Portugal - Algarve Escape to the Continent

This rocky outcrop is the most south-westerly point in Europe

and was once considered to be the very end of the world!

So, find out where I am and which country I'm in, in just a moment.

On today's show, the pressure is on to help a couple

living out of a suitcase find the right home in the sun,

and things start to look up

when priorities get completely turned on their head.

This is everything I didn't want and the nicest room we've seen.

-It's beautiful!

-Very nice room.

Hello and welcome to Escape To The Continent.

Today, I'm in the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal.

Now, 1,000 years ago, this coast was deemed to be the end of the world,

as the Atlantic Ocean beyond it

was considered far too treacherous to cross.

But in 1433 a man named Gil Eanes finally navigated

this feared and terrible stretch of water.

Today, the lighthouse at Cape St Vincent stands vigil over

what is nowadays one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Covering the entire southern tip of Portugal,

the Algarve stretches for almost 100 miles,

starting at the Spanish border

and running along the coast to the Atlantic.

The seaboard offers a rich assortment of wide, sandy beaches,

protected nature reserves and rocky coves,

sculpted by the punishing strength of the ocean.

From the eighth century, much of Portugal was under Islamic rule

and there are still reminders of those few hundred years

of Moorish occupation.

Today, the Algarve prides itself on being a leading tourist destination.

But its ever mild climate is also an increasingly sunny

incentive for the 60,000 expats who have decided to stay for good.

So, what is it about this region that so appeals to today's buyers?

Well, let's meet them and find out.

Tony and wife Hilary already escaped the hustle and bustle when

they moved from Cheshire to a small village in Devon three years ago.

But it was just the stepping stone to their ultimate goal

of getting away to the warmer climes of the continent.

We've sold our house

and we're hoping to move out to Portugal very shortly.

Well, it's a dream a lot of people have

but we're going to be living that dream.

And after 14 years of marriage,

they have called time on their careers

to concentrate on their shared life together.

We've gone through being tied to an area for work, for children,

for elderly relatives, and now it's our time.

We intend to enjoy it to the full.

And a warmer, more carefree way of life should be just

the tonic for Tony,

who suffers from a neurological illness that causes him fatigue.

I retired approximately 18 months ago due to ill health and think

maybe the move to Portugal will help with rehabilitation.

Both Tony and Hilary have grown-up

children from previous relationships,

who are also hoping to benefit from this Portuguese migration.

Between us, we have six children

and I'm hoping that they will all come out to see us.

-They're looking forward to some nice holidays in the sun.

-They are, yeah.

Free! THEY LAUGH

The property they're after will clearly need space

to fit their visiting family,

but ultimately, Hilary and Tony

are looking to find their dream forever home.

We are drawn to new-build properties -

we like the clean lines and modern look.

We don't want to live in an entirely expat community,

we don't want to be inland and we don't want to be remote.

I do all the cooking at home, so it would be very important

to me that we have a decent-sized kitchen that I can continue that.

I enjoy gardening. I would love a garden.

So, with their Devonshire property all signed and sold,

the finances are already in place for their brand-new Algarve home.

Our budget for the move to the Algarve is £180,000.

Hilary and Tony have asked us

to focus their house search on the central region of the Algarve

and they've arrived in Portugal to meet me

in a breathtaking spot, where we're going to nail down the finer details

of their upcoming move.

So, Hilary and Tony, welcome to the Algarve. We must have picked

the most beautiful spot to meet possible!

Did you know, in the back of your minds,

that you wanted to live and retire abroad?

It's quite a recent decision

because of Tony's change in health.

What type of lifestyle

do you think you'll get with this move, Hilary?

A much more outdoors lifestyle,

which hopefully will improve our fitness.

So, what are we looking at, what's your ideal property?

We'd like two bedrooms,

two bathrooms, cos we're going to have a lot of visitors,

south-facing, get as much sun as we can,

and Tony would like a really good kitchen.

Do you speak from experience?

Cos it sounds like you know exactly what you want.

Yes, we do. We were here in March and the apartment that we rented

was north-facing and that apartment was quite cold.

Remind us of your budget.

The budget is £180,000, but we're quite happy to negotiate.

The house is packed up and sold,

what have we done with the bigger pieces of furniture?

They are on their way to the Algarve and they'll be going into storage.

So, they'll be all ready for when you've found us

somewhere ideal to live.

-Absolutely! I'm loving this positive spirit!

-No pressure!

-Shall we get started?

-Yes, please.

-Let's go to our first property.

-OK.

For a budget of £180,000, with room for manoeuvre,

Tony and Hilary are after a modern home with at least two bedrooms,

a decent-size kitchen and a manageable garden,

preferably south-facing.

We'll be hoping to uncover their dream home

from a choice range of three Portuguese properties,

culminating in our mystery house which, while at the water's edge,

pushes the ocean into the distance.

We're starting our property journey in the town of Carvoeiro,

which is on the coast.

Carvoeiro started life as a fishing village

and has grown into a popular tourist hotspot.

Most of the property here is of recent construction.

The one we've chosen as our first house is on a quiet street,

tucked into the hillside.

So, Hilary and Tony, this is your first property.

Oh, wow!

It looks as if it's older than we were imagining.

-This, actually, was built in 1980.

-Really?

-It has a very traditional look.

-It does.

-It looks older than that.

And I think that's part of the appeal.

I look forward to seeing the inside.

-On that note, let's go in.

-Oh, let's.

I sense some initial trepidation

but although this property isn't a new-build,

it has recently been refurbished, so should provide the fresh,

blank canvas our buyers are looking for.

-Wow, it's a bigger room than I expected.

-Yeah.

-It seems very Portuguese.

-Does it?

-Yes.

-And you like that open-plan feel?

-Oh, yes, we do, definitely.

-You like it to look quite modern.

-Yes.

-I notice one thing missing.

Fireplace.

-Ah...

-That's true, yes.

Good point, might be your first little job, mightn't it?

I wasn't going to have any jobs!

THEY LAUGH

So, you've got this open-plan layout, which leads us

beautifully into the kitchen,

-which, I believe, Tony, is your domain.

-Oh, yes.

So, as you can see here, units actually pretty new.

Yes, it's very nice.

-Very nice.

-It's certainly bigger than I was expecting.

The only negative I would say is it's quite dark.

So, it's maybe a compromise we need,

but perhaps it makes it cooler.

-Let's head outside.

-Yes, please.

-We have a little courtyard here.

-Oh, wow!

-NICKI LAUGHS

-Come on out!

-This is beautiful!

-Yeah?

-Yes.

Oh, what a lovely space.

And you mentioned about the kitchen being a little bit dark,

but it's actually been designed so it is a little bit covered

because the sun rises in the morning

and I think because it gets so hot over here,

-they do want the shade.

-Of course.

Yes, this is something we have to adjust to.

-Right, do you want to follow me? We'll keep exploring

-Yes.

This is a well-designed house that incorporates attractive

and practical alfresco living areas

which make the most of the Algarve climate.

Back inside, a beautifully tiled stairwell

leads up to the first floor,

where we're heading for the master bedroom.

Now, how did you know this is my favourite colour?

Matching your outfit.

-Perfect, perfect!

-The view!

I can see the sea!

This property has...

-four bedrooms.

-No!

You've got a bedroom downstairs on the ground floor.

Up on this floor, you've got three bedrooms,

-all of a good size.

-Right.

You've got a family bathroom just across the hallway.

It gets better and better.

And we've got one last space to reveal

which could improve things even further.

Oh, Nicki.

-Oh, Hilary!

-Oh, this is lovely.

-Yeah?

-Just stunning.

I mean, beautiful architecture, the sea there,

and all this space.

I didn't expect this much space.

-So, do I take it that you like it up here?

-Oh, yes.

-Yes.

-Oh, yes, you've hit the nail on the head here.

I'm speechless, it's absolutely brilliant.

How much do you think this property in the town is on the market for?

I think a cheeky guess - 175,000.

-I think £195,000.

-Right.

The asking price

is just over £200,000.

-Is that a negotiable price?

-They have intimated

to the estate agent they would look at around £170,000.

That would be better. Because it isn't absolutely perfect.

It's close, but not absolutely perfect,

and there are one or two things we'd like to do.

Yeah, definitely.

Over budget, but with room to negotiate,

this smart detached villa is a few minutes' walk from the beach

and offers spacious open-plan living,

a kitchen leading to a patio, four bedrooms,

as well as a large roof terrace,

and all in a location at the heart of a lively town.

Have you seen enough, you two?

-Yes, thank you.

-Yes.

That was quite a good start, wasn't it?

-It was, yes!

-Yeah.

-And it's only our first property.

-Yes, very excited to see the rest.

Good.

The next property is in the village of Pera,

which lies further east and further inland.

Pera is a quiet, more traditional location,

and represents an uncommercialised, sleepier side of the Algarve.

The property we've picked was built six years ago

and lies in a peaceful residential cul-de-sac.

So, Tony and Hilary, here is your next property.

Oh, wow. Now, I do like the look of that.

-It's got a lovely feel.

-Yeah.

Every house I've lived in has been in a cul-de-sac.

-Has it?

-Yes.

-It is a good omen.

I'm very comfortable in a cul-de-sac.

Yeah, it looks nice. Just what we are after.

-I can't wait to see what's inside.

-Well, why don't we?

-Ooh, let's!

So, I'm bringing you through the French doors rather than

-the front door.

-Right.

-Cos this leads straight into the kitchen.

Yes. Nice.

As you can see, it's modern,

and you've got granite work surfaces all along there.

-I would've liked a bit more...

-Yes.

-..work surface.

It's tiled throughout.

And they're a nice, light colour as well. I like the light floors.

-We're doing well so far, aren't we?

-We are.

Let's see if it's going to continue.

So our next stop is the sitting room.

It's got a fireplace!

Brilliant. Oh, it's a lovely-sized room.

-It's almost square, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Is this the dining room as well?

-Yes.

You've got the table behind you, but next door to us is another room.

They use it as a bedroom-cum-study,

but you do have the option, if you wanted a separate dining room,

-you could perhaps have it in there.

-OK.

-Right.

I'm just noticing that there are patterned tiles on the floor,

which perhaps wouldn't be first choice, we would have plain, but...

-It doesn't look too bad.

-..it works.

-Yeah.

-All right, well, if you'd like to follow me,

I'm going to head upstairs.

Despite the smiles, I am concerned

that it's the simple decorative choices,

like tile colour or wood burners,

that seem to be the deal-breakers.

And these are relatively minor details that can easily be

altered at a reasonably low cost.

If Hilary and Tony want to get a roof over their heads as soon

as possible, they need to focus on the bigger picture.

So this house has three double bedrooms.

Up here, you've got two good-sized doubles. This is the master.

And another bathroom.

-Right, OK.

-You've got a balcony out there.

-That's a big balcony.

-Very nice, yes.

-I can't see much to put me off.

-No. No.

Perhaps a little bit of work in the kitchen,

but just to make it enough workspace.

But I'm just very fussy, aren't I?

-Yeah.

-Yes!

Are you looking for a property that really needs

nothing doing to it at all?

Well, I think that would be preferable.

Because rather than me having to do the jobs,

I think we'd have to get somebody in.

Of course, we're not familiar with how much it costs to have

work done in Portugal,

so you'd be buying unknown.

Whereas if it's all done, you know where you stand.

Well, I think we may have unearthed

the root of our buyers' picky preferences.

With limited language skills, they may be scared to tackle

anything beyond the typical day-to-day tasks.

But the reality of living abroad on a permanent basis means there

will come a time when they'll need to deal with local tradespeople.

Now stepping outside, I have a surprise for them.

SHE GASPS

There's a pool!

-Oh, wow, you kept that quiet!

-Wow.

Oh, that's it, I'll have it!

NICKI LAUGHS

Now, someone did say to me that it has to be south-facing.

Yes, that was me.

So, as the sun comes across, you get it all afternoon,

into the evening and it sets over there.

Beautiful.

-You've done well.

-The only problem is now, can we afford it?

Has the pool made it a step too far when it comes to budgets?

Let's find out.

-Who's going to go first?

-I'm going to be really hopeful.

I'll say...

185,000.

OK. Hilary?

-I'm going to say 200 and hope they take an offer.

-OK.

All right, well, the asking price is...

Just over £176,000.

-No!

-Yeah.

-Wow!

-Speechless.

-We could get you a rug to cover up those tiles.

Happy days, that's it, job done.

Comfortably under budget,

this immaculate, recently built townhouse offers three bedrooms,

two bathrooms, a lounge-diner as well as a fully fitted kitchen,

and the icing on the cake - its own swimming pool.

-Ah, you two, you love this property, don't you?

-We do.

I don't want to go. Can't we just stay?

I'm afraid not because I have more to show you.

Of course, yes.

The Algarve scenery is varied,

with the countryside blending together

a mix of distinctive landscapes, which provide habitats

for a diverse range of fauna and flora.

Hilary is keen to nurture her green fingers

when she moves to Portugal,

so I'm introducing both our buyers to British expat Rosie Peddle,

who runs the Portuguese branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society.

Along with her husband, Rob,

they migrated from the East Midlands to the Algarve in 2004.

I'm quite a keen amateur gardener.

I expect we'll only have a small garden.

But I'd like to know what's best to plant.

-OK?

-Well, there's a lot of fun ahead.

-Oh, lovely!

-I'm going to leave you lot to it! All right?

-Come with me, darling.

-Thank you.

The grounds of Rosie and Rob's beautiful Algarve home

cover some four acres, which Rosie maintains herself,

so she has first-hand knowledge of the challenges that come

with the Mediterranean climate and planting in the Algarve soil.

It's best to choose drought-resistant species

and, as a good starter shrub,

Rosie recommends an evergreen plant called lentisc,

which can be pruned into whatever shape our buyers might fancy.

This is a fantastic native shrub.

You'll see this all over the Algarve.

You'll probably find it's around wherever you end up buying a house.

-OK.

-In the UK, you're used to being busy in the summer.

That's when you have to be active to keep the plants alive,

-to keep them in good health.

-Yes.

Well, here, it's the other way round.

You have a spring in the late summer when it rains

and everything goes green

and then you get the next spring, which is February-March.

-Yes.

-If it's not comfortable for you to be outside, then it's probably

not comfortable for you to be outside doing things to the plants.

Right.

And on that note, the gorgeous weather is twisting all our arms

to make that picture a reality over a few glasses of home-made ice tea.

So, what is the reason you're coming to the Algarve?

What's drawn you to this part of the world that we love?

-Well, the sun.

-Seems reasonable.

-Yeah.

We've been on holiday a number of times in the last 18 months

to the Algarve and, I must admit, I feel a lot better

when I get home from the holiday.

Because I haven't been working for the last 18 months,

I've been sat in at home, just waiting for the sun to come out.

I used to suffer from...not bad asthma,

but enough to, you know, give me some difficulties.

And really since I've been here,

-it's not surfaced at all really, has it?

-No.

Do you suppose that's down to the cleaner air

or the combination of that and the more relaxed lifestyle?

Probably that and the red wine, I suspect.

-THEY LAUGH

-Anaesthetic!

I've got to ask you, what about healthcare over here?

What's that like?

It's very similar to the UK. There's a national health system,

but there's also a very active private system as well.

Cos there a lot of consultant specialists that come here,

you can actually get hold of them and talk to them directly

rather than having to go through a GP to get to them.

What about the language?

Cos obviously, a lot of the people that you'll be talking to

are going to be Portuguese.

If you're living in a country, it's actually rude not to try to...

-Absolutely.

-That's the first thing.

But secondly, if you've got enough language to get an understanding

and communicate the basics, you can get so much more out of the country.

-We can't wait to get started.

-Thank you so much indeed.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

-And have fun.

Rosie and Rob's advice, from close to a decade of experience,

is invaluable, and there are a number of other practical

considerations to bear in mind when buying property in Portugal,

including a few hidden costs.

Firstly, the purchase process is conducted in two stages

and typically, a 10% to 40% deposit is paid at the first phase

to secure the property.

After completion, one of the biggest costs to consider is

the property transfer tax, called IMT,

which is the equivalent of stamp duty

and is set on a sliding scale depending on the property value.

Lastly, if you choose to cash in on the prosperous tourist trade,

remember that non-residents are obliged to pay income tax

on any rented property.

But most important of all is to get competent legal advice

before signing any legally binding paperwork.

Over the last few days, we've shown Tony and Hilary some great homes

here on the Algarve and received some pretty favourable reactions.

So, with our mystery house,

we've decided to take a little bit of a risk

and show them something they haven't necessarily asked for.

But will it be a step too far?

Let's find out.

For our final house, we're taking a bit of a risk

and are heading away from Tony and Hilary's favoured coastal area

inland to the outskirts of the pretty and historic town of Loule.

The property is perhaps more isolated than they're after,

but then again, it is the mystery house.

Here it is. What do you think?

-Different.

-Right...

Any idea why we brought you here as our mystery house?

-I was going to say it's got a great big swimming pool?

-Are you hoping?

Well, I can always hope, can't I?

-Well, with this property, we are a little bit further out.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

About four miles from the closest town.

In front of us here, you've actually got a one-bedroom apartment.

Oh, right.

Now the building is complete,

but inside you'd need to fit floor, bathroom and a kitchen.

-Right.

-So that could be a project.

Further down the line, if you fancied renting it out,

and making a little bit more money, could be an option there for you.

-Always nice to have in your back pocket, isn't it?

-More money?

-Yes, definitely.

-We all like that.

THEY LAUGH

Dating back to 1953, the walls of the mystery house do hold

some history, but the property has recently been updated

and offers over 2,500 square feet of living space.

Entering the house, there's a modern kitchen that lies next to

a spacious open-plan dining and living room.

I'm going to start us off in our sitting room...

complete with wood burner.

This is a beautiful room.

This is everything I didn't want

and the nicest room we've seen.

-It's beautiful.

-Yeah, a very nice room.

It feels homely.

The decoration is perfect.

-It's got a lot going for it.

-It has, hasn't it?

I still have concerns about where it is,

but I'm itching to see what else there is inside, and outside.

-Well, if you'd like to follow me...

-OK.

Now, this is just one of the bedrooms

-and you've probably noticed we are still on the ground floor.

-Yes.

So, you've got this one on this side then you've got another one

just behind us.

About the same dimensions.

You've also got two bathrooms on the ground floor.

That's greedy!

-Yeah, so if you don't want to go up those stairs...

-You don't have to.

..you don't need to.

Up those stairs lie a further two bedrooms,

both of which are good-sized doubles,

making a grand total of four bedrooms,

leaving plenty of elbow room for visitors.

Also up here on the first floor is a special

and particularly sunny spot I'd like to share with Tony and Hilary.

-It's bright up here, isn't it?

-Very, yeah.

-Yes.

That is a lovely view.

-Yeah, gorgeous.

-Much more remote than we've been before.

And it's not built-up.

-You haven't got neighbours on your doorstep, have you, Tony?

-No.

Does give you room to breathe here.

Yes, yes, it does. Yes.

OK, well, let's head back downstairs

because there's still more to this house.

-Wow, there's a pool.

-Oh, that's fabulous.

Can I jump in, please?

-It's certainly warm enough today, isn't it?

-It is.

-All round here...

-Oh, and a garden.

-..you've got gardens.

Got all this entertaining space, too.

Has it taken your breath away?

-Yes, yes.

-It has really.

How much do you think the mystery house is on the market for?

-I'm going to say 180, our budget.

-OK. And Hilary?

I'm going to be hopeful

and say 185,000.

The asking price is...just over...

-£155,000.

-Oh.

Oh, well, that makes a difference.

The mystery property is

a Portuguese-style detached country house

sitting on higher ground away from the coast.

It has an open-plan reception, four bedrooms, two bathrooms

and a roof terrace with views towards the sea

and across the grounds that feature mature gardens,

a large swimming pool, as well as a potential

'one-bedroom apartment.'

Ah, here they come. How are you feeling? Cos that's it.

We've shown you all our properties.

If we were confused before, we're even more confused now.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-You two need some time to have a chat on your own.

-We do, yes.

-Collect your thoughts. OK, let's go.

-OK.

What do you think you've learned over the last few days

about this house search?

I think we've learned to be a bit more flexible.

Certainly look at houses that perhaps we would've just turned down.

At least consider them.

It's made us see that we could look further inland

-but perhaps look for a newer property inland.

-Yes.

-And get better value for money.

-Have we got close with any of them?

We probably would've bought any of those and enjoyed living there

but none of them particularly felt like home,

except perhaps the one at Pera.

That is the one that has come closest to feeling like a home.

And I think probably we would go back and have a second viewing.

-Would you really?

-Yes, I think so.

So, do you think you will find that perfect forever home

here on the Algarve?

Everything you want out of it on your budget?

Yes, I believe we will.

I think it's there and we can't wait.

Let us know how you get on, won't you?

And I hope the lifestyle out here is everything that you want it to be

because I know you deserve that.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much indeed.

This has been a tough week

because for Hilary and Tony,

it isn't just about finding a new home,

it also represents a brand-new way of life.

Now, they're coming back to the Algarve next week

and I really wish it was to put an offer in on one of our houses,

but their search continues.

And I so hope they manage to find that perfect property

here in the Algarve somewhere.

See you next time.

In their search for the perfect Portuguese property,

Tony and Hilary looked at another 20 houses

before falling for their dream home in Lagos.

And it turns out that it was completely off-brief,

being a modern two-bedroom apartment

without a garden or even a fireplace,

but we wish them both all the best

for a sunnier, healthier life in the Med.

If you wish to escape to the continent

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