Barra and Recreio are the preferred neighborhoods for rent and sale in Rio, but Campo Grande and Copacabana gain space

while the real estate sales are more stable in a scenario of higher interest ratesO rental market has accelerated. In Rio, two neighborhoods stand out as priority in demand of families, in both scenarios: together, Barra da Tijuca It is Recreio dos Bandeirantes concentrated 20% of the demand for new houses last year. The data are from the February edition of Radar Imobiliário, prepared by DataZap, from the Zap Imóveis platform.

Despite remaining in the lead, the two West Zone neighborhoods lost ground to other locations. In comparison with 2021, in the accumulated result of last year, places such as Copacabana (0.61%) and Botafogo (1.2%) gained space, reflecting the progress in vaccination and the resumption of face-to-face activities in the central areas of the city.

This is what economist Larissa Gonçalves, responsible for the study, assesses.

– The pandemic brought the home office, where people prioritized comfort, since commuting was no longer a priority. Barra and Recreio stood out in this regard, as they are neighborhoods with a very high HDI (Human Development Index), where there are beaches, supermarkets and shopping malls. The pandemic still impacts on the search for these locations, but the effects are losing strength with many companies returning to face-to-face or hybrid – he explains.

Larissa also points out that, with more expensive credit – the basic interest rate is at 13.75% – sales are more timid, and consumers end up opting for rent.

– The sales market as a whole, which includes Rio, has stabilized, while the rental market has been accelerating since the middle of last year. In August 2021, we had the highest level of real estate lending in 20 years, but sales fell due to interest rate effects. Acquiring a property has become less attractive – he analyzes: – Contrary to what happens with sales, which are more influenced by a macroeconomic issue, in leasing contracts are for a maximum of three years, so people have a much greater possibility of moving around.

Price per m² also weighs

Larissa recalls that the price per square meter per neighborhood also influences demand, which has increased in the most popular neighborhoods. Data from the FipeZAP+ Residential Rental Index show that in Barra, for example, the average price rose 24.1% between December 2021 and the same period last year. Meanwhile, in Botafogo the variation was 9.2%.

– The maxim of the market is always location. There’s only one place you want to live, you can’t move. So, in the end, the person will put the price of what is a priority for him at the tip of the pencil. And of course, the level of income directly influences this. We were unable, however, to state whether income increased in proportion to the increase in demand in these regions. It is difficult to know until we have the results of the IBGE Census. We will be able to better understand these issues when we are able to visualize the income of these families – he points out.

The DataZap survey also pointed out the preferences of cariocas when choosing a property. Among those intending to rent, 80% are looking for houses or apartments with an area of ​​up to 100 m², 51.6% prioritize two bedrooms and 55% want a parking space.

Among sales, 58.9% want properties of up to 100 m², 42.6% are looking for options with two bedrooms and 54.6% a parking space.

President of the Union of Real Estate Brokers in Rio (Sindimóveis Rio), Mauro Pimentel advises that – both in the case of renting and purchase – interested parties must have, above all, patience and attention when closing the deal.

– It’s the way to avoid headaches. We advise that this family always look for a qualified and regulated professional. The documentation also needs to be very well analyzed. We have seen many cases of coup involving fake real estate – she says.

He explains that documents such as real estate authorizations to negotiate the rent or sale of the property are essential to ensure that the business is safe, as well as the Real Estate Registry (RGI), in case of purchase.

– Pre-payment is not made, not even for payment of a possible reservation, because the consumer is unprotected – alert.

Pimentel also recommends that the family accompany the inspection of the property before the move, even if the process is carried out by a specialized company:

– Visit the neighborhood by day, by night, with sun or rain, to understand the dynamics. And participate in the inspection. It is essential to see defects and flaws and what is the owner’s responsibility before entering the property.