Posts Tagged ‘property’

Come to think of Brazil, and you’ll immediately get transported to the football capital of the world! The land of Ronaldos, Ronaldinhos, Peles, and Romarios is the next projected global economic powerhouse. Occupying almost half of the South American continent, Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. Considering its vast size, the Brazilian population of around 190 million is miniscule, to say the least. This is because sea-loving Brazilians are mostly concentrated around the coasts. It is estimated that around two-third of the nation’s population is situated along the coastline. This leaves a vast chunk of the country’s mainland open for development projects, and a virtual goldmine for the global property investors.

What Makes Brazil a Hot Investment Destination?

Brazil has many attractions that allure the people from all over the world to this Samba land. The country is a major tourist hub of South America. It’s not just the soccer-crazy Brazilians that invite attention, but also the entire Brazilian lifestyle that has lent a unique identity to the country.

To start with, the country plays host to the world’s biggest rainforest – The Amazon. This is reason enough for the nature loving tourists to flock and hook up to Brazil for days, and witness the wildlife-rich wetlands of the Pantanal, the canyons and caves of the Chapada Diamentina, and the Mata Atlantica (Atlantic forest), which runs for much of the length of Brazil’s coastline.

Brazilian seashore adds to the charm of the country with sun-kissed beaches dotting over 7000 kilometres of coastline. The legendary Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are just some of the magnificent water-features of Brazil. The aquatic sports are also one of the major highlights of the Brazilian beaches.

If you think you’ve heard enough of Brazil, we are not done yet! The Annual Carnival at Rio de Janeiro is synonymous with the Brazilian way of living – dancing to the tunes of samba and merrying about all night! This not-to-be-missed annual event is attended by millions of revellers from around the world and attracts global media coverage.

Another major reason, besides tourism, behind the growth of the property market in Brazil is the country’s booming industry. Brazil is one of the few countries that have mastered the art of ethanol-blended petroleum products. This technology is of massive help in curbing rising pollution levels due to the burning of fossil fuels the world over.

The country is largely seen as one of the fastest developing economies of the world along with China and India, and if the trend continues, Brazil will be a jackpot destination for every real estate investor. A largely peaceful country, Brazil attracts Europeans for its low cost of living, which is just 20% of that in the UK/Europe.

The proactive government developmental policies, along with the favourable currency exchange rates fuel the robust property sector all across the country. Brazil is well-connected with major cities of the world through regular flights in and out of the country. The lively Brazilian people have a rich tradition of living life to the hilt, is one factor that clinches the deal for Brazil as a hot real estate destination.

Hottest Investment Locations in Brazil

Currently, Brazil enjoys one of the fastest growing property markets in the world. Therefore, you can be rest assured that money spent on property in Brazil is a wise investment translating into greater appreciation for the capital in a short period of time. And before you jump on the Brazilian bandwagon, here’s another happy piece of information you’ll love to hear. Millions of foreign nationals own property and business in Brazil benefiting from the fact that property ownership is guaranteed by the Constitution for Brazilians and foreigners alike. And land ownership in Brazil is in perpetuity, which includes full mineral and water rights.

Any kind of coastal property in Brazil is worth a goldmine. Since most of the population and tourists’ activities are centred on the coastal areas of Brazil, cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are always on top of the investment chart. For a little over £50K, you can enjoy beachfront apartments, duplexes and villas in Natal, or residential club villas in Fortaleza. Of course, several low-priced properties are also available in every segment – off-plan, built-up, or land.

If you are looking to capitalize on the vast agricultural land in Brazil, the places like Western Bahia State should be your choice of destination. Brazil is expected to be self-sufficient in terms of food available to its citizens, within a few years. Thanks to the mineral-rich fertile soil of the country, the cities, like Louis Eduardo Manghales, have emerged as agri-hubs in Brazil. Obviously, the developed agricultural land will cost you a little more than the uncleared land in areas, like SE Tocantins, which is believed to contain a hugely fertile land, but development here is still some years away.

Some other places ideally suited for investment in residential and commercial property include the towns of Rio do Conseicao, Dianopolis, and Rio Grande de Norte.

Brazil has investor-friendly laws, byelaws, and regulations. However, you may require the services of an attorney or a estate agent for successfully negotiating and transferring the property. There may be certain formalities to be satisfied before you can legally own a property in the country, but these are not very technical formalities that require much effort on your part. Read our buyers guide on Brazil for more details.

Enough has already been extolled about the beaches of Brazil, its natural beauty and friendly natives. You may already have been primed into buying property in Brazil and all that remains is probably, just your signature on the dotted line. But, wait a minute! Don’t let the sun-kissed beaches of Brazil make you forgo the nitty-gritty in property dealings. We will show you some hard facts which will act as a guide for overseas buyer, which is you!

In Brazil, the land is registered via private notary publics which are under judicial control. The entire information of a property is public and can be accessed by all. Many Brazilians, therefore, do not use the services of a lawyer while dealing in land transactions. But, getting top-notch legal assistance will save you a lot of bother later on.

Though every second lawyer you meet may be more than willing to help you purchase property in Brazil, the credentials of the lawyer handling the transaction are of utmost importance. A reliable client lawyer who will look after your interests is most desirable and you should preferably go for a Brazilian lawyer who is registered with the OAB (Ordem Dos Advogados Do Brasil). You should also check whether the lawyer is registerd with the law society in your own country.

A good lawyer will check whether the present owners have the right entitlement to the land and debts. He will make the obligations of both parties clear and guide you properly through the payment course and any legal matter. At the end of the procedure, he will ensure that the land is registered in your name correctly.

Since the Brazilian government welcomes foreign investment, foreigners face no major restrictions in buying or selling residential or commercial property in Brazil. Legally, they have the same rights as Brazilians.  Marine land, agricultural land, islands and areas near the international borders however, may be the exceptions and there may be certain fees or limitations in such places.

Taxes on the land will vary marginally depending on the state where the property has been purchased. Taxes like that of Stamp Duty, Property Transfer Tax and Navy Marine Tax (where applicable) are approximately the taxes which the overseas buyer will be required to pay.

The process of money transfer is very crucial and it is very important that the money is transferred directly from your own bank account to the seller’s bank account in Brazil, through the Central Bank of Brazil, during property transactions. This is so that the government of Brazil can record your investment in the country.

Following these guidelines should help the overseas buyer make a properly-recorded, legal and official
transaction of property.