ERA Real Estate has announced the signing of a master franchise agreement for Uruguay with developer Kopel Sánchez and Rutland S.A., marking the brand’s continued expansion into South America.
Kopel Sánchez was founded 21 years ago by Fabián Kopel and Sebastián Sánchez. As leading developers in Uruguay, the company is focused on developing housing stock in existing and emerging areas of the country.
Rutland S.A., led by owner Ernesto Orosman Gomez and CEO Francisco Manuel Gomez Mansilla, also serves as the brokerage operations for ERA Paraguay.
Sherry Chris, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate, says: “The brand continues its momentum with the affiliation to expand ERA’s South American footprint into Uruguay. The team of leaders realized the unique advantages of leveraging the ERA brand and its global footprint to build a successful company. We welcome ERA Uruguay to our Team ERA global network of real estate professionals.”
Wilder Ananikian, a successful real estate entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in brokerage in the markets of Montevideo and Punta del Este, will assume the position of president of ERA Uruguay. The main office of ERA Uruguay is located in the Pocitos neighborhood of Montevideo, the country’s capital.
Wilder views the franchises entry into Uruguay as an opportunity to take leadership of a dynamic market with ample avenues for growth and expansion. He explains: “We plan to capitalize on the growing awareness of the brand and its strong value proposition to develop an extended footprint across Uruguay. We are excited to be affiliated with a real estate brand that is committed to connecting dreams to owners.”
According to Uruguay’s National Housing Agency, in 2021 a total of 43,021 home sales were made throughout the country: 33 per cent from Montevideo, 17 per cent from Maldonado and 50 per cent throughout the rest of the country. Prices also increased by five per cent, bringing them back up to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, construction permits increased 40 per cent over 2020, a trend that continued into 2022.
