Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The real estate outlook for the state shows sustained expansion driven by new investment models. AMPI Cancun President Karen Ramos Díaz says the dynamism of the real estate sector continues to be one of the strongest drivers of regional economic growth, however, a challenge is preserving the environment during that growth.

It is for this reason they continue to train professionals in the field, reported President of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) Cancun.

“We’ve had cycles of accelerated expansion but today we’re facing more stable and professional growth accompanied by a new generation of advisors and developers committed to sustainability and legal certainty,” she said.

While the country’s economy is growing at an annual rate of 1.7 percent, the state’s economy is growing at a rate of up to 3.7 percent, she added. The real estate landscape is showing sustained expansion, driven by new investment models, the professionalization of the industry and a growing trend toward more sustainable projects.

Ramos Díaz emphasized that the state’s growth has gone through different stages, from the creation of the Fonatur Master Plan with just 40,000 city residents, to today’s city of Cancun with more than a million people.

She says Quintana Roo has more than a thousand active real estate projects currently on the go. A majority of those real estate projects are in the municipalities of Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. She says the state has an average monthly 1,600 units sold, a figure that reflects the vitality of the market and investor confidence.

However, experts agree that this growth must be sustained with a responsible approach.

“The most important challenge is preserving the environment. For us, the real estate business is precisely about preserving the natural environment,” she said noting that only 4.5 percent of the state’s land area is urbanized, despite its intense economic activity.