“My origins are a mesh of cultures that have moulded my life and the person I am today”, Marcello told The Portugal News. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to a mother who was originally from the north of Portugal. At 15, he moved to Switzerland to attend the Collège du Léman boarding school, a highly rated institution in Versoix, near Geneva, and later attended university in Lugano, studying management and marketing.

“My fluency in 5 languages – Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and Italian – opened many doors for me, so I decided to finish my studies in San Diego, California”, he recounted. “Meanwhile, life brought me back to Rio de Janeiro to take over the family business, a chain of petrol stations. During that time, I met my wife, Gizelis.” From there, Marcello’s life flourished, as he has now been married for 25 years, with two kids called Leonardo and Kaio.

“After spending some years in Rio de Janeiro organising my business, I ended up selling part of it, which led me to return to the United States, this time with my family”, Marcello continued telling his story. “We chose to establish ourselves in Florida, specifically Windermere.” The family had chosen to move to Florida since his mother-in-law was already there, facilitating the transition and setting them up for a long stay in the Sunshine State.

He wasn’t satisfied with life in Florida, though. He thought he could find somewhere even better to raise his family. “I did a lot of research and found that Braga would be the ideal place for me and my family”, he elaborated. “In December of 2020, during the peak of the pandemic, we moved to Portugal. It wasn’t a decision we took lightly, but I immediately realised we made the right choice. We ended up falling deeply in love with the city in much less time than we imagined.”

Becoming a consultant

Following his move to Braga, Marcello began to dedicate himself to the real estate market. “I’ve always remembered hearing my Portuguese parents and grandparents saying real estate is the best investment you can make”, he reminisced. “Since I was young, even while I lived abroad, I always kept up to date on opportunities in the real estate market.”

“When I arrived in Portugal, I quickly saw that many of my American friends and acquaintances had a great interest in living and investing here”, he explained his start in the real estate industry. “Portugal, and especially Braga, was turning into an ever more appealing destination, not just for the quality of life but also for the alluring prices on the property market compared to the United States.”

“However, I noted that despite there being competent real estate consultants here, few truly understood the mindset, culture, and expectations of foreigners, especially Americans”, Marcello added. “It was there that I saw not just an opportunity, but also a need within the Braga property market: to make use of my international experience and my deep understanding of American and Portuguese culture to offer a one-of-a-kind-service”.

Having discovered his niche in the sector, Marcello got to work. “Naturally, right after taking on this new challenge, I began to see fantastic results”, he recalled. “Today, I pride myself in having helped many investors and families find their new home or next big investment in Braga.”

A competitive advantage

In Marcello’s eyes, his upbringing gives him a competitive advantage in the Portuguese real estate market. “My life and deep knowledge of North American culture put me in a position that’s hard to find among other consultants”, he stated. “These have bought me not just a precise understanding of the real expectations of my clients, but also the ability to serve them with transparency, letting them in on the entire process of buying or selling a property in Portugal.”

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

“The main cultural differences when buying a property are in the way of communication, in the expectations, and in the levels of information”, he further clarified what sets him apart. “It’s exactly in this that someone like me and a company such as ARYS make all the difference. The Portuguese tend to value personal connections and face-to-face negotiations, while foreigners prefer more formal approaches with detailed information.”

ARYS, formally known as DS Braga Centro, is the company under which Marcello operates, having been the channel through which he originally bought his new home in Portugal. “My experience was so positive that, when deciding to venture into the real estate market, I had no doubts what agency to choose”, he remarked.

An appealing destination

The city of Braga has grown into a magnet for foreign investment and immigration thanks to its rich culture and solid management. “Braga is notable for its safety, but there’s much more that brings people in. The education system is of excellent quality, the health services are accessible and effective, and the public transport is efficient, which eases day-to-day life immensely”, Marcello commented. “The quality of life is truly impressive: it’s a place that offers the calm environment of a small city, but with all the commodities and attractions of a large one.”

Braga is the heart of the Minho region, located under 45 minutes away from Porto and just 55 minutes away from the Spanish border. Having been elected the best European city to visit in European Best Destination’s 2021 survey, Braga hosts a cultural calendar throughout the year, including events such as São João de Braga, White Night, Holy Week, and Roman Braga, guaranteeing you’ll never run out of things to do.

Whether you’re interested in real estate or investment opportunities in Braga, please make sure to contact Marcello Valle at marcellovalleimoveis@gmail.com or visit https://arys.pt/bragacentro/equipa/rdv7ywkdojo0gze/detalhes?page=1

Author

A journalist that’s always eager to learn about new things. With a passion for travel, adventure and writing about this diverse world of ours.

“Wisdom begins in wonder” -  Socrates

Kate Sreenarong