Dear Paul,
I’m sorry to hear membership of Real Estate Trend alert hasn’t lived up to your expectations. I’m also disappointed to hear that you didn’t contact me directly. I would have been more than happy to address any of your concerns. I still am. Please contact me. I’ll do whatever I can to help in any way.
Just to be clear though: Membership of Real Estate Trend Alert has given readers the opportunity to buy preconstruction units with 1% down. We got access to deals pre-launch and at discounted prices. In Beach Class (which you mention) for example, we bought at a 15% discount to the launch price. A colleague of mine attended the launch 2 weeks after we bought where the deal was opened to locals for 15% more than we paid. I bought 4 units here. By getting in with other members at these prices, I personally saved just over $70,000. A couple of members saved over $100,000. Members who followed my recommendation to convert US$s to Reais also saw substantial currency upside. I’m happy with the investments and recommendations I’ve made in Fortaleza.
The INCC or inflation adjustment is the norm in preconstruction deals in Brazil. The amount is modest. The amount for my January payment on a Beach Class unit is $80. This is fully disclosed. As you know, my deal recommendations always come with a very strong instruction to talk through an English translation of your contract with a fully independent lawyer...a lawyer who is at arms length to all other parties in the transaction.
We do take fees from developers. When this happens, it is always disclosed. My #1 priority is always my reader’s interest. That’s why I decide not to recommend 99% of the deals I look at. That’s why I make recommendations where no fee agreement is in place. If a deal stacks up I tell readers about it.
Please contact me and I’ll do whatever I can to get your international real estate investing adventure back on track.
Ronan McMahon
Executive Director, Pathfinder
Editor, Real Estate Trend Alert