Originally Posted by Raimundo

If I may offer some advice--be very careful when investing in Brazil, and if you do buy, research the property to death. Lawyers in Brazil are slick and I don't trust any of them. My investment group was scammed in a small city north of Natal and we hired a lawyer based in Rio and recommended by the American consulate. We paid a retainer fee of $1,500.00US and five years later nothing has been done, and the lawyer makes excuses. He even offered to handle it the Brazilian way, but we had to pay more $ for him and his accomplish (use your imagination) to fly to Natal, Hotel, food, etc. Suffice to say, I have zero plans of ever investing in Brazil again. Keep in mind the judicial system in Brazil is almost non-existent and only works for the super rich or the 3% that controls all of Brazil; mainly white super rich folks based in Sao Paulo, and gringos have no leverage what-so-ever.

I personally think some Brazilians enjoy when a foreigner gets duped... maybe jealousy of the first world lifestyle, not really sure but jealousy does exist but never spoken about. And there is no recourse if you are duped and cheated and consider your loss or gift and cough it up as a lesson learned or the infamous Gringo Tax. And according to the World Fact Book, Brazil is Scam Ground Zero. Meaning more scams are produced in Brazil than any other country in the world. The Nigerian email scam the bulked millions from innocent people was started, managed and operated from a run down house in Olinda, a small village north of Recife, Brazil.

Not to slam Brazil.... but the country does have a lot to offer. Maybe the most raw talent in the world-the people, and Brazil has all the natural wonders; Amazon, Beaches, fruits, etc. But the corruption, the undermining mindset and flawed character of most are questionable ay best. Most Brazilian don't trust each other, that said, the argument is how can we trust them?