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The east Algarve is a well-kept secret by the Portuguese - this is where they go on holiday. It is still the real Algarve and you won’t find any Sky Sports bars, Karaoke bars or anywhere selling “All Day English breakfasts”. What you will find is interesting historic towns, superb beaches and wonderful restaurants.  The East Algarve has miles of golden sandy beaches that are mostly flanked by the Ria Formosa nature park which is visited by a large number of migratory birds and is home to flocks of beautiful pink flamingos. This makes the area very popular with bird-watchers.

Flamingos on the lakes of the East Algarve

The demand for accommodation is far outstripped by availability from Easter to October, and throughout the winter this area is very popular with property hunters, bird watchers, golfers and those looking for a little winter sunshine.

A while ago the popular English television program A Place in the Sun calculated the Algarve as the number one place world wide to buy a place in the sun. The factors that they took into consideration to arrive at this conclusion were as far as I remember, stability, security, weather, return on investment, quality of life, health care and accessibility. And the part of the Algarve that they suggested was by far the best place to buy or invest was the eastern part, starting just east of Faro and continuing until the Spanish border.  Having run a bed and breakfast apartment hotel here for five years I can tell you that the program did get its research right this is a great place to live. The political situation here is stable and moving here is very simple especially if moving from another country within the European Union, although it does take a while to get use to Portuguese bureaucracy, it can take for ever to get paper work sorted out.

The crime rate is low and burglary is rare, although there is some theft from cars in the high tourist areas.

The weather is hot in summer, but always with a slight breeze of the Atlantic, and pleasant in winter with very little rain. 

Quality of life is good, with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetable in the local markets and the fish is fresh from the sea. Stress is an unknown factor here. The Spanish say mañana, but in Portugal they have nothing as urgent as that. The Portuguese have a tradition of savouring life slowly! 
If you are thinking about living in Portugal you will soon find that the best elements of Portuguese life are humble. 

From traditional Portuguese folk festivals to the simple wholesome food and the traditional fado music that will pull at your heart strings.  There is an abundance of local markets overflowing with fresh fish, fruit and flowers. Organic food from the local markets isn’t the expensive exception but the norm.  Portuguese life will charm you. 
Never be afraid to ask the local Portuguese people for assistance if you have a particular need for a service or if you’d just like to find out more about their way of life. The Portuguese are friendly welcoming people, most of whom will gladly help you settle into your new life in Portugal. Stress becomes a thing of the past.

If you are looking for entertainment, Portuguese life abounds with religious pilgrimages, festivals and fairs that bring whole towns to a standstill! 

From carnivals, dances, riding contests and bullfights - the Portuguese way of life includes many celebrations and community events. 

The only real down side of living here is that the Portuguese language is very difficult to learn to speak fluently; most people never do and get by okay, but miss out so much on the local culture. Portuguese is an ancient language with Latin roots. This is evident from the written word, but when it’s spoken, the language is totally different to all other western European languages. 
A few other interesting facts about Portuguese include the fact that apparently Romanian and Portuguese people can understand each other’s languages. Portuguese is the fifth most commonly spoken language in the world, and many Portuguese words are evident in the Japanese language. For example ‘arigato’ is ‘thank you’ in Japanese and it comes from the Portuguese word for ‘thank you’ - ‘obrigado’ (or ‘obrigada’ if spoken by a woman).

It’s very easy to buy property here, although it can take a while to get all the paper work sorted out. Lawyers are not expensive and when you come to sell 
there is no inheritance tax to pay. 

If the property is owned by a Portuguese limed company buying is very simple indeed involving share transfer with no tax payable. To understand the procedures and legal acts that are involved in acquiring a property in Portugal I would recommend that qualified advice is sought. It is important to insure that any plans in the Town Hall referring specifically to the property do physically agree with the existing construction. A property for living purposes must have a Habitation License if the property was constructed after 1951.

It is quite normal for both Parties to initially enter into a Promissory Contract detailing the conditions of Sale – “Contrato de Promessa de Compra e Venda”; this Contract is then legalized by registering it in the Notary Office. This Contract is legally binding on both sides and the law requires the seller to repay twice the deposit should he withdraw from the sale. Likewise, if the buyer fails to complete he forfeits the total of his deposit. There are specific laws relating to this act that a Lawyer will be able to explain.

Before buying property here you are required to obtain a Fiscal Number from the local Tax Office (Finanças).
Before the act of purchase, the purchase will usually be subject to a State payment called “CEMI” which is carried out in the local Tax Office nearest to the property. The amount charged is dependent upon the nature of the purchase and does vary. In certain cases the buyer may be exempt from paying this Tax.
When all the requirements have been completed the act of sale can proceed in any Notary Office. This act is known as the “Escritura de Compra e Venda” which takes place in front of the selected Notary and is recorded in his official books. The Notary will check prior to the act of sale that all the necessary documents are correct to ensure that the sale can proceed according to the facts provided. It is at this moment that payment is normally completed to the seller. After the act is recorded the Notary Office will issue a photocopy of the entry, which is the proof to the buyer that the act has officially taken place. The photocopy will carry the seal of the Notary On completion of the sale act the property in question has then to be registered in the new owners name in the Land Registry (Conservatória do Registo Predial). 
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Property prices and the cost of living in Portugal are still low enough to attract many retired Europeans in particular. The Algarve is cheaper than the Costa del Sol or the Riviera and has even more beautiful beaches. 
Another reason Portugal is viewed as a desirable place to retire is the friendliness of its inhabitants. The Portuguese are a generally kind and hospitable people, welcoming foreign visitors into their homes and culture with warmth and compassion. 

Pensions - The taxation of pensions originating in member EU states and elsewhere abroad varies according to the type of pension and applicable Double Tax Treaties. 
Private pensions and annuities are generally regarded as income, depending on residency status. As tax residents are required to pay tax on their worldwide income, it is advisable to consult a qualified tax specialist to determine your liability. 
Public service pensions are generally tax-exempt in Portugal when taxed in the country of origin. 
National Insurance retirement pensions may be exempt from taxes in the country of origin, but may be considered taxable income in Portugal. Again, if in any doubt consult a tax professional. 

The East Algarve has no extreme or violent weather. There are no hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes (forget the one 1750), tidal waves, or tornadoes.

It is a country of great personal liberty. You are free to read what you want, drink when or where you want, and unfortunately smoke when or where you want.

The violent crime rate is very low although, like in all countries, it is increasing. In the countryside it is very safe. People still leave their keys in their cars and leave the windows open.

The food is, for the most part, very good and reasonably priced in restaurants. Supermarket prices are low and you can get products from all the other EU countries. The cheese and ham are excellent. For the drinker it is a paradise. Wine and beer are very cheap and good. The English come here just to buy spirits because they say they are so cheap. And if you are a Port wine lover this is the country for it.

People are very helpful towards strangers and will walk with you to show you a place you are looking for.
Family values are still very important. And importantly, grandparents are highly respected and loved. They still help with their grandchildren's upbringing. It is nice to live in a country where you see that things are always improving--to mention a few: roads, hospitals, schools, shopping options, means of transport, telecommunications, and entertainment (TV). Honesty is still important and people still trust others. Where else could you lose your wallet in the supermarket and get it back intact, with money and documents. 

With regard to education there are two choices for the expatriate parent when considering their child’s schooling and the education system in Portugal. Firstly you have the state run education system and secondly you have a wide variety of private alternatives. 

Moving to Portugal - Visa Information - To visit Portugal, if you are a national of an EU Member state or a citizen of Canada, New Zealand, Australia or the USA you can stay visa-free for up to 90 days, everyone else requires a visa. As Portugal is a full member of the European Union, citizens of pre-2004 EU member states don’t require work permits or visas. EU nationals working in Portugal will be afforded the same rights as Portuguese nationals when it comes to equality of pay, working conditions, vocational training, social security and union membership. 

If you are an EU national you are also allowed to enter Portugal for up to three months to look for work or set up in business there. Even if you are an EU national, you may be asked to prove that you have adequate finances for the duration of your intended stay and that you have a return ticket or at least the cost of your return journey covered. The recent enlargement of the EU does not mean that the above rules necessarily apply to citizens of the new EU member states. If you are from one of these countries - with the exception of Cyprus and Malta - and you want to move to Portugal, or if you are from a non-EU country you should contact the Portuguese Embassy in your country to see what restrictions apply. 

Cost of Living - In terms of the cost of day to day life you’ll be happy to learn that Portugal is one of the cheapest countries in the EU...though costs are beginning to increase as Portugal falls into fiscal step with the rest of the EU. 
You’ll find your food and wine bills are low and on the whole dining out is inexpensive, but if you are interested in imported goods you will find them to be quite expensive. 

Working - If you move to Portugal and intend on working in the country all employees require a tax card and a fiscal number - called numero de contribuinte. You can get this from your local tax office. The tax number you are assigned must be given in any taxable dealings you undertake - e.g., taking employment, property purchase etc. Portugal has a monthly PAYE (pay as you earn) system of income tax and rates are from 15% - 40%. 
Portuguese residents are taxed on their worldwide income with non-residents liable for tax on any income received in Portugal. Employment conditions in Portugal are fair to good with extensive labour legislation in place to protect employee rights and to provide equal rights for women in the workplace. 
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If the east Algarve sounds like the place for you and you are interested in a beautiful place to live, that also offers a good income, take look at our listing on escapeartist.com and for further information about the area in general  visit our website

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