My Favorite Way To Make Friends Overseas
A man extends his hand to a woman he barely knows. She smiles and accepts. He leads her to an...
Read moreMany investors are attracted to Paraguay’s real estate market. Like starting a business, real estate investment is wide open to foreigners, with almost no restrictions. We say almost none because there are some minor legal restrictions on Brazilians and Argentines buying land in Paraguay close to their national borders.
Real estate investments can be divided into urban and rural types. Urban basically means Asuncion. There are some interesting opportunities investing in the construction of low-cost housing for workers. Some experts believe this is a growth area, especially as financing is becoming easier.
The main area of interest for foreigners, however, is undoubtedly rural land. This may be farmland, or it may be raw land in the Chaco, where you really can buy land for US$50 to US$100 per hectare. What you will do with such land, or even how you will get to it, is another matter.
For serious agriculture, Paraguay definitely offers the best value land in the Southern Cone region. The highest yielding developed farmland (typically producing soya or sugar cane), intensively operated and located close to processing plants, costs US$5,000 to US$10,000 per hectare. Good cattle ranch land goes for about US$500 to US$2,500 per hectare, mainly depending on how far it is from transportation infrastructure.
This kind of agricultural land is good for semi-active investors who are looking for a high ROI and position for future development while keeping their capital safe. There are plenty of good management companies that will manage your land for you, and plenty of not-so-good management companies so trusted local advice is essential. You can also simply rent your land out. Current rates of return are about 3% plus potential capital growth.
Virgin land of the type that you can actually do something with goes for US$200 to US$600 per hectare. By “virgin land” we mean land that is covered by trees or scrub forests in the Chaco, with good soil fertility so it can be cleared and used for cattle ranching. This latter option is about as close to a passive investment as you can get, as it requires no maintenance nor further investment—you are just speculating on the land price increasing over time. When buying this kind of land, you are looking for a favorable combination of climate, topography, soil fertility, and environmental viability of agriculture in the future.
Many people have a dream of living out in the middle of nowhere and running their own agricultural operation. In this case, what you need is a smallholding, or estancia, probably in the south of the country, not too far from the main road, offering investment in agriculture and a gentleman-farmer or wild-west lifestyle (your choice) combined.
The agency responsible for foreign investment promotion (REDIEX) at the Ministry of Finance in Asuncion.
Foreign Investment Law 117/91 reiterates that foreigners have the same guarantees, rights, and obligations enjoyed by any Paraguayan investor. There are no restricted areas, no discrimination, and no limitations.
Paraguay has signed a number of bilateral and international investment protection treaties and specifically recognizes international arbitration, meaning that in cases of disputes, foreigners can seek redress in an international forum.
The most important foreign investment incentive is Law 60/90. This law grants tax incentives for investments. Investments may be in the form of capital (including loans, etc.), equipment, trademarks, technology transfers, and the like. In other words, the definition of investments is quite broad. In return for the investment, the following exemptions are granted:
Incentives under Law 60/90 are generally approved within 45 days of the application.
Paraguay’s Maquila program, based on a similar program in Mexico, allows a local entity to sign a contract with a foreign entity to produce goods or provide services for export only. The system allows for duty-free import of raw materials and a complete tax exemption with the exception of a 1% fixed tax on turnover.
Anyone interested in participating in the Paraguayan economy can open a brokerage account with as little as a few thousand dollars, and it can even be done by mail. You can simply keep cash in the brokerage account, or use it to invest in the mainly fixed-interest securities traded on the small Asuncion stock exchange. Nonresidents and foreign and/or offshore companies can open these brokerage accounts. This can be an excellent way of testing the water or gaining a small foothold investment in the Paraguayan economy. It is also a discreet way of stashing some funds away for a rainy day.
A man extends his hand to a woman he barely knows. She smiles and accepts. He leads her to an...
Read moreThis Country Will Steal Your Heart Paraguay’s biggest problem is a lack of marketing. If Madison Avenue were on this,...
Read moreDiscovering Paraguay Paraguay is perhaps the least known, least understood country in the Americas—an enigma. It's...
Read moreGun laws vary in every country. It is important to understand that gun ownership is a privilege, not a right. Gun laws are strictly enforced, and draconian measures apply for anyone found with an unlicensed gun or ammunition. You can apply for a gun permit as a legal resident in Panama, Belize, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. You’ll be limited in each case as to the number of guns you can own and also restricted as to the types of weapons you can keep, but...
Read more© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.
© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.
Download your FREE report on
The Best Places To Retire In 2023
New Year, New You, New Life Overseas