Colombia

Driven by demand for housing and a mounting construction sector, real estate in Colombia has been experiencing healthy growth. Fears of an impending bubble have so far been exaggerated, as the housing stock is being absorbed by high demand and a well structured mortgage system. The real estate sector accounted for 8% of GDP in 2013, according to figures by the Colombian...

Ever since entering office for its first term in 2010, the government of President Juan Manuel Santos has put the construction of new homes for Colombians as one of the top priorities. Despite being behind its target of building 1m homes over the 2010-14 period, the government has been able to establish a consistent level of housing development. Much of the impetus has...

Buoyed by a strengthening of the government’s housing programme, as well as a continued emphasis on improving transport infrastructure across the country, Colombia’s construction sector is well positioned for growth over the coming years. Construction of highways and other infrastructure is accelerating, as successive tenders for the Fourth Generation (4G) road projects...

Despite the growing importance of medium-sized cities for property development, Colombia’s real estate sector has been highly affected by expansion in Bogotá. The capital city has seen a wave of economic growth turn into real estate investment, whether for high-end housing options or as an investment opportunity. Despite the fast-growing market, the city’s real estate...

Among the many efforts to boost the variety of transport options are government plans to revive cargo freight along several rivers. This has emerged out of a need to cut transport costs, which can be excessive in a country where harsh terrain and poor road infrastructure makes linking ports with production centres cumbersome. The potential is certainly there: the four...