We had travelled through Portugal before and knew the area north of Lisbon however the warmer climate of the south met our needs a little better.
After we had travelled through the Algarve region which we found crowded and spoilt by tourism we finally visited the Alentejo region, specifically the south-west Alentejo.
This is where we decided to settle and purchased a large block of land that by Dutch standards would be classed as extravagant, However we needed to purchase a large block in order to build our dream home under the Portugues building regulations as out side of the city there is usually a rule that you can only erect a structure of 2 meters squared per 1000 square meters of available land.
It's now been 3 years since our new house was built surrounded by nature with beautiful views and privacy from our neighbours.
We have had many experiences in the realization of our dream and about these i could write many pages but for each person these experiences differ as does the choice of location and land requirements.
What each potential purchaser of land here in Portugal must realise is that the laws are different to those in other countries, A notary in Portugal doesn't meddle with checking if with the transfer the regarding property is free of debts and if the seller is entitled to sell.
Buyers should never blindly trust the broker either in this respect as he may not always supply all the necessary information so a personal check of the local registry, taxes etc. should be carried out preferably through a lawyer.
If a personal check is not possible then you should look for someone who knows the in's and out's of the Portuguese system and is willing to act on your behalf.
We were very lucky in that the broker we chose was very trustworthy and he introduced us to a fellow dutchman a Mr Bert Snijder who also happened to be a real estate agent.
Through his Real estate business Alentejo Home Real estate Bert was able to assist us with the purchase and transfer of our land and co-ordinated the first building phase, He was very supportive and always there when needed we would also like to mention that his wife Marianne was also a great comfort to us.
Looking back and looking at the future there hasn't been a moment of regret of our decision to move to the Alentejo. The simplicity, cordiality and helpfulness of the Alentejanos makes life here very pleasant. Despite the fact that you are, you don't feel a foreigner here because you're completely accepted.
The Alentejo is synonymous for sun, space, nature and rest. Are there any negative sides? Of course there are for in no location in the world everything is ideal. For the purchase of the more luxury things, visit a contemporary theatre, concert and museum you must go to Lisbon. But a lively local folklore surrounds us here
The bureaucracy is sometimes tiring, but the people behind the desks are often so kind and patient. In short: ?Nosso rico Alentejo? (our rich Alentejo) is a place we can advise!
So if you are considering your retirement or are just looking for that little piece of paradise in the sun the why not consider the Alentejo region of Portugal and we would reccomend that you contact Bert Snijder who we are sure would be willing to assist you with all aspects of your visit to this wonderful place.
As successive governments keep reminding us, too few people plan properly, if at all, for their retirement; too few people appreciate that an investment now is an investment in their future throughout retirement. So, if you are reading this, you have the edge over that particular group of people and are poised to do some serious planning for the day you can stop working for your living. It is then that you will want to rest easy in the knowledge that the retirement investment advice you were given was the best there was.
And how can you ensure now that you are taking the best retirement investment advice? The only sure way is to consult an independent financial adviser about the long list of questions which you will inevitably need to be able to answer in order to be given the best advice on the type and highest-performing retirement investment options to suit your particular circumstances.
For example, here are some of the questions on which your independent financial adviser should be able to help in order to steer you towards the best retirement investment advice:
I want a regular income when I enter retirement, so just how much will my current pension plan or investments produce? The earlier you start to address this question, of course, the closer you will get to achieving the income you need;
Will I need to buy an annuity? Even if the answer is yes, you are not done yet! Your options remain wide open still. When it comes to pension annuities, are many more choices than a standard, fixed income annuity. Your independent financial adviser will want to run through these options with you. He or she will want to ensure that before you take the serious plunge of a long-lasting commitment to a retirement annuity you have considered all of the available choices and come up with the one that is just right for you;
How flexible is my retirement date? Until April 2010, you can start to draw a (taxable) regular income from your pension fund as soon as you reach the age of 50 After April 2010, that age-limit rises to 55. But how early (or late), would I, realistically, want to retire; how flexible is my retirement plan with respect to early retirement; and by how much would my income change if I changed my retirement date? Again, these are all vitally important questions that you would want to discuss with your independent financial adviser.
Where do I stand with respect to Income Tax? It is not necessarily a straight forward question of all pension income being taxable. Some of what you receive certainly will be taxable, but other sources may not. Tax on your receipts during retirement can be something of a minefield ? a minefield which your independent financial adviser will be able to help you negotiate more safely and securely;
The same goes for Inheritance Tax, I suppose? Quite right. Staying the right side of the taxman on questions of inheritance is equally fraught and independent retirement investment advice will help you to pick your way through the snares and pitfalls;
What happens to my dependents when I die? The retirement investment advice from your independent financial adviser will also ensure that whatever your concerns for your surviving dependents, these are reflected in the investment decisions that need to be made.
Both Bert Snijder & Steve A Wright are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Bert Snijder has sinced written about articles on various topics from Property Guide, Portugal Holiday and Portugal Holiday. Alentejo Home Real Estate is an Authority on the legalalities surrounding property sales in Portugal, with 9 years experience and hundreds of satisfied clients they are the number one realtor in the Alentejo Region of Portugal.. Bert Snijder's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Steve A Wright has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Portugal Holiday and Finances. Steve Wright is Managing Director of Wrightway Financial Consultants, Independent Financial Advisers specialising in Pensions, Investments, Mortgages and Insurance. One of their major areas is. Steve A Wright's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.