What are the costs of owning a home in Brazil?
The cost of property ownership in Brazil is a fraction of what we are use to here in the U.S. Typical property taxes for a home in the State of Rio de Janeiro will run between $150-$350 annually, depending on the declared value of the property. Residential insurance to cover everything from fire to theft, with the maximum coverage and minimum deductibles will run between $55-$100 annually. Total utilities, including electric, water, gas, etc should run an average of $45-$80 a month for a family of 4-5 persons living in the home year-round. Obviously the cost would be much lower for a vacation home. Maintenance cost will depend on the level of maintenance required on the home and what level of attention you prefer to devote to your home when you are away. A full-time housekeeper (5 days a week/8 hours a day) will run you between $75-$150 per month, and to have someone simply check on the home weekly, cut the grass, etc, you will probably spend between $25-$75 per month. However, should
