Between the Uruguayan countryside and the South Atlantic Ocean lies Punta del Este, a vibrant coastal city unlike any other. Cosmopolitan culture, gorgeous beaches, vast nature preserves, a progressive and safe community and a robust economy close to the capital, Montevideo. Punta del Este is the perfect place at the heart of Latin America’s most favourable tax haven – and the world is catching on.

No longer just a second-home market for high-net-worth Brazilians and Argentinians, Punta del Este is seeing a swell of Americans and Europeans looking for a place to activate their wealth, for a ‘plan B,’ or a geopolitical hedge in an uncertain world. The Uruguayan government makes it easy and attractive. Expats can claim tax residency with just 60 days in Uruguay if they purchase property worth $480,000, compared to 183 days in Florida. If you make a $2.6m investment then there is no residency requirement at all. The payoffs are immense: no taxes on foreign investment income for 11 years. And there are amazing opportunities to take advantage of the favourable tax climate, from tech to real estate.

Uruguay’s economy is at the beginning of a boom. It is the third-largest software exporter per capita in the world. Thousands of start-ups have recently launched. Major VCs like Andreessen Horowitz are investing billions. Google has invested $850m in a new data centre in Montevideo, where IBM and Microsoft have also set up offices. Netflix is doubling down with film production. Momentum is building in the sustainable agricultural sector as well. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

All of these economic conditions, and more, are simultaneously putting Punta del Este on the map for discerning real estate audiences. And there is but one address on their mind: Fasano Las Piedras.

At the heart of this iconic destination is a hotel designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Isay Weinfeld. Fasano Las Piedras also has a private airport, five restaurants, an Arnold Palmer golf course, tennis courts, an exquisite spa, organic gardens, private beach access, a world-famous equestrian centre, a polo field signed by Nacho Figueras, and now an exclusive collection of branded residences – private homes set within verdant hills, rolling along the coastal landscape.

Luxury real estate
For the homes, the brilliant architect Carolina Proto of Estudio Obra Prima has crafted four distinct design concepts, ranging from one- to nine-bedrooms and constructed on three- to 15-acre parcels. Expanding on Weinfeld’s vision for the first phase of Fasano Las Piedras, Proto is now introducing the region’s most exquisite private homes.

The Country Residence is 6,500 square feet, including five suites, a staff room, a home office and a large swimming pool with an outdoor dining area.

Uruguay’s economy is at the beginning of a boom

The Polo House, designed in consultation with Nacho Figueras and positioned alongside the development’s world-renowned polo field and golf course, is available in two configurations: a 4,700-square-foot, three-suite residence and a 6,500-square-foot, five-suite residence, both featuring a staff room and a sweeping wrap-around terrace with a custom parrilla dining and barbecue pit and a large private pool.

The Farm House is inspired by traditional Uruguayan country estates, spanning 17,000 square feet with seven suites, two staff rooms and a swimming pool. Any four of these custom-built, turn-key homes can be constructed on a range of lots sized from one to 15 acres.

These residences were conceived for today’s global citizens who prioritise ease, who require discretion and the highest level of service, who desire more than a tax haven; they want the best quality of life. Buyers can customise the size and design of their home to fit their unique lifestyle.

In a serene location at the epicentre of Uruguay’s economic boom, Fasano Las Piedras is the most compelling branded residential offering in Latin America right now. With prices starting at around $2.6m, it is still a value play compared to other branded destinations in Mexico and Costa Rica, none of which compare in tax favourability.

As Douglas Elliman-Knight Frank’s global expert on branded residences, I am thrilled to represent Fasano Las Piedras. Please see fasanolaspiedras.erinboissonaries.com for further information.