Will EcoHouse Group continue to Develop in the Southern State of Rio Grande do Sul

It's no longer a secret that property giant EcoHouse Group has launched their latest Minha Casa Minha Vida social housing development in the city of Alvorada in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, but if history repeats itself then Ecohouse will more than likely launch additional developments in the same state, one candidate is the city of Caxias do Sul.

Caxias do Sul has about 450,000 people in its area and is the second largest metropolis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is only exceeded in size by the state capital, the harbour city of Porto Alegre, which has a population about three times as large. The two cities are about two hours' driving distance apart. The early town of Caxias was first established by (mostly) Italian immigrants in the closing years of the 19th century. For the most part the incomers were farmers from Veneto in the north of Italy, but there were also others from Lombardy and Trento. A certain number of people (principally Portuguese speakers) also came from other coastal regions of Brazil.

In the year 1910 the town of Caxias do Sul officially became a city. On the very same day (1st June) the first railway line was inaugurated. From then on Caxias had a fast, reliable all-weather link to the outside world. It was vital as it provided the city a better access to markets on the one hand and an important provider of imports for the area on the other.

The original main industries in the area were centred on cultivating vines and producing wine, a product for which the area is still famous to this day. From those early times to now there’s also been a certain amount of wheat and corn (maize) production but this was and is relatively small-scale and mainly for only local consumption.

Industrialisation in Caxias do Sul started in a small way, mainly as a series of small-scale domestically based workshops. Gradually however, larger and larger units developed until nowadays really large factories exist, some part of larger national or international chains. A cross section of large companies in the metropolitan area would have to include Marcopolo (makers of truck and bus chassis), Randon SA (transport parts and systems), Tramontina (domestic silverware) and Todeschini (furniture).

Generally, the per capita income for the urban area is regarded as being one of the highest in the whole country. For this reason the district is a popular destination for immigrants seeking to move here from other parts of Brazil. The growing population does present certain challenges to the city (and indeed the State) government, regarding health and education services as well as public utilities. Central to all this is the need for more housing, especially for people on modest incomes. That’s where EcoHouse comes into the picture!

EcoHouse Group has changed the face of Brazilian Property Investment by introducing a safe, ethical and secure way to profit from a government backed housing programme, with the economy booming and scams and ponzi schemes a thing of the past thanks to the power of the internet there has never been a better time to invest in Brazil.

Anyone wishing to invest in this new project should do so asap before investing is closed, Interested parties should visit the Monte Alegre website and download a free brochure

How to Avoid falling victim to a Ponzi or Property Scam EcoHouse Group Explains

Brazil is an exceptional country to invest in, especially after becoming host countries for FIFA World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. The best investment opportunity in Brazil at the moment is real estate investment, this mainly attributed to the governments Minha Casa Minha Vida social housing programme that was launched back in 2009.

Although credit is tightening globally, Brazil is incomparable in the sense that only about 10% of real estate in the country is currently mortgaged. This is the first time Brazilians on modest incomes have been able to get mortgages. Previously they were only available to the richest Brazilians. In the middle of one of the worst global economic recessions in almost a century, Brazil continues to finance the construction and purchasing of residential property.

With part of the purchase subsidised by the government, house insurance included in the purchase price, numerous taxes and other purchase costs reduced, very competitive mortgage rates for buyers and up to 100% loan-value for approved properties it is easy to see why Minha Casa Minha Vida homes are in such high demand from Brazilians.

Through the Anglo-Brazilian property giant EcoHouse Group anyone can now invest in a Minha Casa Minha Vida property, a property that is built and sold onto waiting Brazilian families. This is a very safe and secure investment as there are literally millions of families on the waiting list.

EcoHouse Group offer a return of between 15 and 17.5% for an investment of just £21,000, return depends of the length of investment, we can offer these return because we have our own construction team have office in 5 counties can source the best and most cost effective building materials. Beware of investment companies offering 30, 50 or even 75% returns on Minha Casa Minha Vida investments, this just isn't possible and is most definitely a scam or ponzi scheme playing on people's greed.

So in summary if a property or real estate investment sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Stick with the well know investments and companies you know and wont go far wrong

click here to find out more about EcoHouse Group's latest Minha Casa Minah Vida devlopment

Could Minha Casa Minha Vida Come to Joinville, Brazil's German city

Social housing is now being constructed all over Brazil thanks to the government's Minha Casa Minha Vida (My House My Life) programme. A major participant in this programme is Anglo-Brazilian property developer EcoHouse Group who began building under the scheme back in 2009, Now 5 years later and with almost a dozen developments to their name in the north east of the country they move south, announcing that their next project will be located near to Porto Alegre, state capital of Rio Grande Do Sul.

There was a lot of speculation early this year as to where EcoHouse Group would be building next, rumours where correct and their next social housing project was indeed in the south of the country but not Joinville as some had speculated. Joinville is the largest settlement (but not the capital) of Santa Catarina State. Nowadays Joinville has rather more than half a million residents plus about the same number again in the surrounding metropolitan area. Many of the people in the city are of German descent and indeed some estimates put the total at over half. Of course, being of German 'descent' often means just partly rather than wholly.

The first Europeans to come to the area were German, Swiss and Norwegian immigrants in the year 1851 when the town was founded. In the decades that followed people from many countries came to Joinville but the largest component was a total of 17,000 German immigrants sent over the years by an emigration society based in Hamburg. These people were mainly agricultural Lutheran and working-class people who came to make a fresh start in a new land.

The name Joinville is actually French not German. It was chosen in the early 1800's to honour the french Prince de Joinville (son of the king) who married a Brazilian princess. Although the royal couple had no connection to the area, a palace was eventually built for them here. It's now a museum about the German 19th century immigration process.

Eventually 'cash-flow' problems meant that the Prince was eventually forced to sell nearly all his land in the south of Brazil. Holdings in this district went to the German, Senator Schroder who was a leader of the Hamburg Colonisation Society previously mentioned.

Nowadays Joinville is well known for its continuing German architecture, cuisine and general culture. Needless to say, though, there are also many other people in the city and area who have Portuguese, Italian or Dutch ancestors. Compared to many other regions and cities of Brazil, there are comparatively very few inhabitants of African or indigenous native American heritage. It's also famous as a popular centre for exhibitions, trade fairs, business conventions and conferences and the like.

The economy today is centred on engineering, industry and manufacturing. In 2012 GM opened a vehicle plant. There are also (among many others) software companies like Datasul and Logocenter and large firms like Tupy, Tigre, Schulz SA and Dohler. Nearby, BMW has plans to launch a large factory producing luxury vehicles and this is due to open by the end of this year, 2014. The economy of Joinville is generally regarded as doing well and for this reason inward investment, from both domestic and overseas sources is steady.

Monte Alegre is the latest Minha Casa Minha Vida Development under contruction by EcoHouse Group, and allows investors a chance to earn attractive returns through a safe and secure short term property investment

Written by A Emery B.A, M.Ed., Cert.Ed

EcoHouse Group Release More Photos from Casa Nova, Investors are excited

More Funds for Minha Casa Minha Vida in 2014

President Dilma Rousseff’s government is increasing funding for the landmark Minha Casa Minha Vida (My House My Life) program by R$1 billion in 2014. The move, which will funnel R$15.77 billion into the government-sponsored housing credit initiative, according to O Globo, is an attempt to shore up support for Rousseff in an election year.

The report indicates that, at a time when support for Bolsa Família (Family Scholarship) is high among other candidates, the Workers’ Party (PT) president can no longer rely on the ten-year-old conditional cash transfer program to generate excitement and electoral support as she seeks reelection this November. Bolsa Família, enacted by Rousseff’s predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in 2003, is largely credited for lifting millions of Brazilians out of extreme poverty in the last decade.
Its supporters point to Bolsa Família’s fame as one of the most effective poverty-reduction programs in the world. To its harshest critics, it is a vote-buying scheme that creates clientelism. Ensuring that Bolsa Família is maintained is said to have been key to securing the victory of Workers’ Party candidates in the last two presidential elections.

President Rousseff’s opposition is now labeling her effort to increase Minha Casa Minha Vida funds as opportunism.

“There’s a great electoral opportunism in making a one R$1 billion reinforcement in the program in an election year. The government uses the weaknesses of the poorest population to perpetuate itself in power. But that bill will be paid by society one day, because they are creating a huge bubble, the degree of bankruptcy is very high,” warned Senator Cássio Cunha Lima from Brazil’s Social Democracy Party (PSDB).

Yet in November 2013, PSDB’s presidential candidate, Aécio Neves, introduced a bill in the Senate that would guarantee Bolsa Família would not be repealed by other governments.

Rousseff’s government is hoping 3.5 million homes will be finished between 2015 and 2018, an increase from the 2.7 million houses completed during phase two of Minha Casa Minha Vida that draws to a close this year. Rousseff had initially proposed three million homes for the third phase of the program.

“Those who are against extending the resources of Minha Casa Minha Vida for 2014 are the same who voted against the creation of the program back then,” PT leader José Guimarães told O Globo. The public housing program was enacted by Lula in 2009. Over one million homes have been completed and delivered since its start. As Bolsa Família, Minha Casa Minha Vida is popular among low income Brazilians and enjoys wide support from the larger population.

The program provides financing so that those households making under three times the minimum wage can buy their first home with low interest loans. It is meant to influence the housing market so that it offers an adequate supply of affordable houses to low-income prospective homeowners.
O Globo reported that Rousseff has asked her ministers to address the flaws that the program’s opponents might rail against during her reelection campaign this year. Minha Casa Minha Vida has been marked by fraud scandals and by accusations of delivering inadequate, poor quality homes. The government is hoping to quickly finish the second phase’s technical studies so that it can use the project’s successes in its campaign.

EcoHouse Group currently have a number of minha casa minha vida developments underway throughout Brazil and are able offer safe, secure and ethical Brazilian Property Investment direct.

EcoHouse Group Announces SG$3 million pay outs to Singapore investors

EcoHouse Group has announced that three million Singapore dollars (£1.46 million) are to be paid out to investors in Singapore by the end of December. In the last week alone, SG$754,400 has been paid out to 35 clients, accounting for 82 units, with the remaining SG$2 million due by the end of the year.

Following the announced payouts, EcoHouse CEO Anthony Armstrong Emery said: “What we are noticing is that the improved communication from our side combined with a sensible and pragmatic approach from most of our investors is leading to a feeling that we are in this as a team, working towards a shared goal.”

Minha Casa Minha Vida Four Years On

The Minha Casa Minha Vida programme has been an immense success since it was first launched by the previous Brazilian government back in 2009, but is the programme doing what it was designed to do and reduce the country's massive housing deficit.

 

Although expert analysis does vary, it is generally estimated that Brazil still needs another 6 - 10million homes to provide adequate housing for the ever increasing population. In 2005, the Brazilian housing shortage stood at a massive 7.8 million homes, which is equivalent to 14.7% of demand, according to the Sustainable Brazil Housing Market Potential report, drawn up by professional services specialists, Ernst and Young Terco. The 2010 Census broadly agreed with these figures. It stated that Brazil had a housing deficit of about 5.8 million homes. Looking much further ahead, the Brazilian government estimates that to meet current and future demand the country will need another around 24 million homes constructed by the year 2023.

Another factor that will generate more pressure on the country’s need to add millions of homes is the relatively young population. "While deemed very successful, the programme is making limited impact on the country’s housing deficit, estimated at between 6-8 million homes. Given Brazil’s young population and high rate of household formation, this deficit is growing rapidly," Savills’ Spotlight on Brazil explains. In 2013, the median age in Brazil is 30.3 years, which puts it around 100th out of 250 countries, according to the CIA World Factbook.

The need is great, as Ruban Selvanayagam, partner-director at the Fez Tá Pronto Construction System and a commentator on the affordable homes sector in Brazil points out. "Looking at Brazil as a whole, there is a need to build 4,932 new low-income housing units every day until 2022 - the bicentenary of Brazil’s independence - based on an aggregated existing deficit level of 6.7 million homes. However, the situation is evidentially much worse than is often reported when considering the highly inefficient data collection methodologies which invariably include homes with abysmally degraded living conditions as part of the national stock count."

In summary, the Minha Casa Minha Vida programme it working, but the initial housing deficit was so great that it is going to be a number of years before we see any noticeable reductions in the housing deficit.