Palma do Mar - Joao Pessoa

[JMBroad]

It was the Caipirinhas I think - they have a way of muddling up words - hmmm seems like a good idea for this weekend.

[robh]

Peim,

I am interested to hear about the apartment you got offered in Pipa of 27m2 for R$250k, did it have gold plated walls? We have apartments on a cliff above the beach which will never be built in front of for around R$ 230,000, are 114m2 and are built to very high standards.

I hear what you are saying about a pousada, it is all about targeting your market and good marketing for out of season, but they all still fill up in season.

Regards,
Rob.

P.S. I do have an office in Brazil and I stay away from plots.

Originally Posted by Peim

-----

Thanks, all of you, for those friendly welcoming corrections, or words of advise.
I'm sure they were meant well.

But why on earth do you assume that I have not taken advise from those who know better than I do?
It must have been the Caipirinha(s) controlling my choice of words, putting i too many, or leaving out some.

You all seem to think that I consider Carapibus a good investment. Well, I certainly do NOT!
Of course I do listen to my friends (who live there), and I do talk with (and about) REAL estate agents, both in and outside Brazil.

My LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION message was obviously not coming across well.

I have done in-depth research (along with my friends), so let's try again (and please correct me where I am wrong).

- Carapibus (and Jacumã, to a slightly lesser extend) is a dump, and will probably be so for many years to come
- it is not a small, chic beachside town some agents have described it
- With many thousands of plots still for sale located in the gentle hills exit opportunities are close to zero for the time being
- Poor rental opportunities
- No building obligations means you'll be living at a building site for ever
- The plots are sold 'as is' - new owners will have to apply for building permits
- Ocean views are panoramic, at best, until somebody builds in front of you
- the 'few minutes from the beach' are more likely a 2 or 3km walk (up hill, on the way back)
- as building costs are the same, so why not buy at the beach front when you still can

What I was trying to say is that buying in under-developed state such as Paraiba has both advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on what an investor wants from it.
In Paraiba land is still available, at reasonable prices. Even on or very near the ocean front.
Beaches are quiet, clean, an the cost of living considerably lower than e.g. Fortaleza and Natal.

No, I never thought that Carapibus will be another Pipa in the next few years. I did check Pipa, where a 27m2 apartment with lateral view and a lousy kitchen was offered for around R$ 250K). It supposedly has close to 600 guest houses and hotels, a figure that would not cheer me up is I wanted to start a pousada).

Yes, you'll have to accept that non-stop flights are still limited and not always cheap, and that the so-called International Airport of Joao Pessoa does not offer a single international flight as yet. But then again Recife is only 90 minutes away, and offers daily flights to Europe and several a week to the US.

Dentist and plastic surgeons might be 20km up the road, and not in the same building. Bars, disco's, air-conditioned shopping centers, brothels, full-blast forro 'concerts' from cars (5 at the same time within 60 meters is no exception), and other common forms of 'culture' and 'amusement' are also not (yet) available.
Unfortunately for some - I know. But we, and many other old farts (and an ever increasing number of younger farts too!) are quite happy to pay a premium for not having these services.

So, I hope this clears things up.
I will buy in front of or right above the beach, hear the waves and smell the sea.

I'm eager to learn! So please tell me what "these guys (who) do not even have an office in Brazil, but are usually located in Spain" could still teach me.



p.s. the *** replaced the name of ***, which is (still or again) established in Birmingham, and claims to have 1000s of happy buyers in Spain.
They are supposedly starting the Amba Park Residence have bought a huge plot in the Praia Bella area. TGheir won website (I found quite a few) have several 404 dead pages

[JMBroad]

Originally Posted by Peim

-----

Nope, I did not mean the one the starts with the M of Mother and is Irish.
I mean the one that starts with the A.

Ah well they do say that assumptions are the mother of all Ewoks

[robh]

Originally Posted by JMBroad

Ah well they do say that assumptions are the mother of all Ewoks

I am not sure how I would have taken it if you were right ....

[Peim]

To AssUme is always risky.
It makes an Ass of U and Me.

[Peim]

About that project in the Gentle Hills of Carapibus ....
I asked a friend to check on some brochures, since their HQ is supposed to be in Joao Pessoa.
The address found on Contact - Green Land Securities turned out to be a shabby 20m2 shop, rented in an Apartment Flat Service building.
According to the two dusty desks, loads of mail on the floor, and the porter of the building, nobody has been seen there for months.
How does this sound?

[ParaibaDouglas]

Originally Posted by Peim

I'm interested in buying. Ideally right on the ocean - LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION, remember?

It shouldn't be too difficult to calculate your exit opotunities for the next 5 years.
Carapibus is a dump. Like many other underdeveloped areas along the Brazilian coast.

And what happened to Ibiza and Buzios, 40 years ago, will happen Jacuma and, eventually, to Carapibus.

So, as long as it is available, we'll buy ocean front land.
Ideally with no roads in front.

What I have learned is that you get what you pay for. However nice the sales person is, and whatever they tell you, you can not build a good house for 800 Euros per sqm. Ask anyone who thought they could. When you have bought the solid doors, the kitchen you want and the airco, the garden looks the way you like it, and there's a pool, we're talking EUR 1200-1500.
But, compared to Europe this is still cheap.
And so is the haircut (R$ 5-10) ..........

Greetings,

I have lived in Brazil for 5 years in Carapibus for almost 4. Bought land here and built a home 3.5 years ago, still finishing it. Have many friends and know of many more that have invested and built here. I will start by saying that you can build here now, with a contract from a builder that has built 40 condos and houses in this area for 800 REAIS per square meter, no less 800 Euros you are saying isn't possible. That includes everything, taxes, permits, architect, well, landscaping, a hand you the keys proposition. This does not include the land. If you have built here and are paying 12 to 1500 Euros per square meter you better be living in a Marble Palace. I don't know of any however.

This is not a maybe, he is building today for friends of mine, nice places at that.

I have been along the entire coast of NE Brazil from Jericoacoara to Salvador. I do not know of an other place where you can buy beach front, beach views or close to the beach properties for a better price that is within 25 minutes of a major city. While it may be a dump to you, it is a fishing village to another and an incredible investment opportunity to another. Lot prices have risen 1000% in the 3.5 years I have been here depending on where they are. I helped people find lots that have doubled in value in 6 months.

Because of its location and because of the water quality during the summers, the abundance of green unlike RGN or Ceara and it's lack of infrastructure at the moment it has great appeal to some who understand global trends and markets. The time to get in is before development hits, not after.

Right now I am looking at a blue green gorgeous ocean that you only get in Paraiba, Pernambuco and Alagoas. Here it clears up in the summer when the wind and rain slow, Alagoas probably gets the prize for the most Carib like water in Brazil other than on various islands. It is more developed and more expensive to locate there however.

Building prices for a nice home at first world standards and land both at a fraction of the costs in the first world is real and here now. The dollar is up so it is even better for the moment. NE Brazil is not for everyone, neither is Wyoming. However if you ski it may just be your paradise. I have a Brazilian wife and a little girl and have found mine.

Private message me anytime for more specific assistance, am happy to help.

Beat regards, Douglas

[Peim]

Hi Douglas,

Thanks or the detailed comments.
Iagree, there are dumps and DUMPS. I am willing to admit that some parts of Carapibus and Jacumao can be described as a charming dump.
But only parts of it, and only when it has not rained.

There are so many projects on offer, and even a Tabatinga Country Club created by *** Investments. Another 500 units, probably.
But, who knows, there might be proper roads, a basic night life and real banks.

We have friends who also want to buy and develop something. So please let me have the details of your construction friend. With 40 Condominiums he must have quite a large company. Are there any of his constructions that have a website we could look at online?

Thanks, Peim

Originally Posted by ParaibaDouglas

Greetings,

I have lived in Brazil for 5 years in Carapibus for almost 4. Bought land here and built a home 3.5 years ago, still finishing it. Have many friends and know of many more that have invested and built here. I will start by saying that you can build here now, with a contract from a builder that has built 40 condos and houses in this area for 800 REAIS per square meter, no less 800 Euros you are saying isn't possible. That includes everything, taxes, permits, architect, well, landscaping, a hand you the keys proposition. This does not include the land. If you have built here and are paying 12 to 1500 Euros per square meter you better be living in a Marble Palace. I don't know of any however.

This is not a maybe, he is building today for friends of mine, nice places at that.

I have been along the entire coast of NE Brazil from Jericoacoara to Salvador. I do not know of an other place where you can buy beach front, beach views or close to the beach properties for a better price that is within 25 minutes of a major city. While it may be a dump to you, it is a fishing village to another and an incredible investment opportunity to another. Lot prices have risen 1000% in the 3.5 years I have been here depending on where they are. I helped people find lots that have doubled in value in 6 months.

Because of its location and because of the water quality during the summers, the abundance of green unlike RGN or Ceara and it's lack of infrastructure at the moment it has great appeal to some who understand global trends and markets. The time to get in is before development hits, not after.

Right now I am looking at a blue green gorgeous ocean that you only get in Paraiba, Pernambuco and Alagoas. Here it clears up in the summer when the wind and rain slow, Alagoas probably gets the prize for the most Carib like water in Brazil other than on various islands. It is more developed and more expensive to locate there however.

Building prices for a nice home at first world standards and land both at a fraction of the costs in the first world is real and here now. The dollar is up so it is even better for the moment. NE Brazil is not for everyone, neither is Wyoming. However if you ski it may just be your paradise. I have a Brazilian wife and a little girl and have found mine.

Private message me anytime for more specific assistance, am happy to help.

Beat regards, Douglas

[ParaibaDouglas]

Originally Posted by Peim

Hi Douglas,

Thanks or the detailed comments.

We have friends who also want to buy and develop something. So please let me have the details of your construction friend. With 40 Condominiums he must have quite a large company. Are there any of his constructions that have a website we could look at online?

Thanks, Peim

Ola Peim,

UR welcome. You can start by looking at Brazil Beach Living - Home / Contact where you will find photos of some of the condos he has built and two houses. He also built his own Pousada here. Been a busy three years for sure, he built for decades in southern Brazil before relocating here. There are several reasons why I recommend him to anyone thinking about building in this area. One, Pedrao is honest and reliable. Two, he knows how to build to a higher standard a foreign investor requires. Three, he is friends with the right people that can make life easy or hell for anyone building. Four, he has solid connections at great prices for materials and saves considerable $$ reducing waste. Five: He works fast with good crews so when following his plan you can have a nice house up from scratch in 4-5 months more or less. And Six: No Gringo prices, he promised me anyone I send his way will get the same price whether they are from Brasilia, Brisbane or Boston.

If you send me your email address I can forward a 100 unit project friends from Atlanta have for here. (they own a house in Tabatinga) They chose Pedrao to build over all other takers after looking hard at all their options. They are also seeking investors which might work for your friends. Are good people.

Come on down and I'll introduce you to him. He or I can show you his work in the area. If you'd like I'll just send his tel number, whatever works for you. Need to speak Portuguese.

BTW:
I have just visited with all the realtors here and compiled a list of all the ocean view lots available into one email which I'd be happy to forward as well. Are some gems in there. One lot is the best in my opinion you will find anywhere in PB all considered.

A pleasure to meet you, onward, Douglas

[Peim]

Thanks. I found your email on the website and will drop you a message.

P.

Originally Posted by ParaibaDouglas

Ola Peim,

UR welcome. You can start by looking at Brazil Beach Living - Home / Contact where you will find photos of some of the condos he has built and two houses. He also built his own Pousada here. Been a busy three years for sure, he built for decades in southern Brazil before relocating here. There are several reasons why I recommend him to anyone thinking about building in this area. One, Pedrao is honest and reliable. Two, he knows how to build to a higher standard a foreign investor requires. Three, he is friends with the right people that can make life easy or hell for anyone building. Four, he has solid connections at great prices for materials and saves considerable $$ reducing waste. Five: He works fast with good crews so when following his plan you can have a nice house up from scratch in 4-5 months more or less. And Six: No Gringo prices, he promised me anyone I send his way will get the same price whether they are from Brasilia, Brisbane or Boston.

If you send me your email address I can forward a 100 unit project friends from Atlanta have for here. (they own a house in Tabatinga) They chose Pedrao to build over all other takers after looking hard at all their options. They are also seeking investors which might work for your friends. Are good people.

Come on down and I'll introduce you to him. He or I can show you his work in the area. If you'd like I'll just send his tel number, whatever works for you. Need to speak Portuguese.

BTW:
I have just visited with all the realtors here and compiled a list of all the ocean view lots available into one email which I'd be happy to forward as well. Are some gems in there. One lot is the best in my opinion you will find anywhere in PB all considered.

A pleasure to meet you, onward, Douglas