Q24N (Nicaragua) The transfer of nine homes located at Playa Gavilán, Tola, to the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute involved properties that belonged to U.S. retirees.
The operation took place in late August 2026, and according to the owners, there was no prior official notification.
The affected owners estimated the value of the structures, improvements, and contents at US$15 million. The houses were used for vacations, stays during the U.S. winter, and visits from family or friends.
The properties were not part of a formal condominium complex, although they were located in the same area and shared Mediterranean-style architectural features. Some included swimming pools and solar panels.
Read more: “In Nicaragua, there are no property rights for Nicaraguans or foreigners”
The owners learned of the measure through their employees
The retirees found out about the takeover after workers at the homes informed them that individuals identifying themselves as Social Security officials had arrived at the site. According to accounts gathered by Confidencial.digital, these men ordered the security guards to leave because the houses had been transferred to the Instituto Nicaragüense de Seguridad Social (INSS).
The owners had arrived in Nicaragua during the 2000s and completed construction in 2010. The homes were furnished and contained household appliances, clothing, furniture, artwork, and other personal items.
One of the affected individuals told the media that the total figure included investments in the nine homes and their furnishings. “The loss is substantial because the investment—covering improvements to the nine houses and the contents inside—easily reaches US$15 million dollars,” he stated.
The owners held renewable lease agreements with the Tola Municipality. Under Law 690 (Law for the Development of Coastal Zones), the structures could be privately owned, while the land remained state property.
Each resident paid an annual municipal fee of US$1,000, in addition to property taxes. One of the retirees maintained that the owners had kept up with their payments for over 15 years.
The same individual noted that the municipality had cancelled the lease agreement for the current year. “Out of nowhere, the mayor’s office cancelled this year’s lease agreement, and our homes were taken away,” he declared. The takeover affected local workers and services.
Following the transfer, the houses were guarded by individuals assigned by the regime, in agreement with the owners. Inquiries made to the National Police and the Tola Mayor’s Office confirmed that the properties belonged to the State.
The situation affected about 15 local workers who performed security, gardening, maintenance, cleaning, and cooking duties. One of the owners noted that the American residents’ stays also generated revenue for local businesses.
The retirees contacted the INSS headquarters in Managua. According to their accounts, an official proposed renting the homes to them for approximately US$2,000 per month.
“It’s a mockery; they take our houses away and then want to rent them back to us,” one of the owners remarked. As of the time of the report, the intended use of the properties remained unknown.
The INSS has acquired 374 properties transferred to it since 2021
The Playa Gavilán case appears to be the first known instance of a property linked to foreign citizens—specifically U.S. nationals—being transferred to the INSS. According to a database compiled by the Confidencial, the Attorney General’s Office had donated 372 properties to the agency between 2024 and October 2026.
During the first 17 years of Daniel Ortega’s regime, the INSS received only two properties. With subsequent transfers, the total rose to 374 assets.
This figure surpassed the 188 properties granted to the Nicaraguan Army and the 41 handed over to the Managua Mayor’s Office. Since January 2007, the regime has transferred 848 properties to various institutions, municipal governments, state-owned enterprises, cooperatives, foundations, and trade organizations.
Managua accounted for 131 of the transfers to the INSS; Rivas for 104; Estelí for 71; and Matagalpa for 27. No donations to the agency were identified in Río San Juan, Boaco, Chontales, or the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region.
Most of the transfers to the INSS lacked information regarding land area, precise location, or cadastral numbers. Only six of the 374 properties included such registration details.
A real estate broker consulted by Confidencial.digital—who requested anonymity—suggested that this lack of information could limit the owners’ ability to file claims. The specialist noted that transferring a property without specifying its location or dimensions is highly unusual.
Among the properties for which information was provided is Zompopera Islet, which belonged to economist and former political prisoner Juan Sebastián Chamorro. Presidential Decree 135-2024 detailed the property’s surface area and its registration in the Public Property Registry of Granada.
United States advises caution regarding real estate investments
The U.S. owners reported the case to the U.S. Embassy in Managua via an email address designated for such inquiries. They stated that the response they received indicated the diplomatic mission could not intervene in property matters.
A State Department spokesperson stated that “it is deeply regrettable that the Government of Nicaragua repeatedly disregards property rights.” The agency noted that its travel advisory warns of potential seizures of land, homes, money, and financial assets without prior notice or legal justification.
The State Department recommended exercising caution when considering real estate investments in Nicaragua, particularly in coastal areas. It advised those facing property disputes to hire local legal counsel.
The U.S. agency indicated it is aware of property claims and investment disputes involving its citizens and the Nicaraguan regime. It also noted that it reports these situations to U.S. authorities annually, without specifying the number of affected individuals.
Official announcements present the transfers to the INSS as a measure intended to strengthen social security and expand coverage for workers and families. The owners of the Gavilán beach homes hope to recover the structures or receive compensation for their value and for the belongings left inside.
Confidencial.digital is an independent, investigative news and multimedia digital platform from Nicaragua, founded by Carlos Fernando Chamorro Barrios, son of former Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, who is currently in permanent exile in Costa Rica due to political persecution.