Blindness and stupidity when investing in Brazil

[Christopher Jewell]

Interesting that you mention Southern California... I saw that Florianopolis has a "sister city" = San Diego, California. If... If... Floripa is similar to San Diego in weather... that would be nice too. I plan to visit Floripa in August - probably the coldest time, but I will experience that extreme and compare. From what I see advertised (without personal viewing)... Houses and apartment/condo's are very reasonable by U.S. standards. Who knows... I'd have to see them to really compare value. In August I will visit Bahia, Salvador to Florianopolis... probably not so far North as Natal.

[FCZ]

Originally Posted by Christopher Jewell

I am originally from St. Petersburg, Florida where the latitude is 27 degrees North. Florianopolis is at 27 degrees South. Frost occurs in Florida (maybe) once or twice in the Winter, but sunshine is abundant. Summers are humid & hot June-Sep. (That is one reason I prefer Sao Paulo June-Sep.) Can I expect the same Florida weather in Floripa, Brazil ? I am reluctant to move closer to the equator than a few degrees latitutude from SP. Too hot !

Chris,
I used to live 70 miles West of Atlanta; weather in South as not all that different. But honestly, I think anywhere in Brazil is better than Sao Paulo. If you are not looking for beaches, and like some cold, or eventually some snow + wonderful wines, you should try Canela, Gramado, Nova Petropolis in RS. If you like beaches, but a crazy weather, Florianapolis is wonderful. But I wouldn't be afraid of the weather in the NE, it is quite nice and not so hot. Some Brazilians friends told me about Aracaju and Joao Pessoa, if you are looking for peaceful places. If you would like to hang around more active places, I would suggest Ceara and especially Natal. Dotty is trying to scare the hell out of everybody regarding Natal; she must have very good reasons to try to keep that place "private". That's why this Summer I'll stay a little longer in Natal, than initially planned. I may buy something there.

I think Rio is the best, but be prepared to pay the piper. Rio de Janeiro - Amo O Rio e Beleza!

Seriously, Rio captured my heart in the summer of 2000. But unfortunately petty theft, assualts and random violence plagues the city...and this is very sad. I'm a victim of all three, but I keep going back. Chris, Floripa in the winter is much colder than Florida, and there is humidy unlike So Cal. I would never live in Sao Paulo, maybe Santos. Floripa's real estate is way overpriced then tack on the Gringo Tax and you'll really get screwed unless you know the lingo and insider trustworthy friends!

Best weather [IMHO]:
1. South/Central Coastal California
2. Florida [November-April]
3. Medellin/Pereira, Colombia / San Jose, Costa Rica
4. Rio de Janeiro
5. Cartagena, Colombia / NE Brazil / Dominican Republic
6. South Brazil

[RalphJ]

One thing I can say about Aracaju.....the weather is unbeatable. Except for a couple months where we have some rain, and there has been years when it hasn't rained much at all during those months, the weather is the best I've ever seen. I don't know why, because Salvador is only 300 km's south, but it rains quite a bit more there than here in Aracaju.

I was with two local estate agents today, as well as the owner of numerous large parcels of beachfront land here in Aracaju, he'll be starting to sell a loteamento within the next 10 days or so, and I (MJR) will have an international exclusivity, and have learned that the beachfront lands here have dramatically increased in price. Even though this increase, one can still purchase large tracts of beachfront land in Aracaju for 60 reais per square meter.

[robh]

Originally Posted by RalphJ

One thing I can say about Aracaju.....the weather is unbeatable. Except for a couple months where we have some rain, and there has been years when it hasn't rained much at all during those months, the weather is the best I've ever seen. I don't know why, because Salvador is only 300 km's south, but it rains quite a bit more there than here in Aracaju.

I was with two local estate agents today, as well as the owner of numerous large parcels of beachfront land here in Aracaju, he'll be starting to sell a loteamento within the next 10 days or so, and I (MJR) will have an international exclusivity, and have learned that the beachfront lands here have dramatically increased in price. Even though this increase, one can still purchase large tracts of beachfront land in Aracaju for 60 reais per square meter.

What is the story with the river? If you look at Aracaju on google earth there is lots of brown stuff (which I presume is silt) coming out of the river into the sea. Is that all the time or just when it rains heavily?

[RalphJ]

Originally Posted by robh

What is the story with the river? If you look at Aracaju on google earth there is lots of brown stuff (which I presume is silt) coming out of the river into the sea. Is that all the time or just when it rains heavily?

Normally, but not all the time, the first 100 meters or so of ocean in Aracaju is brown, and the reason is because it's so shallow for a very long way. Many people say that it's because Rio Sergipe that merges with the ocean and causes the water to stir....but it's not, it's because it's so "plano", or shallow. Here in Aracaju you can literally walk out in the ocean, normally, around 80 meters or so, and the water will only be waist or chest high. But it's not always like that, the color. I would say possibly 15% of the time you have a nice blue color in the first 100 meters, but after the first 80-100 meters its always blue, naturally, it's deeper.

But you make a good point rob. If the ocean here in Aracaju, esthectically, was like Maceio, it would be incredible, because here we have a LOT of beach. In Atalaia there are places where you have more than 100 meters of beach before you get to the sea.

Also, speaking of rivers, there is a river around 1 km behind the beach. The best place is where they are in the process currently of building a bridge. The river is very calm there and the most wealthy people in the state have homes there. Also, the bridge they are currently building connects you to a road that goes south and connects you to "linha verde", to Salvador, and also bypasses praia do saco, which is listed in "Grande Voyageurs" as being in the top 100 beaches in the world.

[robh]

Never heard of "Grande Voyageurs", have you got a link to the list?

Originally Posted by RalphJ

Normally, but not all the time, the first 100 meters or so of ocean in Aracaju is brown, and the reason is because it's so shallow for a very long way. Many people say that it's because Rio Sergipe that merges with the ocean and causes the water to stir....but it's not, it's because it's so "plano", or shallow. Here in Aracaju you can literally walk out in the ocean, normally, around 80 meters or so, and the water will only be waist or chest high. But it's not always like that, the color. I would say possibly 15% of the time you have a nice blue color in the first 100 meters, but after the first 80-100 meters its always blue, naturally, it's deeper.

But you make a good point rob. If the ocean here in Aracaju, esthectically, was like Maceio, it would be incredible, because here we have a LOT of beach. In Atalaia there are places where you have more than 100 meters of beach before you get to the sea.

Also, speaking of rivers, there is a river around 1 km behind the beach. The best place is where they are in the process currently of building a bridge. The river is very calm there and the most wealthy people in the state have homes there. Also, the bridge they are currently building connects you to a road that goes south and connects you to "linha verde", to Salvador, and also bypasses praia do saco, which is listed in "Grande Voyageurs" as being in the top 100 beaches in the world.

[RalphJ]

Sobre a Praia do Saco, que fica no município de Estância, o jornal informa: "A Praia do Saco aparece na lista das 100 praias mais bonitas do mundo, de acordo com o Guia Turístico Grands Voyageurs".

It is a tourist guide evidently. I have the link for correio do sergipe which states this.

##### Correio de Sergipe

[Dotty]

[Sao Paulo state is amazing.The city is mad but the beaches stunning the hills incredible and the fazendas and kayaking are second to none.Sao Paulo state is hugh so you cannot just say anywhere is better than SP it depends if you travel out of the city and see other places.Gramado and Canela are very westernised and cute.The NE has great beaches but a hell of a long way if you have a problem and extremely costly too!You get used to the weather and are happy when it rains.Natal is not an active city .You can drive from one end of the city to another in 15 minutes and it does not have a thriving industry as such ,but survives on tourists visiting when they can get here!Forteleza has quadruple the population of Natal and has great cultural stuff going on and a very vibrant night life.Nordeste e nordeste muito differente na Paulistas.They do not understand customer care but think if you walk into a shop they can jump on your back.There is nothing to keep quiet about Natal the downturn in overseas visitors says it all!If you do buy something here you really need to take extra special care ok.QUOTE=FCZ;47083]Chris,
I used to live 70 miles West of Atlanta; weather in South as not all that different. But honestly, I think anywhere in Brazil is better than Sao Paulo. If you are not looking for beaches, and like some cold, or eventually some snow + wonderful wines, you should try Canela, Gramado, Nova Petropolis in RS. If you like beaches, but a crazy weather, Florianapolis is wonderful. But I wouldn't be afraid of the weather in the NE, it is quite nice and not so hot. Some Brazilians friends told me about Aracaju and Joao Pessoa, if you are looking for peaceful places. If you would like to hang around more active places, I would suggest Ceara and especially Natal. Dotty is trying to scare the hell out of everybody regarding Natal; she must have very good reasons to try to keep that place "private". That's why this Summer I'll stay a little longer in Natal, than initially planned. I may buy something there.[/QUOTE]

I have no experience in Aracaju but what I do know, from reading information on the Web--there's a lot of potential there and Mr. Mullins is on the right track. Every guy and his brother is raving about how great Joan Pessoa is, or how great Natal is....well, IMHO, I think those places are overrated. I like the fact that Aracaju is new blood, and it's fresh.

Sergipe is a breath of fresh air!