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EcoHouse Group Developments Ltd
Company typePrivate
Founded2009 (2009)
FounderAnthony Armstrong Emery
Headquarters
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
,
Brazil

EcoHouse Group Developments Ltd is a multinational real estate company based in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil which specialises in the construction of social housing through the Brazilian government's Minha Casa, Minha Vida programme.[1] [2] With offices in London, Singapore, Dubai, Sao Paulo and Toronto, over 1000 employees and more than 40,000 units scheduled to be built over the next four years, EcoHouse claims to be one of the largest development companies in Brazil.[3][4][5]

History

Launched in 2009 by Englishman Anthony Armstrong Emery, EcoHouse Group is currently the only UK company authorised to build developments under Minha Casa, Minha Vida.[6]

On visiting EcoHouse's social housing projects, Inside Housing News Editor Nick Duxbury explained that the company's finance model involves receiving funding for projects upfront from retail investors, rather than relying on bank loans like the majority of Minha Casa, Minha Vida developers.[7]

In January 2013, EcoHouse reached a joint investment agreement with Conisa Constructions, a 17 year old company specialising in the construction of premium homes in Rio Grande do Norte, with an option to buy a controlling interest later if conditions were met.[8]

In November 2013, legal action is being taken by investors in Singapore against the company for failing to return investment money on time. [9] A story in Private Eye expressed "serious doubts about the ability of Ecohouse to deliver on such promised short-term high returns"; observing that the company is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. [10]

In December 2013, EcoHouse released the Brazil Residential Property Report Q4 2013, a 78-page document outlining opportunities available to international real estate investors in Brazil and featuring the opinion of the Sao Paulo State Housing Syndicate (Secovi).[11]

Developments

Social Housing

EcoHouse’s first two social housing projects have been Arco Iris and Casa Nova, consisting of 220 and 515 homes respectively.[3][12] The second, Casa Nova, is located near São Gonçalo do Amarante - Natal International Airport,[13] which is set to open in April 2014,.[14] The latest EcoHouse development is Residencial Bosque, which is also located near São Gonçalo do Amarante[15] and is intended to consist of around 2,200 homes.[3]

Alongside all developments, EcoHouse is planting thousands of Indian neem trees to help combat the threat posed by mosquitoes.[3]

Other Projects

EcoHouse Group sponsors Alecrim FC in Natal, which has recently signed Stefano Seedorf, cousin of former-Dutch international Clarence Seedorf,[16] as well as Alecrim Rugby Club, which won the 2013 Brazilian Cup after finishing runner-up the previous year.[17][18]

The company asks all buyers registering for its developments to donate R$1 and a can of powdered milk to local orphanages.[3]

In April 2013, EcoHouse Group was invited to participate in MAIS RN,[19] a partnership between the Rio Grande do Norte state government and the Federation of Industries of Rio Grande do Norte (Fiern), which will conduct a full evaluation of the economy, production techniques and infrastructure needs of Rio Grande do Norte.[20]

In July 2013, EcoHouse opened the Escola Corporativa Elilde Armstrong, named after the wife of the company founder, at its Bosque Acacias project. The school, which is run in partnership with Rio Grande do Norte's Industrial Social Serices (SESI), is free to attend and provides EcoHouse construction workers with elementary and middle school education. Students at the school receive tshirts and all necessary books free of charge and are presented with official Ministry of Education certificates on completion of their course.[21] [22]

Awards

2013

Winner - AIPP Best Developer outside the United Kingdom[23]

Winner - AIPP Most Transparent Marketing Campaign[23]

Highly Commended - International Property Awards Development Marketing Brazil[24]

2012

Winner - OPP Awards for Excellence Best Affordable Development 2012[25]

Winner - OPP Awards for Excellence Best Estate Agency Middle East 2012[25]

Runner Up - OPP Awards for Excellence Best Developer South America 2012[25]

2011

New Europe Magazine Fast 50 Award[26]

References

  1. ^ Reece, Alex. "Boomtime in Brazil: How an Englishman is bringing strong returns to South America". Daily Express. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  2. ^ "World's 20 best places to invest in property". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Clients - EcoHouse Group". GMB Online. Retrieved 28 May 2013. Cite error: The named reference "Clients - EcoHouse Group" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ "EcoHouse Group".
  5. ^ "Bosque Residencial housing community lives up to its name". RFP Magazine. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  6. ^ "EcoHouse launches its largest Brazilian Government backed social housing development to offer investors returns of 20 per cent per year". Homes and Travel. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  7. ^ Duxbury, Nick. "Building a new Brazil". Inside Housing. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Fusão entre Conisa e Ecohouse já tem VGV de R$ 700 mi em 2013". Jornal de Hoje. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  9. ^ "EcoHouse frustrations start to surface".
  10. ^ "Guardian angles". Private Eye. 15 Nov 2013. p. 33.
  11. ^ "Brazil Housing Market Report 2013". EcoHouse Group. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  12. ^ "EcoHouse Group: Our Developments".
  13. ^ "Minha Casa Minha Vida Brazil | EcoHouse Developments". Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  14. ^ "Aeroporto de São Gonçalo receberá primeiro voo em 1° de abril de 2014". Portal Noar. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  15. ^ "Brazil social housing investment 'makes a difference'". OPP Connect. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Alecrim apresenta Stefano Seedorf, primo da estrela holandesa". Tribuna do Norte. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  17. ^ Kolle, Luis. "Alecrim vence BH Rugby e está no Super10 de 2014". Portal do Rugby. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  18. ^ "60 second interview: Anthony Armstrong-Emery of EcoHouse". International Estate Agent Today. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  19. ^ "EcoHouse Group chosen to sit on industry body".
  20. ^ Marques, Ciro. "Governo lança projeto que norteará desenvolvimento econômico no Estado". Portal Noar. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  21. ^ "No canteiro de obras também se aprende a LER". Revista da Industria/RN. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Brazilian developer opens school for workers". OPP. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  23. ^ a b "The AIPP Awards 2013". AIPP. Retrieved 28 May 2013. Cite error: The named reference "AIPP Awards 2013" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  24. ^ "Americas 2013 Award Winners". International Property Awards. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  25. ^ a b c "OPP Award Winners 2012". OPP Connect. Retrieved 28 May 2013. Cite error: The named reference "OPP Award Winners 2012" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  26. ^ "The Fast50 Business Award Winners 2011". The Fast50. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
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