Real Estate International - Help needed

[ady1231]

[QUOTE=peterhoggert;29672]

Originally Posted by ady1231

I presumerd it was from Realest International. the appointment i mean. It was these guys who i talked to thru the Chicago number so i guess it was. Email me your email and i will send you photos of the land i took. I am sorry to say i cant remember the guys name who picked us up. We really liked it, the land was great, as i said in the email above. Just not for us, but saying that thinking about this again, wy wife is still saying "Maybe" i mean at the moment it is just a huge area of sand, which was very nice, i saw fresh water in the middle, kinda like an Oasis i guess, there is a small house there which he said was the caretakers, he had coconut tress growing there, also i did recognise the place from google earth, and no one was trying to do anything other then keep us happy. We saw the plans and the huge map of the entire project, on the hood of the truck, and our guide really took the time to make sure we knew where we were. I dont think i can tell you anything else. I felt meverything was very relaxed. No pressure, and believe me i am The General sales manager for a large auto group, i know when someone is selling me something!

Hi I did send u a private msg

my email is: addy140981 at yahoo dot com

Cheers

[RalphJ]

Originally Posted by Raimundo

I could not have said it better.... Ralph is on the money, and BTW, who is Ron Biggs? And why you people fly down to Brazil, to see property... Hell, I spent three years pounding around Rio, and I'm still not sure. Coconut Grove? sounds like a gringo resort.... when in Brazil, be a Brazilian for heaven sakes and speak Portugese. First, live in Brazil for three years (renting), then, if you like it, buy/invest. Thats what one old RE vet told me. Stay away from big developments... go to Fortelaza or another town on the coast and start anew.. Sao Louis is virgin... Belem is cool.

My two cents

Ronnie Biggs
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Ronnie Biggs
Born August 8, 1929 (1929-08-08) (age 78)
Lambeth, London, England
Charge(s) Train Robbery
Penalty 30 years in prison
Status Incarcerated
Occupation Carpenter, criminal, celebrity fugitive.
Children Four (one deceased)

Ronald Arthur Biggs better known as Ronnie Biggs (born August 8, 1929) is an English prisoner who is known for escaping from prison after his minor role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963 and for being on the run for many years. He eventually settled in Brazil but voluntarily returned to England in 2001.

[edit] Biography

Biggs was born in Lambeth, England. In 1947 Biggs at age 18 joined the British RAF but was dishonorably discharged in 1949 for desertion and served two years[citation needed]. In 1960 he married Charmian Brent, with whom he had three sons (one deceased). Biggs is most famous for the Great Train Robbery of 1963. Together with other gang members, he stole £2.6 million from a mail train. After being convicted and jailed, he escaped from HM Prison Wandsworth in 1965 by scaling the wall with a rope ladder. He fled to Paris, where he acquired new identity papers and underwent plastic surgery. In 1970, he quietly moved to Adelaide, South Australia. He worked in Set Construction at Channel 10 when a reporter recognised him. He then fled to Blackburn North, in Melbourne, Australia, staying for some time before fleeing to Brazil in the same year. His wife and sons stayed behind in Australia.

In 1974, he was found by the British police in Rio de Janeiro, but could not be extradited because the United Kingdom did not benefit from reciprocity of extradition to Brazil, a condition for the Brazilian process of extradition. Additionally, Biggs' then girlfriend (Raimunda de Castro, a nightclub dancer and prostitute) was pregnant; Brazilian law would not allow the parent of a Brazilian child to be extradited. As a result, Biggs was able to live openly in Brazil, completely untouchable by the British authorities. While his status as a felon prevented Biggs from working, there was nothing to stop him profiting from Scotland Yard's misfortune. As a result, "Ronnie Biggs" mugs, coffee cups and t-shirts suddenly started to appear in tourist traps throughout Rio.

He spent the next three decades of his life as a fugitive and became something of a celebrity, despite having been a rather minor figure in the actual robbery.

Supposedly, Biggs returned to England several times during the making of a documentary about the Great Train Robbery, always in disguise. He also recorded vocals on two songs for The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, Julien Temple's film about the Sex Pistols. The basic tracks for "No One is Innocent" (aka "The Biggest Blow (A Punk Prayer)") and "Belsen Was a Gas" were recorded with guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook at a studio in Brazil shortly after the Sex Pistols' final performance, with overdubs being added in an English studio at a later date. "No One is Innocent" was released as a single in the UK and reached #6 on the British singles charts, with the sleeve showing Martin Bormann playing bass with the group (in actuality this was American actor James Jeter).

Following the extradition attempt, Biggs collaborated with Bruce Henry (an American bass player), Jaime Shields, and Aureo de Souza to record Mailbag Blues, a musical narrative of his life that he intended to use a movie soundtrack. This album was re-released in 2004 by whatmusic.com.

In 1981, Biggs was kidnapped by a gang of adventurers who smuggled him to Barbados, hoping to collect some reward from the British police. The coup was discovered, though, and Biggs made use of legal loopholes to have himself sent back to Brazil. In February 2006, Channel 4 aired a documentary featuring dramatisations of the attempted kidnap and interviews with John Miller, an ex-British Army personnel who carried it out. The team was headed by security consultant Patrick King. In the documentary, King claims that the kidnapping may have in fact been a deniable operation.[1]

Biggs' son by de Castro, Michael Biggs, eventually became a member of the successful band Turma do Balão Mágico, bringing a new source of income to his father. In a short time, however, the band faded into obscurity and dissolved, leaving father and son in relatively dire straits again.

In 1991, Biggs sang vocals for the song "Carnival In Rio (Punk Was)" by German punk band Die Toten Hosen.

In 2001 Biggs announced to The Sun that he would be willing to return to the UK.

His son said in a press release that contrary to some press reports, Biggs has not returned to the UK simply to receive health care. Health care was available in Brazil and he had many friends and supporters who would certainly have contributed to any such expenses.

His stated desire was to "walk into a pub a British man and have a pint of bitter".

Biggs was fully aware that he would be detained upon arrival in England. Even so, he returned voluntarily on May 7, 2001, and was immediately arrested and re-imprisoned. His trip back to England on a private jet was paid by The Sun, which reportedly paid Michael Biggs £20,000 plus other expenses in return for exclusive rights on the news story. Ronald Biggs had 28 years of his sentence left to serve. Since his return he has undergone a number of health scares, including two heart attacks, and has failed to get his sentence overturned or reduced.

On November 14, 2001, Biggs petitioned Governor Hynd of HMP Belmarsh for early release on compassionate grounds based on his poor health. He had been treated four times at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich in less than six months. His health was deteriorating rapidly and he asked to be released into the care of his son for his remaining days. The application was denied.

On August 10, 2005, it was reported that Biggs had contracted MRSA. His lawyers, seeking for his release on grounds of compassion, said that their client's death was likely to be imminent.[2]

On October 26, 2005, the Home Secretary Charles Clarke declined his appeal stating that his illness is not deemed terminal. Home Office compassion policy is to release prisoners with three months left to live.[3] Biggs continues to need a tube for feeding and has difficulty speaking.

On July 4, 2007, Biggs was moved from Belmarsh prison to Norwich prison on "compassionate grounds".[4]

In December, 2007, Biggs issued a further appeal, from Norwich prison, asking to be released from jail to die with his family: "I am an old man and often wonder if I truly deserve the extent of my punishment. I have accepted it and only want freedom to die with my family and not in jail. I hope Mr Straw decides to allow me to do that. I have been in jail for a long time and I want to die a free man. I am sorry for what happened. It has not been an easy ride over the years. Even in Brazil I was a prisoner of my own making"[5]



Ronnie Biggs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[silver1]

Originally Posted by RalphJ

That's funny....truly. Send money for "infrastructure" to an agent?? Are the agents going to be building the infrastructure??

Nothing surprises me in this country anymore.....nothing. It is a criminal magnet and I truly hope that those agents and/or developers scamming people get to serve some time in a nice brazilian prison. There's already one group from Norweigh, actually Pakistani mob from Norweigh, that are sitting in a Fortaleza jail.

And River....for the love of god, don't send ONE PENNY to an agent ANYWHERE except Brazil if you're buying a Brazilian property!! 9,000 quid for a piece of property you've never seen with your own eyes???

Spend 1,500 quid, go see the land. Hire an INDEPENDANT lawyer, one unaffiliated with the builder and agent. Check that the land is "free and clear", check to see if there are building restrictions in that area, check to see if it's a place that you think will see capitol appreciation over the next few years. For the love of christ man, don't sit on a computer thousands of miles away from Brazil and think you're going to make a "good investment" without getting off your ass and doing a little investigative work. If you don't have the time to do it.....then don't invest, especially in Brazil!

,

You know what AGENTS or DEVELOPERS should be banned from this, the things i have read, you say a lot of things based on you attempting to trash other peoples projects! I asked the same question about this infrastructure money! Have you read any of the info about this project?
I doubt it, i have spent nearly 2 weeks now looking at every single aspect of this and i am happy! Until i read something like your message! its just plain scare mongering ! For anyone who cares..
"The infrastructure money is sent to the Developer from HIFX who supplies your plot with Electric, Fresh Water, Septic Tank, and Road access." Its in the contract as amendments, i had the lawyer send this today! Also we have to finish construction by 36 months which i would like to ask is anyone else guaranteeing finished construction by 3 years of a project this size? I have not seen it. Without roads, fresh water and electricity how would anyone sell it or build on it??

So i am ok with this, if i want to have an extra $5000 put on my title deed then i could but this money is for the infrastructure as above so i think it is fair enough. Please AGENTS and DEVELOPERES leave this forum to the non INVOLVED people, or add comments but not intended to discredit what we have paid for! Its just not nice and why? It is so transparent what your attempting to do. I am sure you have plenty of developer type things you should be doing instead. Respectfully. Bryan Adams.

[RalphJ]

No, you're not ok with this!! And as far as I'm concerned you can go and stuff yourself! I'm only giving good advice, and have NOT trashed ANY particular developer!!

Please....name ONE!

The infrastructure money is sent to the Developer from HIFX who supplies your plot with Electric, Fresh Water, Septic Tank, and Road access." I

So my good friend, you're going to send your money to HIFX??? Who the **** are they? Why are you sending your money to them? And when you're money enters Brazil VIA HIFX it will NOT be registered in Banco Central's system as coming from you.....Silver1, but from HIFX!!!!

So, this can cause a LOT of problems for you, just ask the people at Viva Vida in Aracaju that paid an agent in England for their brazilian properties and today Banco Central doesn't have ANY proof whatsoever that they, the individual homeowners, sent ONE PENNY to Brazil!!!!


So now....how do you qualify for your investors visa??


So a year from now, you want to sell????


How do you get your money out of Brazil???



Do you think banco central is going to let you send significant monies out of this country being a gringo and have NO RECORD whatsoever of you sending money in??

Are you prepared to be questioned by the brazilian federal police in respect to money laundering and drugs???


Ya know, once again, the attitude of some of you people is truly amazing.



You deserve everything you get.....and believe me, in Brazil you'll get it.



BOL

Mr. Adams (silver1)

Frankly, with your grammer, or lack there of, indicates you might be another scammer/fake in Brazil, and so what's new?

...or might you be Brazilian? That said, instead of bashing Ralph, why don't you take your shaggy a*s and enroll yourself in a good english school in Recife and hone down those grammer skills, and before you continue to smack off at the mouth, check yourself, don't deck yourself....but I guess you're a little late for the party.

Bryan, Ralph's 192 post count and your 10, sums it all up in my eyes, and Ralph is giving us an unbiased viewpoint. Do you copy? 10-4 good buddy?

-Good Day

[wolfgang]

It is a matter of regret that this informative thread has degenerated into this.
It is apparent that Ralph has witnessed and has experience in helping to extricate people from the unscrupolous,though if we are to treat the well intentioned advice with the respect it deserves it is essential that composure is maintained.
Losing it in the public eye merely serves to reduce credibility.If we were to interpret literally,no-one would invest a single penny in Brazil for fear of being preyed upon which accomplishes absolutely nothing for anybody.

Does it really matter whether or not someones sentences are structured incorrectly gramatically? Surely there are more important issues at stake here.
It is ironic though that those who choose to point to the supposed inadequacies in others themselves couch their comments and observations in cliches and slang.

Silver1 approached this forum in good faith seeking some specialist advice and just as he initially respected the opinions ventured,the sages must respect his right to invest,where he wishes,when he wishes and with who he wishes.
And please guys let's try and keep the tone civil.

[ady1231]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

It is a matter of regret that this informative thread has degenerated into this.
It is apparent that Ralph has witnessed and has experience in helping to extricate people from the unscrupolous,though if we are to treat the well intentioned advice with the respect it deserves it is essential that composure is maintained.
Losing it in the public eye merely serves to reduce credibility.If we were to interpret literally,no-one would invest a single penny in Brazil for fear of being preyed upon which accomplishes absolutely nothing for anybody.

Does it really matter whether or not someones sentences are structured incorrectly gramatically? Surely there are more important issues at stake here.
It is ironic though that those who choose to point to the supposed inadequacies in others themselves couch their comments and observations in cliches and slang.

Silver1 approached this forum in good faith seeking some specialist advice and just as he initially respected the opinions ventured,the sages must respect his right to invest,where he wishes,when he wishes and with who he wishes.
And please guys let's try and keep the tone civil.

wolfgang;

Spot on, u r 100% correct, lets keep this forum for guys and investors who need help, and please try and give a REASONABLE opinion, RALPH and Michael, i know you guys are experienced, but please dont try to put off ANOBODY who asks for help regarding any specific development. I agree with you that EVERYBODY has to be careful when buying abroad especially in Brazil, but you guys just criticize EVERY opinion that doesn't match yours.

For gods sake ralph, what does Biggs do in this forum!! it's internal Brazilian LAWS my friend, and i respect that. Would the US hand in any american citizen who was sentenced to jail in saudi for example? get over it, we are talking property.

And Ralph, you know what, i will be very careful of buying from you as well, because you are trying to show us that you are the only one who knows in which development should we invest ! I am sick of this,

GUYS PLEASE BE REASONABLE, WE ARE HERE SEEKING AN INDEPENDANT ADVICE.

Cheers

[River_42]

I agree with you here, Wolfgang. I am still trying to take an educated decision in investing into Coconut Grove and we are talking about personal issues instead of talking about Coconut Grove. I think Petter Hoggert can give us good advise as is the only one that has really been in the area and had contact with these guys.

At the end of the day, is an investment of 9,000 pounds... And investment means risk. I prefer risking 9,000 and have the possibility of making some extra money than putting down +100k somewhere else. I have looked around and I dont find anything similar to this... Other developments are bigger than 600+ units. I am looking for something exclusive and more private.

Ralph, I probably dont know much about overseas investments as you do... but I certainly know who is HiFX. Maybe everyone has to do the same process as yours... But sometimes new procedures are better than tradicional ones.

I keep having good advice from Realest International and I keep asking them every question that comes in this Forum... (apart from who the **** is HiFX??) and I feel confortable with their answers.

I am still nervious about this. But I really want to do it. They are selling out phase 1 and moving to phase 3. Shall I wait until I am sure I want to do it? Or should I go ahead now?? Please, someone with positive attitude.

R

[JMBroad]

Ralphj did mention an important point but it is also a point which is mentioned in this forum almost daily so if anyone still doesn't know it then they haven't bothered reading up on many of the very informative threads on the forum.

For anyone who just arrived and is too lazy to read the other threads

Any money you send to Brazil has to be registered by the Banco Central do Brasil as being sent by you otherwise you won't be able to repatriate the funds at a later date, nor can you claim that money invested against the 50k investment needed for your investors visa.

However, the flaw in the scenario is that Ralphj fails to admit that you don't personally have to send the money, it just has to be registered as coming from you. I doubt a company as large and well known as HIFX would not know that they have to register the money as being sent from the client, but it is worth asking them. Lawyers can also send money in your name and register it properly with the Banco Central. There are other ways to do it than transfer the money from your own account to an account in Brazil even though that is the easiest and safest.

Either way, as Wolfgang says, try and keep it civil. I've been trying a lot harder to control my temper this year (as you may or may not have noticed )

With regards to price per m2 I haven't found a more competitive loteamento yet. I'm supposed to be receiving the papers needed for the due diligence but because of the Carnival I don't know what the status is on that atm. So once again assuming you are happy with the legal checks, it should be a good investment.

[wolfgang]

River,
I have a very positive attitude relating to Brazil though if you are seeking reassurance that you are doing the right thing by investing in Coconut Grove i am sorry but i am unable to provide it.
I believe that purchasing a plot of land site unseen in an unknown,remote area from a developer who appears to go out of their way to preserve their anonymity is simply too speculative.Sure we all have to take risks to make gains but those risks should at least be calculated.
I would have to be honest and say that i fail to see the appeal in the proposition.The situation has arisen because those with an imprecise knowledge of the area and market have convinced themselves they are getting a bargain.The attraction is that the land appears cheap compared to Turtle Bay and others.
There are however reasons for this.It is in the middle of nowhere.On the developers own admission,they are referring to its location as Fortaleza because no one has heard of Flecheiras.The reason no-one has heard of it is because no one goes there and the reason no-one goes there is because there is nothing there.So where is your growth and appreciation going to come from?
Buying land and commissioning your own build anywhere is not generally the most suitable opportunity for a first time non resident purchaser.There are simply too many variables involved.
My recommendation would be to emulate newkidontheblock and seek value in a more conventional offplan purchase situation within an hour of an International airport with a known reputable developer.Alternatively,if you are totally sold on the Coconut Grove arrange to reserve a plot on the basis that if you do not like it after having visited,your money is refunded.In fact that would be a very good benchmark to guage just how customer related the developer really is.He cannot fault a level of commitment which pays a deposit and is also prepared to travel thousands of miles to view the potential investment. It would be unreasonable of him not to agree to this arrangement especially if they want clients to be as happy as we are given to understand.
There you go-my honest and unbiased view with no axe to grind or hidden agenda.