Pure Portugal Blog

UK Inheritance Tax Basics

This is a massive subject and full of twists and turns. Unlike other main taxes IHT does not apply to everyone in the same way. This article will deal with the basics of the tax and show ways in which it can apply in different scenarios. 1. Who is liable for the tax? UK domiciles wherever they are living. Very simple 2. What is a UK domicile? Anyone whose father who had the UK as his centre of life. You ...Read more

The Importance Of A Topographic Survey

Imagine that you have found the property of your dreams in Portugal, land with a large area and a house where you can enjoy the sun and fresh air…. You’ve found what you always dreamed of, and can’t wait for your new peaceful life to begin… Before taking the definitive step towards that dream, some precautions should be taken. One of them, that we have talked about here at Pure Portugal, is the importance of a promissory contract (see here) ...Read more

Mortgage Pre-approvals

Our mortgage partners Mortgage Direct who cover both Portugal and Spain have recently confirmed that Portugal was by far the stronger market for them last year and they are going to focus more of their energies on Portugal going forward. Travel to and from Portugal during the pandemic has been far easier than other European countries and continues to be so. Here they tell us a bit more about why you should start the mortgage process early, ideally before coming ...Read more

Getting Residency In Portugal (pre Brexit)

If you are moving to Portugal and looking to buy and live in Portugal this is the video for you! We spoke with the wonderful Tig James of British In Portugal who works alongside The British Embassy and British In Europe and is a font of knowledge for all things residency related (especially for those who will be affected by Brexit). Today we answered lots of questions from you about how to apply for residency in Portugal, the process you ...Read more

Your Drivers Licence In Portugal

Here we hope to dispel some of the myth and confusion which comes with driving in Portugal and whether you need to do anything with your driver’s licence be it an EU licence, British licence or a driving licence from outside of the EU. You will not, as a rule, need a Portuguese driving licence if you are just a temporary visitor in Portugal (temporary being anything up to six months) generally, you are permitted to drive using your international ...Read more

Living In Portugal

Here you will find all sorts of articles on all things that come with living in Portugal, from getting residency, to licensing buildings, healthcare & much more – This is a big & varied topic, so if we have missed anything please email us on team@pureportugal.co.uk & ask for more help. We also have a fabulous services directory which has vetted experts and Pure Portugal partners who can help in all areas of property buying in Portugal & we also have ...Read more

Speaking Portuguese

Arriving in a new country is always an exciting experience, so many new things, different people, culture and traditions. A whole new “world” to discover and learn about. But it can also be a little scary, and the communication may sometimes become a problem. In spite of the fact that nowadays English is considered a universal/ global language and the Portuguese people are well known for their natural “adaptability skills” to talk with everyone, you can find yourself in a situation ...Read more

Buying In Portugal

Buying a property in Portugal can feel exciting and daunting all at the same time. The team here at Pure Portugal have purchased property and moved abroad ourselves, some of the team moved from other countries into Portugal and other members of the team who are Portuguese have moved to other countries in the past too, so we all know the questions and worries that can come with such a move. We do not just advertise property for private sellers, ...Read more

Real Estate in Portuguese – Useful Vocabulary

With many thanks to Mia Esmeriz from Learn Portuguese for this helpful blog! If you want to learn more about the Portuguese language, make sure to check out her online courses. If you are a beginner, she recommends that you start with her free Kickstarter Course. If you want to buy a house in Portugal, you might have some questions regarding vocabulary related to real estate in Portuguese. When you start searching for a house, you might see signs ...Read more

Join Us At Pure Portugal Plus

We are thrilled to announce that after huge demand (and a lot of background work) we have just opened up a members group called Pure Portugal Plus. Pure Portugal Plus is a dedicated space to connect on a deeper level, with even more professional advice for people moving to and living in Portugal. Membership is only 20€ per year, (just to cover some of the extra administration needed to build, organise and plan the many interviews and webinars we have ...Read more

What you see isn’t always what you get (when you buy a property in Portugal)

This saying applies commonly in Portugal. Especially when you purchase property in a rural area. Typically when you want to buy a property, you travel to Portugal, view several places, find the right one, fall in love with it, and you immediately begin to imagine what you could do to make it just like the place you have dreamed about for years. You begin to negotiate the price, you reach an agreement, shake hands and that’s it! Well, not quite. ...Read more

Living In Portugal – How To Licence A New Build

Some of you may remember the wonderful videos about tiny homes and legalisation of tiny homes from the wonderful Raphael from Ecositana builders. If you have not seen them yet you can find part 1 here which also links through to the second part. Today we are pleased to share another great 2 part video from Raphael about the steps you need to take to license a new house in Portugal. Many thanks to Raphael for sharing more of his ...Read more

Living In Portugal – Getting Residency

Getting residency in Portugal is something you will have to do if you intend to stay for more than a couple of months. It can feel a little overwhelming and confusing but fear no more, our guide to becoming ‘official’ in Portugal is here to help you out! This guide is designed to help people who are based in the EU and have freedom of movement, of course changes will come about from the UK leaving the EU, for not ...Read more

The Pure Portugal Guide To Advertising Your Property

Selling your home can be an exciting and daunting time! We thought it would be helpful to put together some top tips for advertising your property to give you the best chance at getting a strong buyer and a quick sale with Pure Portugal! Listing with us: We can add up 24 photos of your home (see how to get the best images below) Photos need to be in jpg format and a minimum size of 640 x 480 pixels, ...Read more

Buying In Portugal – The Promissory Contract

A few months ago we asked the Pure Portugal community what their top legal concerns where when it comes to living in Portugal – Thanks to Solicitor Nuno Almeida for his blog about the importance of promissory contracts when it comes to completing property purchases in Portugal. When buying property in Portugal you need to consider several points from beginning to completion of purchase . Usually after finding a property you like you will make contact with the seller or ...Read more

A Guide To Off-Grid Water

We bring you this guest blog from The Mud Home where they share their experience of off-grid water. Water is one of the top priorities when you’re building an off-grid world (for the full list see here). Having suffered plenty of experience in doing it the wrong way, I was a little obsessed about water this second time around. I’ve made sure in my new off-grid world that water is in abundance. I can tell you now, the difference it ...Read more

Meet The Pure Portugal Concierges

The Pure Portugal concierge service is a service through Pure Portugal in which we connect you, the buyer with someone who has made the move and knows all of the hurdles you might have to jump through next . Their aim is to work with you as a helping hand and guide, initially they can try and match your with your dream property and then when you have put an offer in on the property they can help you with ...Read more

Brexit and Exchange Rates; How to Manage Your Currency Transfers

Whether you are about to buy a property in Portugal, or already live here, if you need to make international payments, Brexit developments and fluctuating exchange rates are sure to make things more confusing than ever! Fortunately Pure Portugal’s currency partners FC Exchange offer a quick summary on progress so far, and what you can do to protect your funds. How is Brexit Progressing? Brexit has created a number of uncertainties, and with no deal currently in sight, there ...Read more

All You Need To Know About Healthcare When You Move To Portugal

Life in Portugal is great, according to the Expat Insider 2017 report which claimed that the Portuguese have the best quality of life in the world. This accolade was awarded to the country after factors, including the country’s healthcare, were reviewed by thousands of respondents. Therefore, if you’re considering moving overseas and finding a home in Portugal, how do you ensure you receive the best quality healthcare? Your responsibilities When you move to Portugal permanently, be sure ...Read more

Downsizing

26th June 201827th June 2018Clare 4

“Are you willing to give up what you have for what you want?” The phrase I muttered over and over again to myself in the months leading up to our move to Portugal….There is no better excuse than a move to another country to ‘downsize your life’. Often, making a move to Portugal means moving to rented accommodation for a short or medium period of time, or – like us – moving to the middle of a field with ...Read more

Moving To Portugal – Randall’s Story

We thought it would be helpful to have some Q&A’s from real people who have made the move already. Some are newly arrived, others have been here for much longer, meaning you can get a broad range of experiences from people to get a real feel for what it is like to move to Portugal and start living your dream! Today we meet Randall and Michael who moved from the USA to Portugal in December 2017. How did you find ...Read more

Importing a vehicle, trailer or caravan to Portugal

To experience Portugal is to experience breathtaking views, majestic castles, spectacular beaches and some of the best people on the planet. Portugal is a haven for those who love to really experience life to the fullest each and every day. While there are many reasons to go to Portugal, one fact holds true and that is the fact that Portugal is one of the places that once you arrive, you never want to leave. This is why so many expats ...Read more

Tips for Buying Property Overseas

If you’ve been viewing lots of beautiful houses and have finally found the perfect place, you may be keen to put a deposit down, get the keys and start decorating. However, when you’re buying a property abroad, it’s important to do your research to ensure you know exactly what the overseas purchase process is like, and are aware of any obstacles that may come up. Our currency partner FC Exchange share their top tips to consider when you’re looking to ...Read more

Tax Return and Tax Status Q&A’s

You may remember a few months ago we asked the Pure Portugal community what questions they had relating to tax and tax returns… Well it’s fair to say you all had a lot!! Thanks so much for your input! We sent the questions off to Euro Finesco who are one of the accountants on our services directory and they kindly answered as many of them as possible. If you sent a question in and haven’t seen a reply below then ...Read more

Paying taxes by direct debit

Even with lot of technology nowadays, sometimes we forget some responsibilities. Direct debits are a simple and convenient way to make certain periodic payments. To help taxpayers, the government tax department started allowing the payment of several taxes by direct debit. Because when paying taxes, forgetting can lead to paying fines. If you want to be free of the anxiety of keeping track of tax payment dates and duties, you can now schedule these payments so they can be payed automatically by ...Read more

Smoke and fire safety tips

Heidi, our super social media coordinator, wrote this document based on what people wrote on the page and what she could find online about “smoke and fire safety tips”! Outside Stay low to the ground & cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth, and hold it there. Remember that the most dangerous places to be in relation to the fire are uphill from the flames and downwind from the fire. Try to stay upwind of the fire. Look for nearby ...Read more

TIPS FOR MOVING ABROAD WITH A YOUNG FAMILY!

Lots of people have asked me about how we have got our stuff over here and how much we have brought and this is something I also used to wonder about before moving countries, so I thought I would share. As well as some of the challenges we have faced whilst getting used to a new way of living. In January 2016 I read a book called ‘The Art Of Tidying’ by Marie Kondo and it’s a great book which ...Read more

Portuguese Bureacracy: What to expect!

How to change your address at tax office and bank, and put water and electricity bills in your name: 1. Go to tax office (Finanças): Take number ticket, queue for ages (play games on your phone because despite knowing it was going to be a day of queuing, you forgot to bring a book). When it’s your turn tell the lady on the main desk what you want to do. Get sent to another desk. Give the lady the deeds ...Read more

Mortgages for Portugal

Arranging any mortgage abroad can be a daunting prospect and Portugal is certainly no exception. For the uninitiated, it’s difficult to know where to start and whether information you see or receive is correct. This is complicated by the fact that banks lending in Portugal do not always offer the same conditions to clients, even if they have similar profiles. The mortgage market in Portugal is quite traditional in the sense that having the right contacts is crucial if you ...Read more

7 things you should know about travel insurance

Trusted reliable underwriters WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurers who provide you with great cover, 24 hour emergency assistance and the highest levels of support and claims management when you need it most. Value for money with the cover you need WorldNomads.com provides cover for what’s important for travellers from over 150 countries. By focussing on what you need and leaving out what you don’t, World Nomads prices are some of the most competitive ...Read more

How to Fit a Family’s Clothes in One Suitcase

Knowing what to take and how to make the most of your luggage space can seem daunting especially if you have your family in tow. Below is a fellow traveller’s guide on items to take, how to pack a family’s worth of clothes in one suitcase and other useful baggage related tips. Choose your suitcase carefully! The first and most important decision to make is what suitcase to take. Some suitcases can weigh 3.5KG before you have even put your essentials in! ...Read more

The Ultimate Car Hire Checklist

Affiliate Blog Post by Economy Car Hire For many people, renting a car is a nightmare but that’s not the way it should be. We’ve put together this handy car hire checklist that will guide you through the things you need to do once you’ve booked your holiday car hire. From the DVLA code to protecting yourself from unexpected charges, you’ll find all the information you need here. Before You Leave Book your rental car through Economy Car Hire! Research ...Read more

Driving in Europe – what you need to know

New laws for driving in Europe Let’s face it, driving in Europe can be tricky if you don’t know the rules. When you’re driving at home you know the laws of the road. When you reach the continent, each country has a different take on things, and 2016 is going to make things even trickier. In an attempt to crack down on law-breaking foreigners and improve road safety across the continent, the European Commission is in the process of finalising several ...Read more

Working From Home

A guide to earning a living in your pyjamas! by Emma Crabtree, Red Box Business Support Recently, I have been in conversation with new acquaintances and the subject always comes around to “What do you do?” When I say that I am a VA it draws a blank, always. Saying that I am a PA but I work from home, usually gets a nod or two, but then I add that some of the time my workplace is located in Portugal ...Read more

Tips and Advice for Buying a Holiday Home

No matter how much you love your current home along with your family, friends and neighbours, the prospect of buying a holiday home somewhere sunny and warm is a very nice thought indeed. In reality however, it is a rather large decision to make and therefore there are a number of things to consider before taking the plunge and buying a second home abroad. Take a look at these tips and advice if you are thinking about turning your dreams ...Read more

Pet Passport – Taking Pets Abroad

If you’re moving abroad or looking to purchase a 2nd home, the process of taking your pets with you may not be something you’ve really thought about in detail. In theory it’s simple but quarantine regulations have made it trickier than you’d first think. Pet passports are a real thing! Taking Pets Abroad Why is taking an animal abroad so carefully regulated? In short, rabies. Photo by: tashatuvango/Fotolia What is Rabies? Responsible for around 60,000 human deaths a year. Affecting ...Read more

FAQ

Information to help you navigate around Pure Portugal, and the purchase of your property. Property for Sale: www.pureportugal.co.uk Holiday Accommodation and Long Term Rentals: www.pureportugalholidays.com Before Purchase: Receive all new property adverts via email as they are added to our website: http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=PurePortugal All new property adverts also added to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pureportugal?fref=ts Reduced Price Property Mailout: http://pureportugal.us10.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=defa1bf9e8e359678c6267f73&id=f38c3dd15b Guide to Purchasing Property in Portugal: www.pureportugal.co.uk/purchase.html Foreign Currency Exchange: www.fcexchange.co.uk Portugal Mortgage Brokers: email team@pureportugal.co.uk After Purchase: FREE TREES if you buy a ...Read more

Accounting for Dummies!

I am a complete numpty when it comes to accounting, my brain just shuts down when presented with figures of any kind. So when Andy left Pure Portugal and I had to take charge of doing our accounts, I needed to find something that was designed for dummies! I did some internet research and anything with the word “spreadsheet” – which gives me horrors – was instantly rejected. Then I found FreeAgent which seemed to be exactly what I was ...Read more

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