Brazil has the most sought-after beachfront properties on the planet right now. For the past two years, it’s been the unrivaled hotspot for investors and second home buyers.
IL has covered a lot of great opportunities in Brazil—from apartments in modern high rises, to condominiums, to planned communities. These offer unrivaled comfort and convenience. But they’re not for everyone.
Many second-home buyers want something simpler: a private house on the beach with plenty of space and a yard. And they’re willing to do without the planned-community conveniences and amenities in return for having a larger, less-expensive house…and the quintessential Brazilian experience.
For these kinds of properties I look to the small towns that dot the Brazilian coast between Fortaleza and Maceió. There are still plenty of them to choose from that offer beautiful beaches and great prices. And in all cases you’ll still enjoy the friendly people, fascinating culture…and the year-round warm and sunny weather that’s at its best during the depths of the North American winter.
In particular, I have three favorite small beachfront towns where you can still find a peaceful seaside getaway without breaking the bank.
About 45 minutes north of Recife, Itamaracá is a tropical island. It’s about 8.5 miles long by 3.5 miles wide with 17,000 permanent residents. A half-mile causeway connects Itamaracá to the mainland. A rarity in Brazil, Itamaracá has a sizable English-speaking expat community, including about 50 Brits and a handful of North Americans. Life on the island is simple, rustic and slow with open-air restaurants and no sophisticated shopping.
Prices have climbed here over the past year. But you can still get a “fixer upper” house on the beach for about $55,000. A “move in” condition home will cost just over $100,000.
I bought my own house here, as did a half dozen other IL readers. And I am shopping for another one.
I’ll share full details of property on Itamaracá…as well as properties in my other favorite beach towns…at the International Real Estate Investment Forum 2010. Registration for this event opens in two weeks. But if you want to make sure you’ll get a place…and you want to know about the discounts on offer…you should get on the priority list.
