Hi Dee Dee ,
I have spent much much time in Joao Pessoa the last few years as it my destination of choice. I actually came very close to buying a piece of land and building a developement with some investors but since my views have changed.
It is less expensive then Natal . Used to be half the price when I first discovered the place but since then it is quickly catching up !! For those who are stuck on the northeast I think it is their best bet and they can catch a short flight from Natal or Recife to Joao Pessoa easily I believe at least I am sure they can fro Recife . . . . Natal who knows these days.
I found Natal overcrowded with Prostitutes although Joao Pessoa may have a few they are much less evident and far and few between compared to Natal !! Natal as far as a City goes is in very bad shape and not cared for all that well. Joao Pessoa is a much nicer City . Easier to get around , cared for better, and much cleaner as well with what seems to be a better class of people as well. Yes there is plenty of room for improvement as with many cities in the northeast but defiantely better the Natal 100 % better !!
My worse fears about the place seem to have come true and that is that the almost overnight growth has and will hurt the City as the infrastructure does not seem to be keeping up with it's growth rate.
Now, one has to be almost as careful doing business there as Natal but not nearly as careful yet !! Prices have gotten to a point where people are looking else where.
I am finding areas that gringoes rarely looked at for vacation and or relocation spots are now much more reasonable , established and just as nice if not nicer then the northeast now. Areas around but not in Rio and Sao Paulo and even South in Santa Catarina. They also have a much easier climate to handle and the northeast seems to have been having enormous amounts of rain and local flooding lately as well.
In my opinion most of the northeast's popularity is due to foreign investors and Brazilian Builders who have bought lands there very cheap and are trying to market them as some sort of a Paradise which it is far from especially in out of town areas of Natal !! and many other Cities as well including Joao Pessoa !!
For me I am heading SOUTH where I believe it is and will be better. The bubble popped here in the States and it is sure to Pop in the Northeast section of Brazil as well because of what it has been inflated with . . . . BS ... BS ... BS !!!
Well I will start a post on Joao Pessoa simply out of curiosity as it may be satisfying personally to see just how many people actually agree with me. :O)