key to protecting an investment.
Eddy Alcántara, executive director of Pro Consumidor, who highlighted the importance of protecting the buyer and the role of the State as a guarantor of trust in transactions, and Idamis Lozada, recognized for her experience advising developers and construction companies, who explained the most common risks in contracts and the preventive measures that should be taken.
This prestigious panel was moderated by Vivian Reyes, a communicator with extensive experience in the sector, who guided the exchange with direct questions that grounded the theory in practical examples.
Learning
This space made it clear that legal certainty is not just a legal concept, but a daily practice that requires coordination between authorities, real estate agents and consumers.
Attendees left with the understanding of the need for clarity regarding the type of project in which they want to invest; the conviction to continue betting on development; the certainty that the real estate market is becoming increasingly consolidated; and the advantage, at a national level, of having a permitting framework that opens up opportunities.
Sponsors
The organizers thanked the sponsoring brands that made the forum possible: Coral Golf Resort, Gesproin Group, Cruise On Land, Morada Development Group, Modern Properties Group, Coimtra, GCPI – Gestores & Consultores de Procesos Institucionales, Noval Properties, Echenique Group, Madesol, Fidomsa, Dirava Construcciones, Cielos Acústicos, Centro de Belleza Ony, Civilmek, Leja Car Rental, EMC Abogados & Consultores, Punta Cana Consulting Group, the Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies (AEI), and Tu CasaRD.
In the end, amidst greetings, photos, and promises of future meetings, a shared feeling remained: the certainty that investing in the Dominican Republic, with the right guidance, is betting on a solid and secure future.
