Moving to Curitiba from U.S. A. deposit crazy

JacksonUk wrote:

I think expats have to follow a different proceedure than the locals.

They take advantage of foreigners who seems to be at their mercy if you´re not prepared to deal with them. There are scammers so be prepared to go to another real estate agency or a better landlord for that matter.

Yup renting is a complete pain in Brazil and they really ask for a lot of money upfront just to move into the apartment. You also have an option of paying a monthly insurance fee instead which will make your overall rent more expensive each month and you wont get the money back, but you wont have to drop a huge sum of cash upfront. When I was apartment hunting they would be asking for months of rent as a deposit. And I've seen cases where they ask you for 6-12 months of rent. It's ridiculous like how can Brazilians even afford that if thats a big ask even for someone earning in $USD. The good thing is that you will get the deposit back but still...

I might have very good and huge apartment for rent in bigorrilho curitiba soon

Yup renting is a complete pain in Brazil and they really ask for a lot of money upfront just to move into the apartment. You also have an option of paying a monthly insurance fee instead which will make your overall rent more expensive each month and you wont get the money back, but you wont have to drop a huge sum of cash upfront. When I was apartment hunting they would be asking for months of rent as a deposit. And I've seen cases where they ask you for 6-12 months of rent. It's ridiculous like how can Brazilians even afford that if thats a big ask even for someone earning in $USD. The good thing is that you will get the deposit back but still... - @asenior091br

A lot of what you are describing is illegal now in Brazil - the owner cannot demand security deposits over and above one months rent in advance. Plus contracts now should be for 30 months, although I still see a lot of 12 month ones...

Where I work and live, I come across a lot of rental properties, from both sides. There is never a difference between a Brazilian and a foreigner in terms of contracts and prices asked, however often there is more trust in a foreigner, and usually they are not looking for the same place: Brazilians want price; foreigners want location.

Where I am it’s standard to pay 2 or 3 months in advance rent. It’s supposed to go into a saving account of the owner. I had a broker say to me 2 months go a escrow account then a the 3 month had to be in cash. I didn’t use that broker again. I found another who you only pay the owner directly that was only 2 months. You need to be aware of this tactic. The owner is supposed to pay the broker fee.

Where I am it’s standard to pay 2 or 3 months in advance rent. It’s supposed to go into a saving account of the owner. I had a broker say to me 2 months go a escrow account then a the 3 month had to be in cash. I didn’t use that broker again. I found another who you only pay the owner directly that was only 2 months. You need to be aware of this tactic. The owner is supposed to pay the broker fee. - @NewBrazil

No such thing as an escrow account in Brazil, and it is common with a 12+ month contract for the first month to go direct to the broker as commission.

My wife has an Itau account and have worked over 3 weeks simply trying to transfer money there to buy an apartment.  It has been pretty frustrating. Working with the "cambio." Hopefully since she is a citizen and the fact I will be added to the account and will be there in person it may be easier. We shall see. Never seen anything like this. Luckily we won't be in a hurry. Bank seems to be covering their butts, but it is like pulling teeth.

My wife has an Itau account and have worked over 3 weeks simply trying to transfer money there to buy an apartment. It has been pretty frustrating. Working with the "cambio." Hopefully since she is a citizen and the fact I will be added to the account and will be there in person it may be easier. We shall see. Never seen anything like this. Luckily we won't be in a hurry. Bank seems to be covering their butts, but it is like pulling teeth. - @56tbourne

The problem you are facing is that here in Brazil (like most other countries), you have to justify what large deposits are for, so as to not fall foul of money laundering laws. It would have been much easier to identify the apartment you want to buy first, sign the purchase and sale contract, then use that contract as justification for the transfer directly into the seller's bank account - which is what normally happens here. Then it would have been much more of a breeze...

@Peter ItamaracaThanks. Seems we got the whole thing wrong. Still making progress, learned patience👍. If all goes well will be there this Sunday. Have a “face to face” should smooth things out.