The sector's growth will only be sustainable if it is built on a solid foundation of transparency and buyer security.
SANTIAGO. – 2025 will be remembered as one of the most challenging for construction and the real estate market in the country, as according to the Central Bank's September Monetary Policy Report, the construction sector registered a drop of -12% in its growth.
The Dominican Republic's monetary policy regulator indicated in the report that these results reflect the moderation of a market that grew after the pandemic , and mortgage interest rates that reached historic levels of up to 15 and 16%.
Amid this scenario, the cases of real estate malpractice that came to light shook the confidence of buyers, another factor also pointed out by developers and real estate leaders who maintain that, although they were few in number, their media impact was enormous.
For many, 2025 was the year the sector had to look in the mirror and recognize that credibility is as important as sales figures.
In the words of José Alberto Espinal, broker-owner of Plusval North Zone, “not everything is bad; the good thing is that we have learned to be more rigorous” and if 2025 taught us anything, it was that trust cannot be improvised.
Beyond competition, the agencies have united around a common purpose: to guarantee buyer security.
Espinal also reflects on the lessons learned this year: “This is a sector that, thank God, we manage in a spirit of camaraderie. Today we are at the event of a great friend, from another real estate company, which speaks volumes about the unity that exists, and that has been key to facing the crisis of confidence.”.
The new golden rule
The lesson is clear: it's not enough to have an attractive project; it must be protected with processes that ensure its legitimacy. The trust, in particular, becomes a seal of trust that offers greater guarantees for the industry ecosystem.
The big change in 2025 has been the rigorous vetting of projects and promoters, and Espinal explains it clearly:
– Review the origin of the resources and financing of each project.
– Verify documents and property rights.
– Evaluate the track record of the promoters.
– Require trusts , permits and licenses as an indispensable condition.
Protecting the buyer: an ethical commitment
“A product that we bring to market under our brand must give the customer the assurance that it has been fully evaluated and vetted,” says the veteran real estate advisor, in an interview with El Inmobiliario.
The ultimate purpose of this rigor is to protect the buyer. Espinal sums it up in a powerful phrase:
“Our purpose is to minimize as much as possible the cases where a person loses the sacrifices of their entire life.”.
In a market where acquiring a home involves years of effort, the responsibility of real estate companies is to guarantee that each marketed project is risk-free, so vetting becomes an ethical commitment, beyond the business aspect.
Espinal argues that the real estate scandals were a hard blow in the year that is ending, but also a catalyst for agencies to strengthen their processes and raise their security standards.
The partnership between companies, rigorous vetting, and the requirement of trusts are now part of the new language of trust in a Dominican real estate market that enters 2026 with a clear lesson: growth will only be sustainable if it is built on the solid foundation of transparency and security for the buyer.
