Real Estate · José Ignacio, Uruguay
My family has been part of José Ignacio since the 1970s, and I've called it home since I was three. I know its land, its rhythms, its people — and I help those who feel its pull find their place here.
Get in touch →About
I grew up here — its beaches were my school, its community my family, its land the place I've always returned to. After studying in Buenos Aires — where I completed a double degree in Information Systems and Business Management — I came back with no intention of leaving again.
For over a decade I've worked in real estate in José Ignacio — first alongside my father at Ignacio Ruibal Propiedades, then building my own practice. Along the way I founded La Excusa, a restaurant I ran until I lost it to a fire, and Paideia, an art gallery that — together with La Excusa — was our small contribution to the cultural life of the village.
Outside of real estate, I founded José Ignacio's volunteer fire brigade and serve as its president — today a team of over 23 volunteers. I also serve as president of Faro Limpio, a non-profit founded by local residents in 2006 dedicated to protecting the coastline of José Ignacio. José Ignacio shaped me long before I started working in it.
The Place
José Ignacio is one of South America's most coveted coastal destinations — a village that has quietly attracted artists, architects, and discerning buyers from around the world for decades, without ever losing its soul.
Its properties are rare: beachfront homes, countryside estates, and land that connects you to the Atlantic in a way that is difficult to find anywhere else. The market is small, discreet, and built on relationships — not listings.
For decades, José Ignacio has drawn people who could go anywhere and choose to come here — for the dirt roads, the low skyline, the sense that some things are worth protecting. Strict zoning keeps it that way: low density, no high-rises, single-family homes.
That scarcity is exactly what makes it hard to navigate from the outside. I work across every kind of property here — homes, estates, commercial spaces, building lots, and rural land. What I don't hold directly, I reach through relationships built over years with colleagues across the area.
In the Press
Named one of the "World's Greatest Places" — recognizing José Ignacio among a select list of destinations worldwide.
2021 Read more →"The Beach Town That Just Keeps Getting Better" — a portrait of a village that has grown without losing its charm.
2021 Read more →"Only the wind blows here" — the sign in the town's plaza, quoted by the French news agency describing José Ignacio's quiet character.
2011 Read more →"How a pair of restaurants helped turn a sleepy Uruguayan fishing town into a worldwide destination — without sacrificing its charm."
2022 Read more →"José Ignacio, le Saint-Trop' latino" — a televised portrait for French audiences of the village's understated sophistication.
2011 DocumentaryHow I Work
I take on only a handful of buyers at a time. That's a deliberate choice — not a limitation. It means that when I take you on as a client, you have my full attention until we find what you're looking for.
I believe the best relationships in this business aren't built on paperwork. They're built on trust, patience, and doing right by people — the same way my family has done here for fifty years.
What I Do
Buying
I cover the full range of property in José Ignacio and its surroundings — from beachfront and inland homes to the land, fields, and commercial spaces that shape the area.
What I help you find:
· Residential homes — from village houses to beachfront residences
· Land and building lots — ready to build your own home
· Rural land and fields — larger parcels beyond the village
· Commercial properties — retail and business spaces in and around José Ignacio
Seasonal Rentals
José Ignacio comes alive in summer. I help visitors find the right place to stay — from a full season by the sea to a standout home for a special occasion.
What I cover:
· Summer seasonal rentals — homes for the high season
· Luxury homes for events and short stays — for a celebration or a getaway
· Curated to your dates and what matters most to you
In Uruguay, the buyer pays 3% + VAT in commission — the market standard, regardless of which broker they work with. The question isn't the cost. It's what you get for it.
Let's talk →Get in touch
Most of the people I work with arrive through someone we both know — that's simply how things tend to happen here. But if José Ignacio has called to you and you're looking for someone who knows it deeply, I'd be glad to hear from you.
Send me a message. Tell me a little about yourself and what you have in mind. As we like to say here: aquí solo corre el viento y los bomberos voluntarios — the only things that rush around here are the wind and the volunteer firefighters.
"Every relationship begins the same way — with a conversation, and the time to listen."