I’ve deployed over $1B across 100+ projects in LatAm.
My PropTech background has given me the chance to review more than 200 companies.
I work with founders and boards who are reshaping skylines from Mexico City to Miami.
But I see the whole industry heading straight for trouble.
In 2026, having the most money won’t guarantee success.
The winners will be those who learn and adapt the fastest.
Here’s a look at the uncomfortable future of our industry, ready or not:
1. Real Estate is no longer an asset class. It’s an Operating System.
In 2026, the best-performing assets won’t just be buildings. They’ll be platforms with physical walls as well.
- Winners will track Tenant LTV (Lifetime Value) and CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) the way SaaS companies do.
- Losers will keep believing that ‘Location, Location, Location’ makes up for a poor user experience.
2. AI is either your “Unfair Advantage” or your “Exit Sign.”
If you’re still using only manual Excel sheets for your feasibility model, you’re not ‘traditional’—you’re falling behind.
- By 2026, the standard will be AI-driven underwriting that can test a thousand scenarios in seconds.
- This means your competitors will outbid you because they understand the risks better.
3. Architects: Learn to speak the language of spreadsheets or risk being left out.
Beautiful buildings that hurt IRR end up as costly displays of ego.
By 2026, boards will expect Net-to-Gross efficiency and Core Optimization metrics before approving any designs. Design isn’t just art anymore; it’s a strategy that needs the CFO’s approval.
4. Mixed-Use is a Business Model, not a Zoning Category.
The old idea of always putting retail on the ground floor doesn’t work anymore.
Now, the winners use multiple revenue streams. Hospitality brands generate revenue from residential units, and office tenants support retail spaces. In this model, ‘uses’ are flexible variables rather than fixed categories.
5. Capital flows to “Tech-Enabled Execution,” not “Trust Me” projections.
The days of raising $50 million based on a rough sketch and a gut feeling are gone.
There’s still capital out there, but trust is hard to find. LPs want downside protection and operators who use data—not just gut instinct—to protect their margins.
6. The PropTech “Great Purge.”
The market doesn’t need dozens of property management apps. It requires one integrated system.
By 2026, fragmented point solutions will disappear. Companies will go from having 15 vendor contracts to just three key partnerships. If your technology doesn’t work with the rest, it won’t survive.
7. LatAm will “Leapfrog” the US and Europe.
Here’s a bold prediction: The most innovative models won’t come from Miami or Austin. They’ll come from Mexico City, São Paulo, and Bogotá.
- Why? These cities have less old infrastructure, bigger challenges, and a younger population that sees ‘digital-first’ as a must-have, not a luxury.
8. Operational Excellence > Development Margins.
The old way to win was to build, sell, and exit.
In 2026, the winning approach will be to build, operate, optimize, and keep growing.
Improving operational efficiency by 20% can increase a building’s value by a factor of 5. Buildings that run like software will outperform those that don’t change.
9. ESG: Show me the P&L, not the brochure.
No one is interested in your carbon offset press release.
Tenants and LPs want to see:
- 20-40% reduction in energy OpEx.
- Climate resilience that protects long-term asset value.
- If your sustainability efforts don’t improve NOI, they aren’t a real strategy—they’re just PR.
10. The Rise of the “Niche” Institutional Asset.
Developers who try to do everything are becoming rare.
By 2026, the best returns won’t come from generic residential projects. They’ll come from highly specialized assets like student housing, senior living, data centers, and last-mile logistics. Specializing is the only way to avoid becoming a commodity.
Here’s the bottom line: The old guard is waiting for things to return to normal.
The new guard understands that the old ‘normal’ was actually the problem.
Which side are you on?
Let me know in the comments: Which of these 10 predictions do you think will be the hardest for the industry to accept?
