What is the difference between a real estate lawyer and a broker in Brazil

A real estate broker (corretor de imóveis) markets property, facilitates buyer-seller introductions, and typically earns commission paid by the seller under Brazilian brokerage custom — creating structural alignment with the seller's interest in closing at the highest price with the least disclosure burden. A real estate lawyer in Brazil represents the buyer or investor under attorney-client standards of confidentiality and loyalty, independent of any sales commission.

Broker incentives

The lawyer's role is legal analysis, risk identification, contract negotiation, tax and registry coordination — not property marketing or commission-driven sales pressure. Counsel reads matrícula, performs title verification, explains ITBI and IPTU exposure in English, drafts bilingual contract summaries, coordinates cartório steps, and manages property registration until ownership is confirmed.

Lawyer role

Engaging a property attorney in Brazil before signing any contract — not after a problem surfaces — is the most effective step foreign buyers can take to reduce transaction risk. The broker helps you find property; your lawyer protects your legal and financial position in acquiring it.