2009-11-23 15:39:26 -
VivaReal Network is pleased to announce a recent agreement with Lopes, Brazil's largest real estate brokerage and consulting company with a team of almost 6,000 independent brokers throughout the country
VivaReal Network is pleased to announce a recent agreement with Lopes, Brazil’s largest real estate brokerage and consulting company with a team of more than 6,000 independent brokers throughout the country. Lopes promotes new construction, resale property and also has a credit arm.
VivaReal will be promoting over 10,000 resale properties on two of its websites, www.VivaReal.com.br (website for Brazilian nationals) and www.VivaReal.net (website for expats, retirees and English speaking investors).
A few highlights during Lopes’ third quarter 2009:
* In 3Q09, contracted sales totaled R$2.6 billion (~$1.48 billion USD), São Paulo accounted for R$1.4 billion (~$800 million USD) of overall contracted sales in 3Q09, Brasília R$411 million (~$235 million USD) and other markets R$821 million (~$469 million USD) in 3Q09.
* Lopes
sold 10,280 units in the Brazilian market in 3Q09, of which 4,349, or 42%, were in the low-income segment (units prices up to R$150,000 or ~$85,000 USD).
Pro-forma EBITDA1 in 3Q09 was R$29.6 million (~$17 million USD), growing by 37% versus 2Q09 and 45% versus 3Q08. Pro-forma EBITDA Margin in 3Q09 was 46.0%.
* Lopes posted Pro-forma Net Income2 of R$17.5 million (~$10 million USD) in 3Q09, increasing by 61% over 2Q09 and by 66% in relation to 3Q08. Lopes’ Pro-forma Net Margin in 3Q09 stood at 27.2%.
VivaReal’s founder Brian Requarth states, “I had the opportunity to meet Roberto Nascimento, Lopes’ Marketing Director at Latin America’s largest real estate convention. He and his team definitely understand the value of online marketing. They are trail blazers in using social media and the Web 2.0 to build their brand. How many publicly traded real estate companies have their own podcast, YouTube channel, several consumer blogs, while at the same time heavily engaging in Orkut, Facebook and Twitter? It is amazing to see such a large company be so nimble using new media. VivaReal is thrilled to partner up with such innovators in Brazil and we look forward to helping them sell more real estate.“
Roberto Nascimento adds, “We welcome VivaReal to Brazil. International players will help to create more competition contributing to improved service and more cost effective online marketing opportunities. Lopes continues to increase its advertising budget online because it has resulted in a good return on investment. We look forward to a long relationship with VivaReal.”
Lopes has really benefited from the real estate boom in Brazil. With the estimated deficit of between 7-9 million homes in Brazil, Lopes is well positioned to continue its growth pattern in the coming years.
About Lopes
Lopes is the largest real estate brokerage and consulting company in Brazil, with launched general value of sales of R$ 10.1 billion in 2008 Lopes has launched operations in the city of Rio de Janeiro in July, 2006, the second largest real estate market in Brazil and in nine states: Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Santa Catarina, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais, Ceará and Goiás, also in Federal District and in the metropolitan region of Campinas.
Lopes’ launched GVS in the metropolitan area of São Paulo has grown over the last 8 years at a compound annual average rate (CAGR) of 35%. In this period, the total launched GVS of developments Lopes brokered was approximately R$ 10 billion.
Lopes.com.br currently has over 1.4 million visitors on a monthly basis.
About VivaReal Network
VivaReal is the fastest growing online real estate marketplace in Latin America where people go to buy, sell or rent property. VivaReal currently operates in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, the US (Spanish speaking population). The company also has a dedicated site for Expats interested in buying or renting property in any of 12 Latin American countries. The VR Network is owned and operated by Bilingual Marketing Group, a California company.
