From the Fashion Runways to the Spotlight of Success in Real Estate
Maqueli Gewehr, known on social media as Maqueli Florida, has become one of the foremost authorities on real estate investment in the United States. This year alone, she has brokered over $10 million in properties for Brazilians, whether for investment purposes or as primary residences. Despite many assuming she is American, Maqueli was actually born in the rural interior of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to a family of German-descent farmers. Early on, she demonstrated a knack for looking beyond the horizon. She started her career as a model, walking runways and posing for prominent brands like TV Globo, Greendane, Havaianas, Tufi Duek, Forum, and Werner Coiffeur. However, Maqueli always had a foot in the business world. She studied accounting and worked at a bank where she specialized and obtained an Anbima investment certification.
Before relocating to the United States, Maqueli was already a real estate investor in Brazil, managing her family’s rural lands and owning residential and commercial properties. Her move to the U.S. in 2019 opened her eyes to the vast potential of Florida’s real estate market. With the U.S. economy booming and the dollar strong, investing there proved to be highly advantageous. Wasting no time, she studied the market thoroughly and obtained her Florida broker’s license.
Today, she is a reference in the real estate market, assisting hundreds of Brazilians in investing or relocating to Florida. "People have no idea how simple and safe it is to buy a house here. You can sign the contract via video call, and the money goes directly to the builder or the property owner. You don’t even need a U.S. bank account. I have many clients who don’t speak any English, and yet they don’t hesitate to invest," explains Maqueli, always demystifying the process and reassuring her clients.
"I bought a house in 2020 for $397,000 that is now worth about $720,000. I made $323,000, over 1.8 million reais, on this investment just by living in this house during this time," shares the broker and investor who has also sold two houses to actor Gustavo Leão in Orlando.
The availability of visas that allow Brazilians to immigrate legally has also been a defining factor for many families wanting to move to Florida to escape the violence and unpredictable ups and downs of Brazil’s fragile economy.
Besides being a broker, Maqueli is also an investor, buying and selling properties while always looking for the best opportunities. Her popularity on Instagram stems from her informative and accessible content, which helps many Brazilians better understand the American real estate market. Her competence is evidenced by the five stars on her Google Reviews, reflecting her commitment and premium service. "Nearly all my clients become friends and frequent our home," she says, indicating that her work extends beyond the professional realm.
Just last week, one of her clients, upon receiving the keys to his new home, called her the same day wanting to purchase another property in the same community for investment.
Moreover, Maqueli is also the mother of one-year-old Noah. Balancing professional and personal life is a challenge, but she manages it with finesse, serving as a role model for empowered and successful women. Maqueli Florida's story has inspired many young people from her hometown who now also think about entrepreneurship and relocating to the United States someday. Aware of this, Maqueli has decided to help low-income children dream of a better future. For every house she sells, she pays for a year of English lessons for one child.
With all her accumulated investment strategy experience, Maqueli is preparing to launch her first book aimed at helping newcomers to real estate investment in the USA.
In a twist of fate, Maqueli, who once represented her city as Miss, just sold a house to the current Miss Florida. Those curious can check her Instagram @maqueliflorida.
www.instagram.com/maqueliflorida
