Pilou

Hi everybody,

First of all, I think this forum is fantastic.

I am Dutch but live in France for over 20 years.
My husband and I plan to immigrate to Portugal, to the Algarve.

We were there in February, but could not find a house within our limited budget .
We'll try again to find a small house at the end of this year. The main reason: we made the most wonderful walks along the coast between Lagos and Albufeira.
We like Portimao-center, because even in February it was alive.

I hope to learn and read a lot on this forum and try to give some feed back.

Ukkram

Welcome and I'm sure you will find more properties available as we head into winter.

EMR

Welcome, small houses on limited budgets are not easy to find because of the high demand.
Looking inland but still within a short drive to the coast could give you a wider choice.

liveaboard

Apartments in Portimao are being advertised at astoundingly cheap prices.
Houses, maybe not so cheap.

Lots of Dutch these days, in the neighborhood and on the forum.

EMR

But who wants to live in a tower block in Portimao?

Pilou

In Portimao / Praia da Rocha are a lot of tower blocks.
We like the old town with the old tiny houses.
We prefer a house not far from the river.

We also like Lagoa.

liveaboard

Someone with a 25,000 home purchase budget.

EMR

That's not wanting,that is having to.

macliam

Not everyone has the choice.....

EMR

Thats exactly my point, it's not what they want ,thats all they can afford.
Agents will tell you that many arrive in the Algarve with an unrealistic view of what they can actually afford having looked on the internet at the areas popular with the less wealthy Portuguese and not realising or understanding that there is a wide gap in price between the aspirations of some from overseas and the market.
It's a fact that you will get far more for your money if you look at areas not popular with foreign buyers.
The OP mentioned Lagoa an area which includes Carvoeiro and Ferragudo.
Areas such as Parchal , Estombar are much ,much cheaper than neighbouring Ferragudo.
Post code snobbery, no different in Portugal to anywhere else in the world.
Our Algarve home is in Carvoeiro but on the Lagoa side, walk up and over a hill and prices increase by as much as 100,000 for similar properties.

Pilou

Within our budget (up to EUR 125,000) it is hard to find a house we like with 2 bedrooms and a balcony / terrace between Porches and Alvor.
Most of the houses are in Alte, Alcoutim or at the east part of the Algarve.

Because we won't be in the Algarve between May and October, we prefer to be in a village/ town.
We like Alporchinhos for example, but in the winter we would feel very alone.