Despite the general slow-down in the Portuguese property market, there are plenty of lenders ready and able to finance purchases by non-residents. However, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratios are lower and the interest spreads are higher than a couple of years ago, with affordability is a key issue.
Increasingly buying a property overseas for environmental reasons is becoming the norm and that’s exactly what the Keet family did when purchasing their four-bedroom home in AlmaVerde, Western Algarve.
On a recent trip to Seville, I was idly leafing through the hotel chain magazine. I suppose the idea of these publications is to draw the reader in with articles of general interest, and to hit them with advertorials promoting new destinations, refurbishments and so on. Aiming to appeal to the international traveller, the articles appear both in the local language and in English. As befits a publication reflecting luxury values, considerable care is taken over the photography, typography and layout, even the quality of paper stock used.
Luz Casal
The government will not be introducing the tolls on the four “SCUT” motorways previously scheduled for the 15th of April, reports AFPOP, the Association for Foreign Residents and Property Owners in Portugal. The process is now on hold until the result of the elections in June.
Specialists in ornithology, botany, geology and marine biology will be highlighting the hidden natural world of the Sagres peninsula in a series of discussions scheduled for 2nd October at 2:30 pm, as part of the Sagres Birdwatching Festival.
Hoopoe
The least expensive city for hotel accommodation in Portugal so far in 2010 has been Portimão, with an average room price per night of €50, according to the Hotel Price Index Hotéis.com. The next cheapest cities were Quarteira (€51) and Vila Nova de Gaia (€55).
Following legislation passed on 9th September to introduce tolls on the A22 by April of next year, a public meeting has been convened in Loulé for this evening, 20th September, to form a Via do Infante Users’ Commission in order to coordinate opposition to the “unjust and unacceptable” toll scheme.
Photo credit: Elisabete Rodrigues
According to a resolution of the Portuguese Council of Ministers approved today 9th September, toll booths are to be installed on the A22 (Via do Infante) motorway, to become operational on 15th April, 2011.
An interesting article appeared in the New York Times on August 9th with the title “Portugal Gives Itself a Clean-Energy Makeover”.
In 2004, Brian Layton, then 61, and buoyed by the prospect of selling his Hampshire water cooler business, set out on a search to find a second home in the sun for himself and his extended family.
Brian & Debbie - buying a second home in Algarve
