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The area of the country that is the epicenter of the real estate future - La Nacion Propiedades
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November 17, 2025
Real estate leaders met in Neuquén to analyze the present and future of development in southern Argentina; Vaca Muerta, energy, hotels, and new generations set the agenda for COPIP
By Candela Contreras
The third edition of COPIP, which brings together developers and real estate professionals from the Patagonian region and the entire country, was held in Neuquén
Patagonia once again took center stage on the Argentine real estate map , with Neuquén as the epicenter of a transformation that combines energy and urban growth. The province is experiencing its "second major population growth milestone" driven by the development of Vaca Muerta and other economic attractions. The population growth rate is already double the national average, and so far this year alone, more than 200,000 square meters of construction have been registered , 77% of which corresponds to housing
“What’s happening in Neuquén isn’t happening throughout the country. Its growth is undeniable ,” was one of the most prominent statements from the Patagonian Congress of Investments and Real Estate Projects (COPIP 2025), held at the Domuyo Convention Center. The event brought together developers, real estate professionals, architects, and government officials over two days to discuss the future of real estate in one of the regions with the greatest growth potential
COPIP 2025 was held in the capital of Neuquén
The meeting—held on November 6 and 7—which combined panels, presentations, and project exhibitions, reflected a climate of post-election optimism and a shared hope : southern Argentina has ceased to be a land of promises and has become a concrete reality of expansion. The focus was primarily on the rise of Vaca Muerta, the second largest unconventional gas reserve and the fourth largest unconventional oil reserve in the world, which served as the common thread in almost all the talks.
The expansion of Vaca Muerta , the development of energy infrastructure , and the sustained growth of cities like Neuquén position Patagonia as a sought-after area for real estate investment
“This year’s objective was met, both in terms of the impact and the large turnout for the event,” highlighted Daniela Aiello, organizer of COPIP. She explained that the presentation of projects from different regions of Patagonia and the innovative proposals “were very well received by the public and industry leaders.”
At COPIP, the prospects for the real estate and construction sector in Patagonia leading up to 2026 were analyzed.
That same expectation is felt in the local real estate market. Pablo Arpajou, of Safiar, explained how the feeling of political stability reactivated investment decisions: “Miracles don't exist, but when there is tranquility and clear rules, those who have their dollars saved transform them into bricks and mortar.” According to the businessman, Neuquén is the metropolis of Patagonia, and he referred to the present as a key moment to invest : “the value per square meter is bound to rise.”
The challenge is for Vaca Muerta to stop being just a place to pass through and become a city to live in.
For his part, Leandro Soldati, of Grupo Soldati, spoke of Añelo as the great long-term bet. “It seemed to us to be Argentina's way out. We found many investment opportunities in a country where there aren't that many opportunities,” he stated. “ The challenge is for it to stop being a place to pass through and become a city to live in .” According to his projections, full stability will arrive in 2027, with returns that could be sustained at around 10% annually
“Today, energy, agriculture, and mining are the country's three aircraft carriers, and real estate offers an opportunity to get on board,” stated Lucas Salvatore, president of Idero, which has been building in Añelo using industrialized systems since 2020. He also reaffirmed the strength of Vaca Muerta: “ It's undeniable, regardless of who's in power .”
The overall tone was one of cautious confidence. "I do believe that post-election optimism is palpable," Tabakman summarized.
The first talk brought together four developers with projects in the province of Neuquén.Diego Costantini ph - COPIP 2025
This vision for the future of the region was shared by Neuquén's Minister of Planning, Rubén Etcheverry, and the Secretary of Innovation, Gastón Contardi. Both emphasized that the province is experiencing its " second major population growth milestone ," driven by Vaca Muerta, tourism, and the knowledge economy. " Many people are going to come and live here. We expect at least 20,000 families to arrive in the coming years," Contardi noted. Both agreed that this expansion must be accompanied by serious planning and a sustainable approach: "We have to manage by looking to the future, not by looking in the rearview mirror," Etcheverry summarized.
The conversation about growth inevitably crossed paths with that of mortgage lending. Housing economist Federico González Rouco noted that Argentina has barely 0.2% of its GDP allocated to mortgage loans, placing it 89th out of 90 countries surveyed. "Mortgage lending is the only thing that breaks the inheritance system," he said, emphasizing that the lack of financing limits access to housing and market development. Neuquén, however, stands out as an exception: building permits are 40% higher than three years ago, in a country where construction activity has stagnated.
The hotel sector, for its part, is undergoing a reinvention. Despite the fact that “ 2024 was one of the worst years in two decades ,” according to Arturo Navarro of AADESA, the specialists who participated in the panel (Luis Mirabelli of Accor, Pierre Metrailler of Radisson Blu, Marcelo Bresanovich of Wyndham, and Navarro) agree that Patagonia continues to break records for value per square meter and attracts international investors seeking second homes or safe havens. Bresanovich emphasized the importance of corporate tourism linked to gas and energy and warned about a new global requirement: “Without a green certification, many hotels are excluded from bidding processes.”
In Patagonia's tourist destinations, the lack of land is transforming the market: the traditional mountain house is giving way to more accessible and efficient tourist and mixed-use apartments.
That confidence was also reflected in the debate about the new generations of developers. In a one-on-one discussion between Carlos Spina (Argencons) and Beltrán Briones (Estudio Kohon), moderated by Mali Vázquez (CEDU), the paradigm shift in how projects are communicated and managed was discussed . Briones, 26, maintained that "marketing is superior to sales" and that digital outreach is now a driver of legitimacy. Meanwhile, Spina, drawing on his extensive experience, agreed that the return of mortgage lending will be "a great way to formalize the economy" and further professionalize the sector, and that "construction is different today, and you can see it in a new building compared to the one next door that's 20 years old."
Carlos Spina (Argencons), along with Beltrán Briones (Estudio Kohon) and Mali Vázquez (CEDU)Diego Costantini ph - COPIP 2025
The afternoon progressed with an exchange between developers and brokers. Facundo Veas (ASPA) and Martín Boquete (Toribio Achával) highlighted the need for collaboration between those who create and those who sell. “We have to leave behind the bad habits of the salesperson and work with transparency. Two heads are better than one,” said Veas. Boquete, for his part, spoke of the thin line between “fantasy and reality” for investors, especially in contexts like Argentina's. “ It's suicide to build without knowing which product will be successful in the market ,” he warned.
The spectacular Costa Susana area in Ushuaia. Osvaldo Peralta
It should be noted that during the close of the first day and the beginning of the second, the real estate projects that are changing Patagonia and reflecting the investment and projection of the sector were presented:
In search of a more emotional closing, former rugby player and coach Juan Bautista Segonds took the audience into the realm of motivation and leadership . He recalled his work with the Argentine national soccer team and proposed transferring that spirit of unity to the world of business and development: "We are all part of the same team, beyond our differences." The national anthem, sung in chorus by the attendees, was the symbolic finale of an event that blended reflection, strategy, and optimism.
Coach Juan Bautista Segonds closed the event with a motivational talkDiego Costantini ph - COPIP 2025
www.buysellba.com
Source:
November 17, 2025
Real estate leaders met in Neuquén to analyze the present and future of development in southern Argentina; Vaca Muerta, energy, hotels, and new generations set the agenda for COPIP
By Candela Contreras
The third edition of COPIP, which brings together developers and real estate professionals from the Patagonian region and the entire country, was held in Neuquén
Patagonia once again took center stage on the Argentine real estate map , with Neuquén as the epicenter of a transformation that combines energy and urban growth. The province is experiencing its "second major population growth milestone" driven by the development of Vaca Muerta and other economic attractions. The population growth rate is already double the national average, and so far this year alone, more than 200,000 square meters of construction have been registered , 77% of which corresponds to housing
“What’s happening in Neuquén isn’t happening throughout the country. Its growth is undeniable ,” was one of the most prominent statements from the Patagonian Congress of Investments and Real Estate Projects (COPIP 2025), held at the Domuyo Convention Center. The event brought together developers, real estate professionals, architects, and government officials over two days to discuss the future of real estate in one of the regions with the greatest growth potential
COPIP 2025 was held in the capital of Neuquén
The meeting—held on November 6 and 7—which combined panels, presentations, and project exhibitions, reflected a climate of post-election optimism and a shared hope : southern Argentina has ceased to be a land of promises and has become a concrete reality of expansion. The focus was primarily on the rise of Vaca Muerta, the second largest unconventional gas reserve and the fourth largest unconventional oil reserve in the world, which served as the common thread in almost all the talks.
The expansion of Vaca Muerta , the development of energy infrastructure , and the sustained growth of cities like Neuquén position Patagonia as a sought-after area for real estate investment
“This year’s objective was met, both in terms of the impact and the large turnout for the event,” highlighted Daniela Aiello, organizer of COPIP. She explained that the presentation of projects from different regions of Patagonia and the innovative proposals “were very well received by the public and industry leaders.”
At COPIP, the prospects for the real estate and construction sector in Patagonia leading up to 2026 were analyzed.
The impetus of Vaca Muerta as an engine of real estate expansion
The first talk of the event brought together four developers with projects in the area, moderated by Damián Tabakman (CEDU), and focused precisely on the prospects for the real estate and construction sector leading up to 2026 for Patagonia in general, but for the Neuquén and Añelo area in particular, with immediate post-election optimism. “We have international calls and calls from large companies in the country to invest in wind and solar farms,” noted Alicia Henríquez, from Akros, who projected a scenario of reforms and growth “to benefit all developments.”That same expectation is felt in the local real estate market. Pablo Arpajou, of Safiar, explained how the feeling of political stability reactivated investment decisions: “Miracles don't exist, but when there is tranquility and clear rules, those who have their dollars saved transform them into bricks and mortar.” According to the businessman, Neuquén is the metropolis of Patagonia, and he referred to the present as a key moment to invest : “the value per square meter is bound to rise.”
The challenge is for Vaca Muerta to stop being just a place to pass through and become a city to live in.
For his part, Leandro Soldati, of Grupo Soldati, spoke of Añelo as the great long-term bet. “It seemed to us to be Argentina's way out. We found many investment opportunities in a country where there aren't that many opportunities,” he stated. “ The challenge is for it to stop being a place to pass through and become a city to live in .” According to his projections, full stability will arrive in 2027, with returns that could be sustained at around 10% annually
“Today, energy, agriculture, and mining are the country's three aircraft carriers, and real estate offers an opportunity to get on board,” stated Lucas Salvatore, president of Idero, which has been building in Añelo using industrialized systems since 2020. He also reaffirmed the strength of Vaca Muerta: “ It's undeniable, regardless of who's in power .”
The overall tone was one of cautious confidence. "I do believe that post-election optimism is palpable," Tabakman summarized.
The first talk brought together four developers with projects in the province of Neuquén.Diego Costantini ph - COPIP 2025
This vision for the future of the region was shared by Neuquén's Minister of Planning, Rubén Etcheverry, and the Secretary of Innovation, Gastón Contardi. Both emphasized that the province is experiencing its " second major population growth milestone ," driven by Vaca Muerta, tourism, and the knowledge economy. " Many people are going to come and live here. We expect at least 20,000 families to arrive in the coming years," Contardi noted. Both agreed that this expansion must be accompanied by serious planning and a sustainable approach: "We have to manage by looking to the future, not by looking in the rearview mirror," Etcheverry summarized.
The conversation about growth inevitably crossed paths with that of mortgage lending. Housing economist Federico González Rouco noted that Argentina has barely 0.2% of its GDP allocated to mortgage loans, placing it 89th out of 90 countries surveyed. "Mortgage lending is the only thing that breaks the inheritance system," he said, emphasizing that the lack of financing limits access to housing and market development. Neuquén, however, stands out as an exception: building permits are 40% higher than three years ago, in a country where construction activity has stagnated.
Tourism as the central axis of Patagonia
But the south is not limited to Neuquén's oil and gas. Tourism and hospitality also occupy a central place. In Bariloche, for example, the demand for permanent and temporary housing continues to rise. Belisario Reynal, of Grupo Klover, explained that the city “is experiencing a sustained cycle of expansion,” with an airport that handles up to 48 daily flights and profitability “higher than that of Buenos Aires.” The lack of land is transforming the market: the traditional mountain house is giving way to more accessible and efficient tourist and mixed-use apartmentsThe hotel sector, for its part, is undergoing a reinvention. Despite the fact that “ 2024 was one of the worst years in two decades ,” according to Arturo Navarro of AADESA, the specialists who participated in the panel (Luis Mirabelli of Accor, Pierre Metrailler of Radisson Blu, Marcelo Bresanovich of Wyndham, and Navarro) agree that Patagonia continues to break records for value per square meter and attracts international investors seeking second homes or safe havens. Bresanovich emphasized the importance of corporate tourism linked to gas and energy and warned about a new global requirement: “Without a green certification, many hotels are excluded from bidding processes.”
In Patagonia's tourist destinations, the lack of land is transforming the market: the traditional mountain house is giving way to more accessible and efficient tourist and mixed-use apartments.
Artificial intelligence, planning, and new perspectives
With an invitation to look beyond bricks and mortar, artificial intelligence has burst into practically every aspect of life. "We have to stop thinking about websites or applications and start thinking about generating agents within WhatsApp," proposed engineer Sebastián Ramírez during his presentation on artificial intelligence. The digital world has become indistinguishable from the physical, and in that confusion, AI can be an ally or a risk. "Don't rush into doing crazy things if you don't have data, because it's like building a house next to a garbage dump ," he warned. In that context, blockchain emerged as the tool capable of restoring trust in an environment of distrust.That confidence was also reflected in the debate about the new generations of developers. In a one-on-one discussion between Carlos Spina (Argencons) and Beltrán Briones (Estudio Kohon), moderated by Mali Vázquez (CEDU), the paradigm shift in how projects are communicated and managed was discussed . Briones, 26, maintained that "marketing is superior to sales" and that digital outreach is now a driver of legitimacy. Meanwhile, Spina, drawing on his extensive experience, agreed that the return of mortgage lending will be "a great way to formalize the economy" and further professionalize the sector, and that "construction is different today, and you can see it in a new building compared to the one next door that's 20 years old."
Carlos Spina (Argencons), along with Beltrán Briones (Estudio Kohon) and Mali Vázquez (CEDU)Diego Costantini ph - COPIP 2025
The afternoon progressed with an exchange between developers and brokers. Facundo Veas (ASPA) and Martín Boquete (Toribio Achával) highlighted the need for collaboration between those who create and those who sell. “We have to leave behind the bad habits of the salesperson and work with transparency. Two heads are better than one,” said Veas. Boquete, for his part, spoke of the thin line between “fantasy and reality” for investors, especially in contexts like Argentina's. “ It's suicide to build without knowing which product will be successful in the market ,” he warned.
The spectacular Costa Susana area in Ushuaia. Osvaldo Peralta
It should be noted that during the close of the first day and the beginning of the second, the real estate projects that are changing Patagonia and reflecting the investment and projection of the sector were presented:
- In Neuquén : Life Tower (Safiar); Assur II (Akros)
- In Añelo : Añelo District (Idero); Añelo Farms (Soldatti Group)
- In San Martín de los Andes : Vivre Andes (Grupo Habitti / Germán Tavella); All Chapelco (Architect Luciano Kruk); Aldea del Arroyo (Polizzi - Soldini / Sposito y Asoc); Postal Patagonia (Thermolam); Nuevo Lolog (Eidico)
- In Bariloche : Bariloche del Este (Juan Manuel Valcarcel); Amoc Ski Residences (OBW Desarrollos); Cerro Lindo (Grupo Klover / O'Keefe)
- In Villa La Angostura : UMA (Un Mito Andino)
- In Ushuaia : Costa Susana (MGS Group)
In search of a more emotional closing, former rugby player and coach Juan Bautista Segonds took the audience into the realm of motivation and leadership . He recalled his work with the Argentine national soccer team and proposed transferring that spirit of unity to the world of business and development: "We are all part of the same team, beyond our differences." The national anthem, sung in chorus by the attendees, was the symbolic finale of an event that blended reflection, strategy, and optimism.
Coach Juan Bautista Segonds closed the event with a motivational talkDiego Costantini ph - COPIP 2025
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