Use Your Credit Card to Secure Your Apartment in Brazil
From my balcony table on the 17th floor, I look out at some of the most dazzling turquoise water and white, fine sandy beaches that you’re ever likely to see. The palms are swaying, the Bossa Nova is romantic, and the warm, gentle ocean breeze is the perfect complement to today’s 80° Fahrenheit temperature.
This is Brazil. And I’ve spent the last several weeks continuing my exploration of its 4,800 miles of beautiful coastline—enjoying some of the world’s best weather—while researching IL’s Brazil: The Owner’s Manual.
But while the travel and scouting were a dream, the task of covering a country the size of Brazil is daunting. Our job would be simple if this were a small country, or even a large country with just a few desirable areas. But Brazil is larger than the continental U.S. and has hundreds of top-notch destinations for North Americans.
The marching orders from IL’s editorial director, however, were clear: cover a chosen area in depth; learn the geography, meet the people, and study the intricacies of the real estate market. Find the best property deals in Brazil, and set our readers up with reliable contacts. And then gradually expand, while staying off the well-worn trail to Rio de Janeiro, or other cities that you can read about in the travel magazines at your local supermarket.
So during this trip I’ve taken a deeper look at Brazil’s northeastern coast, from Recife to São Luis. Some areas will likely drop off of our radar for good, while I’ve come across several exciting new discoveries.
Discoveries like an island north of Recife, where I found a four-bedroom beachfront home (on two lots) for just $103,000…and a spacious apartment directly on the sand for just $46,000. Not to mention some of the cheapest beachfront property I've seen.
Near João Pessoa, I discovered a sprawling 3,150-square-foot home on the beach for just $161,000…a lush 247-acre private tropical island for $625,000, a single home on the beach for only $68,750…and Brazil’s first official nudist beach.
In São Luis, I found a colonial waterfront home for just $93,000 in a UNESCO World Heritage Site…and had a great time in the Reggae capital of Brazil.
I’ll tell you all about these deals over the next few months. But the big news is right here in Fortaleza, where my original trip started over two years ago. It’s a gleaming, modern city that has great infrastructure for tourists and residents alike, reasonable prices, and the best property investments I’ve found.
For example, I attended the official kickoff for Beach Class Colonial, a new pre-construction luxury residential project in Fortaleza’s best beachfront neighborhood. There were more than 500 people in attendance—all ready to put 5% down—competing for the apartments.
But few of them knew that International Living readers had been there first…over a month earlier, with IL’s Real Estate Trend Alert service.
Few knew that the IL readers paid 15% less than today’s “insiders” and real estate professionals…that they bought up almost one-third of the project’s 315 units…that one reader saved more than $200,000 on his purchase of 10 units.
And few knew that our readers only had to put 0.75% down—just $920 in many cases—to secure their apartments.
In plain English, for just $920 each, IL readers were able to
grab properties that today are actually selling for $20,000 more than they
paid—in just over a month.
I felt good about it. And even better knowing that similar deals are being
put into place at this moment.
There’s no doubt that Brazil is beautiful, romantic, inexpensive, and exotic…it’s a pleasure to be here. But best of all, we’re bringing value to you like never before. And in the end, that’s what it’s all about.
Lee Harrison
Roving Latin America Editor, International Living
Editor’s Note: In the December 2008 issue of the International Living magazine, Lee told us where to find beachfront lots for less than $20,000, 94 rolling acres of farmland for just $129,000, and will also reveal a genuinely laidback city with numerous parks and tree-lined streets that is virtually unknown to tourists. As a subscriber of International Living, you have access to all our archive of past issue. If you are not yet a subscriber, you can become one here.…
Mexico: The World’s Best Retirement Haven
For the second year running, Mexico wins our annual Global Retirement Index.
With rapidly rising fuel, health care, food, and travel costs, it’s nice to know there are still places where you can live well without burning through your retirement nest-egg. And Mexico is one of those special places. In Mexico, you can still enjoy a lifestyle that’s probably all but unaffordable for most people in the U.S. and Canada.
Find out more about this and other retirement havens here.