This may seem like a personal fued to to others, but my purpose is to bring some reality into the real situation with regard to NE Brazil. If nothing else it might make interested outsiders take a deep breath and not dive into something that is nowhere near as vibrant, as it is being painted. Let me get this right.....
Occupancy is claimed at around 70%, yet I can walk into any hotel I want at a discount.
The people on the beach don't reflect the level of tourist occupancy.
Anyhow, we all want quiet beaches, that's why we go there, except presumably for Ipanema and Copacabana.
Natal is allegedly 6.5 hours from Lisbon, so do we all buy properties there as well, so as to get to Brazil sooner? Or do we ignore the extra 2+ hours from London/Paris/Frankfurt/Stockholm?
Flights are frequent and cheap and the new hub will increase these...maybe my Xmas flight at £900 reflects this competitive market?
Prices seem to have doubled in three years, yet I have just found a prime position flat 20% less than most other off plan offers and everyone from my taxi driver to a the hall porter has a property he wants to sell to me.
Favourable exchange rate...yet the B$ Reis has consistently increased against hard currencies in the last 12 months. So why is it favourable?
Massive surge in affordable charter flights....this surge consists of one flight, Thomson from the UK to Natal and one First Choice in summer to Salvador, Airtours cancelled theirs and Thomson have just bought 1st Choice, Thomas Cook don't fly there! Some surge..but don't forget one Air Europa flight from Madrid and a BRA flight from Lisbon to Natal at £700.
Self sufficient in oil...well sugar cane to be exact.
A foreigner can own 100% of his property..... but he cant get a bank account easily to pay his gas or electricity bill. He has to pay someone else to do that for him.
Paying a 25% premium and buying now protects you from inflation over the next 7 years.
These are the facts, everyone will make up their own mind,

That is a nice response golfXXXX, when people ask you for evidence to support your supposed facts, nothing is forthcoming, just more of the same old.

[quote=beenthere;14529]GolfXXXX,

How come you don't remember the pousada name like robh asked you three times? You didn't stay there did you? it sounds like you were telling a porky, tsk tsk...


Yes my friend you are right, I made it all up! There is one person on here that knows exactly what flight I was on, where I went and what time I arrived..his people met me. The pictures I took are library fotos and and I missed the last two goals of Brazil v USA on ESPN sport, as I was at dinner at a churrascaria. My ribs in "Golfhino" main street Pipa were a bit tough but not as tough as avoiding the potholes on the road from Tabatinga to the main highway. I had trouble finding the Banco de Brazil cashpoint on the main street, but got there in the end. The internet cafe next to my hotel in Pipa (left and left again) burned some cds for a friend for only 3 Reis and it was a slog up those cobbled streets from the beach in flip flops. You are right, the world is full of dreamers. I am dreaming about going there one day...can you recommend a cheap hotel or are they all 70% full?

[quote=Golfingworld;14535]All that and you still haven't said the name of the pousada you stayed in.

Evening all,

Oh children- he said she said come on whats the mnames and be done with it???

GW-youve been back 2 minutes and already the pot has started to boil again!!! I dont know you cant tame a wildcat!!!

Actually have missed you- find it quite amusing!!

Take care all- adios amigos D !!

I was in Natal from 08/09/07-16/09/07 I've visited the North up to Turos and South down to Pipa. I agreee with GW that it makes sense to buy a resale or almost completed apartment in Pontanegra rather that buy an offplan wich will be completed in 1-2 years time. However there are many building sites in pontanegra and not many foreign tourists around. I understand that it was low season still I've expected to be much more vibrant for the number of estates ready and on completion all around Natal and especially pontanegra. More sensible option would be to rent out on a 6 month period to brazilian workers and the other 3-4 months (high season) try to rent it to tourists. A 2 bed apt. 15-20 min (walking distance)from the beach can be rented out at 1200 reais per month at Brazilians. So you should work out if it's enough to justify the purchase. Forget to buy an apt in a residence and join the pool rental system. The money you get after condominium fee a ridicolous. They're are made only in the interest of the management. I' m considering in buy in a almost completed resort place in Tibao do Sul and thanks to the help I can get from my friend in Brazil try to market the place even to Brazilians and not just foreigners. There are a lot of things going on in Natal, they are definetely improving the infrastructures, roads are buing built the new bridge is there, they just forgot to buy the land for the access roads.....I didn't find it a dirty town even if there are a lots of almost shanty houses. I even used the public transport it does take you around.....forget to find a proper bus stop with indication which bus stops and where they go...just ask. The only thing that really didn't impress me is the architecture of Natal apart from the beaches and the skyscrapers not much. You can count the place of interests with the fingers of one hand. Does it make business sense to invest there? If you don't pay silly prices and you are able to market it properly with a good network you got a chance. The trick is to understand if the entry level is already too high.

I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion and not everyone likes the same thing (thank goodness).

I am heading out to Natal in November for the 6th time in less than 2 years and after my first visit I decided to return and purchase a property and 4 plots of land.

I too have set up my own business to highlight the investment opportunities in the North East and I give a true repsentation of the area and properties. I too agree that if you need a rental return, certain areas of Brazil are not right (at the moment). If you are looking for a holiday home that can be used by friends and family, there are many to choose from.

The BR101 heading North from Natal is certainly not the road to hell. Its well maintained and safer than many of our British roads.

If anyone has doubts about investing in Brazil, do your research and go with your head and heart. It would be awful if in 5 years time, when the airport is in place and this region has started to develop, that you missed out because you listened to one persons opinion.

Brazil is not for everyone, but after travelling to many countries, this was the one place where I could see my self living now and in the future.

Life is not always about good roads and nice houses, in Brazil you get the way of like, stress free living, sunshine and the opportunity to invest.

If you would like more information on buying in the North East of Brazil, I would be happy to talk to you.

Good Luck to those of you taking the plunge. I may see you out there.

Julie
JustBrazil Ltd

I couldn't agree more...

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The reality of the infastructure issues are hard to consolidate with the apparent upbeat feel to the Brazil market- developments like Lagoa Do Coelho are cause for optimism however if the planned road/airport/ commercial developments are not up to scratch then surly early investors will face resale issues. However Thailand/Pacific rim countries have shown modernisation can work

hi Ed,

I Agree!!

The Main Factor Is That As Long As The Economy Is Growing And Expanding Rapidly In The Way That It Is Then The Modernisation Will Have To Catch Up Also!!

This Will Take Time And For A Country As Huge As Brazil This Will Take A Long Time!

Also Due To Brazils Size It Will Also Be Hard To Tell Or See Exactly How Much Brail Is Changing And Taking Shape As The Development Will Be Spread Over Such A Huge Mass Of Land!!

I.e-whereas If It Was A Small Country Or A Small Island You Would Be Able To See The Changes More And Faster To The Human Eye And See It Unravelling Quicker!!

See Ya -d