Becoming a homeowner in Buenos Aires is very difficult. If you don’t have enough savings and have exhausted all your options for buying an apartment in CABA, before giving up and assuming you’ll be renting for the rest of your life, there are—in case you didn’t know—apartments that are being auctioned off and that you can buy for much less than their market value.
No one claimed them: The “heirless” apartments in Balvanera and Caballito that are up for auction this month in CABA
These are properties belonging to people who died without leaving a will or having relatives to claim their assets. When this happens, the law declares a “vacant estate,” and the properties are transferred to the City of Buenos Aires, which auctions them off (you can become the owner, and all proceeds go to the Permanent Education Fund.)
Buying an Apartment in Buenos Aires: When Is the Next Real Estate Auction in CABA?
On Friday, October 9, 2026, Banco Ciudad, together with the Attorney General’s Office, will hold a new 100% virtual auction featuring 5 properties located in Balvanera, Caballito, and Constitución, with starting prices well below market value.
The 5 Properties Going Up for Auction
From studio apartments with balconies to a 10-room apartment measuring over 360 square meters on Rivadavia Avenue, these are the options coming up for sale:
- 1. The most affordable opportunity in Balvanera (2858 Córdoba Ave.): A 37 m² apartment (with balcony/terrace) on the 14th floor, ideal for remodeling or as an investment. Starting bid: USD 36,850.
- 2. An entire 360 m² apartment on Rivadavia Avenue (Rivadavia 2446): An apartment in a historic building of enormous proportions in the heart of Balvanera, with 360 m² of interior space plus a balcony. Starting bid: USD 261,300.
- 3. Classic apartment in Caballito (Viel 246): In one of the neighborhood’s best residential areas, a 43 m² two-room apartment on the 4th floor. Starting bid: USD 61,631.
- 4. Lot in Constitución (Av. Entre Ríos 1824): A 342 m² plot ready for development on one of the busiest avenues. Starting bid: USD 435,144.
- 5. Urban lot in Constitución (Paracas 339): 271-lot. Starting bid: USD 60,300.
How to Tour Properties Inside Before Bidding
If you want to browse or consider a potential purchase, it’s always important to see the apartments with your own eyes and clear up any doubts you may have. You have two options:
- Virtual Tour: On the Banco Ciudad auction portal (
subastas.bancociudad.com.ar), by going to the CABA Attorney General’s Office section, you can view the technical specifications, floor plans, title status, and some photos of the interior of each room. - In-Person Viewing: In the days leading up to the auction, Banco Ciudad organizes in-person viewing sessions at set times so you can stop by.
Step by step: How to participate in the auction
Participating in an online real estate auction in Buenos Aires is open to anyone (individuals or legal entities) and is conducted remotely:
- Create your account: Register on Banco Ciudad’s online auction platform.
- Register early: Look for the October 9 auction, choose the lot you’re interested in, and complete the registration form. Keep in mind that you have until 48 business hours before the auction to register.
- Bid Deposit (Security Deposit): You must make a bank transfer equal to 3% of the base price of the property you’ve chosen. If you don’t win the auction or don’t end up placing a bid, Banco Ciudad will refund 100% of that deposit in the days following the auction.
- Live bidding: On the day of the auction, you enter the virtual auction room for the lot. The process works with a countdown timer; if a bid is placed in the last 3 minutes, the time automatically extends to allow for a counterbid.
- If you win: You pay a 20% deposit plus a 10% commission (plus VAT) to the bank within 48 hours. The remaining 80% is paid upon approval of the transaction and signing of the deed, at which point the property is transferred to you 100% free of any prior debts.
If you’re looking to buy an apartment in Buenos Aires, get into the habit of regularly checking Banco Ciudad’s Auction Portal. The process of unclaimed inheritances in Buenos Aires is ongoing, so every time an apartment in the city is left without heirs or a will, sooner or later it ends up listed there.
You never know. Maybe one day it’ll be your lucky day.
- 📅 When: Friday, October 9, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 💻 Where: Banco Ciudad’s official auction website (
subastas.bancociudad.com.ar). - ⏳ Registration deadline: Wednesday, October 7, at 10:00 a.m.
- 🎓 Where the money goes: 100% of the proceeds go toward the construction and improvement of public schools in the City of Buenos Aires.
