Thursday, April 19, 2007

Paraguay Real Estate

The small landlocked Paraguay real estate is no longer considered the ‘island surrounded by land’ in South America. Paraguay real estate has in recent years taken steps to overcome its geographic, economic and political isolation and has opened up remarkably to the outside world.

Paraguay real estate may not have the dramatic tourist attractions of its more famous South American neighbors, but what it does have is a spectacular range of unspoiled terrain that is perfect for nature lovers, anglers and bird-watchers. The diverse Paraguay Real Estate ranges from rain forest, ranches and subtropical farms to marshland and savanna. The vast Chaco region, which is stark and sparsely populated, is great for trekking.

Geography of Paraguay Real Estate

Paraguay real estate is divided into two separate, natural regions by the Paraguay River. On the west is the vast, arid Chaco region - gigantic piedmont plain of scrub and marsh. On the east is the Paraneña region – a heady mixture of fertile, grassy farmland, valleys, plateaus and rolling hills.

The eastern Paraneña region is heavily populated and is home to almost 95% of Paraguayans. The climate here is more predictable and the geography of the land more hospitable. The broad Parana River is the only link between land-locked Paraguay real estate and the sea.

Asunción the energetic capital of Paraguay real estate is located on the hills above the Rio Paraguay. Asuncion is a mix of colonial, beaux-art buildings and glitzy modern demeanor. Most of the finest attractions of Paraguay real estate are a short distance away from the capital. There’s Itaguá, the weaving capital famous for its spider web or ñandutí lace and also the lakeside resorts of San Bernadino and Areguá, both on Lago Ypacaraí.

Buying Paraguay Real Estate

Foreigners are encouraged to engage in industry and commerce and there are no restrictions on foreigners buying and owning Paraguay real estate. However there are certain rules to comply with when it comes to purchasing Paraguay real estate.

A Notary Public is essential when buying or selling Paraguay real estate. The Notary Public is responsible for obtaining the certificates necessary for preparing the Transfer of Deed - the tax clearance from the municipality; Cadastre or Zoning Certificate from the National Service of Cadastre; Non-Encumbrance and Free Disposable Assets from the General Direction and the Tax Compliance from the Ministry of Finance. The fees for this service vary and could be anything between 0.75% to 2 % of the value of the property and the VAT due is 10%.

After getting the Transfer of Deed notarized a Municipal Tax of 0.2% -0.3% of the property cost has to be paid, depending on the location of the property. The final step is registering the documents that are notarized at the Public Registry by the Notary Public. A fee of PGY 200,000 (US$36) has to be paid towards registration and PGY 187,000 (US$32) towards Administrative expenses. The Judiciary Tax is 0.74% of the value of the property. The whole process of purchasing and registering a property could take about 48 days to complete.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Rio de Janeiro Real Estate

Rio de Janeiro Real Estate
Interesting Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most interesting cities in the world. Very few urban areas can compete with Rio de Janeiro for sheer physical beauty. Nestled between unending stretches of beaches and mountains, Rio de Janeiro real estate is in several ways defined by them. From its world-famous beaches Ipanema, Copacobana and Leblon to its spectacular mountains Serrs da Carioca and Sugar Loaf, from its high-rise European style urban development to the poverty stricken hillside favelas, Rio is a study of contrasts.

The Three Zones of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro real estate is divided into three distinct zones that have their own unique land use, social and economic structure. The affluent South Zone is defined by its majestic mountains, sandy beaches and spectacular views of the ocean. The world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue atop Sugar Loaf Mountain forms part of the South Zone and so do the famous Ipanema, Copaabana and Leblon beaches.
The Central Zone in downtown Rio de Janeiro real estate is known as the Central Business District and is the business, commerce and banking center. Thirty museums mingle with the municipal and state government offices in this Central Zone.
The North Zone is the industrial center of Rio de Janeiro real estate. This is the main port area and is bordered by Guanabara Bay on the east. The Maracana Stadium and the airport are located here.


Exciting football and carnival
Rio de Janeiro real estate is home to 11 million people whose zest for life and living is well known. Their passion for football is unrivalled and everybody here plays the game with envious skill and dexterity. One every four years, during the Football World Cup everything comes to a stand still while the whole football-loving nation gathers around to support their home team. The Maracana Stadium, which can seat 200,000 football fans, is always buzzing with action as it hosts one ‘futebol’ game after another.


“Carneval” is synonymous with Rio de Janeiro. Nothing compares to the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. It is without doubt the largest party on earth. The Sambodrome is packed with action and the excitement is palpable. Watching the Carnival parade on TV comes a distant second to actually being there and experiencing it first hand.
Reasons to invest in Rio de Janeiro real estate


Acquiring Rio de Janeiro real estate is considered one of the best investments in recent years due to the appreciation factor. Rio de Janeiro real estate has been giving tremendous returns in the recent past, which is mainly due a significant decrease in interest rates and inflation and also its popularity among foreign investors.
Some of the other reasons for investing in Rio de Janeiro real estate include
• It’s relatively low price compared to most other international countries.
• High annual returns on real estate investments
• Renting out your apartment is a brilliant idea- you get high income per month while you property value steadily appreciates.
• Low labor costs mean lower costs of apartment maintenance.
Some companies will help you rent your apartment to temporary residents. They will assume responsibility for renting, cleaning and paying bills at no cost to you at all.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Portuagal Real Estate For Sale

Portugal Real Estate

Portugal real estate is a study in diversity. The breath-taking landscapes of the traditional Trás-Os-Montesand and Minho to the north are very rural and a complete contrast to the splendid sandy beaches of Algarve to the south. Algarve enjoys the benefits of the warm Mediterranean sun all year round and is rapidly turning into a popular holiday destination among the other Europeans who wish to escape the cold winters.

Attractive Portugal real estate

Portugal real estate is increasingly becoming the most popular among countries in Europe for those retiring abroad or looking to buy a second home and property prices are booming, particularly in the south. One of the most tempting attractions of Portugal real estate is the excellent climate that is influenced by the Mediterranean on the south coast and the Gulf Stream on the north coast. Portugal has still managed to retain its easy-going relaxed pace of life and its unspoiled scenic beauty whilst still managing to keep pace with its European neighbors. Portugal real estate offers investors a vast variety of property from town houses and holiday homes apartments of different sizes.

Things to consider

Portuguese authorities have resisted the urge to encash on this property boom and they have very strict laws in place to preserve the scenic landscapes of Portugal real estate. Licenses for property development are carefully considered before permission is granted.

The most popular tourist destination is the Algarve, which is famous for its marinas, sandy beaches, golf courses and fishing activities. The Algarve is very family-friendly and attracts sun –seekers from all over Europe. It offers visitors and residents a wide selection of cuisine at its many restaurants and a huge array of swimming pools, tennis courts and golf courses for those looking for more leisure activities.

The Duoro region is well known as the port-making region of Portugal. All the famous ports that are exported from Portugal come from this region. Duoro offers a different kind of Portugal Real Estate with its beautiful countryside, breathtaking scenery and relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Buying Portugal real estate

You need to take a lot of care and time when buying Portugal real estate so that you avoid making any expensive mistakes. Foreign investors buying Portugal real estate need to be especially careful and it is advisable to take legal advice from independent solicitors or other qualified professionals. Check out the various administration fees before buying any Portugal real estate as stamp duty and legal fees are higher than most European countries. Get all legal documents translated from the local language into your own language before signing any papers or parting with your money. Make sure that building permits, sales documents, building registrations and property title are in order before committing to it.

Foreign investors need to obtain a fiscal number and a tax card from the Portuguese authorities before investing in any Portugal real estate. Many banks or estate agents would gladly permit you to use their address to facilitate matters. Surveys are necessary and cost approximately EUR 1000.