Brazil FAQ

About the Property

Q. Where is the property located
A. About 25 minutes by car (15 km north) from the city centre of Salvador, the capital of the North Eastern Brazilian State of Bahia. Located on the Atlantic shores of the Bahia de Todos os Santos (Bay of all Saints) which is the largest bay in Brazil with very protected calm waters.

Q. What sort of Title is the property registered in
A. Title is straight forward “Fee Simple” without any encumbrances. The previous owners (now neighbours) have lived at the house for 30 years. Hand written title documents dating back to 1824 exist

Q. Can foreign nationals purchase property in Brazil
A. Generally there are no restrictions in this respect as far as I know. The first thing you will need is a CPF number (social security number) which is simply a routine and may be secured from the Ministry of Labour in one day. Please check with your own Embassy or Consulate.

Q. What are the transaction/buying costs
A. Both the seller and the buyer have to pay 3% duty of the declared transaction value. This may be paid in 6 instalments if required. Other legal and transaction costs are low and depend on what legal assistance (lawyer) you choose if any.

Q. How big is the house and the land
A. The house is 450 square metres (4850 square feet) under roof, including 196 square metres of verandah. This does not include the servants quarters with en-suite bathroom. The land is 21.4 metres wide x 150 m (approx.) deep, giving  3’268 square metres. The property has three (3) separate access roads. Beachfront esplanade- cul de sac at north- main road at eastern boundary. Full details at  casa_sejala.htm and scroll to bottom of page to floor plans and site plans etc.

Q. What are the property taxes 
A. There is only one municipal tax which is about BRL$ 650- per year

Q. How much does it cost for water, electricity, telephone, internet etc.
A. Rainwater (abundant) is captured from the roofs and stored in underground and above ground tanks and reticulated throughout the house. Mains water may be used to top up the tanks but we have not found this necessary and use mains water only for the garden. Based on the above, our costs for water were about BRL$80 to $100- per month. Electricity costs of course depend on usage. Our costs averaged about BRL$100- per month. Gas for cooking is in bottled form. Telephone costs (landline) depends entirely on use and internet costs vary between BRL$50- and $100- per month, depending on service provider and usage.

Q. What comes with the property
A. The house is fully furnished and equipped with many custom made pieces of furniture and art. Full kitchen equipment including cutlery (flatware) and crockery (plates etc) Bedding and linen, towels etc. for full list please got to----(link)

Q. What are the maintenance costs if I am not there
A. You can either have 1 person or preferably a couple (husband and wife) living in the servants quarters to look after the property full time. Current domestic salaries are BRL $540- per month (plus social security) . You would only have to pay one salary (or less as you provide accommodation for free) Alternatively, you can have a part time gardener and cleaner 2 x per week. Total cost about BRL$400- per month.

About the Region and available Facilities

Q. What are the roads to the city like
A. Two main roads, the freeway BR324 and the coastal road, both good condition

Q. Is there public transport service near by
A. Excellent bus service 5 minutes away, to the city, airport and many other destinations

Q. Are there shops near by
A. Basic shops, groceries, fruit & vegetables, drinks etc. are in walking distance. FULL shopping facilities, including large produce markets, supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware and building supplies and all other services are in the nearby busy market town called “Paripe” 10 minutes by car or bus. The most modern shopping centres with all international boutiques etc. etc. are about 20 minutes by car.

Q. Do many people speak English 
A. In Brazil generally, English is not widely spoken. Less so outside capital or large cities, including Sao Tome where there the property is located. It is a good idea to study up on some basic Portuguese. The locals are very friendly and encourage you to speak their language, no matter how badly!

Q. What medical facilities are in the area
A. There is a government “Health Post” in the village staffed with a doctor and nurses, that can take care of most day to day issues. Larger facilities, a public Hospital and private doctors, dentists etc. are located in Paripe, 10 minutes away. Top class private hospitals and clinic are spread throughout the metropolitan area. Private health insurance is reasonable.

Q. How safe is the neighbourhood
A. Substantial houses, occupied by well to do people (including the federal politician in the largest house), small shops and accommodation places are along the beachfront. As is common in Brazil, smaller houses and basic dwellings are located behind the area and up the hills. Conveniently, many of the occupants from those dwellings are in domestic employment by beachfront dwellers. Most families have one or two dogs. We do not and have never had any problems. Sao Tome is a small community where everyone knows one another and people look out. A sensible and safety conscious approach is helpful, of course.

Q. What is the weather like
A. At 13 degrees latitude south, the climate is typically described as “Tropical Maritime”. It’s never cold and the weather is very consistent! Although there are no real seasons as such, the locals describe the months from about April to September/October as “winter”, when it is a little cooler and more rain falls than during the other “summer” months. Tropical rain showers are possible and likely at anytime of year. There are NO strong winds, hurricanes or cyclones. Gentle cooling breezes off the sea are frequent and very pleasant. The house is not air conditioned and it is not required. Due to its very generous ceiling height, internal temperature is always comfortable.

Q. How busy is the beach
A. Brazilians love their beach. On week-ends during the summer months, families love to come down with their children and spend the day on the beach enjoying the “barraca” (food and drink stalls) facilities. Everyone is gone by nightfall, 6pm. During the week fewer beachgoers frequent. By contrast, during the “winter” months from about April to October it is nearly deserted and very quiet 24/7.

Q. Is the beach safe at night
A. The beachfront esplanade and beach is floodlit all night. One can regularly observe children, and women on their own, walking after dark without problems.