Frequently asked questions

When buying a property in Brazil, we recommend the following four basic steps:

• CPF number: before you can buy a property, you need to get a Brazilian tax number called CPF. Our team can do the CPF via e-mail, or assist you when you being here.
• Due diligence: Make sure your real estate agent / lawyer thoroughly checked that the property is properly registered and that no debts are linked to the seller.  
• Purchasing contract: After sucessful negotiation, a purchasing contract is signed and a 10% advance payment needs to be deposited. In general, the open amount will be normally paid within approx. 30 days, when signing the official transfer document (“Escritura”).
• Final payment and registration: The transfer costs average between 3% and 6% of the property purchase price and include fees, stamp duty, etc.

No, there are no restrictions on foreigners to own Brazilian property. Overseas investors are allowed to buy and own countless properties and lands in Brazil. The Brazilian government proactively attracts foreign investment into the country’s real estate market.

Yes, is it possible to purchase property in Brazil without travelling there, as long as you work with a reputable and professional agent or property developer. An experienced team should assist you through every step of the purchase process without you having to visit the country, and will keep you fully informed at each stage along the way.

The north-east of the country, especially the state Ceara, offers great potential rental returns. This is due to the region’s huge popularity as a holiday destination thanks to its favourable climate. It is reasonable to expect that a fully furnished property in a similarly popular area of Brazil would see occupancy for around 30 weeks of the year, possibly for even longer.

Flights: Air travel to Brazil has become much easier in recent years, with most European airports servicing the country. Direct flights to Fortaleza, Salvador, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro can be taken from several European airports. 
Air Italy offers direct flights from Rom, Italy to Fortaleza.
Condor offers from January direct flights from Frankfurt to Fortaleza and other Brazilian destinations.

Tourist visa: Visitors to Brazil can obtain a 90 day tourist visa once they enter the country; citizens of the USA however need to apply for their visas in advance. Once in Brazil it is possible to extend your tourist visa by another 90 days through the Federal Police station.

At the current time, mortgages are still not generally available to overseas investors and it is usual to arrange mortgages in your national country. In 2005, only 50,000 mortgages were granted to Brazilian nationals, but at very high rates. It is expected that the mortgage market in Brazil will open up soon, both to the domestic and to the international market, which will lead to an addition boom in the market.
Some construction companies already offer payment instalment plans.

It is a myth that Brazil is a particularly dangerous country. In fact, Brazil is just as safe as most big cities in Europe and the USA. There is of course some violence in the poorest areas of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, however this is well away from the world of the tourist. A sensible and streetwise attitude will help avoid any unwanted situations, as is the case when travelling anywhere in the world. The
tourist areas of Brazil, such as the North-East, are not only physically removed from places such as Rio (around 4 hours by plane), but also by contrast are known for their safety and their relaxed feel. Indeed, cities such as Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará, are amongst the safest tourist destinations in Brazil. The Brazilians are known as a nation of friendly, relaxed and open people.

Brazilian construction costs can vary between R$600 and R$1,300 (around EUR 200 to EUR 440) per square metre. The cost of building is generally based on a number of factors: the location of the development; the amount of floors intended for the property; the quality of finishing’s; and whether you require project management for the duration of construction. 

If you plan investing in several properties here in Brazil, the best way is to open a company in Brazil, as you will profit from tax benefits. Opening up a company with a minimal capital of USD 50’000 per person will further allow you to ask for a permanent visa. The process to open a company for you will take us approx. 2-3 weeks.

Once you opened up an investment company in Brazil and wired a minimum initial capital of USD 50’000, we will then support you in getting a permanent visa.