Obelisk International Launches Minha Casa Minha Vida Investment Website

Obelisk International announces the launch of the definitive information site for Minha Casa Minha Vida investments. This new site provides investors with vital insight into a niche market in Brazilian real estate.

www.minhacamasaminhavidainvestment.com takes a fresh look at the Brazilian social housing programme, implemented in 2009 to build 3 million low-cost homes. Obelisk International has launched the site to provide answers to the many investor questions about social housing property in Brazil.

Vital Information Source

Visitors to the site will find a description of the programme itself with essential facts about Minha Casa Minha Vida listed in easy-to-read sections. These include a background to the government-backed social housing programme, information about the two phases of Minha Casa Minha Vida and details on how the programme is financed.

Under ‘The Investment’ tab, Obelisk International takes an in-depth look at its own Minha Casa Minha Vida investment in Brazil. This section explains the history of the company’s social housing investments in north east Brazil (over 3,300 units to date) and examines the investment in detail. This, together with the company information, gives the investor a comprehensive overview of what Obelisk International’s Minha Casa Minha Vida investment are all about.

Ethos Behind New Site

The objective behind the new site is to help investors make informed decisions. Obelisk International CEO Gary Hardacre believes the new site is an essential addition to this kind of investment into Brazilian real estate. “There’s a lot of information out there, but it’s difficult to find a detailed overview of the programme on one site,” he explained. “Our new site fills that gap.”

The information-based nature of Obelisk International’s sister site will also give investors a better understanding of how Minha Casa Minha Vida investments work. “Obelisk International social housing investments comply with all the aspects of the government programme,” said Mr Hardacre, “making our investments a genuine part of this much-needed housing programme”.

Up-to-date Resources

Those interested in social housing investment in Brazil also have the opportunity to keep up with latest news and events through the new Obelisk International site. Up-to-date news articles are displayed on the site offering information on Brazil, the Minha Casa Minha Vida programme and the Brazilian property market generally.

Obelisk International’s in-house resources are also available as free downloads from the site. These include the company’s Brazil Investment Guide and a Minha Casa Minha Vida preview brochure for prospective investors. Further useful additions based on Obelisk International’s extensive market research will be added to the resources section in the near future.

Latest Investment

The latest Obelisk International Minha Casa Minha Vida project is offering 175% returns over 24 months based on a minimum investment of £100,000. Full capital is returned to the investor after 12 months with 75% profit following 12 months later. More information about this investment can be found on www.minhacasaminhavidainvestment.com and www.obeliskinternational.com

Contact Obelisk International on 0034 952 820 319. Via email: info@obeliskinternational.com or visit our website: www.obeliskinternational.com.
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Middle Class Dominates Brazilian Investment

The changing face of the Brazilian middle class brings new challenges to domestic and foreign investment in Brazil. Once content with cheap promotions, the middle class is now more discerning and looking for quality.

This search for better products affects consumer goods across the board. From laptops to real estate, Brazilian middle class (known as Class C) is going for quality over price. Until now, they were content with cheap offers, but with higher wages and more widely-available credit, middle class Brazilians prefer quality and well-established brand names.

A recent conference hosted by Grupo Doria in Sao Paulo addressed the challenges facing Brazilian investment firms as they seek to meet this change in middle class consumers. The high number of participants at the conference demonstrates the huge interest in catering for middle class customers.

Huge Opportunities for Investment

Brazil is home to one of the world’s fastest growing middle classes. Between 2003 and 2010, some 32 million Brazilians moved out of poverty into Class C, becoming new middle class citizens. Statistics quoted in the business weekly, Istoe Dinheiro, claim 35 million more are poised to join them by 2014.

This growth will bring the middle class to 140 million in just three years time. In tandem with this increase come huge opportunities for investment in Brazil in virtually all business sectors. To make the most of these investment opportunities, Brazilian and foreign companies need to understand this new consumer class.

Change in Marketing

In an attempt to to match middle class demands, Brazilian companies are adapting their marketing strategies. Changes are apparent in a range of industries - from online commerce to air travel and from cars to white goods.

The Brazilian airline TAM, historically more orientated towards business executives, is now targeting the new middle class. Not only are TAM plane tickets cheaper but they are on sale in more outlets including universities and stores. Company representatives claim sales have soared with Class C clients among the biggest buyers.

Shortage of Brazilian Property

“Perhaps the most important part of the Brazilian middle class story is the demand for properties,” says Gary Hardacre, CEO at Obelisk International. As the number of middle class families grow so does the demand for suitable housing, which the Brazilian real estate market is currently unable to meet.

Mr Hardacre points out that some of this demand is being met by the government social housing programme, Minha Casa Minha Vida. Despite building 3 million homes, the programme falls far short of demand, which may be as high as 8 million properties. Obelisk International recognises the excellent investment potential in property in Brazil aimed at the new middle class, particularly its newest members. “We expect this market to provide solid Brazilian investments for at least a decade,” said Mr Hardacre.

Contact Obelisk International on 0034 952 820 319. Via email: info@obeliskinternational.com or visit our website: www.obeliskinternational.com.
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Brazilian Football Investment Kicks Off

Official preparations for the World Cup have begun in Natal, north east Brazil. At the presentation, the Mayor unveiled plans for R$800 million in investments.

Brazil is preparing for the 2014 World Cup in earnest. Part of this preparation includes events in host cities to present investment plans to local businesses. Natal, the fourth Brazilian city to hold the event, will receive a total of R$800 million in public funds plus an unspecified amount of private investment.

Speaking to the many entrepreneurs at the event, the Mayor Micarla de Sousa said that the World Cup is hugely important for Natal and by extension, Rio Grande do Norte. “Natal will never be the same after the World Cup,” she told those present.

Big Urban Improvements

Part of the government investment in Natal will go towards urban improvements such as street paving, drainage and sanitation. Further funds will be spent on upgrading transport infrastructure such as converting the Natal-Mossoro highway into dual-carriageway.

Most government money is coming from the Growth Acceleration Programme (PAC), the same funds that are financing Minha Casa Minha Vida, the largest investment in real estate in Brazil. The remainder of public funds form part of the federal budget for the World Cup.

The new stadium in Natal will, as is the case in most of the host cities, form the centre piece of Brazilian investment in the football tournament. The Arena das Dunas is being built under a public-private partnership and has a budget of R$400 million. Built to seat 42,000 spectators, the stadium will be finished in December 2013 in time to host four or five World Cup matches.

Big Opportunities for Investment

Brazil is more than conscious of the massive opportunities that come from hosting a world class sporting event. Natal’s Mayor reported that in Natal alone, the World Cup will create 30,000 new jobs with 15,000 of these in the civil construction sector.

“This is the moment. This is the opportunity,” Ms de Sousa explained as she urged local businesses to make the most of all the opportunities available to them. As well as civil construction, other sectors expected to benefit from the World Cup are tourism and services.

One of the main objectives of the Natal presentation was to provide a platform for entrepreneurs so they could pinpoint specific areas for investment. At the event, Natal businesses drew up plans of action to identify areas with maximum investment potential.

For Obelisk International, the 2014 World Cup represents a unique event for all the Brazilian host cities and offers exceptional opportunities for investment in Brazil. And these opportunities are not just limited to the World Cup cities themselves – Obelisk International believes that the areas of influence go beyond city boundaries and out into most of Brazil.

Contact Obelisk International on 0034 952 820 319. Via email: info@obeliskinternational.com or visit our website: www.obeliskinternational.com.
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Investment in Brazil Steams into Fifth Place

Foreign investment in Brazil in 2010 was the fifth highest in the world. Within South America, Brazilian investment is the main focus for foreigners.

In the latest World Investment Report issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Brazil lies in fifth position in terms of the world’s top host economies. Ahead of Brazil in investment are the US, China, Hong Kong and Belgium.

With US$86 billion last year in foreign investment, Brazil has climbed ten places up the global ranking. For Obelisk International, this clearly indicates Brazil’s higher profile among investors, which is being reinforced this year. According to UNCTAD, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Brazil from January to April this year reached US$23 billion, three times higher than the same period in 2010.

Biggest Player in South America

South America was a magnet for FDI in 2010 when investment levels were 56% higher than the previous year with Brazil attracting the bulk of foreign interest. According to UNCTAD, there was an “unprecedented surge of investment” in Brazil and Latin America as a whole from developing Asian countries, particularly China and India.

FDI inflows to Brazil were concentrated in two main areas – equity capital and the manufacturing sector. Equity capital investment in Brazil doubled during 2010 and FDI into manufacturing grew by 16%. Substantial amounts of foreign equity capital have entered Brazilian real estate funds, which have grown 355% since 2004.

Investment in Brazilian equity capital has continued to be strong during 2011. Intra-company loans have also attracted high levels of FDI along with Greenfield projects. UNCTAD expects FDI to remain buoyant during the rest of this year.

Investment by Brazilian companies abroad was also strong in 2010 when outflows reached US$11.5 billion. Acquisitions in developed countries by household names such as Vale, Gerdau and Petrobras made up the core of Brazilian investments overseas.

Emerging Markets New Powerhouses

UNCTAD highlights the growing importance of emerging markets for both inflows and outflows of FDI. The report finds that these new markets are increasingly dominating levels of FDI globally. This tendency mirrors the world economy where emerging markets gradually account for higher percentages of economic growth.

The report states that in 2010, “developing and transition economies together attracted more than half of global FDI flows”. The rise in FDI leads UNCTAD to call emerging markets “new FDI powerhouses”, an opinion Obelisk International shares given the economic strength and booming consumer markets in countries like Brazil, India and China. Obelisk International fully expects Brazil to continue to feature among the world’s top five nations for investment over the next few years.

Contact Obelisk International on 0034 952 820 319. Via email: info@obeliskinternational.com or visit our website: www.obeliskinternational.com.
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First Minha Casa Minha Vida Investment in Parnamirim

The draw for the first Minha Casa Minha Vida development in Parnamirim took place last weekend. 352 families are now the lucky owners of apartments in the largest programme for property investment in Brazil.

To view photos of the draw please CLICK HERE.

The first Minha Casa Minha Vida investment in Parnamirim is called Nelson Monteiro and consists of 352 apartments in the Vale do Sol district of the city. The next step for the new owners is to sign the mortgage contracts with Caixa Economica Federal and move into their homes in mid-August.

Social Housing Hub

Parnamirim lies to the south-west of Natal in Rio Grande do Norte state and forms a focal point for Brazilian investments in social housing. Over half the allocation for Minha Casa Minha Vida in Rio Grande do Norte lies within the district of Parnamirim where Obelisk International is currently developing Minha Casa Minha Vida projects.

The local council is pulling out all the stops to finish infrastructure in the Minha Casa Minha Vida districts so that new homeowners are within easy reach of amenities. This makes Parnamirim an attractive location for Minha Casa Minha Vida investment since prospective homebuyers know they will be near facilities. Parnamirim’s Mayor said the council’s aim is to ensure schools and health centres are less than 1km from the social housing developments.

Dream Come True

Speaking at the draw for the 352 new homes, the Mayor recognised the huge importance of the occasion. “I come from a poor family,” he said, “and know this is a very special moment in our lives”. The representative from Caixa Economica Federal – the bank providing finance for all Minha Casa Minha Vida investment in Brazil – expressed his satisfaction at “sharing this dream come true in Parnamirim”.

The stories behind the 352 new homeowners speak for themselves. From the 88-year old lady fulfilling her lifelong dream of owning a home to the father of two who said “it’s going to be a big relief to have a roof over our heads”, every family expressed their gratitude towards the programme.

Obelisk International believes that as well as an extraordinary opportunity to invest in Brazilian real estate, Minha Casa Minha Vida is about improving people’s lives. And the first social housing investment to come to life in Parnamirim is doing just that.

Contact Obelisk International on 0034 952 820 319. Via email: info@obeliskinternational.com or visit our website: www.obeliskinternational.com.
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