Buying a Property in Portugal

by Tyson-Ward, Sue

• ISBN13: 9781845281977
• ISBN10: 1845281977
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-08-15
• Publisher: How to Books Ltd

Summary

Portugal is the perfect place in which to buy a second home, or one for retirement. This book, written by an author with extensive knowledge of life in Portugal, will tell you all you need to know about where to look for a property, what types of property are available and how to find them. It explains the whole buying process from dealing with estate agents and solicitors to promissory contracts and registration. It also covers buy-to-let purchases and timeshares, and includes a list of the most useful Portuguese expressions you will need. REVIEWS: 'This book takes you through the different regions of Portugal...it does so in an easy-to-read way.' Reader review - Amazon Reviews of Going to Live in Portugal also by Sue Tyson-Ward: 'a most informative book with plenty of useful tips.' Hispanic Council 'Anyone thinking of taking up residence in Portugal will find this book an important companion.' Anglo-Portuguese Society AUTHOR BIOG: Sue Tyson-Ward's association with Portugal goes back some 19 years, when she first stayed in Portugal before reading Portuguese at University. Between bouts of living and working there, she has spent the last ten years promoting Portugal through her language and culture classes and books, her Portuguese Circle and her work for the BBC series Talk Portuguese. CONTENTS: 1. Why Portugal? 2. Planning Where to Go in Portugal 3. What to Buy 4. Finding Your Property 5. Renting whilst You Look 6. The people Involved 7. The Purchasing Process 8. Buying a Timeshare or Property to Let 9. Renovating or Building Your Own House 10. Money Matters 11. Before You Go 12. Portuguese Systems 13. Daily life in Portugal 14. Enjoying Life in Portugal 15. Changing Your Mind Directory of Useful Information Regional Tourist Offices British Consulate Offices in Portugal Index.

Table of Contents

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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