International: Latin America and Caribbean
Latin America and Caribbean Capital Advisory
At CapCana Capital, we believe that successful real estate investing throughout Latin America and the Caribbean begins with far more than finding capital.
We often say that execution begins with understanding. When investing across borders, that understanding extends beyond the property itself. It includes the country’s legal framework, business customs, permitting process, banking system, tax considerations, development practices, and the local professionals who help bring a project to life. Before we discuss financing, we want to understand your vision, your investment objectives, and why you have chosen a particular market, along with what local resources will be needed to move your project from concept to completion.
Every Country Has Its Own Way of Doing Business
One of the most common misconceptions we encounter is the belief that developing or investing in another country works much like it does in the United States. In our experience, every jurisdiction has its own legal requirements, permitting processes, banking practices, construction standards, title procedures, and regulatory expectations. The questions that arise during a transaction in the Dominican Republic, Panama, or elsewhere are often very different from those encountered in the United States. Recognizing those differences early helps avoid unnecessary delays, misunderstandings, and costly surprises.
Capital Is Only One Part of the Equation
Financing is important, but it is rarely the only component. Successful international projects often require coordination among experienced professionals who understand the local market. As part of our advisory process, we can introduce clients to established professionals within our network, including:
- Local attorneys familiar with real estate and commercial transactions
- Certified public accountants and tax professionals
- Licensed architects and design professionals
- Civil and structural engineers
- Surveyors and environmental consultants
- General contractors and development professionals
- Title and closing professionals
- Banking and corporate formation resources, where appropriate
While these professionals work independently of CapCana Capital, we believe that assembling the right team can be just as important as securing the right financing.
Local Leadership Matters
CapCana Capital believes that successful international projects benefit from experienced local leadership. In Panama, Gisselle Vargas serves as our Managing Partner, providing local market leadership and overseeing projects throughout the country. In the Dominican Republic, Paola Garcia serves as our Managing Partner in the same role. Both Gisselle and Paola conduct business fluently in Spanish and English. In addition to managing projects within their respective countries, they assist with cross-border transactions and any assignment where conducting business in Spanish is essential, helping bridge language, cultural, business, and regulatory considerations while coordinating with local attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, government agencies, contractors, and other professionals.
Understanding the Entire Development Process
International projects often involve considerations that extend well beyond the capital stack, including entity formation, local banking relationships, title verification, property due diligence, environmental reviews, zoning and permitting, development approvals, infrastructure planning, utility coordination, construction oversight, local tax considerations, and exit planning. Every country approaches these matters differently, and taking the time to understand those differences at the beginning often results in a smoother process from start to finish.
How we think at CapCana Capital
We organize our international advisory process around understanding both the investment and the jurisdiction in which it will operate. Today, we regularly assist clients exploring opportunities throughout the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Caribbean, Latin America, and cross-border transactions involving U.S. investors. We do not begin by asking how much you want to borrow. We begin by asking what you are building, where you are building it, and what it will take to help you succeed.
And that is why, at CapCana Capital, we believe execution begins with understanding.