One sector that performed well, even in the face of the effects of the pandemic, was certainly the real estate market. Whether due to the high conversion of the work regime from face-to-face to remote, or the greater amount of time that we all spend at home due to social isolation, many people felt the need to change residence.
According to data released by the Brazilian Association of Real Estate Developers (ABRAINC), in 2021 alone, the launch of new properties considered to be of medium and high standard in São Paulo recorded a growth of 26%.
Likewise, sales in the sector - regardless of the classification of properties - increased between 2020 and 2021. Not enough, the civil construction sector opened more than 39,000 jobs in February 2022 alone.
The data show that the evolution of the area surprised. In my work, for example, I witnessed clients changing all the formatting of their businesses, taking advantage of technological resources and the online environment.
And, even with the high Selic, known as the basic interest rate, which is why it has effects on the other rates practiced by the market in loans and financing, expectations for the sector remain high.
Since the last half of 2021, Selic has skyrocketed. In the period of one year, it rose more than 8%, and, from November to now, it pointed to an increase of 2.5 points - a fact that reflects directly on the consumer's pocket.
But, contrary to the voluptuous increases in the Selic, the competition between financial institutions has brought advantages to consumers who wish to invest in the acquisition of real estate, since the indexes for real estate financing were practically "frozen".
This is because the real estate financing rate fluctuated from 9.21% to 9.33% in the period from November/21 to March/22. Thus, we can consider them, so far, “stable”.
Obviously, the scenario is still very different compared to the period leading up to the pandemic, but it is still positive for those who want to invest.
The new subsidy curve linked to the Casa Verde e Amarela Program, for example, is yet another indication that the sector has large growth projections, still in 2022.
But, in addition to finances, what else should consumers be concerned about in order to fulfill the dream of acquiring their own home?
As important as the interest rate and the commercial negotiation involved in a real estate negotiation are the documents associated with the property and the parties involved in the business, especially the sellers.
Many people still have the illusion that a real estate negotiation is simple, so they mistakenly dispense with the formalities of “due diligence” and “contract”, which fatally can be a mistake that leads to great losses.
In this way, it is essential that the consumer pay attention to the careful analysis of the necessary certificates, in addition, of course, to the signing of a balanced contract, which reflects, among other terms, exactly the agreed commercial conditions, the rights and duties of the parties and the conditions resolutive.
* Lidiane Praxedes Oliveira da Costa is a lawyer specializing in business law and real estate law, with over 16 years of experience. It emphasizes its activity on conflict resolution strategies, with the aim of valuing legal certainty in business relationships, and, consequently, implementing solutions to optimize profit, increase income and mitigate the risks of corporate activities.
