Let's talk about house hunting in Portugal — where the property market is absolutely sizzling. If you think you can leisurely browse listings, book a few viewings, sip some sangria and carefully consider your options... bless your optimistic heart.
Rentals here disappear faster than your patience at IKEA on a Sunday. The market is a whirlwind of Brazilians, Brits, Germans, Americans, Ukrainians, Russians — you name it. It sometimes feels like Eurovision, but with property bids instead of sequins.
And the luxury cars in our condo? Orange Lamborghinis, green Ferraris and enough expensive metal to make you wonder whether you've accidentally moved into Monaco. The glamour is impressive; the rents are enough to make your wallet quietly sob in a corner.
"It sometimes feels like Eurovision, but with property bids instead of sequins."
We're talking close to a million euros for a one-bedroom in some gated communities, while the average Portuguese salary sits between €1,200 and €2,500 a month. As you can imagine, this creates a certain amount of tension.
Even properties with charming extras such as mould, questionable plumbing or a distinct smell of despair still disappear from the market within hours. And that was before we even started viewing houses.
Next time, I'll take you along on some of our more memorable viewings — including a few that made us seriously question our life choices.
— Kasia
Kasia Plattner is a writer, relocator and professional starter-over. Author of The Art of Making Life More Complicated.