Andres Carreño, QKapital Group: Why Now Is the Time to Invest in Florida Real Estate

Florida remains the No. 1 U.S. destination for foreign buyers, accounting for 10% of all international property purchases, according to the MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI).

Leading this momentum is Andres Carreño, VP of Business Development at QKapital Group, a leading direct mortgage lender serving foreign nationals in the U.S. The company has facilitated more than $8 billion in international financing.

Through his international network and hands-on approach, Andres Carreño is helping buyers capitalize on one of the most favorable markets in years.

So what’s ahead for foreign investors looking to secure long-term value in U.S. real estate?

“Let me be clear: this is a buyer’s market. And it won’t last forever,” says Carreño.

The numbers don’t lie

Foreign buyers purchased $3.1 billion in South Florida homes in 2024 — still the highest in the U.S. — down from $5.1 billion in 2023, according to MIAMI. 

The 39% drop was smaller than statewide (-44%) and national (-21%) declines, driven by a strong dollar and political uncertainty. 

Florida home inventory has increased, giving buyers more leverage to negotiate better deals, enjoy incentives from developers, and access premium financing options. 

According to Redfin, the number of active listings in Central Florida is up by more than 15% year over year, while median sale prices remain relatively stable — creating an ideal entry point for foreign nationals looking to invest in hard assets in a strong, dollar-based economy.

Why Florida? Why Now? Andres Carreño explains

Despite the uncertainty, the U.S. — and Florida in particular — continues to offer property rights, and regulatory safeguards that attract long-term capital, Carreño believes.

Even with interest rates remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels, real estate in Florida continues to appreciate at an average rate of 4–5% annually, according to Zillow data.

“Real estate isn’t just an investment; it’s an anchor,” Carreño said. “It’s something tangible you can build on—literally and financially.” 

Today, a rare mix of high inventory, major infrastructure projects, and post-pandemic migration trends is accelerating its growth like never before.

According to Carreño, Orlando stands out as a prime investment hotspot. Here’s why:

• Universal’s Epic Universe theme park, scheduled to open in 2025.
• Disney’s continuous expansion, reinforcing Orlando’s status as a global tourism capital.
• Lake Nona’s Medical City, attracting biotech and life sciences companies.
• Clermont’s Olympus project, a $500 million sports and wellness development.
• New EV infrastructure, including advanced highway charging systems.

“Add to this the availability of land — something New York or Massachusetts can’t compete with — and you get a market ripe for both residential and commercial expansion,” Carreño said. “Unlike the Northeast, where land scarcity and zoning restrictions constrain development, Florida’s growth is supported by space, incentives, and pro-investor policies.”

Andres Carreño brings a strong background in business development, having led major companies in Brazil before relocating to the U.S. 

“For me, it’s not just about closing deals — it’s about building lasting relationships,” he says. “I stay hands-on with every investor, no matter the time of day, to make sure each transaction goes smoothly.”

That personal approach has delivered results: since joining QKapital, Carreño has brought more than $30 million in foreign capital into the U.S.

Now, he’s setting his sights on an ambitious goal — making Orlando QKapital’s top-performing market. “We’re growing fast,” he says. “And with the right momentum, I believe Orlando will surpass Miami in both revenue and investor interest within the next two years.”

Who’s investing?

Andres Carreño specializes in working with foreign national clients — mainly from Latin America. Around 60% of his clients are business owners from Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, looking to diversify their portfolios and secure assets in the U.S. market. 

“Many are high-net-worth individuals with investment ranges between $300,000 to $5 million,” Carreño said. “These are sophisticated investors who already hold real estate across Europe or Latin America and are now turning to Florida as their next strategic move.”

What sets QKapital apart is simple. “We’re not just mortgage brokers — we’re direct lenders, especially for commercial and construction loans,” Carreño said. “That gives us the agility to act fast, structure deals creatively, and support clients from A to Z.”

QKapital is also a preferred lending partner for major U.S. developers like Lennar and D.R. Horton, offering financing solutions in the client’s native language — Spanish, Portuguese, or English.

“For developers, this multilingual and multicultural fluency makes us indispensable,” Carreño said. “Many U.S.-based mortgage companies simply don’t cater to foreign nationals, leaving a large and growing segment of global investors underserved. We bridge that gap with speed, transparency, and trust.”

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(Featured image by Eric Prouzet via Pexels)

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