LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE IN BUZIOS!!!

Hi Cecilia,

I certainly hope that both you and your friend are well aware of the considerable risks and legal problems involved in buying any kind of property in Brazil, especially for foreigners. I would highly recommend rethinking your resistance to using a realtor, since it is the seller that must pay the commission on the sale and not the buyer. I would recommend retaining your own realtor (who will end up working for you, but on a split commission payed by the seller) and also a lawyer who is knowledgeable about real estate transactions in order to protect yourself. There are many laws regarding property rights that could have disasterous results for buyers, such as squatter's rights (lei de usucapião)  laws that might even prevent one from ever occupying property they've purchased. Also, here in Brazil most debts, such as utilities, telephone, taxes, etc., all pass with the property upon transfer and you could wind up with a whole load of somebody else's debts that you will have to pay if you aren't aware they exist. Be very careful. If you need further information please PM me, but don't do anything foolish without some kind of independent legal advice.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team