This is a Guru’Guay Top Pick
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You know how we roll at Guru’Guay. We only recommend people and businesses we’ve personally worked with. But sometimes, someone shows up on the radar so often, and with such glowing reviews, that we have to check them out. That’s what happened with Ignacio Fuentes.
Ignacio Fuentes is a Montevideo real estate agent who works under the RE/MAX umbrella. Because we haven’t bought property from him ourselves (yet!), we interviewed a number of his clients—all foreigners relocating to Uruguay—and every single one described him in the same terms: kind, calm, honest, incredibly patient and knowledgeable (oh, and with a really dry sense of humour, which as a Brit, I highly appreciate).
Pam and Kiernan, who now live in a historic apartment in the Old City thanks to Ignacio, said they trusted him instantly. “He’s the opposite of every pushy realtor stereotype. He’s an architect, so he can walk into a place and tell you what’s solid, what needs work, and how much it might cost. He’s incredibly transparent and patient.”
We spoke with Arlen from Dallas, who said Ignacio “was really on top of everything. Very service oriented. A great communicator, and brilliant with spreadsheets. He managed our entire home search long-distance.“
Heidi and Ives also bought a home in Uruguay sight unseen. Ignacio walked them through each property on WhatsApp, pointing out every pro and con during live video tours. He negotiated improvements before they arrived. The house was move-in ready the day they landed.
John and Mary, US songwriters living in Pocitos, called him a “lifelong friend you just met.” He translated their rental contracts into English so they could understand exactly what they were signing.
Amanda, from New Hampshire, had three bad experiences with realtors before finding Ignacio. “He’s amazing. He might be magic,” she said, only half joking. Within days he found her a furnished rental that met all her needs, negotiated extras with the owner, helped her move in—even explained architectural details she would have missed.
Ignacio got into real estate in 2022 and he’s also a trained architect (a serious added bonus in a realtor). Nacho, as he is known, says that what he loves most is working with people. Real estate gave him a chance to connect with people, guide them through life-changing decisions, and make an often opaque process feel human and manageable. He joined RE/MAX because of their international reputation and collaborative approach. Even though he works independently, he’s backed by a network of local and international agents and resources.
As a fluent English and Spanish speaker, it’s important to him to make sure nothing gets lost in translation.
Ignacio works with buyers, renters and increasingly foreign investors He listens carefully, checks in regularly, and offers frank feedback—which is critical in a market where there’s no central property database and listings are frequently outdated or inaccurate. In 2025-6, there has been especially strong interest recently from overseas buyers looking at Montevideo as an investment destination. Nacho points to Uruguay’s Vivienda Promovida developments — government-backed housing that come with significant tax incentives for investors. It’s a way to diversify internationally and move money into a stable market.
One thing that sets Ignacio apart is his architecture degree While he is quick to point out that he is a practising architect, he can help clients visualise the potential of a property, suggest possible layout changes or improvements, and give a ballpark idea of renovation costs in Uruguay.
Ignacio has also built up a trusted network of professionals around him, meaning his service increasingly feels close to “turnkey” for people relocating to Uruguay. Depending on what clients need, he can connect you with architects, electricians, plumbers, accountants and other professionals — when possible English-speaking. (He recommended Accå architects to us ❤️)
Since Guru’Guay’s started to recommend him mid 2025 Ignacio has worked with a growing number of US clients He’s really building significant experience helping buyers from abroad navigate both the cultural side and the practicalities of purchasing property in Uruguay. And we are so grateful to have found him.
3 responses
Nacho is a DREAM to work with. He found us a two bedroom with a huge terrace, open plan living room and dining space, huge windows through the whole living room, a kitchen with a bar where we can just pass food and plates back-and-forth, and a space in the garage where Jo can park her scooter and take an elevator directly to the top floor.
In short, it’s exactly what we need. Thank you very much for sharing his information. We are well pleased.
Nacho really is amazing! I am so thrilled that he was recommended to me by a close acquaintance. He’s professional, fun, and incredibly helpful. Helpful. He’s a great listener and really make sure he understands what you’re looking for. I just can’t say enough about him. He’s delightful!
Amanda! Thanks so much for taking the time to write a testimony here. And thank you for the time you gave for Guru’Guay to interview you about your experience with Nacho. Much appreciated so that more people can learn about his services. — Karen