Oct. 21, 2009
Maceió, Brazil
PLUS:
- "I'm 83 Years Young And Ready To Make My Move!"...
- How To Borrow To Buy Real Estate In Belize...
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Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
"It started out as a long getaway weekend...just for fun," writes
Brazil Correspondent Will Davis. "But after a few days, I realized that I'd stumbled onto my most exciting find of the year on Brazil's Northeast coast...the city of Maceió.
"Capital of the state of Alagoas, Maceió turned out to be the perfect blend of laid-back seaside living and an exciting and vibrant beachfront scene. It has the beauty, excitement, and energy of some of its larger coastal cousins, without the street vendors, indigents, or other annoyances.
"Maceió is home to just under 900,000 people, and it's located on the peninsula that separates Lagoa Mundaú from the Atlantic Ocean, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of Recife below Brazil's easternmost tip. A point in town juts into the ocean and naturally separates the town's beach sector into two parts; each with two major beach areas. My favorite stretch lies in the northern half of town, where you'll find the beaches Praia de Jatiúca and Praia de Ponta Verde.
"The wide beachfront avenue runs along Maceió's clean and attractive boardwalk, which is busy all day with joggers, walkers, and people relaxing on a bench or keeping fit at the oceanfront exercise area. Tasteful seafront restaurants, beach bars, and kiosks dot the beach side of the boardwalk, providing everything venues for everything from fine dining to cocktails and a leisurely read of the day's newspaper.
"On the city side, the avenue is lined with tasteful buildings, restaurants, and hotels. And the eight-story limit keeps the boardwalk and beach from feeling crowded or hemmed in by a wall of high-rises.
"The waters are warm, blue, and calm, thanks to a barrier reef just offshore. The beaches are narrow in some places, wide in others. Without exception, they're clean and well-kept, with fine white sand and swaying palms. The beach was busy in town during my stay, which is saying something, given that it's miles long. I couldn't figure out where all the people came from on a workday. At the city's edge however, the people disappear...leaving miles of uncrowded beaches fringed by palms and natural vegetation.
"Maceió also offers a good restaurant district, with seafood as well as delicacies from all over Brazil. We even found a Middle Eastern restaurant, which was as good as any I've ever visited...and I've visited a lot of them.
"And Maceió has more than beaches. We also found an attractive and fully outfitted downtown, as well as a hilltop residential district that offered awesome views of the city and ocean beyond...with view properties starting well under US$100,000.
"And speaking of properties, the beach buys we saw were reasonably priced. We toured a brand-new two-bedroom condo with a view of the ocean and a sea of palm trees. The asking price was US$91,200. I also found a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment on the front line going for just US$122,300. (These prices reflect an exchange rate of R$1.80 per US$1.)"
Kathleen Peddicord
P.S. Brazil's is one of the 12 real estate investment markets featured during our Global Real Estate Profits Summit in Panama City last week. Current top pre-construction opportunities (that can be bought with as little as 1% to 2% down payment and then paid off in installments so low they could be less than your car payment) were detailed.
Over these two-and-a-half days, our assembled experts presented more than 17 current real asset investment opportunities in the world's most interesting markets right now. And we got it all on tape. Our editors are working now so the
Global Real Estate Home Profits Program, which will be available (at a pre-release discounted price) starting tomorrow. Stand by.
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"I am seriously considering moving to Panama. It would be appreciated if your firm might help me in planning. I am 83 years young, widowed, and have what I think is sufficient income. Is there any assistance you could give me?"
-- C.W.L., United States
Our best resource for planning a move to Panama is our recently updated
Panama Bridge Kit, which details everything from cost of living to your options for establishing foreign residency, from choosing which region of the country might suit you best to understanding your in-country options for health care. More
here.
In addition, we're making plans now for our next
Live & Invest in Panama event, scheduled for Feb. 25-27, in Panama City. You can get your name on the list for special pre-registration discounts
here.
"My wife and I are very interested in buying a home in
Belize. How do we go about obtaining a loan to purchase a home or property in this country?"
-- Daniel and Barb P., United States
Contact Caye Bank, which lends to foreigners interested in purchasing real estate in Belize and elsewhere in the region. Reach them
here.
