How to Choose a Real Estate Investment Consultant in Brazil

The Short Version

The right consultant for real estate investment in Florianópolis isn't the one with the prettiest presentation — it's the one who's independent from specific developers, explains the logic behind their recommendations with numbers rather than nice pictures, and understands the tax specifics for non-residents. Below are concrete criteria for evaluating any consultant, including us.

Independent Consultant vs. a Developer's Realtor — What's the Difference

A realtor working with a single developer earns money by selling that developer's specific properties — their job is to sell what's in the portfolio, even if it isn't ideal for your strategy. An independent consultant earns money by matching a strategy to your goals, not a property to their portfolio — if the optimal option doesn't exist with any developer, an independent consultant will tell you so directly.

Six Criteria for Evaluating a Consultant

1. Independence from a specific developer — ask directly whether the consultant works with just one developer, or selects from properties across different companies market-wide. 2. Can explain the logic behind a recommendation, not just show a presentation — a good consultant will explain why they recommend a specific district or property, not just send you a developer's brochure. 3. Provides yield, liquidity, and district analysis — concrete numbers, not generic phrases like "great investment." 4. Works with foreigners and knows non-resident tax nuances — buying property as a foreigner in Brazil has its own specifics, from deal structure to taxation on sale. 5. Talks honestly about risks, not just upside — for example, the difference between an SPE and a classic incorporadora, which we've covered in detail in a separate article on SPE risks. 6. Speaks your language — literally — on deals involving serious money, misunderstanding due to a language barrier can be costly.

This same independence and risk-transparency standard is exactly what we look for when reviewing developers ourselves — see, for example, our review of STV Construções, a classic incorporadora with unusually strong deal-structure transparency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I even need an investment consultant if I've already found a property through a developer? It's worth getting an independent assessment before signing anything — a consultant with no stake in that specific deal can tell you honestly whether the price is fair and whether the deal structure fits your goals.

How is an investment consultant different from a regular realtor? A realtor helps you find and buy a specific property. An investment consultant first determines a strategy (rental, resale, land, commercial) and then selects a property to match — a broader task than closing one transaction.

How much do independent consultant services cost? Models vary — from a one-time consultation to full deal support. Clarify the payment format upfront and make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for. And before signing anything, it's worth structuring the payment itself safely — see our separate piece on escrow accounts as a legal protection layer, and on recognizing fraud schemes before you get that far.

Our Approach at Plan B Brazil

We're an independent real estate investment consultant in Santa Catarina: not tied to any developer, working with foreign investors, providing an honest yield and risk calculation for every property, speaking Russian, English, and Portuguese. Our district and developer reports are built on this same logic — open data, named sources, honest risk warnings where they exist.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Plan B Brazil acts as an independent advisor and is not a developer.