Rio de Janeiro! The plane lifted off from Sao Paulo in total darkness for its final leg into Rio de Janeiro.  We came up out of the darkness into high morning sunlight and my spirits soared. Too many years had passed since I'd last seen my favorite city.  There is much that I like about Rio; its people, their music, the exotic ambiance of the place, the almost other worldly beauty, the beaches, the sharp mountains and hills that loom up like concertos out of the landscape, the constant ocean breezes, the California-like atmosphere, the royal imperial palms, tree lined streets, restaurants strung along Avenita Atlantica, the women who are like no other, Corcovado, the jazz clubs, samba, the style of the Carioca, Jardim Botanico, Ipanema, Copacabana - more than I could ever say in words, even though superlatives abound. The seaman Paul Guaguin saw Rio de Janeiro from the deck of a ship and decided to become an artist. We first saw Rio de Janeiro in 1981 and fell it in love with it. Time has passed, but here we are again. The microphone clicks on, the flight attendant tells us the time, it's 6 AM, June the 7th.  We are to place all carry-on bags under the seat or in the overhead compartment, we are to move our chairs into an upright position and fasten our seat belts. We are informed that we are about to land at Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, where the temperature is 79 degrees, and that we are bid welcome to Rio de Janeiro.

Large Map Of Brazil State Maps Of Brazil

Real Estate In Brazil Property Marketplace Real Estate Listings For Brazil - Current Listings - Bargains - Estancias in Brazil, Apartments & Condos in Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis Oceanfront, Villas in Fortaleza, Island Property, Enclaves, Coast Property, Beachfront in Costa Verde, Sale by Owner, Current Listings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. -  Real Estate In Brazil By Province Alagos Bahia Ceara Distrito Federal Minas Gerais Paraiba Pernambuco Rio de Janeiro Rio Grande Norte Santa Catarina Sao Paulo More > >  > List Your Property Advertise Your Property Also see Real Estate in South America Also see Real Estate By Type - Islands, B&B's, Plantations

Articles on Living & Investing in Brazil

Expats Living in Brazil   -  Brazil is South America’s economic powerhouse, fueled by immense agricultural, mining, energy, and human resources and driven by muscular manufacturing and service sectors. It was one of the first emerging markets to begin its recovery from the global financial crisis of 2008, due to strong commodity exports and sound macroeconomic planning. Now, Brazil has become a very attractive destination for experienced professionals in areas such as finance and engineering, with the government soliciting skilled information technology professionals from around the globe. In the first half of 2010, the Brazilian labor ministry administered more than 4300 work visas to US citizens. The three largest cities in Brazil are Belo Horizonte (a metropolitan area of 5.4 million inhabitants), Rio de Janeiro (11.5 mil), and the super megacity, São Paulo, (20 million!). Like the fabulous foods of Brazil, each has its distinctive flavors. And to get a taste of these flavors, expats currently living in each of these vivacious cities have generously shared some thoughts about how they have learned to join in the celebration of life that is Brazil.

A Gringo’s Survival Guide to Brazil: Brazilian Bureaucracy -  The Brazilian banking system is one of the most complex and bureaucratic in the civilized world. You cannot hold a bank account in this country unless you have permanency (i.e. your RNE and CPF), you will need to produce proof of residence, proof of income and other documents in order to open an account. It is a frustrating process and may not be instantly successful. It may take several tries to get it right. I personally recommend opening an account with an international bank such as Citibank, HSBC or others that may also operate in your home country. This may facilitate transfers of funds you may have in your country of origin. If you are coming to Brazil and can’t open an account here then your best bet is open an HSBC account in your home country. If you have an HSBC account then you can perform international ATM transactions at any HSBC or affiliated network machine in the country. Otherwise, you can only perform international transactions at Banco do Brasil’s main branches and only at specific ATMs at that location. Trust me, this one is a real pain in the butt.

Brazil’s Tropical Northeast   -  Those in search of a year round tropical climate should have a good look at Brazil’s Northeast Region, which encompasses almost 20% of the country’s landmass, and is home to approximately 55 million people, or 20% of the nation’s population. The great majority live in the big cities of Recife, Fortaleza, and Salvador, while about 15 million live in the “sertão,” the semi-arid interior lower uplands, the home of the cashew nut. This area has been thoroughly exploited by cattle ranching and cotton farming. However, the area closer the Atlantic Ocean is well known in the region as well as in Europe for the attractive climates that Northern Europeans prefer in the winter. Visitors will also enjoy some of the finest beaches in all of South America, a very rich cultural heritage famous for candombé, a Bantu-rooted musical genre that is heavy on percussion, along with the famous yearly carnival celebrations.

Real Estate in Fortaleza, Brazil -  The property you buy might not be deeded to the seller; it might belong to someone completely different. It is very expensive in Brazil to register deeded property from one owner to another so some people decide not to do that. They exchange a Contract of Vendor, a piece of paper which they hold on to until they’re ready to sell, then they use that paper do the same thing; sometimes this paper can change hands four or five times without ever being registered. The real owner may never get involved; however, there may come a time when the deed holder will want to either sell the property or take ownership. Since they own the land, they can legally confiscate or sell the property. If you have just built a $250,000 house on the property, you have given the property owner a nice beach residence free of costs. And, it’s perfectly legal. ALWAYS GET THE DEED TO ANY PROPERTY YOU BUY, even if you have to pay a little more; and no matter how good a deal it might appear, don’t buy ANYTHING unless you do get the deed!!!!

Real Estate in Brazil – Investment Prospects Booming - bounds and not a week goes by without yet another positive addition to Brazil’s economic track record. This is all excellent news for those planning investment in Brazil, particularly property investors who can rest assured that their property investment in Brazil is one of the best. So-called ‘green shoots’ are sprouting worldwide on the global economic scene, but in almost every country these shoots are small and there’s no confirmation that they will actually see full growth. However, for those investing in Brazil there are now so many green shoots that growth predictions for 2010 are upgraded on a weekly basis and it seems highly likely that Moody’s will raise its credit rating for Brazil in early autumn.

Walk Like A Brazilian - Robin In Brazil  - by Robin Sparks - I'd been to every country on my list except for one, Brazil. The Brazil in my head was passion, romance, the samba, fresh fruit, tropical beaches, and the bossanova. When I heard that in Brazil it's rude to show up on time for social engagements, I thought that this just might be the place for me. How could I not love a country where I'd always be on time? There was also the hope that in Brazil, I could blend in more easily than in Bali, my other favorite place on the planet. There's no way I'll ever be Balinese, but maybe I could be Brazilian. Brazil is a colossal country with more beaches than all of California and Florida put together, so where to begin? I started by emailing expatriates who lived in Brazil. And that is how I came to meet Jim and Debbie, and how I came to be not on a Brazilian beach, but in the mountains in Teresopolis, 3,000 feet above Rio. Jim and Debbie spent years trekking in Brazil before purchasing a home last year in Teresopolis. For me, the opportunity to begin my exploration of Brazil under the tutelage of American Brazilophiles, was ideal. I accepted their invitation to visit. I was fascinated when Jim months earlier had emailed me saying that he and his girlfriend Debbie had bought an estate which included five buildings, a spring-fed swimming pool, vegetable garden and enclosed tennis court for $30,000. Was he joking? This was something I had to see. Turns out, if anything Jim was under-exaggerating. Thanks to a tip from local friends, they were able to purchase what looks like a Mediteranean compound for the price of a tool shed in the US.  The question everyone always asks me after one of these articles is "Hey, I wanna do that. How?"

Brazil: Drinking Chope in Rio -  Chope (pronounced show-pee) is delicious. Chope is cold and refreshing on a hot Rio night. Chope is… a bomba. It doesn’t take long for a visitor in Rio to start seeing chope aka chopp all over town. What is it? Among brewmeisters, chope is known as “fresh beer.” It was introduced in Brasil in 1808 with the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family.  And in Rio, chope became cherished by the Cariocas, who initially consumed wines and spirits. Rio serves more chope than anywhere else in Brasil.   And Cariocas (Rio natives) take their chope seriously.  And very cold (bem gelado). One of the biggest differences between beer and chope is that beer is pasteurized.  Chope’s not.  Beer can be stored warm, chope can’t.  Beer’s shelf life is about 4 months.  Chope must be consumed within 10 days – 15 days for dark chope (oscuro).

You ask, we answer: What are the implications for expats in the event of a global economic collapse? - Following on with our series of question and answer articles we had a very interesting question put to us recently from a reader who, quite understandably, is concerned about the consequences for expats in the event of a worldwide economic collapse.  The question posed was:-  “If we become expats and then, in the future there is a worldwide economic collapse will we be able to return to the US?”  The editor and two regular writers for Escape From America Magazine share their thoughts and opinions on this question. - Julie R. Butler - As things currently stand, expatriating from the United States does not mean that you will not be allowed to return, except in a few circumstances. Expatriation does not require you to give up US citizenship. Most expats keep their US citizenship for a wide variety of reasons, among them being the fact that gaining citizenship in another country is not an easy process, requiring time and patience, the taking of citizenship exams, money to pay for all the fees, a pile of official documentation, notaries, apostils, a lawyer… and don’t forget the US$450 you must pay for the final privilege of handing over all of your rights and privileges as a US citizen.

More About Making a Move to Fortaleza - Since I wrote my last article over two years ago I have received over two hundred replies: some asking for information about Fortaleza, some wanting to know about Brazil, people wanting me to give them advice on how to buy property, men wanting me to find them wives, as well as questions about the economy and many other things. I’ve tried to answer each and every letter and give sound advice though, sometimes I don’t say what some people would like to hear. I’ll try to address a few more things in this article. At present I’m sitting on the balcony of my apartment on the corner of Ana Bilhar and Desembargador Moreira in Fortaleza; it’s in the center of Meireles, a middle-class neighborhood where most of the Gringo’s live and hang out. It’s ten o’clock in the evening; the clouds are beginning to drift over land from the sea; the temperature is in the high seventies, there’s a gentle breeze blowing onshore and it’s a beautiful night.

A Hidden Wonderland - Búzios, Brazil  - One hundred and five miles east of Rio de Janeiro, there is a small peninsula home to roughly twenty-five beaches, each with its own particular flavor of paradise. For a thousand years, these beaches were the home of the Tamoio and Goitacás tribes, who competed to outdo each other at blissful frolicking in their idyllic surroundings. They drank the sweet milk of the tucum fruit, which is similar to a coconut, and flirted with members of the opposite sex while swimming in the surf. In the sixteenth century, as the European powers cast their greedy glances on the vast wilderness of Brazil, Búzios remained relatively untouched by the legitimate forces of military might. Pirates, however, knew a good thing when they saw it. French, English and Dutch pirates were quite understandably lured by the pleasures of life with scantily clad natives and gentle breezes. Upon comparing their new hideout to their old homelands, where excessively modest and ruffled clothing was in vogue, the rouges plopped themselves down in Búzios and refused to budge. (If you do not believe they have never left, visit the bar known as TakaTakaTaka on Rua das Pedras and introduce yourself to Kaiser, the slightly imbalanced, ultimately benevolent Dutch pirate who has survived on an elixir of youth all these long years since).

A Marriage Map For Brazil - Getting Hitched In Brazil - Horizonte (BH), mostly from those looking to marry or retire there. Here’s how we got married in Minas Gerias: It's pretty easy.  MG does not seem to observe some of the new Brazil Federal laws but before you leave the US, get all your USA docs "legalized" at your Brazilian consulate before you come down. This is easy, just register your Notary with your Brazilian Consulate. 1) Our marriage cert was issued by the "Cartorio Nougueira of El Dorado" in Contagem, MG. We also had our civil marriage ceremony there. 2) Birth Cert, your and hers original or certified copy.  Mine was not legalized but the "Cartorio Nougueira of El Dorado" in Contagem took it anyway.  This was translated into Portuguese by a legal translator in BH.  After translation, this had to be Notarized by a Brazilian "registros."  This was only a couple blocks away from the "Cartorio Nougueira of El Dorado" and was called "Cartorio Massote Registros".

Brazil for US Baby Boomers -  It is no secret to anyone that the largest segment of The United States population is about to, trying to, considering, or thinking about their retirements. It is also widely known and published in numerous articles that this group is concerned about their prospects - their choices are dwindling and their hopes and dreams going up in smoke right before their eyes due to things such as safety, health, finances, cost of living, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, healthcare and yes, added to the list in the past few years, terrorism. The facts are out there. Just recently ( January 11th, 2007), part of an article in the latest McKinsey Report made the following statements: *McKinsey research finds that US workers are far more likely to be forced into early retirement than many of them expect and that many significantly underestimate the costs they'll face in retirement. *Almost half of all pre-retirees expect to work past age 65, yet only 13 percent of current retirees have done so.

Brazil Or Bust ~ Making A Change -  The story really starts back in 1999, when I moved to San Diego, California to marry a lady I had met who lived there. We both thought it would be forever. It wasn’t. Having already moved 2000 miles, at least, from family and friends, when the separation occurred it was not too much of a stretch to think “outside the box”. I decided I wanted to live in a place that had the attributes I considered most important…climate, proximity to the ocean, preferably warm water, a low cost of living, good exchange rate and…for sure…a lower stress level! While exploring on the net, I came across a couple of sites that contributed much to my research. One was EscapeArtist.com. It appeals to folks who, for one reason or another, are fed up with North America, or wherever they live, and are ready to start making changes. While looking through the site, I came across an article by John Mueller (read article attached). He had actually traveled to Brazil after lusting to do so since he was a child.

The Importance of Learning another Language as an Expat- As a freelance journalist and writer, one of the ways I earn a crust is to write reports and articles about the financial services industry. Which is why I found myself at a conference in Vienna recently, writing for a software company that provides technology to hedge funds, wealth managers and the like. As a freelance journalist and writer, one of the ways I earn a crust is to write reports and articles about the financial services industry. Which is why I found myself at a conference in Vienna recently, writing for a software company that provides technology to hedge funds, wealth managers and the like.

A Month To Buy a House In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ...and The Good Life In Buzios -  We flew into Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport (GIG), This is my third trip to Brasil this year, (I came solo the first two times and had so much fun I can’t talk about it) I’ve decided to spend the month looking for a home near the beach in Barra de Tijuca, the “newer” area of Rio de Janeiro and brought an assistant, Laura, to help keep me focused. Previous times the days passed so quickly I felt I wasn’t getting things done. I liked the fact she had never been in a taxi before let alone legally ordered a drink at a bar. I happened to stay in Barra on the prior trips and loved it so much I decided it to be the area I would like to live. It’s directly on the beach (Praia), about the only area where you can still live in a single family home. Most of Rio seems to be condominiums. “On the Beach” in Rio mean across the street. Buying A House In Rio Part 2 - I joined the Smiles Program offered by Varig Airlines since I was becoming a regular on the flight to Rio and they now offer an unbelievably low price for the flight from Miami (MIA) to Rio (GIG) $420 + taxes roundtrip and nonstop, except for the stop in Sao Paulo, which I still don’t understand what the nonstop thing was all about since we always stopped in Sao Paulo.

Many More Articles On Living & Investing Brazil Recent Articles On Living & Investing In Brazil  - Escape From America Magazine Recent Articles On Living & Investing In Brazil  - Expat Daily News

More Articles On Living & Investing In Brazil -  and thousands of articles on living and investing overseas in countries around the world; including numerous articles on international real estate - Most of our articles start in our international relocation magazines; but we keep them in an archive so that visitors can access them - -  access is free, and free is a very good prices - Click here to visit our relocation reference library - This library is filled with facts, contacts, suggestions, inside information & offshore information, artist havens & tax havens ....  We sincerely hope you make your escape and that you find your Shangri La, or your Shangri Lil ... and that special place in the world that sets your heart on fire... We're willing to show you the routes

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