Expat Network has carried out a survey into the plans of those considering retiring abroad as well as the experiences of those who have already retired abroad.  What are the main motivations for their decision to retire abroad, how are they financing it and what do they plan to do about property? One in three...

What are the prospects for the international property market in 2020.  Simon Conn has been an international mortgage broker for 40 years and sets out his view on which are the best places to buy in 2020. Written for Expat Network by Simon Conn In 2019 Simon Conn had a steady number of enquiries...

How does your perfect day in retirement look? What about a morning spent exploring the local market, a lazy afternoon in the sun at the beach – just a short walk from home – and then sitting out in the balmy evening temperatures with good food and wine? For Brits who retire to Portugal, every...

The prospects for the Portugal property market in 2019 after a strong 2018 look encouraging.  This is despite the reduction in investment from British buyers. In 2008 60% of buyers on the Algarve originated from the UK and Ireland according to Knight Frank.  Demand from Britain has been in slight decline with the uncertainties over...

As the Brexit debate in the UK continues to rage, with little clarity as to the practical implications of the country’s departure from the EU, many people simply want to understand what this means in terms of the everyday aspects of their lives. Written exclusively for Expat Network by Luis da Silva, Managing Director of...

There are many financial issues that face those who are looking to move to Portugal. Many of these issues can be dealt with easily, provided you take advice from an expert in both Portuguese tax and tax law in your home country. Something that can save you tax in at home can have the opposite...

Monsanto. A small, fortified village previously named the ‘most Portuguese village in Portugal’. Houses and streets in Monsanto are packed tightly and carved from the cliffs and boulders that surround the town. The castle overlooking Monsanto provides an excellent panorama of the plains and nearby mountains of the Serra de Estrela. Monsaraz. This village still...

Given the close proximity of northern Africa to the Portuguese mainland, approximately 200km across the eastern Atlantic, it is not surprising that Portugal has one of the warmest climates in Europe, with summer temperatures in the south of the country averaging around 28C (18C annually) and 20C in the north (15C annually). Portugal has a...

What are today’s options for expats with UK pensions moving to Portugal? When it comes to pensions, your long-term financial security is at stake, so you should take extreme care to do what is right for you and your family. Expats also need to consider the tax rules and implications in Portugal or your country...

The property market in Portugal experienced a turnaround in 2015 after several years of recession, which saw property prices fall by 30% on average in the Algarve. Spurred on by property prices that are still around 13% below their 2006/07 peak, British buyers – who have long been the keenest of overseas buyers – were...

The programmes of international schools in Portugal vary from the International Baccalaureate (IB) to the British GCSE and GCE examination systems. All schools in Portugal are required to satisfy the requirements of the Portuguese national system. The International Baccalaureate Organisation’s Diploma Programme was created in 1968. It is a demanding pre-university course of study that...

What are the top ten places to retire to internationally? International Living Magazine has published its Annual Global Retirement Index, identifying the best places to retire in the world. They have looked at a wide range of criteria including the ease and cost of buying or renting property, the visa and residence options available, the cost of...