Client case: investing in Brazil without ever having been there

The journey of a European couple, fully supported from A to Z

2 February 2026 by

Jason Aerts

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1. Starting point: investing in a completely unknown country (September 2024)

When we first spoke in September 2024, this Dutch couple in their thirties was living in Europe and had never set foot in Brazil.

They did not speak Portuguese, had no local contacts, and had no experience whatsoever with the Brazilian real estate market. The only information they had came from a Brazilian colleague originally from Maceió, who had casually mentioned that the city offered interesting real estate opportunities. That was it.

No identified developer, no specific project, no clear idea of prices, timelines, or how a property purchase in Brazil actually works. Their core question was simple and refreshingly honest:

Is it really possible to invest in Brazil remotely, without taking unreasonable risks?

They started searching online, found our website via Google, and booked an initial call through our online calendar. At that stage, they were not yet looking for a specific property, they were looking for a reliable entry point to determine whether their idea made sense at all.

2. First exchanges: doubt, distance, and the need for reference points

Our first interactions took place via video calls, emails, and WhatsApp. Very quickly, a familiar pattern emerged: the same questions kept coming back, sometimes phrased differently.

“Is this really how things normally work?”

“What if something goes wrong?”

“How can we be sure the money ends up in the right place?”

Behind these questions were very typical concerns for European investors:

buying remotely, without ever visiting the country;
sending money abroad without fully understanding the system;
and above all, the fear of making a mistake simply because the rules are different.

These doubts do not disappear after a single explanation. They come back in waves, at each new stage of the process. Our role was therefore never to “reassure quickly,” but to be present over time: answering, rephrasing, confirming, explaining differently when needed, and above all giving space for decisions to mature.

Trust was not built through a sales pitch, but through consistency and coherence in every interaction.

3. Framing the project: understanding before proposing anything

Before any invoice, project proposal, or apartment search, we took the time to properly frame the project. We discussed not only budget, but also risk tolerance, investment horizon, need for control, and real expectations. In their case, the objective was clear: a purely financial investment.

They wanted to acquire a property to grow their capital over the long term, rent it out on a short-term basis (Airbnb-type rentals) in the meantime, while keeping the option to use it occasionally for holidays in Brazil.

At that point, they had no developer in mind, no specific apartment, and no preconceived idea of what they “should” buy. And that was a good thing: understanding before choosing avoids many costly mistakes and wasted time later on.

4. Property search: filtering, comparing, and sometimes advising against buying

Based on their profile, we started a thorough research and selection process. Several projects were analysed, compared, and in some cases deliberately ruled out.

Some projects looked attractive on paper but did not align with their objectives or carried specific risks. Others were solid but less well positioned in terms of timing or long-term value appreciation.

Our role was not to recommend “what sells easily,” but to filter, explain, and sometimes explicitly advise against buying. Not buying is also part of the process.

Gradually, one coherent first project stood out: a studio apartment in Jatiúca, one of the best neighbourhoods in Maceió, located about a seven-minute walk from the beach.

The project was developed by a leading regional developer, active for decades across several capitals in Brazil’s Northeast, known for construction quality, durable materials, respect for delivery timelines, and strong liquidity both for resale and rental.

The goal was not to maximise risk or short-term returns, but to take a first structured, well-supervised step in order to understand how real estate investment in Brazil actually works in practice.

We also clarified one important point early on: we have no exclusive partnerships with developers. Each project is evaluated case by case, and we are perfectly willing to advise against a project if it is not suitable, even if it is popular or easy to sell.

5. Contract, power of attorney, and local legal realities

The contract review marked a first major turning point. Many clauses appeared unusual or even concerning to European investors: payment structures indexed to INCC and IGP-M, different legal wording, and the absence of certain guarantees commonly expected in Europe.

Our role was to explain what is standard practice in Brazil, identify the clauses that required particular attention, and translate the contract into clear, understandable language — without downplaying the differences.

The full legal analysis of the contract was handled by Brazilian lawyer Nieilly Gomes. She identified and explained the key clauses and their concrete implications for foreign investors.

One crucial element then emerged: the need for a power of attorney. As non-residents, the developer required that someone residing in Brazil be able to sign the contract on their behalf.

This is exactly the kind of situation that, without local support, can block a project or lead to abandonment. We therefore put in place a strictly limited and clearly defined power of attorney, restricted solely to contract signing.

At every step, we took the time to explain each element in detail before any approval, ensuring our clients fully understood what they were accepting, and what they were not.

6. Banque, frictions opérationnelles et apprentissage du fonctionnement local

The banking phase was where the gap between Europe and Brazil became most evident.

Opening a Brazilian bank account, communicating with the bank, documents requested multiple times, and timelines that were not always transparent… Everything moved forward, but without the predictability European investors are used to.

At one point, for example, a transfer had left Europe without any immediate confirmation appearing on the Brazilian side. This kind of temporary silence can be deeply unsettling when investing remotely. Our clients would message us simply to ask whether “everything was normal.”

Our role here was very hands-on: calling the bank and the developer daily, tracking the flows, cross-checking information, and translating what was actually happening. The key was distinguishing a real issue from a simple administrative or cultural delay, which is common in the Brazilian context.

At the same time, some exchanges with the developer required clarification: documents arriving later than expected, information needing further detail, administrative requests that can be surprising if one is unfamiliar with local practices. Nothing fundamentally abnormal, but enough to create doubt without proper guidance.

Once again, our role was to absorb these frictions, intervene when necessary, and explain what was simply part of the Brazilian way of operating. Without this framework and continuous presence, this phase alone could have been enough to derail the project.

With support, it remained under control and became a key step in building confidence.

7. Signing the first purchase: a shift in mindset

The clients were then able to sign the contract for their first purchase, marking the gradual end of a period of uncertainty. They now understood the local pace, standard timelines, payment mechanisms, and, most importantly, that silence does not automatically mean something is wrong. Communication continued, but with less emotion and more logic.

One essential point: throughout the entire process, we never pushed them to buy. They took the time to doubt, ask questions, and slow down when needed. The decision always remained theirs.

It is precisely this pressure-free framework, combined with constant presence, that made the next steps possible.

8. Beyond the purchase: meetings and travel to Brazil

We then supported them in organising their first trip to Brazil: practical advice, logistics, and understanding the local rhythm. We met first in Belgium, and later in Brazil, where we visited the construction site and other properties together in a very concrete setting.

This trip significantly strengthened their understanding of the market and reinforced their confidence in the decisions made.

9. Second purchase: a rational decision

In May 2025, a new opportunity arose: a one-bedroom apartment developed by another well-established local player in Maceió. This company has been active in the city for over forty years and is known for its high-quality finishes, durable materials, and professional management, with numerous completed and ongoing projects in the most sought-after neighbourhoods.

By this point, the context was entirely different. They understood how the market works, what timelines are normal, and how to deal with potential delays or surprises. What had previously caused stress now felt familiar. The decision was therefore made more quickly, with far more peace of mind, and, above all, much more rationally than during the first investment.

10. Current situation

Today, their situation bears no resemblance to where they started. They have completed two investments, travelled several times to Brazil with their family, and now have a clear, realistic understanding of the local real estate market. They plan to return to Brazil again this year and are currently looking for a third investment opportunity.

11. What’s next

In September 2026, their studio will be delivered. We will then take care of the full furnishing of the property, all the way to launch on the rental market. After that, we will handle complete rental management, from creating listings and optimising pricing to communication with guests and platforms.

To be continued…