Information Center

One of the basic actions you are going to take is to find a suitable house or apartment when you arrive a new town. The Real Estate Agencies are at your disposal on either renting or purchasing one.

Most of the larger agencies (the ones advertised in the English language newspaper Turkish Daily News) are professional and have experience dealing with foreigners and their often-unique set of needs. If your budget is modest however, you would be better off scouting out the neighborhood that you want to live in and approaching the smaller real estate agencies (Emlakçı) in that area (they are plentiful).

It is common practice to pay a commission to the agent; however this fee is negotiable in most instances. Foreign tenants mean Dollars or Euro (and lots of it) to almost every homeowner in Turkey. If your rent will be in a foreign currency, bargain hard – if you don’t have the negotiation skills, find someone does. It will be well worth the effort and can safe you bundle.

The following points are fair game to negotiate about:

*Price of monthly rent;

*Number of months of advance payment required;

*Currency that the rent will be paid in;

*Method of paying;

*Amount of deposit required and whether it is in Turkish Lira or foreign currency;

*Condition of the home – request new carpet if it is soiled, or fresh paint;

*Landscaping – landlord can pay for grass to be planted, if it is new home for example;

*Appliances – included or not; light fixtures – included or not;

*Cleaning – insist landlord cover cost of having your place cleaned before you move in;

*Any repairs such as water damage or cracks in walls – landlord should cover all these costs.

*A final word of advice, or caution: get it all in writing, including all the landlords’ promises to repair, clean and fix things in advance of your move!!

Particularly if you are paying big bucks in a foreign currency, it is imperative to have a lawyer look at your contract before you sign it. Take the time, make the effort and you will be in a much better position should any misunderstanding arise.

The agent generally participates in concluding the lease contract as well. Be sure to insist upon a termination clause, which should legally protect you should you need to cut your lease short in the event you are assigned to another city/country or having to leave the country due to health problems.

Most foreign citizens are permitted to purchase land and property in Turkey in their own names – you are still advised however to check with your Consulate. To obtain a registration for title deeds, he/she must prove to the Land Registry of Turkey the transfer of the full purchase price into Turkey. Properties within military zones or outside the boundaries of the municipalities cannot be purchased by foreigners. In any subsequent sale of the property the proceeds can be transferred out of Turkey. The property may be rented out to others.

There is an annual property tax for private buildings. All properties are subject to re-evaluation every four (4) years for taxation purposes.

Different regulations apply when property is purchased for business and investment purposes that are connected to tourism.

Please also check Home Sweet Home subtitle of Getting Settled section for some other information on settling a house or an apartment. Also a list of Real Estate Agencies is given in our Yellow Pages.

Why Use An Agent When Buying Spanish Property

I have received many messages recently regarding estate agents who, it appears are getting a battering for a number of reasons -lack of professionalism, high commission charges, leaving clients in the lurch, and acting on their own interests. Whether a buyer or seller – is it worth using an estate agent?

Let me start by saying this article is neither in condemnation nor defence of estate agents, their commissions or practices, it is a reflection on the contrast and similarities between here and other countries – primarily the UK. We will look at how they charge – what they do for their money and whether or not it is worth it. I will be playing devils advocate on both parts to balance the equation – even though by being an agent myself I am naturally going to have a bias.

spainish windmills

We will look at how to go about buying or selling a property without an agent. As you would imagine this is will be emotive. Many will agree or disagree with what is said and if that facilitates debate and at least gets you thinking it has achieved its objective – “oh no he’s off again – more controversy”, I hear you cry.

I would hope to spark a debate about your experiences, whether good bad or indifferent, how this measured up against your expectations, what was promised and how you felt before, during and after the process. If you have any comments about this article or the subject in general then please respond.

You give love a bad name

There is no doubt that estate agents have a bad name in Spain. Most of the stories I hear are full of “Don’t use these agents” “watch out for high charges” “Rip off merchants abound” “ X left me high and dry”. I even know of one couple who were left 20kms from Gandia by a large agent based in Gandia because they refused to give certain details to the agent. This was an elderly couple left in the middle of nowhere

So why has the industry received such a lot of negative press in recent years and is it warranted?

Most of us have experienced buying in Spain and I would bet that most have bought through an agent. There are many anecdotal cases of rip off agents – people charging what they can get away with- indeed I know of four such cases. But are all agents the same?

As in all walks of life there are good and bad people and it is usually the bad that give the rest a bad name. A lot of foreign agents are probably guilty of nothing more than ineptitude, lack of professionalism and a lack of knowledge. However there can be serious repercussions when things go wrong.

Let’s tackle probably the most contentious issue – estate agents commissions.

How many times do we hear that estate agents overcharge in Spain? How can UK agents charge 1-2% yet their Spanish counterparts charge 3-6% and more. Let’s set aside the rip off agents and assume the ones we are talking about charge 3-6% fees. What on earth can justify these high charges?

Wait a moment! High charges!

Do you know that in Germany, France, Belgium and Holland the average sales commission is 6% and can be as high as 10%, it is 6% – 7% in the USA. No wonder Dutch and Belgian clients don’t balk at such commissions here But because UK buyers expect to pay 1-2% other countries should follow suit. But we aren’t comparing apples with apples here. According to the API - the professional body of estate agents similar to the NAEA - a realistic level of commission is between 3% and 6% depending on the transaction. They even give advice as to what type of properties should attract what type of commissions.

But why are real estate agent commissions so high. If UK agents can make a profit (and they obviously can) from charging 1-2% why cant Spanish agents.

Typical UK agent

They have an office in town, their catchment area is 5 mile radius and there are probably 10 agents locally compare to Oliva – a small town – there are at least 30 agents probably more home based intermediaries.

UK agents advertise in the local press, have a website and are probably part of a bigger group and/or advertise on a property portal. They give you a valuation of your property, put up a for sale sign and then wait.

Once the buyer enters the office (rather than the agent going to the buyer) they take them to view the house – or do they? When selling my UK house the agent just sent the people. When an offer is accepted they inform both parties and their solicitors and arrange a mortgage (mainly because they get a commission- but in fairness they have to be regulated to offer mortgage advice).

After sale – what do they do? I cannot remember the name of one single estate agent that sold my houses in UK (and there have been a few(, none bothered to keep in touch afterwards. So forget after sales service it doesn’t exist.

They also probably sell in the region of 20 -30 properties per month (they have most houses exclusively so if a client wants that house they have to go there) and smaller, more densely populated area. They can also see 5 or 6 clients per day – or more if there is more than one person in the office.

So in summary then a UK based agent will do the following

1. Value your house and probably have it exclusively or charge you double if you go with another agent

2. Put it in their office window

3. Put it on their website

4. Maybe you will be part of their normal display ad

5. Arrange viewings for you

6. Assist in the negotiation

7. Inform both parties of a sale pending subject to offer.

8. Sit back and wait until the commission is paid

9. All this for between 1 and 2%

Next issue we will take a look at their Spanish counterparts and see what they do to justify their charges. If you have any comments on the subject matter or want any advice then please feel free to contact me. vbtudor@spanishproperty-direct.com and for more articles about buying in Spain look at the website www.spanishproperty-direct.com

By Vince Barnes

Why Use An Agent When Buying Spanish Property

I have received many messages recently regarding estate agents who, it appears are getting a battering for a number of reasons -lack of professionalism, high commission charges, leaving clients in the lurch, and acting on their own interests. Whether a buyer or seller – is it worth using an estate agent?

Let me start by saying this article is neither in condemnation nor defence of estate agents, their commissions or practices, it is a reflection on the contrast and similarities between here and other countries – primarily the UK. We will look at how they charge – what they do for their money and whether or not it is worth it. I will be playing devils advocate on both parts to balance the equation – even though by being an agent myself I am naturally going to have a bias.

spainish windmills

We will look at how to go about buying or selling a property without an agent. As you would imagine this is will be emotive. Many will agree or disagree with what is said and if that facilitates debate and at least gets you thinking it has achieved its objective – “oh no he’s off again – more controversy”, I hear you cry.

I would hope to spark a debate about your experiences, whether good bad or indifferent, how this measured up against your expectations, what was promised and how you felt before, during and after the process. If you have any comments about this article or the subject in general then please respond.

You give love a bad name

There is no doubt that estate agents have a bad name in Spain. Most of the stories I hear are full of “Don’t use these agents” “watch out for high charges” “Rip off merchants abound” “ X left me high and dry”. I even know of one couple who were left 20kms from Gandia by a large agent based in Gandia because they refused to give certain details to the agent. This was an elderly couple left in the middle of nowhere

So why has the industry received such a lot of negative press in recent years and is it warranted?

Most of us have experienced buying in Spain and I would bet that most have bought through an agent. There are many anecdotal cases of rip off agents – people charging what they can get away with- indeed I know of four such cases. But are all agents the same?

As in all walks of life there are good and bad people and it is usually the bad that give the rest a bad name. A lot of foreign agents are probably guilty of nothing more than ineptitude, lack of professionalism and a lack of knowledge. However there can be serious repercussions when things go wrong.

Let’s tackle probably the most contentious issue – estate agents commissions.

How many times do we hear that estate agents overcharge in Spain? How can UK agents charge 1-2% yet their Spanish counterparts charge 3-6% and more. Let’s set aside the rip off agents and assume the ones we are talking about charge 3-6% fees. What on earth can justify these high charges?

Wait a moment! High charges!

Do you know that in Germany, France, Belgium and Holland the average sales commission is 6% and can be as high as 10%, it is 6% – 7% in the USA. No wonder Dutch and Belgian clients don’t balk at such commissions here But because UK buyers expect to pay 1-2% other countries should follow suit. But we aren’t comparing apples with apples here. According to the API - the professional body of estate agents similar to the NAEA - a realistic level of commission is between 3% and 6% depending on the transaction. They even give advice as to what type of properties should attract what type of commissions.

But why are real estate agent commissions so high. If UK agents can make a profit (and they obviously can) from charging 1-2% why cant Spanish agents.

Typical UK agent

They have an office in town, their catchment area is 5 mile radius and there are probably 10 agents locally compare to Oliva – a small town – there are at least 30 agents probably more home based intermediaries.

UK agents advertise in the local press, have a website and are probably part of a bigger group and/or advertise on a property portal. They give you a valuation of your property, put up a for sale sign and then wait.

Once the buyer enters the office (rather than the agent going to the buyer) they take them to view the house – or do they? When selling my UK house the agent just sent the people. When an offer is accepted they inform both parties and their solicitors and arrange a mortgage (mainly because they get a commission- but in fairness they have to be regulated to offer mortgage advice).

After sale – what do they do? I cannot remember the name of one single estate agent that sold my houses in UK (and there have been a few(, none bothered to keep in touch afterwards. So forget after sales service it doesn’t exist.

They also probably sell in the region of 20 -30 properties per month (they have most houses exclusively so if a client wants that house they have to go there) and smaller, more densely populated area. They can also see 5 or 6 clients per day – or more if there is more than one person in the office.

So in summary then a UK based agent will do the following

1. Value your house and probably have it exclusively or charge you double if you go with another agent

2. Put it in their office window

3. Put it on their website

4. Maybe you will be part of their normal display ad

5. Arrange viewings for you

6. Assist in the negotiation

7. Inform both parties of a sale pending subject to offer.

8. Sit back and wait until the commission is paid

9. All this for between 1 and 2%

Next issue we will take a look at their Spanish counterparts and see what they do to justify their charges. If you have any comments on the subject matter or want any advice then please feel free to contact me. vbtudor@spanishproperty-direct.com and for more articles about buying in Spain look at the website www.spanishproperty-direct.com

By Vince Barnes

Property for Sale from 110.000 Euros ( Ucuz Yazlık Evler )

Marbella properties and properties in Costa del Sol have been the most popular region of Spain for holiday makers and overseas property real estate investors. There is also a great interest for investing in Greece and Cyprus for summer homes. Since these last years, investors have realized the potential in real estate market in Turkey. Turkey is hot-on-the-lips of many investors. As well as being an excellent holiday destination, the country offers property at competitive prices and is ideal for those who can no longer afford traditional holiday areas such as Spain, Portugal or Greece. Bodrum Peninsula is a hotspot for property investment, compared to Spain and Greece. Turkey has just recently been rated as the third best country to invest in summer properties and Bodrum peninsula is the ideal location to minimize investment risk.
Property for Sale in Bodrum

* Title : Risus Homes * Completion Time : November 2007 * Type : Apartment * Location : Turgutreis * Rooms : 3 + 1 * Bathrooms : 3 * Area : 132 m2 * Swimming Pool : Yes * Distance from Sea : 500 meters * Price : 110,000 GBP * More Pictures of the Project

Turgutreis is located 18 km from Bodrum and at the westpoint of the Bodrum peninsula and the second largest residental area after Bodrum. Cos island of Greece is 25 minutes away by ferry from Turgutreis international Marina. This amazing development consists of 4 luxury villas and 12 apartments. There is a large communal swimming pool for the apartments and private pools for the villas. The villas come with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. They have 2 storeys with a total of 200 sqm. Prices of the villas are from 135.000 GBP. All the villas and apartments have magnificent seaview even from the ground floor. Contact us for details.

Spanish Properties from £38,100

Spain has pioneered the trend to own overseas property and is still the UK nation’s favourite destination for a place in the sun. The market is cooling but there are plenty of opportunities to be had away from the traditional hotspots, in the lesser- known costas and inland amongst the olive groves.

There are still more British people buying in Spain than in any other overseas destination. The short travel time from the UK - thanks to the opening up regional airports at both ends combined with the reliable climate, Mediterranean scenery and laid-back lifestyle continue to draw property buyers from the UK, as well as other European nations.

That said, foreigners’ spend of 1.96 billion euros on Spanish property in the first five months of 2006 was 13.2 per cent down year-on- year. Fears of a dangerously over-heated market have abated, but the market is definitely slowing. Spanish property inflation rates have fallen for six consecutive quarters, from 17.2 per cent at the end of 2004 to 10.8 per cent at the end of June 2006, reports Spanish Property Insight.

If this trend towards a ‘soft landing’ for the property market continues, as predicted, then real property price increases in Spain will be close to zero in a year or so. The Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca remain the principal buying areas. The former enjoyed the best summer in five years this year with a nine per cent increase in tourism; this will boost the confidence of property-owners in the rental market. Much of the new development on the Costa del Sol has shifted west of the Golden Mile to the area around Estepona and Duquesa. More affordable property on the Costa del Sol coast can now be found slightly inland, in the budding Axarquia and Antequera regions, or further east around Granada and the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra mountains.

Other parts of Spain experiencing a mini-explosion are Murcia, where a handful of golf resort developers including Polaris, 3 Molinos and La Serena, are building huge self-contained resorts, the Costa Almeria, notably around Roquetas de Mar and Vera, and the Costa de la Luz including the Spanish Algarve around Ayamonte, known for its gorgeous beaches. Catalonia in the north is popular amongst property buyers looking for a private, tranquil bolt-hole and as usual, for the real bargains head inland a few kilometres.

Source: Real Estate in Spain

Dubai Properties from £41,700

Dubai’s property market has been hitting the headlines for a few years now, but with more and more international companies setting up bases here and some highly ambitious tourist developments on the way there is no reason to believe that this desert state’s time has been and gone.

Property development continues at an immense rate in Dubai; there are an estimated 215 skyscrapers currently under construction, with a similar number due to start over the next two years (the Burj Tower, with 188 storeys, is set to be the highest).

If the Dubai government meets its target of boosting its population to four million by 2015 from the current 1.3 million, then this glitzy United Arab Emirates hotspot will need every property it has to offer.

Thanks to the two government-induced ‘off-shore’ developments – The Palm and The World – Dubai has a reputation for luxurious, highly-expensive property, fit only for the Beckhams of this world. But this is just one side of the story; off-plan apartments are still available below the £100,000 market and there are developments, such as the International City on the edge of the Dubailand theme park, that are aimed at the “affordable” end of the scale. More proof comes from Victoria Finch of Cluttons, who recently said that “people who used to buy in the Mediterranean are now buying in Dubai, and there are also people planning their retirement who want to spend six months in the sun”.

The demand for property from the thousands of Western professionals working in Dubai – where your earnings are tax free – is also fuelling the boom in off-plan apartments; in the next four years an estimated 300,000 apartments will come onto the market. With this in mind, a popular investment area with strong rental potential is the Dubai Marina and particularly The Point and The Torch complexes, next door to Media City where Microsoft, Cisco, Reuters and CNN have offices. West of the city, moving away from the traditional expat areas of Jumeirah and Al Garhoud, on the north-eastern side of the Creek, is becoming the focus of much development.

For the time being there is a relative shortage of apartments as investors wait for their homes to be completed. The general feeling is the party is over for those wishing to make a fast buck from selling on off-plan property.

Source: Dubai Properties

Turkish Properties from £47,600

Like Spain 30 years ago, Turkey’s low property prices are attracting more than just holidaymakers – Brits are now lining up to buy holiday homes there. The southern resorts of Fethiye and Marmaris were first in on the action but we’re now turning our attention to the northern Bodrum and Cesme peninsulas.

They used to say that prices in Turkey were the same as in Spain… if you knocked a nought off. But the days of the £10,000 beachside apartment are over; nowadays you might have to pay £20,000. Brits have discovered the beauty of this huge, historic country, three times bigger than the UK and with 7,000 kilometres of coastline. People have traditionally headed for the Mediterranean and south Aegean coasts, with British and Irish holiday home-owners in resorts like Marmaris and Fethiye. But now we’re going north as enterprising Turks develop more of the coastline.

The Bodrum Peninsula is a popular spot right now; recently described as being “the new San Tropez”, where wooded countryside meets the shore in a series of glorious bays and pretty fishing villages. Talk to any Turkish developer and they’ll insist that they’ve learnt lessons from other countries and will not be allowing crass over-development, though in parts of the country they seem to be coming perilously close! However, if a £40,000 three-bed villa amongst other Brits is exactly what you’re looking for you have a choice of resorts. For others, who might traditionally have headed for France or Tuscany, there is unspoilt beauty around every corner. Like the Cesme peninsula. Just an hour’s drive from Izmir, with regular flights to the UK, this stretch of coast is so close to the Greek islands that many use Izmir as a closer airport than going via Greece.

A new development of golf courses and pretty homes is going up, based around the village of Alacati. Anyone who doubts the classy, European appeal of Turkey should visit this picture-perfect village, popular with visitors from Istanbul. With all this building, off-plan and new-builds are most popular. It is difficult to predict whether the general house inflation can continue, or whether over-supply will force prices down. But either way it can’t be long before those same people who have been buying up every gorgeous old finca in the Balearics realise there are equally beautiful renovation projects in Turkey too; at a tenth of the price.

Greek Properties from £30,400

The Market: Athens and the coast

When it comes to Mediterranean property hotspots, Greece is up there with the best of them in the value for money stakes. And despite recent changes in tax laws that have made the buying process a tad harder on the wallet (including 19 per cent VAT on newly-built premises), Greece’s property market continues to prosper. Over the past few years reduced interest rates, the deregulation of rents and a general increase in countrywide living standards have all played their part in helping the Greek property market to go from strength to strength. “The market is very strong – Greece is considered to be the best value for money in the Mediterranean,” says Spyros Mantzos of British-based agents A Property in Greece.

And when it comes to potential locations for your property purchase, Greece has more options than your average meze menu. There are countless miles of gorgeous coastline dotted with bustling resorts and quaint fishing villages, and some breathtakingly rugged mountainous regions. Most British househunters tend to head straight for the traditional coastal areas of the Peloponnese peninsular. Here you’ll find a thriving market for second homes in the sun and holiday buy-to-lets in the popular Mediterranean resorts.

But interest in the buy-to-let market in capital city Athens is growing at quite a rate, even more so since wholesale improvements in the city’s infrastructure were carried out in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games. “Athens is definitely a hotspot for buy-to-let properties,” says Mantzos. “And the number of British buyers in Greece is very much on the increase. They’re attracted to low property prices friendly people and strict controls to prevent overdevelopment.”

And Mantzos, among others, believes there’s no reason why this trend shouldn’t continue for many years to come: “The future looks excellent, driven by price, climate, cost of living and one of Europe’s lowest crime rates.”

Source: Property Investment in Greece

Investment in Turkey

The Turkish property market is witnessing the early stages of a massive boom triggered off by an important change in the law relating to the ownership of property by foreigners. This only happened at the end of 2002, but it has meant that prices have been rocketing ever since. As other Mediterranean countries rapidly become too expensive.

Prices rose by an average 60% over the last 22 months in the coastal areas. All indicators show that this is just the beginning and we expect prices to rise sharply for the next 5-10 years. This means that your slice of paradise will also be a lucrative investment. Rental incomes are also doing very well as more and more people are turning their backs on tour operators and large hotels in favour of organising their own holidays in their own space. Villas and apartments are built to the highest specifications.

Unlike places such as Spain, when you buy a property in Turkey nobody can take it away from you or make any claim on you unless this is registered at the land registry before you buy.

Mortgages are only available if you become a resident. Should you require funding then you should consider borrowing from a UK lender against the equity in your UK residence.

You can expect a rental income of between € 450 – 900 (£300 – 600) per week for a 3/4 detached villa with own or communal pool.

Real Estate in the Northeast of Brazil, State of Ceara

GENERAL FACTORS

Predictions by leading financiers, Goldman Sachs, are ranking Brazil amongst the top 5 world economies by the year 2050. As one world’s largest countries, with a current population of over 180 million, Brazil’s economic potential is enormous. The current availability of cheap labor and materials, coupled with undervalued real estate, mean the conditions for growth are outstanding

Major investment is ongoing to improve Brazil’s infrastructure and create purpose built tourist facilities. Due to increased efforts by its government, Brazil experienced 48% growth in its tourism industry between 2002 and 2005, with further growth predicted in 2006 and 2007.

Growth is being centered on the coastal destinations of Fortaleza (State of Ceara), Salvador and Natal in particular, which is the closest point of Latin America to Europe and the location of a new airport which shall be the EIGHTH largest in the world. Easy access from North America and Europe is on the increase, with costs of travel reducing each year, giving Brazil a truly global investment and tourism appeal.

With a Tropical stable climate, world-famous, beautiful beaches and a year-round tourist season, Brazil is set to benefit purchasers with buy-to-let investment strategies. The low cost of living (20% of that in the UK) also appeals to investors and tourists looking for a lower cost alternative to the peaking Caribbean market.

There are no complications regarding property ownership in Brazil and investments can be purchased as 100% Freehold.

We will assume that you already have made up your mind to invest in real estate and to do so in Brazil.

CAUSE:

There are three reasons that I think are the most important for this to happen:

1.) Low labor cost and low living expenses.

2.) Government incentives are abundant since the states are looking forward to the economy becoming even stronger through this.

3.) Last but not least the stable climate without earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami, terrorism or any of the God’s acts that let us know where our place is.

Of course, we cannot forget the friendliness of the locals and lower crime levels than those of the South & Central regions of the country.

EFFECT:

Advantages of Brazil Investment

* Property capital appreciation of 20% average in the Northeast per annum. * Favorable currency exchange rates, making property transactions cheap for foreign investors. * President Lula’s progressive policies, bringing many improvements to Brazil , including a decrease in inflation to an all-time low at 5.7%. * Active encouragement and incentives for foreign investment – you can own 100% of land and property. * Cost of living only 20% of that in the UK/Europe and property maintenance costs extremely low. * Some of the lowest property prices in the world. * Increase of thriving manufacturing industries relocated to Brazil and boosting the economy. * Expected self sufficiency in oil reserves within the next year. * Some economists believe Brazil is amongst the leaders of the future, along with Russia , India and China . * Year-round sunshine, with average summer temperatures of 21°C. * Great natural beauty with fantastic scenery and 7,000km of beaches. * Friendly nature of the Brazilian people. * Vibrant cities with carnivals and music. * Low international risk of war, terrorism or SARS in Brazil . * Easy access via direct flights from many international airports. * Donald Trump invested here very successfully. * Billions of U$ Dollars are being poured into the real estate market making it very stable and profitable. * Brazilian currency is strong on the Forex markets further lowering risk.

Now, let’s discuss why to make investments in the Northeast and more specifically State of Ceara?

The Northeast region of Brazil is the fastest growing area on the South American continent. This is in regards to economic factors such as export/import, tourism, real estate, natural resources & energy etc….

We have seen a steady value appreciation of these investments over the last four to five years and especially real estate geared towards tourism and golf.

Numerous developments such as resorts & hotels with beach front condominiums full of villas (in hundreds and sometimes in thousands) including golf courses have been springing up every 100km or so throughout the 2500 km of the Northeast’s Coast Line.

State of Ceara , with it’s capital City of Fortaleza has been undoubtly attracting the most savvy of the investments in the region. South America’s largest water park is located here and the Pinto Martins International Airport is fit to accommodate a large amount of flights and is currently in an expansion stage.

There are a minimum of four golf course developments under construction at this time and there is THE largest tourism development in this country covering an area of 3100 hectares or 31 Million square meters well on its way. The evaluated grand total of this enormous undertaking is over U$D20 Billion. It’s in the construction stage as well. Another pre-approved project has been recently sold to an undisclosed investor in the, not undermining size, of 1020 hectares with licenses for a Marina, 16 resorts, golf course, private airport, convention center & shopping mall, etc…These are just the two largest developments in this state besides many others. Inside the City of Fortaleza buildings are popping up everywhere and the construction trade has received a very significant rise in demand (since 1998 to today 1000% growth). Rentable property is a very interesting factor, however there are a few good managing companies available for to the public.

This state is very strategically and geographically located in relation to main cities in Europe like Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Milan, Amsterdam, Brussels, Oslo, London, Copenhagen etc…as well as Miami, New York, Boston,USA.

The Capital of Fortaleza has the largest population in the Northeast and yet incredible to say the lowest crime rate in the area.

There are Mountains with waterfalls and European climate 3-6 hours of a drive away, depending of course on which one desires to visit, the world-wide famous beaches like Jericoacoara, Cumbuco, Fleixeiras, Lagoinha, Praia das Fontes etc…..

There are over 1000 edible fruits here, interesting cuisine, vital to the Brazilian Culture is the nightlife with the various restaurants and bars which are great investments for the well informed persons with outdoor seating and gardens.