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Santa Catarina: A Surprise Rival to São Paulo?

Jaimie Kanwar

A land of lingering beauty, with its lagoons, mountain views and unspoilt beaches, Santa Catarina combines the buzz of modern life with the serenity of Mother Nature. But is this sunshine state a natural successor to São Paulo when it comes to property investment?

In the Blue Corner

Located in the south of Brazil, sitting between the states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul , Santa Carina is a tourist hotspot with hordes of holiday seekers from all over the Americas and Europe visiting this small but perfectly formed Brazilian state.

Added to the stunning scenery is the diversity of the inhabitants; from Azorean fishermen, to Italian farmers, and German industrialists, this is a land of beautiful, sharp and fascinating contrasts.

In the Red Corner

San Paolo is the largest and currently the richest state in Brazil. Located in the South East of the country, Saint Paul - as it is known in Portuguese – contains more than 40 million people in the state and around 17 million in the city area.

The city of São Paulo, has a public-transportation system that is woefully inadequate; its three small subway lines are swamped by 2.5 million passengers each day (New York's twenty-five lines carry 4.3 million), while a force of illicit mini-vans compete with municipal buses to transport twice that number along the city's convoluted streets.

David & Goliath?

Santa Catarina is one of the wealthiest areas in Brazil and its economy continues to flourish with its tourist trade growing at an amazing rate. Throw in the reputation for eco-tourism and a high standard of living; and it's easy to understand why this sunshine state is establishing itself as a 'must visit' destination.

Santa Catarina's larger, louder and more populated cousin, São Paulo, continues to suffer from infamy when it comes to crime, poverty, and social inequality. Whereas, Santa Catarina, with it eco-friendly environment and safe and serene atmosphere, is beginning to be a major force in the Brazilian economy, now rivalling Rio and São Paulo for GDP per capita.

As a result of Santa Catarina's increasing popularity and the growing public awareness of  its charms and assets, shrewd investors are making in-roads into Santa Catarina's property market and are considering areas such as Joinville and the capital city, Florianopolis, as alternatives to the bigger and more obvious choices in São Paulo.

São Paulo's Latin motto is - Non ducor, duco, - which translates as "I am not led, I lead". The language of the dead they call it, how apt. So, is this overpopulated, congested and polluted city about to be slain by the sling of Santa Catarina?

Safety in Numbers?

Santa Catarina is known for its safe and serene environment, especially the city of Joinville, with its strong German community and affluent neighbourhoods; whereas, the fear of crime and the large levels of squatter settlements in São Paulo, is effecting the city's popularity with overseas investors.

Where is the Grass Greeneer?

Santa Catarina is blessed with a variety of natural splendours; glorious white sand beaches, beautiful lagoons, lush rainforests and snow tipped mountains, all within a two-hour drive of one another.

With its amazing scenery, it's no wonder that Santa Catarina is ideal for those lovers of Mother Nature. Furthermore, the area offers a number of sights and events throughout the year, including rural and ecological tourism, thermal mineral resorts, adventure sports, historic monuments and eclectic religious buildings.

In contrast, São Paulo is known for its heavy pollution and unreliable weather, which apparently is putting ecologically minded tourists off visiting the region. The unpredictable weather, some believe, may be caused by a less than green attitude to environmental issues.

The Economic Heavyweight?

Santa Catarina is a major industrial and agricultural centre, boasting one of the highest standards of living in Brazil.

The balance and dynamism of the Santa Catarina economy are reflected in high levels of growth, literacy, employment and per capita income that far exceed the national average.

A modernised infrastructure and efficient transport system has helped boost tourism, making Santa Catarina the third largest tourist destination in Brazil, slowly catching the coat-tails of São Paulo.

São Paulo – is clearly the most important financial centre of Brazil. It is the biggest contributor to economic output in Brazil and has a huge labour market.

However, it does have some issues with its economy, as it suffers from a high degree of "informality"  This means that some of its economic activity is neither taxed nor monitored by the government; and is not included in the government's Gross National Product (GNP).

The Best Investment?

Recent activity in Santa Catarina has been amazing, with property interest coming from Italian, Spanish, American and more recently British investors, who are deciding to spread the net a little further when looking for that second property nest egg abroad.

Two bed, two bath condo apartments in Joinville, with long term rental and resale potential, built by British developers and only 5 minute drive to the city centre, are being marketed for as little as £33,500.

Properties in São Paulo are relatively expensive, although, smaller apartments near the city centre can be expected to yield 9.6% per annum. Larger sized units generally have lower yields, ranging from 5.4% to 7.2%.

Conclusion

With its magnificent natural attractions, adventurous activities and growing trade in tourism, it's no wonder that developers and investors are moving into the state of Santa Catarina. Although São Paulo isn't exactly being overlooked, it has some work to do to clean up its image before it starts punching its weight with international investors.