Hello,

we are currently planning a relocation from France to the Lourinha area in Portugal (we are English originally), and are heading down to have a good scout around in a week or so. I was just wondering if anyone had any pointers with regards to estate agents, either positive or negative, as we are looking to buy somewhere. The big question is tho whether anyone has any advice re renting as we would like to rent, short term, while we find our feet and before we commit fully to anything.

Also, are there any other families in the area as we have a lovely (because I'm biased) little boy, who will be 4 just before Christmas, and I think it would ease the move if we could find some friends to play with. Or are there any groups/pre-schools/activity clubs that anyone knows about.

I look forward to hearing anything. It would help to put my mind at rest!

Thank you

Nice choice, lovely area! Sorry can't help as I know the area from having a few days away there every year. There is certainly a forum member from that area.. What there name is I can't remember! Hopefully they give you a reply!

Thanks, we're not 100% sure if that's where we'll stay! Need to do some research, hence the forum posting. It would be nice to know about kiddie stuff so we can meet people and have fun! Thanks

At 4 years old your kid would have no problems at all socialising with Portuguese kids anyway so I certainly would not seeing that as an issue. I have certainly seen some UK registered cars in the area so there is for sure quite a few Brits in the area.

Here is a thread where two of the forum members are in that area, why no PM or email them and send them the link to this thread asking them for advice?!

http://britishexpats.com/forum/portu...urinha-834016/

all threads with word "Lourinha" :
http://britishexpats.com/forum/searc...archid=8045248

Hi fanny75, we were looking at buying in the Lourinha area but have now bought a house near Nadadouro. However, Lourinha is lovely with some great properties and a variety of good beaches. When there in May we made contact with Ray (known on this forum as coffeeman) who knows Lourinha better than us, though I believe that he isn't permanently resident.

The agent that we had the best experience with was Paul Manning of Perfect Portugal Property.

Hope that helps, Andy R

Great, thanks for that Andy,

we've made some contact with agents, and we're heading there this weekend for a look about. We know north or the area quite well having spent a lot of time in Peniche. We did have some contact with PPProperty, but not much on the renting front, which is what we are ideally looking to do before rushing in to buy somewhere. Our house sale here will be completed in Dec, so we haven't got that long to look for somewhere! No pressure!

At least renting at this time of year should be a bit easier than in the Summer. All the same - Good luck! Andy R

Hi I'm I'm a similar boat to what you were last year looking at lourinha. I'd be fascinated to know, did you take the plunge? How is it schooling your little boy abroad ? And what do you manage to do for work? (Typical worries!) . I'm a carpenter and my girlfriend is an architect. Think it would be easier for me to find work than her! Would you agree?

Hope all went well with your house sale, look forward to hearing from you.

Adam.

Building trade is pretty stagnant which will affect both you but I think you'll be right about you finding work easier than your gf. For you though I would imagine since you won't speak Portuguese you both would maybe have more success self employed in the Algarve?! Your gf will have to get right into the langauge and I would imagine study Portuguese building regulations.

Schools, as long as your child/children is/are pretty young you'll have no worries there.

As an UK qualified architect having to establish their qualifications and work in a differnet language and set of regulations it would not be easy.
A jobbing handyman working in the expat community would on the face of it seem easier but even in the Algarve there are a significant number already doing that and having to compete with locals charging local rates.
The best approach is if finances allow to rent for 12-24 months and see how it goes.
Maybe the GF can work remotely from Portugal if they can find a property with a god enough internet connection.

Hi, yes, we've made the plunge, and I am typing from our rented apartment in Lourinha. We were very lucky I think with regards to estate agents, we found Antonio at Home Oeste in Lourinha incredibly helpful, and it helps that he speaks fantastic English. We enrolled our son into a small pre school, who were very patient and accommodating, and he now speaks pretty good Portuguese. I am currently studying towards a qualification to teach English, which I hope to be able to use here, and my OH is working online.

Compared to France, living here is so easy. People are kind, patient and welcoming. The internet connection is significantly better, and apparently they've been laying fibre optic cable this week, so it's only going to get faster.

We haven't really met many people yet, which I suppose is a downside, but when I've finished my course I'm going to take some Portuguese lessons which should help on the social front.

I agree with EMR, rent first, so you can see if you are where you want to be. And I'd say, give it a try! I know that there are plenty of non Portuguese who live down in the Alentejo, if you really don't want to be in the Algarve!

Sorry for the long post! And hope it helps!

Good on you for taking the lessons, outside the algarve not knowing the langauge can mean quite a lonely life here, I tok lessons for first 2 months or so when I moved here to give me a start but getting out and speaking what you get taught is where you will see real progress! If you speak Portuguese to someone Portuguese and they answer in English... Continue in Portuguese regardless of how difficult it is! I found wine helped a lot too!

Wine always helps a lot!

Joking aside, my local coffee shop staff all speak a bit of English but are always delighted when I make my order in Portuguese and always encourage me to speak as much Portuguese as I can.

Hey thanks so much for all replies, I appreciate the rapid response and honest detailed answers. Me and gf have been to Portugal for a few weeks, needless to say we fell in love with the country completely. My ideal would be to do maybe 6 months winter in Portugal 6 months in UK to reconnect with friends family and do guaranteed paid work (creative carpentry and forestry) which is my passion. Only problem with that is when the kids come along ! Also split life may seem like best of both, but maybe would be a case of can't have your cake and eat it! Any comments really appreciated!
PS me and gf are really passionate about language, I don't see the language being a problem bar the first 6 months, we are both tri- lingual already albeit not Portuguese (yet!)


Adam.

Don't let the language problem bother you because it isn't a problem nowadays........ even if you're completely stuffed, you can pretty much always break the barrier with a translator program on an I pad or I phone or as a last resort by showing a pic of what you want.

I can even photograph a menu with my I pad and it auto translates it for me.