How many reputable agents are there JM?? I think that's the real question. Also, of those reputable agents, how many actually know how to invest in brazil the correct way? From my experience, I have yet to meet ONE.


And to robh....I guess you're our version of the queen mother?

It is a valid point, and funnily enough since we have sold quite a lot of property in Brazil we know what works and what doesn't.

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Thanks for the posting Ralph,but no great suprises here to be frank.The only aspect that would suprise me is that anyone seriously contemplating an investment in Brazil would not be aware of your "revelation".
Even a modicum of due dilligence would reveal.
Thankfully,the majority of purchasers on this forum would appear to be using Manzanares,Legalex etc who are fully conversant in these fund registration procedures.

Well Wolfgang..then get ready to be surprised! Not only did the 33 english that bought here in Aracaju over the last 2-3 years have no idea, but a gentleman known as "keifer robins", some people now say his real name is "keith roberts", an ex-convict in england for insurance fraud, sold numerous "houses" and "lots" here in the northeast of Brazil. After he received hundreds of thousands of pounds here in Aracaju, he fled to Piaui. Then after he received approximately 500,000 pounds there selling "lots", which didn't exist btw, for 5,000 pounds a piece, he "died" in a car accident....lol. And if you believe that he's dead I've got some swamp land in Tampa we can talk about.

So, while you Wolfgang may do your due diligence, it ceases to amaze me the ones that don't. And then act surprised when they get stiffed or they've been wronged by the agent in some way, shape, or form.

You act like this is common knowledge as to "how" to invest in brazil. I have yet to see ONE english agent who knows all the ins and outs. Matter of fact, even here, in Brazil, you need to look for lawyers, accountants, etc. that are familiar with the process...the vast majority have no idea! They learn through trial and error....nice for them it's their clients errors and not their own.

And, robh, you're an agent, lol. Well, I was going to post that I would bet you were even before you made your last post.

Was it the logo and the "premium agency member" written above all my posts that gave it away?

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well rob I have no idea what that logo is....I've never seen it in Brazil, or the U.S. for that matter. Is it big in England? Like Century 21 or something?

And "pemium agency member" could be the titles that are given by any forum after a number of posts. No, it was from the context of your posts.

I'm an agent by the way.

Not saying it wasn't valid information, it is... very valid. And it's good to bring it up again on the forums to remind people. But it was mentioned a while back and if any agents who visit this site still aren't informing their clients about it then it's not due to ignorance, it's misleading on purpose.

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Yes, I work for a Real Estate company doing market research and analysis but I'm not involved in sales.

Have a nice day

Good point JM. But it's still happening, and I know it for a fact. There are certainly a lot more agents in England selling Brazil than what come to this site. One thing I would like to accomplish is to educated foreign investors as much, and as many, as humanly possible on exactly how one goes about investing in Brazil because it makes me truly naseus when I meet these people here, and in some cases, people that don't have a lot of money, and they've been "rooked". And the truth of the matter is that no type of payment should be made to an entity outside brazil, regardless of how large or small. If agents are worried about their commissions then they should be upfront with the investor and simply tell them that the customer will pay the commissions to them direct, then let the investor send the payments direct to the builder or seller in Brazil, or to his own brazilian business.

I was in corporate sales in the states for 12 years before I came to Brazil, and this has been one thing that has shocked me as well about property agents in England selling foreign countries....that they get paid their commissions 100% up front! That's absurd! What motivation do they now have to continue to service the client?

Your point is indeed valid and it never ceases to amaze me how people are prepared to spuculate large sums of hard earned money without conducting proper research.
I am also aware of the scam to which you refer involving Property Bond,no Creci,Keifer,*** et al etc -it has been well documented.

Doesn't surprise me. I've met with the federal police here in Brazil concerning it, as well as spoken and communicated with the police in liverpool...merseyside.

It's a damn shame. One old lady they took for 50K sterling, never saw a thing. A lady that really couldn't afford it. She was going to come here to make her home.

As they say, what comes around goes around. Especially here in Brazil. Those guys came to the wrong place to steal from people. They'll end up disappearing for real if they're not careful...and more than likely the police will be involved.