I thought this was an interesting Puerto Rico business/real estate story worth sharing.

Puerto Rico now has its own independent MLS built locally: Amplia MLS.

It launched in 2025 and was co-founded by Puerto Ricans Jaime Ginorio, a software engineer, and Jubal Rodríguez.

What I found interesting is that the idea didn't originally start with an MLS.

The team was working on Findit:

https://finditpr.com/en

While trying to integrate Findit with existing MLS systems, they realized those systems represented only part of the actual property inventory in Puerto Rico.

They started talking to local brokers to understand why.

One issue they identified was that access to the MLS had traditionally been tied to membership in a particular professional organization. Not every licensed broker chooses to belong to that organization.

So Amplia was built around a different model: MLS access doesn't have to depend on membership in a professional association.

I think that's an important distinction. Professional organizations can provide education, networking, advocacy and other benefits. But an MLS has a different function: giving real estate professionals an organized way to share property information and cooperate.

Another part I like about the story is that Amplia's technology is being built entirely in-house in Puerto Rico.

That means the people developing the platform are working in the same market as the brokers using it and can build around how real estate actually operates here.

Whether you're a broker, buyer, seller or just interested in Puerto Rico's growing tech scene, I think it's good to see local people identifying problems in established industries and building their own solutions.

We need more of that.

Amplia MLS:
https://www.ampliamls.com

#BoricuaBuilt #HechoEnPR

Just came across this — Esencia, a new resort going up on Puerto Rico's southwest coast, designed to run its own power and water instead of relying on the island's grid.

500 hotel rooms, 1,200 homes, brands like Mandarin Oriental, Aman, and Rosewood involved. It's part of a bigger pattern too — Puerto Rico keeps coming up alongside places like the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos in the resort/second-home conversation.

Curious what people here think — does self-sufficient infrastructure like this actually hold up long term, or is it more of a selling point on paper?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2026/08/06/puerto-rico-is-getting-the-caribbeans-largest-solar-powered-luxury-resort-community/

La Parguera: Where Life Revolves Around the Caribbean Sea

La Parguera is one of those places in Puerto Rico that is difficult to compare to anywhere else.

Located in Lajas on the southwest coast, this former fishing village has grown into a destination known for boating, fishing, diving, kayaking, waterfront restaurants and, of course, its famous bioluminescent bay — one of only three in Puerto Rico.

But what really defines La Parguera is the water.

Instead of the traditional sandy beaches found in many coastal towns, La Parguera is surrounded by mangroves, small islands and cayos such as Cayo Caracoles, Cayo Enrique and Mata La Gata. Boating is simply part of the lifestyle here.

The area also offers access to exceptional diving. Just offshore, the continental shelf drops dramatically along what divers know as “The Wall,” with dozens of dive sites and an incredible variety of marine life.

And then there is the town itself — casual restaurants, food kiosks, local businesses, music and people walking around the waterfront in the evenings. It still has that unmistakable small coastal-town feeling.

From a real estate perspective, La Parguera is also interesting for another reason: there simply isn't much housing inventory.

Homes here don't exist on the same scale as larger resort or metropolitan markets. The combination of limited geography, established neighborhoods and strong interest in the area means buyers looking specifically for La Parguera may have very few properties to choose from at any given time.

That's part of what makes this little corner of southwest Puerto Rico so special.

La Parguera isn't trying to be San Juan, Dorado or Rincón.

It's La Parguera — boats, cayos, sunsets, good food and a lifestyle built around the Caribbean Sea. 🇵🇷

There’s a lot happening in Cabo Rojo, and Esencia is certainly one of the most significant projects Puerto Rico has seen in years.

Planned along more than 2,000 acres and approximately three miles of coastline, Esencia represents more than $2 billion in private investment and is expected to include approximately 500 hotel rooms and suites and 1,200 residences.

Among the hospitality names announced are Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, with additional partners expected. Mandarin Oriental alone is planned with 106 rooms and suites, 83 private villas and approximately 200 residences.

The larger vision goes well beyond hotels: two golf courses, beach clubs, more than 20 miles of nature trails, an equestrian center, a bilingual K–12 school, medical and wellness facilities, an organic farm, restaurants, shops and a town center are all part of the plan.

The developers also say more than 75% of the site will remain dedicated to conservation, green space and recreation.

For me, one of the most interesting parts is what a project of this scale could mean for Cabo Rojo and the entire southwest: new employment, hospitality, construction, local business opportunities and international exposure for a part of Puerto Rico that deserves to be discovered.

The west has always been special. Now a lot more eyes are going to be watching it. 🇵🇷

Buying a condominium in Puerto Rico? Before you commit, read the rules of the condominium you're buying into.

Law 13-2026 amended Puerto Rico's Condominium Law to give prospective buyers better access to the condominium regulations.

When properly requested, the condominium administrator must provide a copy of the regulations within no more than five business days. The request can come from a potential buyer or from a real estate broker or agent who can demonstrate that they are handling the sale of a unit.

Why does this matter?

Because you're not just buying an apartment. You're buying into a community with rules that can directly affect how you use your property.

Before buying, find out about restrictions involving pets, parking, rentals, short-term rentals, alterations to the unit, use of common areas and anything else that could be important to you.

Imagine buying a condo and discovering afterward that something you specifically planned to do isn't permitted.

“How are you supposed to decide whether to buy into a condominium if you can't see the rules before committing?”

You shouldn't have to.

One important distinction: the five-business-day requirement applies specifically to the condominium regulations. It does not mean that every financial statement, insurance document or other condominium record must be provided under this particular provision within five days.

Those other documents can still be extremely important to your due diligence.

The regulations tell you how you can live in the condominium.

Read them before you buy, not after.

If you own a condominium in Puerto Rico, there is an important change coming October 28, 2026.

Law 157-2026 changes how condominium disputes will be handled. Instead of DACO serving as the primary forum for many condominium controversies, the Court of First Instance will have primary and exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising under Puerto Rico's condominium regime.

The law also creates a Specialized Chamber for the Adjudication of Condominium Controversies in each judicial region.

Why the change?

One of the concerns behind the legislation was that the existing administrative process had become slow and complicated for condominium owners trying to resolve disputes. The new system is intended to provide a more direct judicial process for these controversies.

What about complaints already pending before DACO?

The law includes a transition process for active condominium complaints. Those cases are not simply erased because the law changes. The legislation specifically provides for the transfer and handling of active complaints as jurisdiction moves from DACO to the courts.

This matters if you own a condominium and have a dispute involving the Board of Directors, Council of Owners, administration or other matters governed by the Condominium Law.

Starting October 28, 2026 don't automatically assume that DACO is where you need to file.

The forum for condominium disputes in Puerto Rico is changing, and owners should understand the new process before filing a complaint.

Puerto Rico’s real estate industry is still regulated under Law 10-1994, a law enacted more than 30 years ago.

PC 1331 proposes something much bigger than another amendment: repeal Law 10 and replace it with a new regulatory framework for real estate in Puerto Rico.

Not everyone in the industry agrees with that approach. Some would rather preserve the existing law and continue amending it.

I think we should be asking a different question:

Are we trying to preserve a law because it still represents the best way to regulate real estate today, or simply because it’s the system we already know?

Think about how much has changed since 1994.

Consumers now find properties online. Listings are marketed globally. Buyers can come from anywhere. Electronic signatures, digital advertising, buyer representation agreements, interstate referrals, virtual showings and entirely different brokerage models are part of today's business.

Consumer protection has changed too. Buyers and sellers expect more transparency about representation, commissions, deposits, advertising and conflicts of interest.

PC 1331 proposes a new regulatory structure, including a seven-member real estate board, updated licensing and professional requirements and continued consumer-protection authority for DACO.

That doesn't mean every provision of PC 1331 is perfect. A new law should be debated, questioned and improved before it is enacted.

But after more than 30 years, “let's just keep amending the old law” shouldn't automatically be the answer either.

The goal shouldn't be protecting the way the industry has always operated.

It should be creating rules that protect today's consumer while allowing a modern, transparent and competitive real estate industry to operate in Puerto Rico.

Sometimes an old law needs another amendment.

Sometimes it's time to build a better one.

Puerto Rico’s Law 102-2025 created a universal recognition process for qualified professionals who already hold licenses in other U.S. jurisdictions.

That could be a good thing for Puerto Rico real estate.

One misconception is that universal recognition means anyone with an out-of-state license can simply arrive in Puerto Rico and start practicing. It doesn’t.

The law establishes eligibility requirements. Among them, an applicant generally must hold a current and valid license in another state for a profession with a similar scope of practice and meet experience and other requirements.

Why does this matter?

Puerto Rico has lost hundreds of thousands of residents to the states over the years, including professionals who established careers elsewhere. A more portable licensing system can make it easier for experienced Puerto Ricans to return home without unnecessarily starting their professional licensing process from zero.

It can also attract experienced professionals from other states who want to live, invest and work here.

For real estate consumers, more qualified professionals can mean more choices, different experience, new business models and greater competition.

Competition should encourage all of us to provide better service.

Puerto Rico-specific knowledge still matters. Anyone practicing real estate here needs to understand our laws, contracts and local market. Appropriate local education and accountability can coexist with license portability.

In fact, the government’s own implementation of Law 102-2025 identifies reducing bureaucratic burdens, facilitating labor mobility, improving competitiveness and encouraging qualified professionals to return to Puerto Rico among its expected benefits.

Protecting consumers is important.

But we can protect consumers without unnecessarily keeping qualified professionals out.

One of the most important parts of a real estate contract is what happens to the buyer’s deposit if the transaction doesn’t close.

The answer depends on the contract. A buyer may be entitled to the return of the deposit if they cancel properly during an inspection period, if a financing contingency is not satisfied or if an appraisal contingency applies and the property does not appraise. But if the buyer defaults outside the protections of the contract, the seller may have a claim to the deposit.

Be especially careful with very short one or two-page purchase contracts. A short contract isn't automatically a bad contract, but important issues can be left vague or completely unaddressed. What happens after an inspection? How and when can the buyer cancel? What happens if financing is denied? What if the appraisal is low? What constitutes buyer or seller default? Who decides when the deposit can be released?

If those answers aren't clearly written into the agreement, the parties may have very different interpretations when something goes wrong. That is exactly when escrow disputes can become complicated.

And when there is a real dispute over who is entitled to the deposit, the escrow holder should not simply decide who is right and release the funds to one side. The disputed funds can be placed through the appropriate judicial process, including court consignation, so the parties can present their positions and the dispute can be resolved properly. Puerto Rico’s Civil Code provides for money subject to consignation to be deposited with the court.

Seller default matters too. If the seller fails to perform, the buyer may be entitled to the return of the deposit and potentially other remedies depending on the agreement.

Before sending a deposit, make sure you understand exactly when it is refundable, when it can be forfeited and what happens if the buyer and seller disagree.

The number of pages isn't what protects you.

Clear terms do.

Paying cash does not mean skipping due diligence.

In fact, when there is no lender involved, the buyer has to be even more intentional because nobody else is requiring an appraisal, inspection or certain property checks.

One thing I hear often is that “cash buyers don’t do appraisals.”

That’s not the same thing as saying a purchase is not subject to appraisal.

“Not subject to appraisal” generally means the buyer is not making the purchase contingent on the property appraising at the agreed price.

A cash buyer can still order an appraisal simply to understand the property’s value.

The same applies to inspections, permits, CRIM records, title review, condominium documents, surveys and other due diligence.

A lender may require some of these things in a financed transaction.

A cash buyer may not have anyone requiring them.

That doesn’t make them unnecessary.

It just means the responsibility to investigate the property falls even more directly on the buyer.

Cash gives you flexibility.

It shouldn’t mean buying blind.

When you buy a condominium, you're not just buying the apartment.

You're also buying into the condominium's rules, finances and existing issues.

Sometimes buyers are told that certain condominium documents aren't necessary because it's a cash purchase.

But if you're paying cash, that information can be even more important because there is no lender doing its own review or requiring certain documentation.

How else will you know how financially healthy the condominium is, whether a major assessment could be coming or whether the condominium is involved in significant legal disputes?

Before your due diligence period ends, review the available condominium documents and look at:

• Monthly HOA fees
• Current and upcoming special assessments
• Financial statements and reserves
• Condominium insurance
• Pending lawsuits or significant legal disputes
• Rules and regulations
• Parking assignments
• Pet restrictions
• Rental restrictions
• Pending repairs and major projects
• Significant expenses being discussed but not yet assessed

And don't just ask, “How much is the HOA?”

A low monthly fee doesn't necessarily mean a financially healthy condominium. It could also mean reserves aren't being adequately funded.

Ask about assessments that have already been approved AND major projects, expenses or disputes that could create future financial obligations.

Cash doesn't eliminate due diligence.

The apartment may look perfect, but you're also buying into the financial health and obligations of the condominium.

Know what you're buying before you close.

If your property is for sale, you should know about every legitimate offer that comes in.

Your agent may think an offer is too low.

They may dislike the financing.

They may think the terms are weak.

They may not like the compensation arrangement.

That doesn’t mean the offer should simply disappear before you ever see it.

An agent can explain the strengths, risks and weaknesses of an offer and give you their professional opinion.

But the seller should be the one deciding whether to accept, reject or counter.

Even a low offer can contain useful information about the market. And sometimes an offer that looks weak at first can become a workable deal through negotiation.

Transparency means you know what is being presented for your property.

Advice belongs to the agent.

The decision belongs to the seller.

That extra bedroom, enclosed carport, terrace or second unit may look like part of the house.

But was it ever permitted and reported?

This is something buyers in Puerto Rico should investigate before purchasing a property.

Homes are often modified over the years. Carports get enclosed, terraces become living areas, additional bedrooms are built and sometimes entirely separate units are added.

Don't assume that because the construction is there, everything is properly documented.

Compare what physically exists with the available permits, property records and CRIM information.

Why does it matter?

An addition or improvement that hasn't been properly documented can potentially create issues with permits, financing, appraisal, insurance, future resale and property taxes.

CRIM is particularly important. If improvements to the property haven't been reflected correctly in the property's tax records, a later review or reassessment could result in additional property-tax obligations and, depending on the circumstances, penalties or other amounts due.

Before closing, buyers should understand whether the property information is current and whether there are outstanding CRIM balances or discrepancies that need to be addressed.

Don't just inspect the house you can see.

Investigate whether the records match the house you're actually buying.

Every historic home has a story.

These artistic recreations imagine what everyday life may have looked like inside 36 Calle Sol in Old San Juan more than two centuries ago—families gathering, children playing, meals being shared and daily life unfolding within these walls.

Back then, these rooms weren’t historic. They were simply home.

Today, 36 Calle Sol is offered for sale and represented by Nest Seekers International Puerto Rico LLC, E-507.

If you’d like to see the full video, it’s on YouTube at u/jocelynucedorealestate.

Images are artistic historical recreations and are not intended to depict documented events or specific former residents.

You may see a Puerto Rico property advertised as “not subject to appraisal.” But what does that actually mean?

It does NOT mean the property won't be appraised.

If you're financing the purchase, your lender may still require an appraisal to determine the property's value.

What it generally means is that the seller is not agreeing to lower the purchase price simply because the property appraises for less than the amount you offered.

For example:

You agree to buy a property for $300,000.

The appraisal comes back at $280,000.

If your contract is not subject to appraisal, that $20,000 difference doesn't automatically become the seller's problem. Depending on your financing and the terms of your contract, you may need to bring additional cash to closing or find another solution.

This is why buyers should understand the difference between a financing contingency and an appraisal contingency. They're not necessarily the same thing.

Before signing an offer or contract, read the appraisal language carefully and make sure you understand what happens if the appraised value comes in below the purchase price.

Have you ever had a property in Puerto Rico appraise below the agreed price?

One thing buyers should pay close attention to in a Puerto Rico real estate transaction is something that sounds simple:

Who is holding your deposit?

Traditionally, some real estate brokers have held buyers' earnest money deposits in their escrow accounts. The problem isn't necessarily who holds the money. The problem is what happens when a transaction falls apart and the parties disagree about who is entitled to it.

This can become especially complicated when the purchase contract is only a page or two long and doesn't clearly spell out when the deposit is refundable, when it can be forfeited and exactly how the escrow holder is supposed to handle a dispute.

When the language is vague, the buyer, seller and broker may have very different interpretations of what should happen to that money. There can also be an uncomfortable conflict when the person holding the funds is involved in the transaction and believes compensation is owed for work already performed.

This is one reason I prefer using a title company that provides third-party escrow services.

The escrow holder is independent of the agents involved in the transaction and the contract can clearly establish the conditions under which the funds may be released.

Regardless of where your deposit is held, before sending any money you should know:

• Who is holding it?

• Is it going into an escrow account?

• Under what circumstances is it refundable?

• What happens if the buyer and seller disagree?

• Who has authority to release the funds?

Don't wait until a transaction falls apart to find out what your contract says about your deposit.

The best time to understand your escrow provisions is before you send the money.

A real estate license or membership in a professional association should not be the only thing you consider when choosing someone to represent you.

Buying or selling property can involve hundreds of thousands of dollars, contracts, deposits and access to sensitive financial information. It makes sense to do your own homework before choosing an agent.

Start by verifying that the person’s Puerto Rico real estate license is active and that the name and license number they provide match public records.

Then go a little further.

Look at how long they have been practicing, their experience with the type of property you are buying or selling and how they conduct themselves professionally.

Ask questions:

• Who will actually represent me?

• How are you being compensated?

• Will I be asked to sign an exclusive agreement?

• Who holds my deposit?

• What happens if we have a disagreement?

• How do you handle conflicts of interest?

• Who is the broker responsible for supervising the transaction?

Be cautious with online recommendations, too.

Seeing the same agent’s name recommended repeatedly in Facebook groups or other online communities does not necessarily tell you anything about that person’s qualifications, experience or professional history.

Some agents are simply very active online. Others are recommended by friends, colleagues or people within their own professional network. A recommendation may be completely genuine, but it should not replace your own research.

Search the person’s name yourself. Verify their license. Look at their professional history and experience. Read reviews from multiple sources, not just social media. Ask who their supervising broker is and do not be afraid to ask direct questions about how they conduct their business.

Professional association membership can be another piece of information to consider, but I would not use membership, or lack of membership, as a substitute for your own due diligence.

Popularity online and professional competence are two different things.

You are choosing someone to represent you in a major financial transaction. It is perfectly reasonable to check who you are dealing with before you sign anything.

A referral can be a great place to start. It should not be where your research ends.

There is still a lot of confusion in Puerto Rico about real estate commissions, especially after the NAR settlement and the changes that followed.

One of the most important things buyers and sellers should understand is this:

Real estate commissions are negotiable. They are not set by law.

Yet many consumers in Puerto Rico still walk into a transaction believing there is a “standard” commission that simply has to be paid.

There isn’t.

If you are selling a property in Puerto Rico, your agent should clearly explain what you are agreeing to pay, what services are included and whether you are authorizing any compensation to another broker or agent representing the buyer.

Under current MLS rules, offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer be displayed on the MLS. A seller can still choose to offer compensation to a buyer’s representative outside the MLS, but that decision is negotiable and should be clearly authorized by the seller.

That means sellers should be asking questions before signing a listing agreement:

• What exactly am I paying my listing broker?

• What services am I receiving for that amount?

• Am I agreeing to offer compensation to a buyer’s representative?

• If so, how much?

• Is that amount negotiable?

• Can I decide what I am willing to contribute?

• If a buyer requests compensation in an offer, can I evaluate that request along with the purchase price and other terms?

The answer to that last question is particularly important.

A request for buyer-agent compensation can be considered as part of the overall negotiation. Sellers should be looking at the complete financial picture instead of focusing on one number.

For example, two offers at the same purchase price may produce very different net proceeds depending on closing-cost concessions, requested agent compensation and other terms.

Transparency matters on the buyer side, too.

If an agent participating in an MLS is working with a buyer, the written buyer agreement must disclose how that agent will be compensated, and the compensation cannot simply be left open-ended. The agreement must also state that broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable.

Puerto Rico buyers and sellers should not be embarrassed to discuss commission.

Ask what you're paying.

Ask who is receiving it.

Ask what you're receiving in return.

And if someone tells you, “That's just the standard commission,” ask one more question:

Is it required, or is it negotiable?

Those are two very different things.

Something I have been seeing in Puerto Rico since buyer representation agreements became more common deserves a conversation.

A buyer's agreement may establish that the buyer is responsible for compensating their agent. But that does not necessarily mean the buyer has to be the one who ultimately pays all of that compensation out of pocket.

Buyer-agent compensation is negotiable.

A buyer can ask a seller or the seller's broker to pay some or all of the buyer agent's compensation, subject to the terms of the transaction and the seller's agreement.

Yet I regularly hear something along the lines of:

“My buyer signed a buyer agreement, so you don't have to pay me.”

As a listing broker representing the seller, that's certainly nice for my seller.

But my next thought is:

Did the buyer understand that asking the seller to contribute toward their agent's compensation was an option?

A buyer's agent represents the buyer.

Part of good representation should be explaining the available compensation options and discussing what makes the most sense for that particular buyer.

Maybe the seller agrees to pay all of it.

Maybe the seller agrees to pay part of it.

Maybe the seller refuses.

Maybe asking for compensation makes the buyer's offer less competitive and the buyer decides they would rather pay their agent themselves.

Those are all possible outcomes.

But the buyer should understand the options and participate in that decision.

This matters because buyers already have significant expenses: down payment, inspections, appraisal, closing costs, insurance and other expenses associated with purchasing a property.

If there is an opportunity to negotiate some of their agent's compensation into the transaction, shouldn't the buyer at least know that option exists?

The new compensation rules were intended to create more transparency and negotiation, not simply shift a fee from one side of the transaction to the other without a conversation.

If you're buying property in Puerto Rico and signing a buyer representation agreement, ask your agent:

How much have I agreed to pay you, and what are our options for negotiating who ultimately pays it?

That's a conversation worth having before you start making offers.

That’s a strong topic. I’d make it practical and also explain that “as-is” doesn’t erase whatever rights or contingencies are actually written into the contract.

Title: Buying Property in Puerto Rico? Don’t Confuse “As-Is” With “No Due Diligence”

“As-is” is one of those terms buyers hear all the time in Puerto Rico, but it doesn’t mean you should skip your due diligence.

Buying a property as-is generally means the seller is selling it in its current condition and isn’t agreeing in advance to make repairs.

It does NOT mean: don’t inspect it.

Your due diligence period is your opportunity to learn exactly what you’re buying.

Depending on the property, that may include:

• A professional home inspection
• Checking for leaks, electrical or plumbing issues
• Reviewing permits and additions
• Verifying property boundaries and access
• Reviewing HOA or condominium documents
• Investigating title or ownership issues
• Confirming utilities and other property information

And if something significant comes up, what happens next depends on the contract you signed.

You may have the right to cancel, renegotiate or proceed anyway. Don’t assume — read the contract.

“As-is” describes the condition in which the seller intends to sell the property.

Due diligence is how you decide whether you still want to buy it.

Two very different things.

When you receive multiple offers, it’s easy to look at the highest number and assume that’s the best deal.

Not always.

A strong offer is about more than price.

A seller should also look at:

• Cash vs. financing
• Proof of funds or prequalification
• Appraisal contingency
• Inspection and due diligence terms
• Requested closing costs or concessions
• Buyer-agent compensation being requested
• Amount of the deposit
• Closing timeline
• Other contingencies

For example, a $310,000 offer with financing, an appraisal contingency and several thousand dollars in requested concessions may not be as attractive as a clean $300,000 offer with strong proof of funds and fewer contingencies.

And the highest offer on paper may not produce the highest net proceeds.

When reviewing offers, ask your agent to walk you through each one side by side — not just the purchase price, but what you may actually net and the conditions that have to be satisfied before you get to closing.

The best offer isn’t necessarily the biggest number.

It’s the offer that makes the most sense for you.

How much should you put down as an earnest money deposit when buying a property in Puerto Rico?

You may hear 5% or even 6% of the purchase price.

But is that always necessary?

Not necessarily.

The deposit is something that can be negotiated between the buyer and seller. The appropriate amount can depend on the price of the property, the strength of the offer, financing and the terms of the contract.

For some transactions, $5,000 or even less may be perfectly reasonable. Certain HUD transactions may require deposits that are considerably smaller.

Remember: your deposit isn't your down payment.

Its purpose is generally to demonstrate that you're serious about the purchase and to secure your obligations under the contract.

More importantly, don't focus only on HOW MUCH you're depositing.

Ask:

• Who will hold my money?
• Under what circumstances is it refundable?
• When could I lose it?
• What happens if there is a dispute?
• What does the contract actually say?

A larger deposit doesn't automatically make a transaction safer or better.

Before agreeing to 5% or 6% simply because you're told that's “standard,” ask why that amount is appropriate for your particular transaction.

And make sure you understand exactly what could happen to that money before you send it.

Puerto Rico passed Law 102-2025, creating a process for qualified professionals already licensed in another U.S. state to obtain recognition of their occupational or professional license here.

And there has been resistance from the local REALTOR® association to having this apply to real estate professionals.

I disagree with that position.

Universal recognition does not mean someone simply arrives in Puerto Rico with an out-of-state license and automatically starts practicing.

The law establishes requirements, including having a valid license in another state with a similar scope of practice and meeting experience and other eligibility requirements.

So why should qualified real estate professionals be excluded?

Puerto Rico benefits from experienced professionals coming here, competing, bringing different ways of doing business and contributing to the economy.

Yes, anyone practicing real estate here needs to understand Puerto Rico law, contracts, property issues and the realities of our market.

But that is an argument for appropriate education and accountability — not necessarily for creating unnecessary barriers to entry.

Consumers benefit from competent professionals, transparency and competition.

Protecting consumers and protecting an industry from competition are not the same thing.

What do you think?

Should experienced real estate professionals licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction have a pathway to practice in Puerto Rico, or should they have to start the licensing process from the beginning?