The state of Ceará and its capital Fortaleza remain firm Brazilian holiday favourites, ranking among the country’s top destinations. In addition, tourism in the state is booming with record visitor and spending figures.
The Brazilian currency, the real, recently fell to its lowest level against the US dollar for over a decade. While this was bad news for Brazilians investing in the US, it represents an excellent opportunity for foreigners thinking of adding Brazil to their portfolio. Assets in Brazil such as property are now at their cheapest for years.
With a low inventory, pent-up demand and record levels of new mortgages, property in Ceará, northeast Brazil stands out in the Brazilian property market. Market conditions are so buoyant in the state that Ceará property is known as an “oasis”.
The announcement of more flights between Fortaleza and European capitals is good news for both tourists and those looking to buy property in Brazil. As from June this year, the capital of Ceará state in Northeast Brazil will offer weekly flights to two more European capitals, Amsterdam and Paris.
Brazilian holiday lets are on the rise, particularly in regions offering stunning beaches and year-round dependable weather. One such location in Ceará in northeast Brazil where holiday rentals increased by 20 per cent in 2014.
On the back of the FIFA World Cup celebrated in Brazil last year, spending by foreigners in the country reached record levels. Brazil continues to attract increasing numbers of tourists and this year’s carnival season is expected to set new records.
The figures just released for employment and property in northeast Brazil highlight that both markets are booming and well ahead of those at national level. The state of Ceará was one of the centres for job creation as well as a hot spot for property.
After an unusual 12 months, the Brazilian property market is set for a good 2015 characterised by marked increases in mortgage lending and greater sales activity. Government investment in the social housing programme, strong job creation and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on the horizon are three of the main factors that will be driving the market next year.
Sam Zell, one of the world’s most successful property investors, says that now is the perfect time to invest in Brazil. He believes the country’s rising middle class has all the right ingredients for profitable investment and on the back of this, forecasts that property prices in Brazil are unlikely to fall this year.
Latest statistics for 2014 point to a stabilisation in the Brazilian property market. Growth in both house prices and launches are expected to be moderate this year in keeping with a mature market. Experts do, however, predict pockets of higher growth in 2015, particularly in the northeast of the country in areas such as Fortaleza.
PepsiCo’s foods division is looking to double its revenue in the next three to four years in Brazil in spite of a recent slowdown in Latin America’s largest economy. PepsiCo’s plan reflects the belief of many local groups and multinationals that the longer term structural source of economic growth in Brazil, the rise of its lower-middle class, especially in the traditionally poorer northeast, is intact.
At the year comes to a close, all signs point to an excellent year for property in Fortaleza. Fuelled by robust demand and keen interest from buyers, more strong activity in all property sectors is forecast for 2015.
The latest Ernst & Young Capital Confidence Barometer for Brazil finds levels of confidence high with a bright outlook for the immediate future. Executives, both globally and in Brazil, feel the time is right to grow their investment in Brazil.
On the back of solid demand from society and increased mortgage lending, there’s plenty of room for growth in the Brazilian property sector. With the total home loans to rise by 10 per cent next year, 2015 looks set to see further consolidation in the market.
With billions in investment and state-of-the-art installations, Pecém Port is on track to become one of Brazil’s of largest import-export centres. Together with its steel plant and oil refinery, the port will create over 130,000 jobs and add double-figure increases to Ceará’s GDP between now and 2020. This unprecedented injection of wealth will have huge implications on the demand for property in the area.
Political stability and strong economic fundamentals are the basis behind foreign investment in Brazil, currently at levels on a par with those last seen in 2007. With a number of key foreign companies investing heavily, Brazil continues to represent an excellent investment opportunity.
