So interesting! Thank you for this most informative post! I, too, really love looking at real estate. Having done extensive renovation in my own older home here in the US over the last five years, I can relate to the “dust containment issues.” But if you have a vision, patience, and do good research, you can turn something pretty ordinary ( or sometimes quite hideous depending on your perspective!🥴) into something really tasteful and lovely. I especially love how you so diplomatically point out the less desirable aspects of each of these places as well as the positives and I think you have a great handle on all of it! I suspect when your place is all done it will be absolutely lovely!
This is an incredibly helpful post. Exactly the sort of thing that I had hoped to find and wish I would see more of. Useful, boots-on-the-ground information. Thank you very much!
Thank you so much, Nancy, for the interesting info. I can't and I don't want to retire in my country of birth. I fell in love with Portugal 3 years ago, touring. I realized that my allergies are gone too!! I have limited budget, my choice is to rent first and see. I love VRSA proximity to Spain and slightly away from touristy area. I'm receiving idealista listing for 1b/1b units for sale and have some ideas about the real estate market. I think it's overpriced and rent first is the best idea.
This is such a helpful post. Thank you very much! I am surprised by the prices… in a positive way. But I live in Northern California, in a flat in San Francisco, with a second home in a very pricey Sonoma county wine country town. Homes are super expensive and property taxes are nuts. Perspective. Perspective. So I am pleasantly surprised by the possibilities in this one area of Portugal. That anyone would think they could get a place to live for $150,000 (or Euros) anywhere in Portugal also surprises me, but then there’s YouTube. Do you explain in one of your other posts about energy ratings and about property taxes? I am not planning to buy a property in Portugal (though it is on my dream list of possibilities in Europe, and Europe does whisper in my ear). Thanks again for this post, and for all of your other ones. BTW, on a separate topic, I imagine that you know that your beloved pickle ball is spreading like wildfire in California, i.e, fast!! It is popping up everywhere and it is easy to see why. Such a friendly, social and fun sport!
Hi Avery, the Energy Rating goes from A+ to F. Our new home without solar is A, with solar A+. Regarding taxes…sit down before reading. The taxes on the house we purchased are €250/year. We expect that to double once the renovation is done….
So interesting! Thank you for this most informative post! I, too, really love looking at real estate. Having done extensive renovation in my own older home here in the US over the last five years, I can relate to the “dust containment issues.” But if you have a vision, patience, and do good research, you can turn something pretty ordinary ( or sometimes quite hideous depending on your perspective!🥴) into something really tasteful and lovely. I especially love how you so diplomatically point out the less desirable aspects of each of these places as well as the positives and I think you have a great handle on all of it! I suspect when your place is all done it will be absolutely lovely!
Very interesting. I too like to look at real estate even when I’m not buying. It says a lot about an area. Thanks for the informative post.
Thanks for writing this and the extensive research it took!
Thank you for this incredibly useful post (but, tbh, yours always are...).
This is an incredibly helpful post. Exactly the sort of thing that I had hoped to find and wish I would see more of. Useful, boots-on-the-ground information. Thank you very much!
On the money!😊
Thank you for this info!
Thank you so much, Nancy, for the interesting info. I can't and I don't want to retire in my country of birth. I fell in love with Portugal 3 years ago, touring. I realized that my allergies are gone too!! I have limited budget, my choice is to rent first and see. I love VRSA proximity to Spain and slightly away from touristy area. I'm receiving idealista listing for 1b/1b units for sale and have some ideas about the real estate market. I think it's overpriced and rent first is the best idea.
Rent first is always best…you really don’t know a town till you have spent 6-12 months there
I tried to convince Mike that we could buy the "fixer-upper", but he wasn't having it unless you are the GC!!!
Always happy to help!
😂🤣
OMG!!!
I learned that property taxes in France are very low. Where does the state get its financing? Income tax? Sales tax?
Income and sales tax is significantly higher than in the states!
This is such a helpful post. Thank you very much! I am surprised by the prices… in a positive way. But I live in Northern California, in a flat in San Francisco, with a second home in a very pricey Sonoma county wine country town. Homes are super expensive and property taxes are nuts. Perspective. Perspective. So I am pleasantly surprised by the possibilities in this one area of Portugal. That anyone would think they could get a place to live for $150,000 (or Euros) anywhere in Portugal also surprises me, but then there’s YouTube. Do you explain in one of your other posts about energy ratings and about property taxes? I am not planning to buy a property in Portugal (though it is on my dream list of possibilities in Europe, and Europe does whisper in my ear). Thanks again for this post, and for all of your other ones. BTW, on a separate topic, I imagine that you know that your beloved pickle ball is spreading like wildfire in California, i.e, fast!! It is popping up everywhere and it is easy to see why. Such a friendly, social and fun sport!
Hi Avery, the Energy Rating goes from A+ to F. Our new home without solar is A, with solar A+. Regarding taxes…sit down before reading. The taxes on the house we purchased are €250/year. We expect that to double once the renovation is done….
Re pickleball we have a mutual friend that has even given it a try!
Yes we do!! She will get hooked, I am sure!! And when she finally makes it to Portugal she will, no doubt, be a contender!