Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo
As the largest and most famous cities in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
and São Paolo are the safest opportunities for investment, although
prices are likely to be high in the desirable areas and percentage
returns will diminish proportionately.
The two cities have a relationship similar to New York and Los
Angeles –
Sao Paolo is the centre of government and finance in the
country, and is therefore likely to be popular with those looking
for commercial and office properties. Breathtakingly monumental,
Sao Paolo epitomises urban city life and despite its large
population has a remarkably clean atmosphere. It is also able to
encompass green spots such as the Bosque de Leitura, a large park
with a lake and open air library facilities which provide a
pleasant break from the bustle of city dwelling. There are endless
shopping opportunities with the Jardins district of the city
providing numerous designer stores and come the evening, the hive
of activity continues as the city teems with bars, clubs and
restaurants.
Rio, the cidade maravilhosa (beautiful city), has a reputation
for Carnival and the arts and is a city of decadence. Regarded as
the Carnival Capital of the World, the Rio carnival attracts
500,000 foreign tourists annually in the days leading up to Easter
celebrations. Sandwiched between mountains and the sea, Rio has 45
miles of white-sand seafront, including the famous Copacabana and
Ipanema beaches, and is therefore likely to be popular with those
wanting to take advantage of high tourist numbers and the city's
reputation as one of the great romantic destinations. Littered with
museums, galleries, theatres and churches there is also an escape
from urban life provided by excursions to Ilha de Paquetá, a small
picturesque island with no motorised transport.
Rio Grande do Norte
Whilst the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo are
undoubtedly popular destinations, higher returns and greater
potential for growth are more likely in the north of Brazil. The
area is attracting interest from investors as it is relatively
underdeveloped and has a wealth of natural beauty. With rainforest
sweeping down to some of the finest beaches in the world, the north
combines a fresh, unexplored feel with properties designed to a
luxury standard. Confidence in this area is sufficiently high for
some agents to offer guaranteed returns of up to 6% on some
waterfront properties and supportive infrastructure is under
development.
In Rio Grande do Norte the Mayor's office is planning an
investment in the region of R$400 million in hotel construction in
the next four years. The state is reported to have the cleanest air
and the purest water in the whole of South America (second in the
world behind the Antartic), and in a recent survey the capital city
of the area, Natal was found to have the lowest crime rate and one
of the highest quality of life rankings in the country. Natal
offers exceptional food, scenery and entertainment at a fraction of
the cost of its more southerly competitors and is becoming a firm
favourite amongst tourists especially Europeans, who only have to
fly 7 hours to reach its sandy shores. With an average temperature
of 30°C, 360 days of sunshine a year and up to 400km of truly
spectacular beaches it is not hard to understand Natal's
popularity. Currently devoid of sophisticated luxury resort
developments, investment in high end property is likely to be
lucrative. The nearby opening of a David Beckham soccer academy in
Cabo Sao Roque should also increase Natal's global profile.
It should be noted that many other less developed areas along
the coast have security issues.
Ceará
Bordering the Atlantic Ocean in north eastern Brazil, Ceara is a
popular tourist destination, with Pinto Martins International
Airport welcoming charter flights from all over Europe and the USA.
Until around 10 years ago, the area was largely underdeveloped but
the government has since concentrated its efforts on increasing the
tourist industry in the area, enticing an influx of foreign
investors in commercial and residential properties. In spite of
being one of the smallest states in Brazil, Ceara offers one of the
longest coastlines in the country and its excellent beaches and
unspoilt countryside are a major attraction for visitors to the
area. There are strong investment opportunities in this region and
top-class new developments are being snapped up by overseas
property buyers.
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is highly populated and offers some lucrative
opportunities for property purchasers, due to a thriving tourist
trade, easy access to Europe and comparatively low property
prices. The nerve knot of the region is the state of
Pernambuco's capital city of Recife, which is one of the largest
cities in Brazil with a population of over 1,500.000
inhabitants. Beautiful sandy beaches with warm waters attract
international visitors and real estate investors to the area, while
a solid infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and other services is
widely available. The entire coastline of Pernambuco is
dotted with beaches to suit all tastes, such as Maria Farinha for
water sports and Porto de Galinhas, reputed by many as the best
beach in Brazil.
Alagoas
Whereas areas such as Natal and Forteleza have specialised in
low cost, cheaper tourism and properties, Alagoas has the advantage
of being the destination of choice for Brazilians, with stunning
beaches, a relaxed atmosphere and sympathetic building
control.
Most of the state is planted with coconut trees and sugar cane
offering stunning, rolling green landscapes. The beaches often
benefit from coral reefs that create delightful variations in hue
cascading through the range of blue, green and turquoise. The reefs
also form natural pools that are popular for snorkelling due to the
abundant fauna and flora that can be observed within them and the
area is also a popular destination for surfing and bodyboarding.
Maceio, the state capital, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city,
situated along a vast beach that stretches for over 200km. The city
is exceptionally clean, with tiled buildings and a beachfront with
a wide, tree lined promenade that plays host in the evening to
locals and tourists alike.
Alagoas has a tropical climate with the temperature ranging from an
average of 21°C in June to 28°C in January. The most prominent
aspect of the city is the huge swathe of beach and Maceio reflects
its geographical reliance on the ocean within its more traditional
architecture and the laid back ambience that emanates from its
citizens.
Bahia
This region is located on Brazil's north east coast and its
major city of Salvador is the third largest city in Brazil.
Property development in Bahia state is concentrated in tourist
resort areas where considerable resources have gone into building a
new infrastructure, including an airport to support a boom in
international development. It boasts year-round sunshine, beautiful
beaches and a vibrant culture of music, carnival and festivals
which draws tourists to the region in numbers never witnessed
before. Government incentives are actively encouraging foreign
investment in Bahia. Income levels and the cost of living are still
lower in Bahia than in first-world countries and there are
opportunities for investment in the popular tourist locations.
Today's property prices in Bahia remain low and capital growth is
expected to continue upwards at unprecedented levels.
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