Acknowledgements | p. xi |
Why Portugal? | p. 1 |
First thoughts - can so many people be wrong? | p. 1 |
England's oldest allies | p. 3 |
Ze Povinho (Joe Public) and his lifestyle | p. 4 |
Climate | p. 6 |
Average temperatures | p. 7 |
Average rainfall | p. 8 |
The language | p. 8 |
Pros and Cons of life in Portugal | p. 9 |
Summary | p. 11 |
Planning Where to Go in Portugal | p. 12 |
An overview of the regions | p. 13 |
Costa Verde and Montanhas | p. 16 |
Costa de Prata | p. 19 |
Lisboa area | p. 21 |
The Plains - Planicies | p. 23 |
The Algarve | p. 25 |
Madeira and the Acores | p. 27 |
House values survey | p. 31 |
Summary | p. 31 |
What to Buy | p. 32 |
Where do the Portuguese live? | p. 32 |
Where do foreigners live? | p. 33 |
Types of houses | p. 34 |
Living in small villages | p. 36 |
Living in the cities | p. 37 |
Living in holiday village complexes | p. 38 |
Coast or inland - location, location, location | p. 40 |
New house or resale? | p. 43 |
Access and facilities | p. 44 |
Spotting potential problems | p. 45 |
Summary | p. 47 |
Finding Your Property | p. 50 |
Newspapers | p. 50 |
Property exhibitions | p. 53 |
Estate agents | p. 54 |
Portuguese estate agents | p. 55 |
UK agents | p. 56 |
Using the Internet | p. 57 |
Understanding adverts | p. 59 |
Private sales | p. 60 |
Auctions | p. 61 |
Viewing property | p. 62 |
Through the agent | p. 62 |
House owner/vendor | p. 62 |
Summary | p. 64 |
Renting Whilst You Look | p. 65 |
Why rent? | p. 65 |
Hotels and guest houses | p. 66 |
Holiday lets | p. 69 |
Long-stay lets | p. 71 |
Questions to ask | p. 73 |
Rent laws | p. 74 |
Summary | p. 75 |
The People Involved | p. 77 |
Estate agents | p. 78 |
Mediador autorizado | p. 79 |
Solicitors | p. 81 |
Notary Public | p. 82 |
Surveyor | p. 82 |
Bank manager or mortgage lender | p. 84 |
Developers and builders | p. 86 |
Community of owners and management team | p. 87 |
Vendors and landlords | p. 88 |
Summary | p. 89 |
The Purchasing Process | p. 90 |
Get property or land plans | p. 91 |
Carrying out inspections and surveys | p. 91 |
Conveyancing | p. 93 |
Promissory contract | p. 95 |
Providing the funds | p. 96 |
Transfer tax | p. 96 |
Deeds - the Escritura | p. 97 |
Registering the property | p. 98 |
Rates | p. 98 |
Other taxes | p. 99 |
Summary | p. 100 |
Glossary of legal procedures and documents | p. 100 |
Buying a Timeshare or Property to Let | p. 102 |
What is timeshare? | p. 102 |
Other part-ownership schemes | p. 105 |
The property rental market | p. 106 |
How to attract custom | p. 107 |
Holiday rental | p. 108 |
Long-term rental | p. 109 |
Landlord's costs | p. 109 |
Landlord's responsibilities | p. 111 |
Using an agent | p. 112 |
Business and tax implications | p. 114 |
Summary | p. 115 |
Renovating or Building Your Own House | p. 117 |
Finding the place you want | p. 117 |
Renovating | p. 119 |
Planning approval | p. 121 |
Building your own | p. 122 |
Dealing with builders | p. 123 |
Local and regional plans | p. 127 |
The purchase process | p. 128 |
Getting a grant | p. 129 |
The pros and cons | p. 129 |
Summary | p. 130 |
Money Matters | p. 131 |
Property prices | p. 131 |
Arranging payment | p. 135 |
Paying with cash | p. 135 |
Remortgaging UK property | p. 136 |
Taking out a Portugal-based mortgage | p. 137 |
Using an off-shore company | p. 139 |
Budgeting for capital costs | p. 140 |
Budgeting for additional costs | p. 141 |
Equipping and furnishing the property | p. 142 |
Annual running costs | p. 142 |
Summary | p. 143 |
Before You Go | p. 145 |
Learning the language | p. 145 |
Preparing for the culture shock | p. 150 |
Deciding whether to let or sell your UK home | p. 153 |
Letting agencies | p. 154 |
Letting yourself | p. 154 |
Selling your house | p. 155 |
Moving the furniture | p. 155 |
Before you leave | p. 156 |
Family and pets | p. 158 |
Family considerations | p. 159 |
Parents | p. 159 |
Spouse and children | p. 160 |
Grown-up children | p. 161 |
Making travel arrangements | p. 162 |
Travelling by air | p. 162 |
Taking a ferry | p. 164 |
Trains and coaches | p. 164 |
Summary | p. 165 |
Portuguese Systems | p. 166 |
Applying for residence | p. 167 |
Motoring requirements | p. 169 |
Importing cars | p. 170 |
Driving licence | p. 171 |
Laws of the road | p. 171 |
The health system | p. 173 |
Alternative medicine | p. 176 |
Education | p. 176 |
International schools | p. 179 |
Dealing with your finances | p. 179 |
Bank accounts | p. 180 |
Tax issues | p. 181 |
Making a will | p. 182 |
Benefits and pensions | p. 182 |
The police and law | p. 183 |
Summary | p. 185 |
Daily Life in Portugal | p. 186 |
The cost of living | p. 187 |
Utilities | p. 188 |
Electricity | p. 188 |
Gas | p. 189 |
Water | p. 189 |
The post | p. 190 |
Communications | p. 191 |
Phones | p. 191 |
Internet | p. 191 |
Language | p. 192 |
Shopping | p. 192 |
Eating out | p. 195 |
Costa Verde | p. 196 |
Costa de Prata | p. 196 |
The Mountain areas | p. 196 |
Lisbon area | p. 196 |
The Plains | p. 197 |
Algarve | p. 197 |
Madeira and the Azores | p. 197 |
Local transport | p. 197 |
Buses and coaches | p. 197 |
Trains (Comboios) | p. 198 |
Transport in Lisbon | p. 199 |
The underground (o metropolitano) | p. 200 |
Where to find help | p. 200 |
Enjoying Life in Portugal | p. 202 |
Leisure facilities | p. 203 |
Golf | p. 206 |
The arts | p. 207 |
Indoor hobbies | p. 207 |
Socialising with other foreigners | p. 208 |
Making Portuguese friends | p. 209 |
Religion, customs and etiquette | p. 210 |
Public holidays in Portugal | p. 212 |
Etiquette | p. 212 |
Places of interest | p. 213 |
Summary | p. 215 |
Changing Your Mind | p. 216 |
Reasons for change | p. 216 |
Avoiding failure | p. 217 |
Selling up... | p. 219 |
...and moving out | p. 221 |
Summary | p. 221 |
Directory of Useful Information | p. 223 |
Portugal/General Interest | p. 224 |
Finding property | p. 227 |
Hotels and rentals | p. 228 |
Legal services | p. 229 |
Financial services | p. 230 |
Timeshare information | p. 232 |
Building, renovating and developers | p. 233 |
Language and culture | p. 234 |
Removals and pets | p. 236 |
Travel | p. 237 |
Officialdom | p. 239 |
Life in Portugal | p. 244 |
Regional Tourist Offices | p. 247 |
British Consulate Offices in Portugal | p. 250 |
Index | p. 251 |
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