What to do in Portugal?

Hello again.

Have you seen the Grace Kelly exhibition at the V & A recently? I haven’t, but I did go along to a talk by her friend and biographer Donald Spoto. He gave a fascinating insight into the real person behind the iconic image – it was so interesting. There’s always something to do in London isn’t there?

Are you going to Portugal to look at property this summer, or indeed just to holiday? I know when I used to take my kids on holiday I always used to like to plan it so that there was something to occupy their days – nothing like an exhausted child to ensure a good night’s sleep!

The possibilities are endless in Portugal really, both for families with kids and those without. There are endless World Heritage sites, natural wonders and cultural surprises and all are far quieter – and less expensive - than in neighbouring Spain. Plus of course you have the benefit of sandy beaches, traditional fishing villages and an expansive stretch of rugged coastline. Diving and swimming are of course popular and you could learn how to surf in the southern region or along the western coastline. Or what about deep sea fishing or a Douro river cruise exploring the river and nearby ancient ruins?

Many championship golf courses dot the country plus horseback riding is a fun activity. You could perhaps combine that with a visit to the quieter rural areas, staying at renovated farm houses and traditional homes that provide accommodation for tourists and allow a glimpse into a more tranquil way of life.

Northern Portugal is far more mountainous with many really lovely national parks that reveal the beauty of the mountainous region which borders Spain. If you are more interested in cultural activities then Porto is lovely and you may want to explore the many castles and cultural sites here or in cities like Lisbon, Sintra or Obidos. Personally I loved Tomar, which had connections to the Crusaders and Vila Viçosa with its lovely palace. Nearby is Evora with its breathtaking Roman ruin in the centre of the town – heaven!

And while you holiday you can be taking in what your area of choice looks like in the busy summer season. That lovely village that you first saw in spring or autumn may be simply too busy for you in summer. Or you may find that you enjoy a revived night life and having a few folk around…but for my money it really is best to see your chosen area at all times of the year before committing yourself.

I know for instance that the places I would chose to buy if I could are either Marvão or Castelo de Vide but I visited last in early May. What are they like in the middle of summer I wonder? Food for thought. Have lots of fun and do let me know your findings won’t you.

With all best wishes for happy summer days,

Carol.

Make Sure You Use An Independent Lawyer

Hello again.

My daughter was in town last week so that was really exciting…and the best thing of all was that we went to a Will Young concert at Kenwood House!

Well, I thought it was the best thing – my cool kids were a trifle disconcerted at first but to their enormous embarrassment they LOVED Will! Evidently he’s not considered particularly cool but the great music and his relaxed charm won them over, as I knew it would. It was a warm, clear evening and my daughter had put together a picnic of all my favourite things – smoked salmon, prawns, a few glasses of wine…it was great sitting on the lawn just soaking up the lovely summer evening and the listening to Will’s dulcet tones, surrounded by like-minded people.

On to more serious matters. In my years with the OGC, I have spoken to lots of people buying abroad, most of whom were thrilled with the outcome, but sadly there have been a few that have had tragic tales to tell.

One such couple had bought the holiday home of their dreams, with lovely views of the sea, and were excitedly planning regular visits accompanied by their children and grandchildren. You can imagine their horror when they visited their property as it neared completion only to discover that a block of flats had been erected which totally obscured their sea view. I must say I was utterly heartbroken on their behalf. Here is another tale, as emailed to me:

“…none of our documents were translated by our English speaking lawyer, introduced by the agent! (I know - classic mistake and one we are paying for in stress and also money!). We thought we had bought a house complete with the land, but our documents tell a different story which is that we bought the land for one price. We then bought the shell of the building and employed the builder to complete the house (he still hasn't). This contract also states that if the builder does not get his money then he can sell the house and take everything in it (about £30,000’s worth of furniture and fittings).”

Why am I telling you all this?

If there is one ‘classic mistake’ that I have identified more than once, it is that people do not use the services of an independent lawyer, thoroughly conversant in English. This really is absolutely vital: retain your own lawyer and do not, under any circumstances, use one recommended by the seller or developer unless you can get personal recommendations from other people who have used him/her successfully. If you do, you may well find that such a lawyer will have conflicting loyalties. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know who they will ultimately look after - you, with your one-of purchase, or the estate agent/developer, with whom they do business on a regular basis. It’s a no-brainer.

Suffice it to say that if both these buyers had used good, thorough lawyers both the above set of circumstances could and indeed should have been avoided.

You also need to make very sure that you understand every word on the contract and that you’re paying as building stages are reached if you are buying off plan. That way you can’t be forced to pay by a certain time. I have heard of people paying almost the full price on a property before the builder has even started the build – it’s a very old con and one that still catches people out.

Please don’t neglect to do the things that you as a buyer would routinely do in the UK…as mentioned, retain your own lawyer, and also make sure you have all documents translated so that you can read and fully understand them and that you get personal references on all builders and developers that you use. A survey would also be on my ‘to-do- list.

I would love to hear how your plans to buy property are coming along. Also, there is masses on really detailed information in the OGC Buying Guides – I have put them all in case you may know someone interested in buying elsewhere! Just go to:

http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.ItalyBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.FranceBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.PortugalBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm
http://www.EmigrationGuide.com/guide.htm

Best regards and a sunny smile from me – I am off boating down the canals in my friend’s longboat again!

Carol.
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com

Why Travel to Portugal

Hello – how are you? This is a happy week for me as my daughter is in town. She lives in Dubai and is here to complete a course module for her studies. She arrived in London hoping to escape the heat in Dubai, only to be met with uncharacteristically hot weather here! I did warn her in advance – but do kids ever listen to their mothers? Thank heavens it’s cooling down a little now, for both our sakes!

Are you off to Portugal this summer? For those sun worshippers amongst us, it may interest you to know that the number of tourists to Portugal have dropped, mainly of course due to the almost universal slump in the economy. The country has always offered some of the best value in the eurozone, especially outside the Algarve, and now you may easily get even better prices.

So…what to see and how to save on costs?

The rule of thumb is that farther north you go, the further the cost of living drops as this area sees far fewer tourists.

If you Google holiday deals, you will find that many holiday companies are offering cheaper deals that ever - a sign of the times. But, if like me, you like to travel independently, you may find that the Solares de Portugal fit the bill. These are not hotels or guesthouses but privately-owned stately manor houses, elegant country homes or lovely old farmhouses. The concept was introduced to help preserve Portugal’s heritage as well as providing accommodation in houses of character “Turismo de Habitação”. Some of them were once a bit tumbledown but they have now been restored to their former glory and are open to guests, who are treated as part of the family.

The Azores is affordable and is also the best place in Europe to see a large range of whales and dolphins up close. There are low cost airline flights plus a growing choice of self-catering options, as well as keenly priced hotels. You may find B & Bs an even better option that the bigger hotels as they can be more flexible price-wise.

Then Portugal’s state-run pousadas – wonderful palaces or convents that have been converted into very comfortable hotels – have introduced a new five-night “Pousada Passport”. This offers savings of up to 40 per cent on walk-in room rates on weekdays. Plus the pousadas have also teamed up with Avis to offer a five-night package at a very reasonable price…these are just a few of the options you can Google online.

Most visitors to the Algarve go west from Faro airport to the busy coastal resorts of Albufeira, Portimão and Lagos. These are the most popular destinations, and therefore the most pricey. Try going east to the nearby pretty riverside town of Tavira for instance and your holiday can cost half as much. Food is much more affordable and so is the accommodation. Finally, some of the most rewarding touring can be found in the coastal province north of Porto called the Minho. Those in the know consider this the most beautiful part of the country, and it is also the most traditional. You can get there via Ryanair and book cheaper B & Bs – that’s what I did when I was in Portugal.

And if you your trip is part of a property viewing trip, this could be a very good time. Prices have dropped throughout the country some are not expecting the market situation to improve before the second half of 2012. You do however really need to focus on accessibility – always important but never more so than now. I write a monthly Portugal Buying Guide newsletter and I am dedicating my end July/ early August one to transport within Greece – you may like to look at it. Just go to: http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/news.htm around about 29th July.

All the best until next week,

Carol.

Money Saving Tips Abroad

Hi there – how are you?

I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined that I would be hoping for a cloudy, cool day here in London. While my friends were here and Wimbledon was on, it would have been a tad churlish to wish for overcast skies but this week at last I welcome the cooler weather!

Are you going away this summer? Whether you are looking to buy a property abroad or just joining the steadily declining number of holiday makers overseas, there is no doubt that financial restraints have meant that tourism has dropped. Most of us or having to tighten our belts and count the pennies, to use two clichés in one sentence! Not only is getting out there more costly but accommodation is stretching budgets too, so here are a few of my own tips for saving money next time you are abroad:

Food shopping

• It’s true that there are usually some lovely specialist stores nearby but prices can be on the high side if there is little competition in rural areas. It may be wise to consider shopping online if you can. This will mean that you can compare pricing and buy cheaper plus you will be less inclined to impulse buy!
  
• You could also find out if they have something like special offers or ‘double point’s days’ at your local supermarket and make an effort only to shop on those days. Also have a look at the items in the section for ‘nearing sell by date’. I have had lots of success here – things are sometimes quite dramatically reduced and are absolutely fine if you are going to eat them straight away or freeze them
  
• Last but by no means least, make a point of using your local fresh produce market for the bulk of your general day to day fruit and veggies if there is one in the vicinity. You may have to queue at the popular stalls but produce is usually cheaper and often much better than at the supermarkets
  

Make use of your own garden/land

• Once you have your own property, think about growing your own vegetables. Some friends of mine have a small plot and were absolutely delighted this year to be able to pick the most wonderful green beans, potatoes and tomatoes from their own garden. It is tremendous fun to watch something you have planted grow from seed and not difficult to achieve
  
• Invest in a water butt to catch rainwater for your garden
  

Car boot and bric-a-brac sales

• Every village or town has one or more. Look out for adverts in your supermarket and patronise these – you will be surprised what you can find.
  

General household bills

• Good insulation helps cut heating bills down in winter and air con. Bills in summer. Sealing outside doors also helps here
  
• A wood burning stove and/or an open fire may well be all you need for many of the winter months instead of more costly central heating
  
• Remember to turn off your TV, PC and mobile phone charger when not in use – from the wall and not just on the remote! A little goes a long way in saving you money!
  

Petrol

• Both petrol and diesel are usually cheaper at supermarkets. Try to avoid motorway service stations if you possibly can, they can be quite a bit more expensive
  

Insurance

• This is always worth looking into properly. You need to look at the cover you have as well as any excess and compare to other companies
  

And last but not least - communicate!

• This is vital. Communication with your neighbours, local shopkeepers and new friends is vital, not only for your peace of mind and happiness but for helping you to save money on your general living expenses. When I first bought my house abroad a kind neighbour told me where to get the very freshest bread in the morning which also happened to be a little cheaper than the bakery I had been going to. OK, a small point but a good example of how integration can help you in so many ways. So don’t be shy, socialise as much as you can and both you and your pocket are bound to benefit!
  

Any tips of your own that you want to share? It’s amazing how sometimes the simplest things can really help. When someone has told me what they do I have often kicked myself and wondered why I hadn’t thought of it…but sometimes you don’t. That’s what sharing is all about, so do get in touch if you feel you have a really good idea won’t you?

Bye for another week – take care!

Carol.
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com

Make YOUR financial plan come together….

Hi there.

Well, miracles DO happen! Can you believe the wonderful weather Wimbledon experienced in the run-up to the finals? As I may have mentioned, friends of mine came from South Africa and the USA to watch, and their chief concern was that they didn’t get sunburnt – not a problem usually encountered at Wimbledon! And what a gripping series it is, with the both the men’s and the woman’s favourites out – unbelievable.

I heard recently that they were doing a remake of that classic TV series, The A Team…I know it was ridiculous, but somehow it reminds me of my kid’s childhood, of a less sophisticated era when we all clustered around the TV together to watch instead of the family being spread throughout the house, each at their own computer or laptop.

Remember the catch-phrase – ‘I love it when a plan comes together?’ Well, wouldn’t it be wonderful to jet away to your place in the sun for your summer break, all your plans having come together? If only buying abroad was that easy….or is it? Well, thousands of us Brits do so every year according to the statistics – why not become one of them?

However, has the family agreed on the motive for buying? Is it a heart pounding, emotional fuelled, lifestyle purchase? Or is it a level-headed, pragmatic, money making decision? The majority of people probably want it all - the best of both worlds. However, that peaceful mountain retreat might not rent like the hedonistic beach front apartment…or should it be the city centre apartment which could rent well…but then…do you really want to stay in the business district yourself?

Whatever motivates your purchase, there are certain concerns that you should bear in mind, one of the most important being what financial liability are you taking on and if you can afford it. The papers have been full of property market crashes around the world – indeed mortgages were one of the main factors in many of the bank’s problems.

With 80% of overseas purchases being mortgaged, you need to make sure you choose the correct bank to fund your purchase. This can save you thousands in the long run. Do you need a bank that can facilitate re-finance? What about over-payments, what about off-setting income against mortgage costs? Is there a robust legal process and who should represent you? Cut costs here and you could lose the lot. Also, have you considered what type of property rents well in your chosen area: apartments or villas? Is there a glut of rentable property in the area you are looking at? These and many other factors need serious consideration upfront.

The bottom line is that all of the above involves money and lots of it, so talking to professionals is key. This is a big commitment with big responsibilities. How does it fit into your overall financial plan? Speak to financial advisors who have overseas property experience (not all do), and are familiar with property investment strategies. Understanding the full financial commitment you are taking on, you can then feel confident that you are buying within your budget and not be in for any shocks along the way.

Your plan will only come together only if you actually have one…and then stick to it! Even when buying the holiday home of your dreams the numbers must work… you must understand them, work them out in advance, and then confidently buy, knowing that you have catered for every contingency.

Take care in the week ahead and enjoy the summer sun!

Best,
Carol.
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com