Hello!

I'm just about to pay the reservation fee to the Real Estate agent selling the an apartment that we're (hopefully) buying if everything goes right.

Thought I'd try and hear throught this forum if anyone have heard of, or have bought in the same project.

There are two projects that are being built in Taiba (about 60 kilometres from Fortaleza) - Taiba gardens 1 and Taiba gardens 2. The developer is Beach Land Developments and is owned by a Mr Irineu Guimaraes. We've looked at a few different Real Estates and finally decided to go through one called Sandgarden homes (based in UK). This Real Estate, together with the other ones we've looked at (Property Bond and Beach front Brazil), all seems to somehow work under the same licence, same licence that belongs to the owner of development company (Mr Irineu). All these Real Estates also seems to work with the same Legal firm. So we'd automatically get same lawyer no matter which of these three Real Estates we'd choose, unless we pay for an independent lawyer.

Has anyone heard of the above mentioned names? Anyone bought/thinking of buying in Taiba gardens 1 or Taiba gardens 2 ? And has anyone consulted the law firm Alexandre Rodrigues de Albuquerque Law Office in Fortaleza?

Hope to hear from someone soon !

Have a great day!

Regards

Pay for the independent lawyer it is worth every cent.

If these agents are telling you not to use an independent lawyer or giving lots of reasons why you shouldn't, then walk away.

Got to agree there, your post seems to infer that if you take their lawyer they will pay the bill? Alarm bells are ringing. A lawyer suggested to you by an agent isn't necessarily bad but one paid by your estate agent? Big no-no.

I don't know the development personally but let me do some checks and I'll let you know what I find.

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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

Very brief check:

Looks like a nice development - very small village so check access routes if that is something likely to concern you. (aka dirt roads vs tarmac)

Norwegian builders with a Brazilian partner - several sites promoting the development mention that payments should be made to a norwegian bank account. (read the posts about your investment money having to go through the Banco Central if you are thinking about repatriation of funds)

Apart from that nothing glaring but as I said this was only a very basic search (searching in Portuguese can often bring to light many interesting articles which aren't translated into other languages).

Assuming you can cover all of the above (that you aren't paying the money into a Norwegian bank account) and are happy with the access roads, just make sure you get a competent lawyer to represent you in the purchase.

Manzanares seem to have been used by quite a few buyers on these forums who (appear) content with their services, but ask around.

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

Have a nice day

Hi you should definitely go for an indipendent lawyer, also bear in mind that the agents will get a commission between 5-25%. Did you ask them what will they offer you for this fee as opposed for you and your solicitor to deal directly with the developer?

25% commission? Which agents have you been dealing with?

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

Have a nice day

If you want an English speaking Brazilian lawyer in the UK try Nabas Legal Consultancy in London (close to London Bridge)- Vitoria Nabas is the owner and they have several lawyers qualified in the UK and Brazil. Get details etc on the Internet easily. Other than that I endorse what others are saying- under no circumstances send money to anywhere but Brasil as it will not get registered. Some of these developers from Europe look to get the major part of the profit out of Brasil hands, but only money entering Brasil will get registered to enable you to repatriate the money at some future date.

Re sending money direct to Brazil, get a lawyer to check it out, you can send the money to a lawyer's trust account and this money can then be sent on to Brazil in the Client's name. There are also some developers who are taking the money in Europe and are registering the money in the client's name in Brazil. I have seen this work before, but you need to get proper advice to make sure it will work for you.

Hi,

thanks for checking. But I'm not sure we're talking about the same project? I'm aware that there's a big Norweigan project in Taiba, it's more a resort with different types of houses, while this project we're looking at is just one building with apartments. It's called Taiba gardens I, and has sometimes been referred to as Taiba beach gardens.

What's Manzanares ? Legal firm?

Buy, the way the owners of the Agent we're going through (Sandgarden homes) is not based i UK, but in Brazil (I gave wrong info first).

Yes we have bought villa in Taiba from Mr. IRINEU GUMARAES. I have talked to a guy called Christian Champion (developer together with mr. Irineu) from New York City. Everyhing seems ok. Very quick and friendly responding. We got our contract with stamps and signed from notary and have now transfered money to Brazil. Today I got confirmation from Christian and a copy of the tranfer from the brazil bank. I think everything is ok, and that you can trust the company......WE DO.......