This week we're picking up where we left off last week after I shared my own journey selling my condo in PR — and this time we're going deep on buying real estate on the island. I sat down with Krystal Vias, a proud Nuyorican and founder of Buy The Block PR, who's on a mission to reconnect la diáspora with Puerto Rico, one block at a time. Krystal didn't step foot on the island until she was 38 and that first trip changed everything. Now she's helping thousands of Boricuas navigate the confusing, often antiquated process of buying property back home, from finding trustworthy realtors to avoiding land scams. We get into the real talk: the identity crisis so many of us in the diaspora carry, conscious investing versus gentrification, and why speaking perfect Spanish is NOT a requirement for belonging. If you've ever thought about buying property on the island, this episode is your permission slip.
WE GET INTO:
00:00 – Intro: Welcome Krystal Viaz, founder of Buy The Block PR
01:26 – Krystal's story: first trip to PR at 38 and falling in love with the island
02:26 – Financial education roots + losing her brother-in-law to colon cancer
04:49 – Why there's no Cash App or Zelle in PR (and why that's by design)
06:44 – What Buy The Block PR actually offers
07:40 – Krystal's podcast, By The Blockcast
08:14 – Navigating identity: being "from here but also from there"
10:34 – Dealing with backlash: "you're not really Puerto Rican"
12:37 – Misconceptions about buying property (it's not just hopping on Zillow)
13:44 – How to actually find listings on the island
16:30 – Vetting real estate agents, lenders, and contractors
18:43 – Common scams and red flags to watch for
20:17 – The risks of buying land (inheritance issues, unpaved roads, protected land)
22:27 – What you need financially before you start looking
25:41 – Conscious investing vs. displacement and gentrification
30:05 – Airbnb, tax incentives, and long-term rental income
34:09 – Building remote income to fund the move
37:24 – "Spanish shame" and the myth that fluency is required
39:37 – Internal pressure vs. external validation of Latinidad
41:25 – The history behind Puerto Rican migration policies
43:41 – How to get involved with Buy The Block PR
45:19 – Closing thoughts: ownership, privilege, and being about it
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Puerto Rico doesn't have one central MLS like the mainland — off-market properties, Facebook groups, and word-of-mouth are huge parts of the process
You'll need a trusted, vetted local team (realtor, lawyer, mortgage broker) — and red flags include people who go dark on communication
Land purchases carry unique risks: unresolved inheritance issues, unpaved roads, no electrical/water access, and protected land you can't build on
Mainland buyers typically need a second-home loan (20% down) unless they can prove 2 years of remote or island-based income
Long-term rental income in PR can be tax-free — a lesser-known incentive worth knowing about
Conscious investing means asking "how does this affect my neighbors and community?" — not just "what's my ROI?"
Not speaking fluent Spanish does NOT disqualify you from reconnecting — the real barrier is internal permission, not language
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