BUYING A PROPERTY
Printed From: Albufeira.com
Category: Living in Albufeira / Viver em Albufeira
Forum Name: Algarve Foreign Residents / Residentes Estrangeiros
Forum Description: Meeting Point / Ponto de Encontro
URL: https://albufeira.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9211
Printed Date: 11/December/2024 at 07:12
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.15 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: BUYING A PROPERTY
Posted By: MaggieFC
Subject: BUYING A PROPERTY
Date Posted: 19/November/2015 at 11:52
| 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.... |
Replies:
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 19/November/2015 at 12:04
|
We had similar with the big multi chain set ups, we did much better with the small independents. There's several in Old Town, just walk in, we viewed four properties the same afternoon we walked in, and got treated to a beer and a prawn salad whilst we mulled. Great service. ------------- Andrew |
Posted By: john2604smith
Date Posted: 19/November/2015 at 13:52
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  ------------- ownersdirect P3708 |
Posted By: happygirl709
Date Posted: 19/November/2015 at 15:01
| We used Cerro Novo in the old town when we sold and bought our properties and can recommend them. |
Posted By: stuart123
Date Posted: 20/November/2015 at 08:02
|
I found my property from Divine Home in Albuferia Marina - plenty of properties to pick from and no hassle with pushy sales people. I'd also say look at http://casa.sapo.pt its the portugal rightmove! Also a really good source of properties can be found direct from the bank websites for repossessions - normally at least 20% less than market value.
|
Posted By: MaggieFC
Date Posted: 20/November/2015 at 10:10
| Thank you for your help, all. We are, at last, finding properties on the sites mentioned that WE want to look view. We definitely don't want an apartment as we'll be staying here for at least 6 months of the year and we have found, in the 3 apartments we have stayed in since we arrived in September, that we are not so keen on hearing other folks goings on....lol. Another consideration is the barking dogs. We stayed in a lovely apartment at the top of Albufeira for a while but the constant barking of dogs on either side of us has put us off that particular area. We are looking for our own little pad not too far from a town/village and we don't mind doing a bit of work but not a total renovation. |
Posted By: DICEYUK
Date Posted: 20/November/2015 at 11:22
|
Good luck with trying to avoid barking dogs - they're everywhere ------------- I hate how peopleï compare Frank Zappa to God. I mean, he's cool and great and nice and everything, but he's no Zappa. |
Posted By: tiganut
Date Posted: 20/November/2015 at 11:49
|
Try Carlos 00351919982714
------------- He Who Dies With The Most Toys Wins |
Posted By: Algarveaddick
Date Posted: 21/November/2015 at 07:38
Sadly this is spot on Maggie. My tip is buy somewhere south facing, it helps keep the place warm in the winter. |
DICEYUK wrote:Posted By: Linda
Date Posted: 21/November/2015 at 15:28
Yes, I've noticed this about Portugal and Spain - - the dogs barking all through the night !! The noise seems to echo eveywhere too. I know people may leave their dogs outside because of the warmer weather -- -- but how do the owners sleep through it !!?? Nothing worse than barking dogs all night long! -- and I am a dog lover. |
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 21/November/2015 at 18:44
|
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. ------------- Andrew |
Posted By: Jayjan
Date Posted: 21/November/2015 at 20:16
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I think the Portuguese use them more as a deterrant and for security purposes rather than as family pets. Hence majority of them being housed outside the home.
------------- Polli the dancing cat strikes again. |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 22/November/2015 at 09:16
|
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. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: john2604smith
Date Posted: 22/November/2015 at 12:01
Fingers crossed, none where I am at the moment  ------------- ownersdirect P3708 |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 22/November/2015 at 18:14
|
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. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: john2604smith
Date Posted: 22/November/2015 at 18:24
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It would give you a shock if the dog answered ! ------------- ownersdirect P3708 |
Posted By: MaggieFC
Date Posted: 23/November/2015 at 15:29
|
We saw the guy from ERA this morning and he is lining up some properties for us to view. We have taken on board all the advice we've been given, both here on this site and from other sources. High on our list of priorities is to check for barking dogs...although, if there aren't any where we're looking at present..there could be in the future. Andre from ERA says there are barking dogs and clucking hens nearby to his home but he has learned to zone them out when he sleeps! We know we want a place with..... No barking dogs or 'very-quietly' barking dogs (Is there such a dog?) No community charges South facing Not too far from shops/bars etc so we don't have to drive everywhere. We enjoy walking, though. Some neighbours not too far away. I need people to talk to. I'll have to learn Portuguese. Inland is OK but not so far inland or so high on the hills that the lovely winter temperatures are lower than on the coast 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms At least a small garden for growing something....although Andre tells us he has given up growing tomatoes etc in his small plot as the birds kept eating them. Now he just has snails....lol We don't mind a bit of work I suspect we're asking for too much for our budget...but we know there is room for negotiation and hubby tells me the Portuguese always put a much higher price on their property than they expect to get. |
Posted By: DICEYUK
Date Posted: 23/November/2015 at 15:50
That is true but don't be surprised if the price suddenly goes up when the seller knows that you're interested in their property - it happened to us twice. ------------- I hate how peopleï compare Frank Zappa to God. I mean, he's cool and great and nice and everything, but he's no Zappa. |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 24/November/2015 at 09:49
|
Good luck Maggie and do keep us in the picture. Everything helps for future advice. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: stuart123
Date Posted: 24/November/2015 at 20:56
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Whilst we are on topic of buying a property, can anyone recommend a property insurance company or broker for the area? |
Posted By: DICEYUK
Date Posted: 24/November/2015 at 23:11
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We use Ibex - http://www.ibexinsure.com/%20" rel="nofollow - http://www.ibexinsure.com/ Avenida Duarte Pacheco Nº 32, 8135-104 Almancil , Loulé, Algarve, Portugal Phone: 800 860 653 or +351 289 399 774 ------------- I hate how peopleï compare Frank Zappa to God. I mean, he's cool and great and nice and everything, but he's no Zappa. |
Posted By: Jayjan
Date Posted: 25/November/2015 at 00:32
|
Firstly we used Allianz through a broker in Albufeira but their premiums every year increased by quite a lot . We then shopped around & used Intasure for the past few years but also found their premiums too have risen dramatically every year and had to haggle with them. Looked at Ibex previously but couldn't seem to find on their website anything for individual properties, only seemed to deal with apartments. Earlier on this year we found our bank (Millennium) gave us a cheaper quote than any of previous others with same coverage. Luckily now we don't have to worry about insurance premiums as we sold our place in Sept. ------------- Polli the dancing cat strikes again. |
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 25/November/2015 at 08:42
|
Same as Dicey, we use Ibex, Almancil office. Tell David we said hello! ------------- Andrew |
Posted By: Algarveaddick
Date Posted: 25/November/2015 at 09:34
| We are with Millennium, and found the same as Jayjan that they were cheaper than any others we tried (although we did not try Ibex, to be fair). |
Posted By: stuart123
Date Posted: 25/November/2015 at 13:34
| I bank with Millennium, so I'll give them a try - thanks! |