Porto Belo and Itapema in 2026: the numbers and the new projects

Porto Belo and Itapema close 2026 among the most closely watched real estate markets in Brazil. The latest data show strong sales, a price per square metre among the highest in the country and a series of projects that bring the two cities closer together and expand what the region offers residents, holidaymakers and investors. Here are the numbers and projects that explain the moment.

Porto Belo: R$ 2.5 billion in six months

In the first half of 2026, Porto Belo recorded R$ 2.5 billion in sales of new homes and launches, with 2,850 units sold, according to the DWV market intelligence platform, in a survey published by NSC Total. With just over 31,000 residents, the city led the markets analysed in number of units sold.

A few details of the survey help explain the profile of demand:

• Average ticket of R$ 875,700 per unit sold.
• R$ 14,712 per square metre for the units sold in the period.
• More than half of all sales were one-bedroom apartments, a format in high demand for holiday rentals and for first-time buyers on the coast.

The half-year follows a record 2025. Last year Porto Belo was the city that sold the most new homes in Brazil, according to DWV, and closed the year with R$ 3.8 billion in Gross Sales Value, growth of more than 32%.

Itapema: on the podium of Brazil's priciest square metre

The FipeZAP Index for September 2026, released in October, ranks Itapema third nationwide for residential price per square metre, averaging R$ 15,340, alongside Vitória (R$ 15,905) and Balneário Camboriú (R$ 15,369). In May this year the city reached first place in the index, at R$ 15,226 per square metre.

FipeZAP tracks the asking prices of listed properties, which makes it a good gauge of how the market perceives value. In practice, the top three positions are only a few hundred reais apart, and Itapema has held its place in that group for months.

Sales volume keeps pace with price. Between January and August 2026, Itapema totalled R$ 2.43 billion in property sales, according to DWV, the second-highest result among the Santa Catarina coastal cities analysed in the period.

The projects linking the two cities

The border between Itapema and Porto Belo, at the mouth of the Perequê River, is home to the region's most talked-about projects.

It! Wheel observation wheel. Set beside Píer Oporto, which opened in December 2025, the wheel will stand 60 metres tall with 30 air-conditioned cabins overlooking the beachfronts of Itapema and Porto Belo. The cabins were completed in July, the investment reported by the operator reaches R$ 60 million and the opening is scheduled for the end of the second half of 2026.

Footbridge over the Perequê River. A 65-metre footbridge, about 3.5 metres wide, for pedestrians and cyclists will connect Perequê beach in Porto Belo with Meia Praia in Itapema, right next to the wheel. The work will be carried out by a company hired by Píer Oporto and is expected to take about six months, according to a July report by NSC Total.

Meia Praia beach widening. Itapema has received the Installation Environmental Licence from the Santa Catarina Environment Institute to widen the sand strip at Meia Praia. The project adds 20 to 60 metres of beach, depending on the stretch, along 4.75 kilometres between the Perequê and Taboleiro das Oliveiras jetties, using about 498,000 cubic metres of sand, with an estimated investment of R$ 60 million.

Together, these projects reinforce the idea of a single destination on the Emerald Coast, with a walk between the two beaches, new attractions and a wider, better-protected waterfront.

What these numbers mean for buyers

For those planning to live here, the data show two cities with growing infrastructure, established retail and a range that goes from studios to high-end apartments. For investors, sales volume signals liquidity, and the weight of compact apartments shows the strength of holiday rentals in the region.

With more launches on the market, choosing the right property matters even more. Location, distance to the sea, floor plan, construction schedule, the builder's track record and payment terms all shape the outcome of each purchase. We recommend comparing carefully, visiting the region and reviewing each development with a broker who follows the market closely.

Talk to Velaris

Velaris follows the Porto Belo and Itapema market every week and works with selected developments from partner builders. If you want to find the property that fits your goal, whether to live in, to rent out in the season or to invest, talk to our team on WhatsApp.

Licensed broker: Valter Fernandes · CRECI/SC 37.128