Joao Pessoa

[debzor]

Paraiba police question.

I know of two American couples who were passing along the BR101 in recent months and were stopped by (they think) state police who demanded money. I presume there are many more I am unaware of

The first were fluent Spanish speakers with some Portuguese who paid R$100, and the second were basically English speakers from whom R$6000 was demanded, but managed to get away with R$200.

I am not talking about 'buying lunch' for a speeding ticket here - is this just a Paraiba thing, or has anyone else experienced this elsewhere, or indeed in Paraiba in recent months?

 

[growler]

Hi Gaylen, when I said "check out Conde first before buying" I didn't mean because I like it, quite the opposite actually, I think it is a "bit of a dump" myself, but then that is my opinion. You say you like it so I guess you have been there before.

There are a good number of farms in the area but prices have gone up a lot in the past 18 months. If you are looking to buy one make sure you check out the access because that is often a big problem, even in the Summer without the rain.

 

[brackenhoe]

Paraiba police question.

I know of two American couples who were passing along the BR101 in recent months and were stopped by (they think) state police who demanded money. I presume there are many more I am unaware of

The first were fluent Spanish speakers with some Portuguese who paid R$100, and the second were basically English speakers from whom R$6000 was demanded, but managed to get away with R$200.

I am not talking about 'buying lunch' for a speeding ticket here - is this just a Paraiba thing, or has anyone else experienced this elsewhere, or indeed in Paraiba in recent months?

Yes, this is not as uncommon as you might think, and will be one of the big issues Paraiba must face up to if they want to attract more Eurpoeans and N. Americans.
Unfortunately it happened to us exiting JP on the BR101 going to Natal, just before the Lucena exit. Policia Militar stopped us and as soon as they saw we were foreign, we were handed over to a non-uniformed "person" dressed in a blue football shirt who demanded
R$300... we got away with R$107 as it was all the money my wife had in "one of her purses" we obviously didn't show them the others!!!

However, upon discussing this with other expats and indeed local fishermen neighbours who are Brazilian, all agreed this was what goes on. To avoid it have
R$5 or R$10 tucked inside your driving licence and this gets you past the uniformed guy without the BIG CHEESE in the plain clothes being involved.
To be honest, these people do keep crime out of the city, we are used to paying toll fees in Europe which is legalised extortion, and it is life in Brazil..... the problem is if you don't know about it's existence (as we didn't) it leaves a very bitter tast in the possible investor's mouth. Indeed only we had committed we would have gone somewhere else, as it is we are glad we didn't.

 

[debzor]

Yes, this is not as uncommon as you might think, and will be one of the big issues Paraiba must face up to if they want to attract more Eurpoeans and N. Americans.
Unfortunately it happened to us exiting JP on the BR101 going to Natal, just before the Lucena exit. Policia Militar stopped us and as soon as they saw we were foreign, we were handed over to a non-uniformed "person" dressed in a blue football shirt who demanded
R$300... we got away with R$107 as it was all the money my wife had in "one of her purses" we obviously didn't show them the others!!!

However, upon discussing this with other expats and indeed local fishermen neighbours who are Brazilian, all agreed this was what goes on. To avoid it have
R$5 or R$10 tucked inside your driving licence and this gets you past the uniformed guy without the BIG CHEESE in the plain clothes being involved.
To be honest, these people do keep crime out of the city, we are used to paying toll fees in Europe which is legalised extortion, and it is life in Brazil..... the problem is if you don't know about it's existence (as we didn't) it leaves a very bitter tast in the possible investor's mouth. Indeed only we had committed we would have gone somewhere else, as it is we are glad we didn't.

It is so rare to hear from someone who 'front's up' about a problem in their particular neck of the Brazilian woods; offers a simple explanation and a solution to the problem without passing the buck, justifying it, denying it, or simply making accusations against others.

Quite refreshing, Brackenhoe, I thank you and shall pass on your excellent advice.

 

[Dotty]

On another note,you could well be arrested ,thrown in jail and have your name's plastered over every newspaper,just as so happened to my friends.QUOTE=debzor;107638]It is so rare to hear from someone who 'front's up' about a problem in their particular neck of the Brazilian woods; offers a simple explanation and a solution to the problem without passing the buck, justifying it, denying it, or simply making accusations against others.

Quite refreshing, Brackenhoe, I thank you and shall pass on your excellent advice.[/QUOTE]

 

[debzor]

On another note,you could well be arrested ,thrown in jail and have your name's plastered over every newspaper,just as so happened to my friends.QUOTE=debzor;107638]It is so rare to hear from someone who 'front's up' about a problem in their particular neck of the Brazilian woods; offers a simple explanation and a solution to the problem without passing the buck, justifying it, denying it, or simply making accusations against others.

Quite refreshing, Brackenhoe, I thank you and shall pass on your excellent advice.

[/QUOTE]

Confused - what did your friends do???

 

[Gaylen]

Conde

Growler, why do you think conde is a "bit of a dump"? Are there any schools there for younger children? I have not been there. I am going to Joao Pessoa the end of this month to get to know the area. What advice do you have for me?

 

[Mineiro]

Yes, this is not as uncommon as you might think, and will be one of the big issues Paraiba must face up to if they want to attract more Eurpoeans and N. Americans.
Unfortunately it happened to us exiting JP on the BR101 going to Natal, just before the Lucena exit. Policia Militar stopped us and as soon as they saw we were foreign, we were handed over to a non-uniformed "person" dressed in a blue football shirt who demanded
R$300... we got away with R$107 as it was all the money my wife had in "one of her purses" we obviously didn't show them the others!!!

However, upon discussing this with other expats and indeed local fishermen neighbours who are Brazilian, all agreed this was what goes on. To avoid it have
R$5 or R$10 tucked inside your driving licence and this gets you past the uniformed guy without the BIG CHEESE in the plain clothes being involved.
To be honest, these people do keep crime out of the city, we are used to paying toll fees in Europe which is legalised extortion, and it is life in Brazil..... the problem is if you don't know about it's existence (as we didn't) it leaves a very bitter tast in the possible investor's mouth. Indeed only we had committed we would have gone somewhere else, as it is we are glad we didn't.

What was their "reason " for asking for the money? Usually they invent at least something to justify their turning a blind eye as it were. Did they ask for your driving licenses?

 

[brackenhoe]

Hi M, They asked for all documentation, including driving licences, when he found the driving licence was not translated he asked for the money, we protested as we know you only get it translated if you are in the country for over 90 days. He muttered something about DETRAN and then took the purse out of my wife's hands. That was it!

 

[growler]

Hi Gaylen, best advice I can give is "make your own mind up." If you are going to JP make a point of going to Conde, it isn't far out.

For me, and this is my opinion, I think the town and surrounding urban area are very scruffy, that said, it does have a school and also a fairly good market. It also has a Bank, post office and garage.
There are several granjas just outside Conde owned by Europeans but I am not aware of any living in the town itself. JP has a good number of Europeans there and there are also a number of Europeans/Americans in the Carapibus/Tabatinga area of Jacuma, about 10 mins from Conde. I think this is a better area again my opinion) although it doesn't have a school. However there is a bus service which takes the children to Conde.
Hope this helps.

 

[growler]

Ah! Don't worry about the website in Hawaii, found it. Very interesting, already members of just about every associated body there. Wonder who their new partners are? Maybe they will read this and let us know.

 

[mamanguapemamma]

In reply to the messages about the 'police payments' this is fairly normal practice at the stop points but usually 2 Reais is sufficient, they usually give you a reason ie that there is some sort of problem with your licence, your plate, your documentation whatever, sometimes they are really open about it, but as yet have never had the misfortune to be stopped and harassed for the large amounts quoted earlier. Their pay rate is very low and it is not just foreigners who get stopped for this - around the festival times even the really poor are stopped and a friend even saw them take their loaf of bread. Parts of the forces are really trying to crack down on any form of corruption but I think it will be some time before all this changes.
It is off putting and disturbing to those of us who are unused to it - but with time, patience and friendliness (I hate to speak to soon) but we are now waved through and smiled at by the majority, not all I must say, but it is easier, and in many cases the stop checks do serve a useful purpose in preventing other crimes, so I'm told.

 

[mamanguapemamma]

In response to Conde topic - I live here (not for long I grant you),and have spent a bit of time at Jacuma, have heard many tales of horror with regard to most of the agents here. I am not going to go into details on that front though. My advice would be - have a leisurely look round, don't hand over any money until you are 100% sure, look at properties with more than one agent, if you speak Portuguese all the better, make certain you know that what you think you are buying is actually what you will end up with and the price you are paying is in the right range. USE A GOOD LAWYER - pay the extra and get the job done right - property registration over appears to be lacking any consistency, a bit like the youghurt (just something I really miss - thick youghurt - sorry). Please feel free to message me direct should you want to talk more. Conde is likely to improve, but it may take time - it is a shock to some and not to others, nothing like most Brits are used to that's for sure. But most stuff is accessible here, cant say I like buying my meat in the market or the stores though - must confess, but butter cheese is lovely. Schools - depending on what you want for your children - look really really hard at what there is and isnt available!!! The previous comment about the roads is so, so valid, following on from the huge amounts of rain we have had - our 'main' road up to the tarmac is quite exciting... wish I had taken one of those 'off road' car courses!! Everything in life depends on your attitude - so one persons fun may be anothers worst nightmare. Nobody can tell you 'You will love it' and know for certain that this is true. We love plenty about it - but it doesnt stop the usual niggles and sometimes they are all over inflated because you are in a whole different environment and it just makes it trickier to deal with.
Jacuma is in my opinion a really nice friendly little town, has most of your basic needs and is I think really set to grow - when that happens - then I think Conde will grow too. There is a new development going up on the Conde road now - for mini Granjas by the looks of it - gated community type - it will be interesting to see if that starts to move quickly.
Anyway - hope some of this is of a little use.

 

[Platinum]

Hi All

Has any one heard of the Tambaba Country Club in Jacuma. I am think about buy a couple of plots there and all the facilities etc look superb. Has any one heard about this development or purchase in it. The company selling it is a UK one called International Dreams

 

[brackenhoe]

Hi All

Has any one heard of the Tambaba Country Club in Jacuma. I am think about buy a couple of plots there and all the facilities etc look superb. Has any one heard about this development or purchase in it. The company selling it is a UK one called International Dreams

Hi, yes I've met the developer, an Italian called Massimo, lovely chap, with a Brazilian wife and child. He is selling plots off throught the local company Brazil Overseas Properties, talk to Steve if English is your 1st langusge or Patricia if Portuguese is your 1st language. Massimo also has a similar site in Lucena if you are interested, It is newer and may not be as advanced as Tambaba, but will probably be of a similar spec etc, and with the new coastal road opening up this area of JP, is probably worth a look.

 

[growler]

It looks to me as though they have just begun building work on this project, the front outer wall is starting to go up. The development looks very good but it is quite some distance from the beaches, you would certainly have to drive to them

 

[Fyndinout]

Coastal road

Hi, yes I've met the developer, an Italian called Massimo, lovely chap, with a Brazilian wife and child. He is selling plots off throught the local company Brazil Overseas Properties, talk to Steve if English is your 1st langusge or Patricia if Portuguese is your 1st language. Massimo also has a similar site in Lucena if you are interested, It is newer and may not be as advanced as Tambaba, but will probably be of a similar spec etc, and with the new coastal road opening up this area of JP, is probably worth a look.

New coastal road? Do you mean the PB008?

 

[Fyndinout]

In response to Conde topic

In response to Conde topic - I live here (not for long I grant you),and have spent a bit of time at Jacuma, have heard many tales of horror with regard to most of the agents here. I am not going to go into details on that front though. My advice would be - have a leisurely look round, don't hand over any money until you are 100% sure, look at properties with more than one agent, if you speak Portuguese all the better, make certain you know that what you think you are buying is actually what you will end up with and the price you are paying is in the right range. USE A GOOD LAWYER - pay the extra and get the job done right - property registration over appears to be lacking any consistency, a bit like the youghurt (just something I really miss - thick youghurt - sorry). Please feel free to message me direct should you want to talk more. Conde is likely to improve, but it may take time - it is a shock to some and not to others, nothing like most Brits are used to that's for sure. But most stuff is accessible here, cant say I like buying my meat in the market or the stores though - must confess, but butter cheese is lovely. Schools - depending on what you want for your children - look really really hard at what there is and isnt available!!! The previous comment about the roads is so, so valid, following on from the huge amounts of rain we have had - our 'main' road up to the tarmac is quite exciting... wish I had taken one of those 'off road' car courses!! Everything in life depends on your attitude - so one persons fun may be anothers worst nightmare. Nobody can tell you 'You will love it' and know for certain that this is true. We love plenty about it - but it doesnt stop the usual niggles and sometimes they are all over inflated because you are in a whole different environment and it just makes it trickier to deal with.
Jacuma is in my opinion a really nice friendly little town, has most of your basic needs and is I think really set to grow - when that happens - then I think Conde will grow too. There is a new development going up on the Conde road now - for mini Granjas by the looks of it - gated community type - it will be interesting to see if that starts to move quickly.
Anyway - hope some of this is of a little use.

It was really useful, in fact you dont know how much so. I feel if I have just the little boy shouting the king is in the altogether

Is it too much to ask why you are moving? Did you not do all the things you advise? Best (or better) luck where ever you move to.

 

[mamanguapemamma]

Sorry - wonderful ambiguous english in the bracketing - I meant we hadnt been here for that long, not that we were moving.
We have only lived here for 18 months so I dont class that as a very rounded view of all things - we have only limited experience as such.
Please do feel free to message me with any questions - I will do my best to give you answers - they may only be my opinion in some instances or I can try to find out more if you have specific things you need an answer to.

 

[Norbert]

AtlanticTrust

Yes we have succesfully purchased property through them this Spring. Talk to Jack Lully or Mucio Lima....... jack's English, Mucio Brazilian, with great english. They seem to us to go the extra mile to make sure you get what you want and have paid for. Happy to answer any other questions you may have, here on this forum!

Their website is still up and running, but there is no response from them. Friends checked gtheir advertised offices, and they have disappeared. So much for Trust .....
Does anyone know lawyers, specialized in real estate, who speak English and are independent?