BUYING A PROPERTY

We are getting increasingly frustrated in our search for a place to buy in the Algarve. We spent half-an-hour with a lady in Remax, Albufeira, who told us she had access to hundreds of properties. We waited 3 days for a list of possibilities via email here, where we're renting, and were sent 1 property at double the price we asked for! Since then, 3 days ago...nothing! My husband says, from experience of buying a place 20 years ago, that an agent will always try and sell you the stuff that they make the most commission on. We have seen the same properties for sale with different agents at various prices (various commission?). There are so many empty, unsold properties. Why is it so difficult to get to view them? Is there a site where we buy direct from an owner? We might just give up....

Have you looked on Rightmove and made a list of properties and tell the Estate Agents those are the properties you want to view. I used ERA when I bought mine but I knew the area I wanted to be in, so sort of guided the Estate Agent to that exact area. I can understand your frustration as it's like pulling teeth with a lot of them. They are going to get a big chunk of commission and they cannot be arsed 

I found my property from Divine Home in Albuferia Marina - plenty of properties to pick from and no hassle with pushy sales people.

Good luck with trying to avoid barking dogs - they're everywhere

DICEYUK wrote: Good luck with trying to avoid barking dogs - they're everywhere

Sadly this is spot on Maggie.

My tip is buy somewhere south facing, it helps keep the place warm in the winter.

I don't think they see the dogs as pets as we do, none of our neighbours dogs ever go in the house, they parade the yard or garden. That said we don't have the barking issues you mention, fingers crossed it stays that way.

Jayjan's right. It seems necessary, especially for every rural home, for all to have an attack dog. There are also places where semi-wild dogs roam.

Just down the road from me there are two huge dogs, one an absolute ringer for the Hound of the Baskervilles, that are kept on a tiny balcony with nothing to do all day but bark themselves silly. If that is not cruelty i don't know what is.

When I first moved here and for a long time afterwards there was no problem with dogs barking and howling at night, but just lately someone has a dog which makes a loud noise ( I cannot call it barking) well into the night.

It is definitely worth visiting any area at night before a house is considered. Dog noise carries a long way and as there are apparently no laws against it of any value, it will be a problem for many.

Just along the road from us is a small dog on a balcony that does a bit of yapping but the funny thing is there is also a parrot on the same balcony and if the dogs not doing his bit of yapping then the parrot is imitating the wee dog. It's hard to tell whether it's the dog or the parrot but if you walk past and say 'ola' you will know which one cos the said parrot stops yapping and answers back.