ABSTRACT
Residential property in South America unfolds at a complex crossing of policy framework, economic cycles and social pressure. At the policy level, planning regulations as well as social housing programmes have a direct effect on residential markets, as both factors influence the demand and supply of units. The chapter provides a brief description of the development process for housing. It presents the housing needs in South America according to the type of deficit and also presents housing programmes targeting the quantitative deficit. The chapter provides information on housing programmes targeting the qualitative deficit and on housing provision for the open market sector in the context of the planning system. Informality erupts and spreads around enclaves of wealth, usually taking poor quality land that has no interest for real estate investors.
