Cost of Living in Brazil - Page 7

FCZ · #61 09-04-2008, 08:08 PM

Sorry, but I'm a Brazilian living abroad for several years. Yes, there are problems in Brazil, but plenty of good things not mentioned here, at least lately. Some bad Brazilians for sure, I wouldn't deny that, mostly a few taking advantage of poor legislation. I visit already 5 continents, losing track of places I have been. I'm considering to sell my property South of Brazil and buy a Summer house in Natal or Recife. This is especially for my children that will have an opportunity of truly enjoy life; yes, they will!
Your comments regarding "brazilian bad character" are, to put nicely, regrettable.

RalphJ · #62 09-04-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCZ

Sorry, but I'm a Brazilian living abroad for several years. Yes, there are problems in Brazil, but plenty of good things not mentioned here, at least lately. Some bad Brazilians for sure, I wouldn't deny that, mostly a few taking advantage of poor legislation. I visit already 5 continents, losing track of places I have been. I'm considering to sell my property South of Brazil and buy a Summer house in Natal or Recife. This is especially for my children that will have an opportunity of truly enjoy life; yes, they will!
Your comments regarding "brazilian bad character" are, to put nicely, regrettable.

No question regrettable FCZ...I agree wholeheartedly. And believe me, I have a personal interest in Brazil. My only child, who is brazilian-american, lives with my brazilian ex-wife, and regardless if and when I choose to go back to the U.S. and/or spend the majority of my time, or in any other country, my daughter will probably be stuck here.

There are some good people in Brazil, but unfortunately, in my decade+ of experience, and literally hundreds of other ex-pats and visiting or investing foreigners that I know, the number of people that get ripped off one way or another is truly alarming.

And I'm not so sure about the "poor legislation" part you mentioned as you should certainly know, this country has a law for everything, the problem is they aren't enforced.

FCZ · #63 09-04-2008, 08:44 PM

RalphJ,

Actually, I was not replying your email, but Raimundo's one, no need to apologize. I know few bad ones myself. Back in 1996 I lost quite a bit of $ with an 0ff-plan in Porto Alegre; last year got everything back + interest after going after the personal property of the guys. But Courts in South work a bit better, longer but better.
Well, my son is American-Brazilian, we have that in common, I may send him to study in Florida in the future, but we never know the future...For now, just making my mind regarding a Summer house.

Dotty · #64 09-04-2008, 09:15 PM

What is your area of work?

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCZ

RalphJ,

Actually, I was not replying your email, but Raimundo's one, no need to apologize. I know few bad ones myself. Back in 1996 I lost quite a bit of $ with an 0ff-plan in Porto Alegre; last year got everything back + interest after going after the personal property of the guys. But Courts in South work a bit better, longer but better.
Well, my son is American-Brazilian, we have that in common, I may send him to study in Florida in the future, but we never know the future...For now, just making my mind regarding a Summer house.

jamphi24 · #65 09-04-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raimundo

Brazil is expensive!

People (in this thread) who disagree are most likely investors that are locked in or bought and are justifing their situation, and the thought of traveling and investing in another area of Latin America is just to much a hassle for them. Money, time and 'starting over' comes to mind.

Not only from an Ex Pat perspective but also from a Brazilian perspective. You can live much cheaper in other south and central American countries--I know because I have experience in this area. The same $ you buy in Natal, Recife or Fortaleza (nice 2/2 Flat the beach), you could easily buy in Punta Cana DR-on the Beach, maybe even bigger, the Pacific side of Costa Rica (no violence Whatsoever), Colombia's caribbean coastal cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla, Playa Blanco, and some small islands in the Caribbean the public has no idea about.

Euro people love northeast Brazil because they don't know any better. They did not travel enough to know other options/areas in Latin America. I know about Beach front property right now that is equal/nicer/cheaper than any city in NE Brazil-but that information costs me big $ to find out. Traveling, getting screwed, robbed, assaulted, scammed, building relationships, knowing the right people, etc.

I've easily spent over $100,000 in travel expenses to know what I know now.

Sorry, I won't divulge my iinfo here--my consulting fees are $75 hourly.

There is always going to be somewhere cheaper!! Why would your average someone invest in somewhere unheard of? Its like comparing Marbella to some unheard of town in Spain.

Dotty · #66 09-04-2008, 10:58 PM

Oh and they funnily enough think people speak Spanish.The amount of times I have heard people say Oh you speak Spanish then-it is like wake up get a stupid map out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamphi24

There is always going to be somewhere cheaper!! Why would your average someone invest in somewhere unheard of? Its like comparing Marbella to some unheard of town in Spain.

jamphi24 · #67 09-04-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotty

Oh and they funnily enough think people speak Spanish.The amount of times I have heard people say Oh you speak Spanish then-it is like wake up get a stupid map out.

i know where you coming from there. you just want to get a big stick that says I am arrogant and stupid and hit them with it!!!

jamphi24 · #68 09-04-2008, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raimundo

I disagree.

Brazil is known throughout the world as ground zero for scams. Everything from pocket theft to huge government scams. Do a search on Google, I read [on google] a 'Top 50 Scam Countries in the World' and sure enough Brazil was #1. And most pople who get scammed rarely ever talk about, or want to. Right now I know five people that got screwed in Brazil (2 in my group-they are still active investors) and none would come on this Forum and post about it. Other Latin countries have less scamming -- thats a fact. why? Not sure... but I think there might be something deeply engrained in Brazilian culture that makes people do the most unethical things when their back is against the wall, or just plain bad character. Remember the Nigerian Email Scam that milked millions of $ from innocent people around the world? Guess who? Recife, Brazil! That's right, some lowlife but highly intelligent Geek Brasileiros working out of Olinda.

French 'do gooders' trying to make a difference in the world helping the poor

Sorry mate its not just Brazil, there are scams everywhere. And considering Brazil is the biggest country in South America I would say that could explain why it has the most amount of scams (I am presuming you are right there)? just a thought?
With regards to the french people getting killed, there are deaths in every country. i have travelled a lot and i felt far more threaten in africa than in brazil.

Dotty · #69 09-04-2008, 11:05 PM

Not at all.But I guess I am probably right.In the nicest possible way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamphi24

i know where you coming from there. you just want to get a big stick that says I am arrogant and stupid and hit them with it!!!

#70 10-04-2008, 10:55 PM

I'm reading this Board now a few weeks, and the only guy here that really makes any sense to me is Ralph. Big Ralph has told nothing but the truth about doing business in Brazil, and I never met Ralph personally, but his posts make sense. Colombia has less scamming, way less... why? No tourists! So, they are not accustomed to it, where as Brazilians and "Rio", etc... for many years, maybe the last 80 years, gringos flock to Brazil so it's engrained in the culture to screw foreigners, and I'm a perfect example!

I'd say the best lifestyle if you wany zero hassles is rent, rent everything!

Or at the most, buy a small Flat on the Beach somewhere--that's it.

Raimundo Tip: if you want less scamming, better folks, more honest people, invest in Punta Cana - DR (Dominican Republic). Right now American constructors are building nice, affordable homes on a Jack Nick designed Golf Course with Beach views.... How can you beat that? And the north coast Beach in DR is 10 times better than Recife, Natal or Fortaleza!

Ok, that'll be $75.00 my paypal!