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Real Estate
By Zachariah Zagol, OAB/SP 351.356 · Updated: April 5, 2026
Buying property, due diligence, rental agreements, and real estate investment in Brazil.
42 resourcesService Guides
In-depth guides to our real estate legal services.
Buying Property in Brazil as a Foreigner: Complete 2026 Legal Guide
Complete guide to purchasing real estate in Brazil as a foreigner: legal requirements, CPF, Central Bank registration, due diligence, costs, rural restrictions, and step-by-step process.
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Real Estate Due Diligence in Brazil
Deep dive into Brazilian property certificates, title search, hidden risks. What each certificate reveals, timelines, and how it differs from US/EU systems.
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Renting Property in Brazil as a Foreigner: Lease Law Essentials
Complete guide to Brazilian lease law for foreigners: Lei 8.245/91, guarantee options (fiador, seguro-fiança, caução), renewal rights, eviction.
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Land Title Regularization in Brazil
Understanding irregular property titles, usucapião, adjudicação compulsória. How to regularize defective titles and what it means for foreign buyers.
Read guide → Structuring Real Estate Investments in Brazil
Tax-efficient property investing: holdings, SPEs, rental income taxation, capital gains, portfolio structuring for foreigners in Brazil.
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Condominium Law & Disputes in Brazil
Understanding Brazilian condo law: owner associations, assemblies, common disputes, syndic role, and dispute resolution. Practical guide for condo owners.
Read guide →Brazilian Real Estate Purchase Process: Step-by-Step for Foreign Buyers
Complete step-by-step guide to buying property in Brazil as a foreigner. Matrícula verification, ITBI tax, cartório registration, escritura, timeline, and.
Read guide →Real Estate Due Diligence in Brazil: 20-Document Checklist Before You Buy
Complete 20-document due diligence checklist for buying property in Brazil. Seller certidões, property certificates, IPTU verification, usucapião risks.
Read guide →Brazil Real Estate Taxes: ITBI, IPTU, Capital Gains & What Foreign Owners Pay
Complete guide to Brazilian property taxes for foreign owners. ITBI transfer tax, IPTU rates, capital gains 15-22.5%, rental income taxation, ITCMD.
Read guide →Rural Land Ownership in Brazil: Restrictions & Legal Strategies for Foreigners
Comprehensive guide to foreign ownership of rural land in Brazil: Lei 5.709/71, INCRA registration, modulo fiscal limits, Brazilian-company structures.
Read guide →Buying vs. Renting Property in Brazil as a Foreigner
Buy if staying 5+ years, rent if less. Closing costs 8-15%, yields 4-8%. Full financial comparison for expats.
Read guide →Urban vs. Rural Property: What Foreigners Can Buy in Brazil
Urban: unrestricted. Rural: severe limits (Lei 5.709/1971, INCRA authorization, size caps). Critical difference.
Read guide →Buying Property via Company vs. Individual in Brazil
Tax comparison: 27.5% individual vs ~14% corporate rental income. But beware the rural land restriction trap.
Read guide →Cash vs. Financing for Foreign Property Buyers in Brazil
Cash (simplest), bank mortgage (8-14.5% interest, residency needed), developer financing (flexible but risky).
Read guide →Registered vs. Unregistered Property (Contrato de Gaveta)
Only Cartório registration transfers ownership (CC Art. 1,245). A private contract gives you zero legal rights.
Read guide →New Construction vs. Resale Property in Brazil
Off-plan (cheaper, developer financing, delay risk) vs resale (immediate, verified title, higher price). How to choose.
Read guide →Coastal Property (Terreno de Marinha) vs. Regular Property
Beachfront within 33m of high tide: federal fees (foro + laudêmio), not full ownership. Know before you buy.
Read guide →Real Estate Attorney vs. Realtor in Brazil: Who Does What?
Brazil has no title companies or escrow agents. Your attorney does due diligence. Your corretor finds properties.
Read guide →How to Choose a Real Estate Lawyer in Brazil
No title companies, no escrow agents. Your lawyer is your only protection. Here's how to find the right one.
Read guide →Is Your Real Estate Attorney Qualified? Checklist
Matrícula analysis, lien searches, tax debt verification, environmental checks. What competent property lawyers do.
Read guide →Do You Need a Lawyer to Buy Property in Brazil?
Brazil has no title insurance. All risk mitigation happens through legal due diligence. Here's why that matters.
Read guide →8 Questions Before Hiring a Property Due Diligence Lawyer
How many certidões do they pull? Do they check labor lawsuits? Habite-se? What's in the flat fee vs extra?
Read guide →Choosing a Lawyer for Rural or Coastal Property in Brazil
INCRA restrictions on foreigners, terrenos de marinha federal fees, environmental protections. Specialized knowledge required.
Read guide →Choosing a Lawyer for Real Estate Investment in Brazil
Holding companies, rental tax optimization, investor visa through real estate. Your lawyer needs cross-practice expertise.
Read guide →Power of Attorney for Real Estate: What Your Lawyer Should Explain
Buying remotely? You need a procuração. General vs specific, consular process, safeguards. What good lawyers tell you.
Read guide →Red Flags in Brazilian Real Estate Transactions
Fake titles, hidden debts that transfer to buyer, irregular constructions. What your lawyer should catch — and red flags they won't.
Read guide →Blog Posts
Articles and analysis on real estate topics.
Condo Law in Brazil: Rights and Responsibilities
Guide to condominium law in Brazil. Civil Code arts. 1.331-1.358, assembly, building manager, fees, pets, noise, short-term rental and apartment renovations.
Mortgage and Financing for Foreigners in Brazil
Guide to mortgage and property financing for foreigners in Brazil. Bank requirements, SFH vs SFI systems, interest rates, documentation and approval tips.
Property Inventory and Estate Proceedings in Brazil
Complete guide to property inventory and estate proceedings in Brazil. Judicial vs extrajudicial, ITCMD tax, valuation, partition and rural property rules.
Commercial Lease Rights and Obligations in Brazil
Guide to commercial lease law in Brazil. Lei do Inquilinato 8.245/91, renewal action, key money, lease duration, eviction, rent adjustment and tenant rights.
Land Regularization in Brazil (REURB): Complete Guide
Complete guide to urban land regularization in Brazil. Lei 13.465/2017, REURB-S vs REURB-E, process, documentation, benefits and tax implications.
Real Estate Development Buyer Rights in Brazil
Guide to buyer rights in Brazilian real estate developments. Lei 4.591/64, patrimônio de afetação, delay penalties, construction defects and warranties.
Real Estate Contract Cancellation in Brazil: Rights
Complete guide to real estate contract cancellation (distrato) in Brazil. Lei 13.786/2018, buyer rights, refund percentages, timelines and legal process.
Adverse Possession in Brazil: Complete Guide
Complete guide to adverse possession (usucapião) in Brazil. Ordinary, extraordinary, urban, rural, family and collective types. Requirements and process.
Real Estate Due Diligence in Brazil: Complete Checklist
Complete real estate due diligence checklist for Brazil. Matrícula analysis, tax clearances, FGTS, environmental checks, zoning, liens and legal actions.
Foreigners Buying Property in Brazil: Complete Guide
Complete guide for foreigners buying property in Brazil. CPF requirements, rural land restrictions, financing, due diligence and closing costs.
A Foreigner's Real Estate Journey: R$80K to R$40M
16 years, 5 projects, R$16-20M invested. An American-born Brazilian lawyer's first-hand guide to building a real estate portfolio in Brazil.
I Built My First House in Brazil at 22 — Here's What I Learned
An American's real story: buying land for R$30K, financing construction through Minha Casa Minha Vida at 8.5%, and building a 70m2 house now worth R$600K.
I Bought a Beach Apartment in Maceio and Sold It to a Guest
R$55K down payment on a Maceio beach apartment, Airbnb covered the mortgage, then a guest offered to buy. Sold for R$310K profit in 12 months. Real numbers.
Why I'm Building Medical Clinics in Brazil's Interior
7 parcels at R$330/m², 6 clinics at R$2-3M each, R$35K/month expected rent. The investment thesis behind medical office space.
I Built a 750m² Office Building Without Financing
R$1M commercial building paid in installments over 5 years, zero bank loans. Now worth R$4M and rented to a dialysis clinic.
Why I Regret Using Steel I-Beams in My Construction Project
A 3-floor school remodel in Brazil gone wrong: steel I-beams mixed with brick caused water infiltration and thermal expansion problems that cost thousands.