Why Infrastructure Is THE Signal To Watch

Hey guys, Mikkel here,

If you want to understand where value is going to show up next, look at where the roads are being built.

Paraguay is in the middle of one of the most meaningful infrastructure expansions in its modern history, and this isn’t just about easing traffic congestion or making commutes faster (though that’s happening too). 

This is about a country repositioning itself for the next 20 years… and beyond.

The first-order effects of such infrastructure improvements are easy to spot.

Travel time from Asunción to Ciudad del Este is dropping.

Shipping routes get more efficient.

The cost of doing business goes down. 

The daily life of Paraguayans improves.

But the real opportunity comes from the second and third-order effects; the things that unfold after the asphalt dries, so to speak. 

People start relocating.

Developers begin acquiring land in previously overlooked zones.

Local banks begin financing homeownership in new districts.

Retail and services follow.

Demand begins to push outward, creating entirely new business and residential hubs.

These newly activated areas become self-sustaining ecosystems.

Property values increase due to the actual livability.

Long-term rental demand kicks in. 

Foreign interest begins to catch up to what locals already know. 

…and the people who positioned themselves early? They own the best inventory at the lowest cost, and they’re suddenly holding premium assets.

That’s where we are in Paraguay right now.

We’re not guessing. We’re not hoping.

We’re seeing it happen in real time.

Infrastructure leads.

People follow.

Capital follows them.

And the investors who moved first end up with the biggest gains.

In this issue of Paraguay Potential, I will show you exactly how this is playing out across Ciudad del Este, where the government, the private sector, and the cultural world are all converging to unlock long-term upside, and how this momentum is already leading to massive and notable growth. 

Infrastructure = Appreciation: Why Ciudad del Este Is No Longer Just a Border City

Ciudad del Este used to be known simply as a trading hub next to Brazil and Argentina. 

But over the past couple of years, that narrative has shifted. 

What you’re seeing now is the transformation of a regional logistics center into a strategic investment powerhouse. 

…Paraguay’s Infrastructure Leap Is More Than Just Roads

What’s happening in Paraguay right now goes far beyond new asphalt or highway signs. 

This is a coordinated, multi-front push to modernize the country… and the signals are impossible to ignore if you’re paying attention.

Let’s start with Ruta PY‑02.

The PY-02 is a highway that was once a chokepoint between Ciudad del Este and Asunción, has been fully duplicated with four lanes and modern toll infrastructure. 

What used to be a six-hour haul between the capital and the Eastern border can now be done in under five… and soon even faster. 

This single change is already cutting logistics costs, reducing freight bottlenecks, and opening up smaller towns for serious growth. 

But it doesn’t stop there.

Sacyr, one of Spain’s largest infrastructure firms, just committed $180 million USD to maintain and expand that very same route. 

This is long-term capital locked in by a global player. 

That tells you everything about the confidence institutional investors are beginning to show in Paraguay.

In fact, the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, has referred to the work as “the largest urban intervention in the history of the country. It will have a great impact at the national level, reaffirming the role of Asunción as the mother of cities, as the political and economic center of Paraguay.”

Then there's the retail and cultural transformation.

In Ciudad del Este alone, Paraguay is rolling out nearly 1 million square meters of new shopping center space. That’s not just more stores; it’s a total refresh of how people live, shop, and move through urban spaces. 

Projects like the new Plaza City open-air mall are designed to elevate the lifestyle offering of the city and attract higher-income residents and tourists alike.

France is building a Centre Pompidou in Foz do Iguaz, which is right across the Friendship Bridge from Ciudad del Este.

Designed by famed Paraguayan architect Solano Benitez, this will be the first Pompidou outside Europe, and it’s going to transform the entire region into a global cultural destination.

Hotels, restaurants, boutique residential developments… it’s all coming.

This isn’t just an urban facelift to “pretty things up”…

It’s a rebranding of Paraguay’s international identity.

Infrastructure doesn’t just help a place grow - it legitimizes it. 

It attracts talent. 

It invites outside money. 

…and it gives early investors a shot at real upside when the rest of the world is still anchored in outdated narratives.

If you’re already invested in Paraguay, this is your tailwind.

If you’re still on the sidelines, this is your wake-up call.

Because the transformation is underway.

And you can either get swept up alongside it and enjoy the ride, or watch it pass you by.

This is what rising infrastructure looks like before prices catch up.

When you see international money pouring into a place, especially private capital, rather than government funds or tax dollars, to build roads, cultural centers, and commercial districts, it’s never by accident…

…it’s because profit-driven investors are betting on the future.

When governments and private investors are betting hundreds of millions on a city’s future, they aren’t doing it for a quick windfall; they’re doing it for massive future gain.

By the time the average investor figures it out, the early-stage pricing is gone.

…and so are the best opportunities.

Right now, Ciudad del Este is undergoing the exact kind of transformation savvy offshore investors are always chasing, but rarely find at the right moment.

It is no secret I am bullish on Paraguay, and Ciudad del Este in specific. Here’s why: 

• Prices are still low… especially for us foreign buyers with increased purchasing power due to our Canadian or US dollars. 

• Favourable laws that encourage and support foreign ownership

• The demographic wave (from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay’s own middle class) is pushing real demand up

• Major macro infrastructure is already underway

You’re not buying into a pipe dream here; you’re buying into a wave that’s already moving.

It’s about positioning capital in a zone that’s going from the peripheral to central focus.

And when that happens, everything you hold becomes more valuable…

Not just your real estate holdings… but also the value of your residency here (which I have to assume us going to increase in difficulty to obtain soon… which, by the way, if you want residency in Paraguay, visit this page here and my team at Expat Money can make this happen for you).

In every emerging market that’s transitioned into mid-range status, the pattern is the same:

1. Massive road and transit upgrades.

2. Cultural investment to improve perception.

3. Retail and residential development to absorb population shift.

4. Capital migration, first from locals, then from foreigners.

Ciudad del Este is hitting all four signals simultaneously.

Name another place in the world where this is happening at even remotely the same pace… I’ll wait. 

So what does that mean for you?

It means that if you’ve already secured units in projects like Soho or Concept Tower, then you’re holding early-stage assets in a city where nearly every underlying variable is quickly turning even more in your favour.

Now is the time to double down, increase your position and reinvest.

…and if you’re still on the sidelines, this is your advance notice that pricing will not stay flat. 

When people start Googling “Pompidou Centre Paraguay” or read about the infrastructure upgrades in international headlines, the window to be early narrows. 

Right now, the road is being paved (literally and metaphorically) for capital to flow into Ciudad del Este at a faster clip than ever before.

This isn’t about catching a lucky break.

It’s about seeing the macro picture and stepping into position before everyone else connects the dots.

This is how wealth is built in real estate: not by following headlines, but by acting when the foundations are being poured.

DEAL OF THE WEEK: A First-Mover Opportunity Inside Arbolia

One of the things that surprises people when they visit Paraguay, especially those who’ve spent time in Panama, Colombia, Mexico, or even Brazil, is how “underdeveloped” the suburban lifestyle still is here.

In most Latin American countries, it’s common to find gated communities, also known as “privadas,” filled with middle and upper-middle-class families. 

They want security, a little green space, maybe a pool for the kids, a walking trail, a clubhouse.

It’s become standard in much of Latin America; however, in Paraguay, this lifestyle is still a luxury concept.

Historically, Paraguayans have lived very centrally, either because of poor infrastructure or because suburban-style developments simply didn’t exist. 

Until recently, if you wanted to live in a community with planned green spaces, amenities, and private security, your only real option was ultra-high-end compounds built for the top 1%.

That’s now beginning to change.

Paraguayans are just starting to want what most of Latin America already has. 

The growing middle class is starting to demand something more than what they have historically had access to; they want comfort, safety, and quality of life. 

They want places where their kids can play. 

They want homes that feel aspirational but achievable.

And guess who is at the forefront of meeting the changing desires of middle-class Paraguayans? 

If you guessed my partner, Fernando, and his team, and Green Parana, you’d be correct.

By now, I hope it doesn’t come as any surprise that we are the trendsetters in the region, not the followers. 

And that’s exactly what this week’s DEAL OF THE WEEK is about. 

Arbolia is a thoughtfully planned residential development offering exactly what Paraguay’s rising middle class has been waiting for: spacious homes, private green space, and modern community amenities in a peaceful, secure environment.

It’s the first purpose-built, community-style residential housing development tailored for Paraguay’s rising middle class. 

It’s not just a few houses on a piece of land… it’s a carefully designed environment where people actually will want to live.

With 3 different unit sizes (60m², 80m², or 100m²), Arbolia appeals to young professionals, small families, and upwardly mobile Paraguayans who want more than what the city can offer… without prices that are out of reach.

This is the type of place people move to get just far enough to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but close enough to stay connected.

This is what we look for when setting out to create a project that is going to appreciate significantly in value: identify the early signals that the local market is evolving and pair it with a project that meets that demand before it becomes obvious to everyone else.

This isn’t about chasing foreign buyers or waiting for international hype to roll in.

This is about serving the domestic demand that’s already rising… and locking in supply at the front end of a long-term lifestyle shift.

Arbolia gives investors a rare chance to ride the adoption curve from the very beginning.

So, without further ado, here is what I have for you guys this week:

Semi-Detached & Fully Detached Homes From Just $73K

Yes, you read that right - $73K for a semi-detached home in a community we believe with extreme conviction is poised for immense long-term capital appreciation.

…and it gets better….

When you make the savvy decision to purchase a unit inside the Arbolia, I am going to cover the cost of securing your residency in Paraguay. 

Buy a Home. Secure Residency For No Extra Cost & Capitalize on a Market That’s Just Getting Started.

We’ll cover your residency filing, lawyer fees, and paperwork. 

All you need to do is show up in Paraguay, and we’ll handle the rest.

This is one of the most expat-friendly, low-tax Plan-B jurisdictions on earth, and now, you can tie your home purchase directly to your permanent residency, at no extra cost to you. 

Here’s what’s available:

• 60m² Semi-Detached Home: starting at $73,000 USD

• 80m² Semi-Detached Home: starting at $95,200 USD

• 100m² Fully Detached Home: starting at $117,500 USD

Every home sits on its own titled lot, and lot sizes vary depending on placement within the master plan (the different pricing will reflect exactly this).

Whether you’re looking for compact and efficient or a full family-sized home with land, there’s an option here for you.

Delivery Options:

• Choose from 12, 18, or 24-month delivery timelines, based on your cash flow and readiness levels.
  

• Upfront payment discounts are available, just ask Fernando. He’s fair, and if you’re serious, he’ll work with you.

Payment Terms:

• $3,000 USD Reservation Fee (Which, if I were you, I’d be asking Fernando to pay today). 
  

• 30% at Contract Signature (For as little as $21,900 down, you’re on your way to be a fully titled property owner).
  

• 5% Paid Quarterly (When you put 30% down on a $ 73,000 property and pay it off over 24 months, the payments will be less than a semester of College tuition).
  

• Remaining Balance at Delivery (too obvious; no need to explain, but hey, if you’re reading this, thanks - I appreciate you taking the time to read every single word of this newsletter). 

This is a hard asset in a country that, frankly, I’m shocked isn’t on the radar of far more people and institutions yet.

If we hadn’t already finalized pricing and run the numbers while this was still in its planning phase a year and a half or so ago, I’m not certain the entry price would have been far more than just $73,000. 

This speaks to the fact that progress in the region is happening even faster than even those of us who are extremely bullish on Paraguay expected.

The location, the master plan, the timing, it all adds up to something that could (and should) be priced higher.

But right now, you have a window.. one that is going to be a lot harder to climb through with every day that passes.

If I were you, whether it was for myself or an adult child of mine whom I wanted to help start moving in the right financial direction, here is what I would do…

I would write to Fernando right now and ask for his guidance in selecting the right lot for your offshore investment portfolio.

Send Fernando an email right now here - [email protected] 

You Don’t Really Understand Paraguay… Until You’re Standing In It

There’s a moment that happens every single time I bring people to Paraguay.

It’s not on day one… it’s usually around day three.

We’re walking a site, or sitting down with a local developer, or maybe just having a glass of wine after dinner.

And someone turns to me and says:

“I thought I got it. But now that I’m here… I really get it.”

Because on paper, Paraguay is already compelling.

It’s stable.

It’s business-friendly.

It has food and water independence.

Low debt.

A well-functioning banking system that allows you to transact in USD (in addition to their local currency, the Gurayni).

And yes, its residency program is one of the most straightforward and accessible in the world.

But none of that fully clicks until you’re on the ground - walking streets, talking to locals, seeing infrastructure rise out of the red clay soil.

That’s why I’m going back again this September, and this time, I’m inviting a very small group to join me.

Paraguay Exploration & Investment Tour, September 14th through the 21st, 2025. 

This tour is for people who know it’s time to act and who want a Plan-B in place, and want to make sure Paraguay fits into it the right way.

Over 8 days, we’ll:

• Tour real estate projects with long-term upside.
  

• Review Paraguay’s residency process with local legal experts (and help you get started if you're ready).
  

• Explore key infrastructure zones and future growth corridors.
  

• Introduce you to the real people and professionals who make things happen here.

You’ll be with me and my team the entire time.

In real time, in person, on the ground.

Last time, we brought 30 people.

Some started their residency paperwork during the tour, and several have already been approved.

And almost every single person walked away with a clear, confident next step.

If you’re ready to get serious about Paraguay, this is how you do it.

What’s included:

• Luxury hotel accommodations

• All meals, intra-country flights, and private transport

• A full itinerary handled by my team

• Guided access to opportunities you won’t find online

• And real conversations with people who’ve already done what you’re trying to do

All you have to do is book your flight to Asunción, and we’ll take it from there.

If you want to know whether Paraguay belongs in your Plan-B… come find out in person.

I’ll be there.

The right people will be there.

And if you’re serious… you should be, too.

ExpatMoney.com/Paraguay for all the details.