Project Zen Eco - Natal

[Sunnyshores]

So its only Thompson pulling out?

If that is so, then I'm not unduly concerned. I hadnt really figured on renting to people on these sorts of UK holiday flights anyway. I suspect the majority of these tourists come with ready made packages and arent interested in s/c in a small development anyway.

I imagined the majority of renters to be Brazilians. Obviously a large new airport would be a great benefit and that would increase the number of tourists - of all descriptions, but I see that as a bonus not a necessity.

As to personal visits, ideally I'd like an easy non-stop flight, but one of the reasons for investing in NE Brazil and expecting such high returns, is the fact that at present this isnt possible. It does make furnishing etc difficult, but I have chosen to invest with ASCL firstly and this develoment secondly, because I trust their advice on such things and wont have to go out there myself.

In the meantime if we can share info here, the whole prospect seems much less scarey!

[Sunnyshores]

Lucky? No, I have been investing in property for 18 years and I dont invest in luck.I did my homework with regard to investing in Brazil for at least a year and more importantly I was extremly careful WHO I invested with.

I have been involved with ASCL for several years in other countries. In all my dealings with them I have no reason to doubt their integrity or ability to find a good deal - far from it. I turned down 2 other deals they had, but Zen was too good to miss.

Lucky, perhaps because I have a track record with ASCL, but it certainly isnt blind investing and if I have taken a "chance on them being honest" its a highly calculated one.

So have you brought here ? Whats your interest in this area?

[Graymax]

Hi all, just to clarify the situation, the owner/developer, Jans is not Portugese, but Belgian, although he does speak several languages, including Portugese.I have ordered the 4 bed villa, last March actually, and have stayed on the site, in December last year, and it is everything that it is cracked up to be.My wife and I are intending to retire out there, in about 2 years, so have told Jans(the developer) that we are in no great hurry to have it built, so unfortunately you will have to party & BBQ at your own place for the time being, the original plans for the villa have changed a couple of times since we signed up, and the changes have all been an improvment over the original, so do not be surprised if Jans comes up with suggested alterationsat sometime during the building stage, as he is always striving for perfection, and if he thinks it can be improved, he will suggest it, but you can always ask him to stick to the original plans.If anyone wants to ask questions about this project, feel free to ask me, and I will try to answer them( within the constraints of this forum) anything apart from prices, as I think that is something to be kept private, as I dont want my relatives thinking that we are loaded !!!!!!! regards to you all and buy with confidence. Graham & Maxine (graymax)

[Sunnyshores]

Hi Graham and Maxine - pleased to 'meet' you!

Congratulations on the 4 bed it will make a beautiful home. Great to hear that you're so positive about the development and that you've been there and seen the site.

I've obviously seen photos etc, but anything you can add about why you chose that area above others etc would be interesting.

Crew10 - where are you??

Does anyone have a build date yet?

[Graymax]

Decided to buy there after seeing TV program about Buzios in Brazil, called " uncharted territories, it was the young guy Kristian Digby, who does to buy or not to buy.I liked the look of the area, which is just south of Natal, so started looking on the internet, and found Zenproject, although at that time it was called Paraiso Farol resort, I liked what I saw on the web, and through the then agents, had a 3 way conference call with Jans, and after listening to his ideas, and getting prices agreed, we decided to go ahead, and after visiting last Nov/Dec, and spending a couple of days up at the resort, and meeting Jans, his sheer enthusiasm, and pride in what he is trying to do shone like a big green GO sign, and we have absolutely no doubt we have made a wise choice, bearing in mind we intend living there, not holidaying and renting out, so flights etc are not of paramount importance to us as hope fully we will only have to do it once or twice.Another reason we bought there, is that we have an apartment in Turkey, which we are trying to sell, but we made the mistake of buying in a predominantly British area, which seems to preclude a lot of other europeans from buying there, plus the fact that supply exceeds demand,i.e too many new builds, and not enough buyers, this is something that will not be allowed to happen with the Zenproject, as I believe the numbers of plots to be sold is actually nearer to 150, than the 180-190 that is being mentioned, Jans may have changed his mind about the numbers, but he told me probably 149 dependant on size, he has plenty of land available, but wants to keep the area as natural as possible,he is not in it just for the money,he is a forestry engineer by trade, and his first love is trees, and keeping the area as environmentally friendly as possible, so to that end I cant see him expanding the development much above his original plans. Regards Graham.(graymax)

[sunnysteve]

Originally Posted by Graymax

Decided to buy there after seeing TV program about Buzios in Brazil, called " uncharted territories, it was the young guy Kristian Digby, who does to buy or not to buy.I liked the look of the area, which is just south of Natal, so started looking on the internet, and found Zenproject, although at that time it was called Paraiso Farol resort, I liked what I saw on the web, and through the then agents, had a 3 way conference call with Jans, and after listening to his ideas, and getting prices agreed, we decided to go ahead, and after visiting last Nov/Dec, and spending a couple of days up at the resort, and meeting Jans, his sheer enthusiasm, and pride in what he is trying to do shone like a big green GO sign, and we have absolutely no doubt we have made a wise choice, bearing in mind we intend living there, not holidaying and renting out, so flights etc are not of paramount importance to us as hope fully we will only have to do it once or twice.Another reason we bought there, is that we have an apartment in Turkey, which we are trying to sell, but we made the mistake of buying in a predominantly British area, which seems to preclude a lot of other europeans from buying there, plus the fact that supply exceeds demand,i.e too many new builds, and not enough buyers, this is something that will not be allowed to happen with the Zenproject, as I believe the numbers of plots to be sold is actually nearer to 150, than the 180-190 that is being mentioned, Jans may have changed his mind about the numbers, but he told me probably 149 dependant on size, he has plenty of land available, but wants to keep the area as natural as possible,he is not in it just for the money,he is a forestry engineer by trade, and his first love is trees, and keeping the area as environmentally friendly as possible, so to that end I cant see him expanding the development much above his original plans. Regards Graham.(graymax)

HI Graymax and all,encouraging words about Zen,looking forward to meeting Jans, have met ascl management and have confidence in their ability.We wanted a 4 bed, but out of our reach,due to other commitments,waiting to see how much a 3 bed is when plans are released. I agree with sunny shores sharing info is a good way of protecting and gaining advantage for all of us investing into zen .be it with cheap flight info,car hire,site info,etc.
all the best steve.

[michaelbush]

Originally Posted by Sunnyshores

Lucky? No, I have been investing in property for 18 years and I dont invest in luck.I did my homework with regard to investing in Brazil for at least a year and more importantly I was extremly careful WHO I invested with. Lucky, perhaps because I have a track record with ASCL, but it certainly isnt blind investing and if I have taken a "chance on them being honest" its a highly calculated one.
So have you brought here ? Whats your interest in this area?

I say LUCKY because you appear to be yet another internet buyer who relies on info supplied by an agent. I dont know ASCL personally but I know Wolfgang, The agent for Zen could just as easily been a certain other person. I wish all who have bought in Zen good fortune, and I feel sure the project will turn out well. I have not bought in Zen, but work here in RN, assisting visitors to Natal, explaining the negatives as well as the positives in an investment here.

[Sunnyshores]

Originally posted by MichaelBush
you appear to be yet another internet buyer who relies on info supplied by an agent.

I dont mean this to rumble on into an arguement but I find your posts very condescending.

I have explained that I do comprehensive research, I am accountant and have an economics degree. The only thing I didnt do was visit the site, but I trusted a husband and wife who I had already been in highly satisfactory business with.

In any case, just because people travel to Brazil and buy, instead of buying over the internet, does that make them less likely to fall foul of con-artists? No. We all have to do our research and at the end of the day we all have to trust someone. I have met so many people over the years and most just see property investors as a cash-cow, to sell another overpriced service or product.

So, have you proof that Zen is a bad deal and I have been stupid and why are you posting on this thread to people who have already comitted to Zen and seem very happy to have done so. You obviously have useful advice to pass onto people about developers/agents/due diligence, but I have done mine.

[RalphJ]

Originally Posted by Sunnyshores

Originally posted by MichaelBush
you appear to be yet another internet buyer who relies on info supplied by an agent.

We all have to do our research and at the end of the day we all have to trust someone.

No...you don't have to trust anyone. But what one must do is get off their backsides and make certain that ALL pertinent documentation is in place!

Do they have a land title that is "free and clear"? Are their projects approved by all local, state, and federal gov't. entities?

These are documents that are very easy for a reputable developer or agent to provide. And one must make certain the documents are legitimate. Nothing replaces due diligence and imo, if making any type of significant investment, one must have an independant lawyer.

[Graymax]

Originally Posted by michaelbush

I say LUCKY because you appear to be yet another internet buyer who relies on info supplied by an agent. I dont know ASCL personally but I know Wolfgang, The agent for Zen could just as easily been a certain other person. I wish all who have bought in Zen good fortune, and I feel sure the project will turn out well. I have not bought in Zen, but work here in RN, assisting visitors to Natal, explaining the negatives as well as the positives in an investment here.

Having seen your website, you appear to be just like any other agent trying to sell property, why should anyone believe what you say rather than other agents,you you show the same glossy photos with the same description of the area and the properties, as someone has already asked, why are you on this forum, for people who have already bought on Project Zen, are you hoping to frighten them off, and convert them to your developments, dont forget not everyone is buying to make a quick killing, either by flipping, or even by renting, some of us have bought to live there, and at the price I have paid, I dont care if it makes 50% a year or 0% a year, I will have a nice house in a great climate, and be able to live well within my means. graymax.