Free guide · For US & international buyers

Thinking about buying in Uruguay? Read this before you fall in love with a listing.

A 30-page guide written by an architect who's helped 45+ American and international families buy right in Montevideo.

  • The real costs — the listing price is missing about 8–9%
  • Six neighborhoods, honestly compared (including the catches)
  • The inspection checklist I use on every property
  • Why Uruguay has no US-style inspections — and what to do instead
  • The chapter where I tell you when NOT to buy
REVIEWED BY
AN ARCHITECT
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No hype. No pressure. The same advice I give my own clients.

Once a month I'll also send The Montevideo Brief — one honest market note. No spam; opt out anytime.

45+ INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES GUIDED IN MONTEVIDEO

"He’s the opposite of every pushy realtor stereotype. He’s an architect, so he can walk into a place and tell you what’s solid, what needs work, and how much it might cost. He’s incredibly transparent and patient."

— PAMELA & KIERNEN · SEATTLE → CIUDAD VIEJA

"Was really on top of everything. Very service oriented. A great communicator, and brilliant with spreadsheets. He managed our entire home search long-distance."

— ARLEN & DOUGLAS · DALLAS → CENTRO

"Nacho really is amazing! He’s professional, fun, and incredibly helpful. He’s a great listener and really make sure he understands what you’re looking for. I just can’t say enough about him. He’s delightful!"

— AMANDA ·
What's inside · 9 chapters

Everything they don't put in the listings

01

Why Uruguay — including the downsides

The honest case: stability, safety, the people — and the parts the blogs skip.

02

Can foreigners buy? The process

Escribano, boleto, escritura — and the Step 0 nobody warns Americans about.

03

The real costs

Every line item: closing costs, gastos comunes, taxes, and the exit math.

04

The neighborhoods, honestly

Pocitos to Carrasco: prices, who each one is for, and the catch in each.

05
THE ONE PEOPLE PRINT

The Architect's Inspection Checklist

The 5-minute first-visit checklist + the deep second-visit review. Use it with me or without me.

06

Vivienda Promovida

Uruguay's tax-incentive program — brochure math vs. my math.

07

Renting first

Yes, a realtor wrote this chapter. The 5:1 insurance math explains why.

08

Three real stories

From a Seattle-to-Montevideo road trip to the kitchen that sealed the deal.

09

Your scouting trip

The 5–7 day recipe refined over 45+ families. Walk more, view less.

Uruguay has no US-style home inspections. None.

There's no "go under contract, then inspect, then renegotiate." Once you sign the boleto de reserva, you're committed — which is why the technical review has to happen before you make an offer, not after. Chapter 2 explains the sequence that protects you. It's the most American-proofing chapter I've ever written.

Who wrote this

An architect who became a realtor — and kept the architect's eyes

I'm Nacho. I work with RE/MAX in Montevideo, and before that I trained and worked as an architect. That combination matters here more than anywhere: in a market with no inspection contingencies, the technical eyes have to walk in with the first visit.

Over the past years I've guided 45+ American and international families through buying in Uruguay — most found me through someone I'd already helped. Every one of them got the same treatment: realistic expectations, fast answers, and the truth about every building, including the ones I told them not to buy.

And every single one, without exception, ended up fascinated by the same two things: the people, and the calm pace of life here. The apartment is the easy part.

The manifesto

What I won't do (and what I will)

  • I won't rush you. Most clients buy 6–18 months after our first email. That's normal.
  • I won't hide humidity, old wiring, or inflated gastos comunes to close a deal.
  • I will tell you when a price is inflated.
  • I will tell you NOT to buy if a property fails my review. Ask my clients.
  • I will answer fast. Usually within hours, not days.
Fair questions

Before you ask

Is this a sales pitch in disguise?

No. The guide includes a chapter on why you might want to rent instead of buy, the honest downsides of Uruguay, and the real (lower) numbers behind investment brochures. If after reading it you want to talk, great — the first call is 30 minutes, free, and pitch-free. Most people leave it with a plan, whether or not we ever work together.

Will you spam me?

You'll get a short series of emails with the advice I give every new client (mistakes to avoid, neighborhoods, trip planning), then about one email a month — The Montevideo Brief, a single honest market note. You can opt out anytime, and the guide is yours forever either way.

I'm 1–2 years away from moving. Is this too early?

It's the perfect time. Most of my 45+ families started talking to me 6–18 months before buying — the ones who planned ahead made better decisions and negotiated better. The ones in a hurry are the ones Chapter 5 was written for.

Does the guide apply if I'm an investor, not a mover?

Yes — Chapter 6 (Vivienda Promovida) and the cost/exit math in Chapter 3 were written for you. There's also a spreadsheet with "the bad rows filled in" that I share on request.

Can I just email you a question instead?

Absolutely. Reply to any email after downloading, or write directly — a real person answers, usually within hours. It's kind of my thing.

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Buy right the first time. Start with the honest version.

30 pages, zero hype. Real costs, honest neighborhoods, and the checklist an architect uses before any offer.

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45+ families started exactly here.