Property in Natal

 

Natal Beach

Natal Property

Situated on Brazil’s beautiful north east coast, Natal is rapidly developing a reputation amongst the overseas property investment community. Sound economic fundamentals, coupled with a rapidly expanding market for tourism in the region, have seen the demand for property in Natal increase considerably over the past twelve months.

 

In order to fully understand the opportunity for property investment in Natal, it is important that it is placed in a wider context. That is the increasing viability and appeal of the Brazilian property market as a whole. A market with considerable scope for future growth, Brazil is today one of the four largest developing economies in the world, alongside the new economic powerhouses of India, China and Russia. In fact, such is the potential for growth in Brazil that a recent report from Goldman Sachs estimated that by 2050, Brazil will be amongst the world’s top five economies.

 

At the centre of this potential for growth are the large natural resources which can be found within the borders of Brazil. Reserves of oil which have been compared to those found in Saudi Arabia, sit alongside large reserves of iron ore, gold, tin and manganese. The world’s largest producer of food products such as coffee, oranges and sugar cane, the country is a large scale exporter of goods to the rest of the world. More importantly, this strong export based model, has offered Brazil the relative insurance of self-sufficiency. A key factor for property investors, especially considering the more volatile, and inter-dependent economic climate we find ourselves in today.

 

Already increasingly wealthy from its abundant natural reserves, Brazil is also benefitting from a rapidly expanding tourism industry, much of which is focussed around the country’s beautiful north-east coast region. In particular the coastal city of Natal. Known as the Sun Capital, Natal is the capital of the Rio Grande do Norte region. An area resplendent with beautiful beaches, crystal clear coral reefs and some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in Brazil. A key tourist destination for both international and domestic visitors, Natal is seeing an increasing demand for property throughout the region as visitor numbers continue to rise.

 

Seeking to capitalise on the regions huge potential for tourism, the Brazilian Ministry for Tourism has set in place a Tourism National Plan in recent years, designed to ensure Brazil can fulfil on its potential for tourism growth. A long term, multi-phase project, the plan has proven to be the catalyst for continued investment in the region over the past five years. At the heart of the plan, are objectives to increase the number of foreign visitors to over 9 million, and to generate over 1.2 million jobs in the region. To date, the Tourism National Plan has major infrastructure changes including the redevelopment of 8 airports, as well as improvement works on over 1,000 kilometres of the regions roads.

 

Acknowledging this growth in the regions tourism potential, an increasing number of international airlines have opened up direct routes to the international airport in Natal (a new international airport, the 8th largest in the world, will be opened in Natal in June 2010). Today, the flight time to Natal ranges between 7-9 hours from the majority of major European cities, including London, Frankfurt and Paris, and an increasing number of international carriers are announcing direct flights to the region on a consistent basis.