Cascais gets a sweet tooth and follows Obidos example.

Thousands flocked to Cascais to learn more about chocolate, not surprisingly most of those people were women. The beautiful town of Cascais just 20 minutes from Lisbon was the perfect venue for the event put together by the Portugal Cocoa club. Visitors had the opportunity to understand the chocolate making process, learn about the origins of chocolate and most importantly taste different chocolates.

What a lot of people may not have realized is that a much bigger event of this kind has been taking place for years in Obidos on the Silver Coast. The Obidos Chocolate Festival takes place every year and is one of the highlights of the Silver Coast calendar. Held inside the walls of the beautiful castle the event attracts people from São Martinho do Porto, Nazare, Caldas da Rainha and Lisbon.

By Dylan Herholdt

Another award goes to the Silver Coast

Praia D’el Rey Beach resort in Obidos on the Silver Coast was awarded the title of Europe’s leading golf and leisure resort. The gorgeous resort located minutes away from other attractions such as São Martinho do Porto and Nazare has been drawing people from all over Europe and is widely credited as being Portugal’s best golf course.

In addition Portugal won the award for Europe’s best destination, best cruise location and best city break destination.

By Dylan Herholdt

An Iberian world cup?

Portugal and Spain have joined forces and lodged an official bid to jointly host the football world cup in 2018 or 2022. This latest development has presented a real threat to the English world cup bid as both these countries are capable of hosting the tournament individually, but together, there is the potential for one of the greatest tournaments ever.

Portugal has the infrastructure and the stadiums to host an amazing event, as they showed when they hosted Euro 2004. The idea of a world cup here is great news for people on the Silver Coast, a lot of games will be played at the 2 big stadiums in Lisbon which is just under an hour away from places like Obidos, Nazare and São Martinho do Porto. With the high speed train to be completed by 2011 the commute to Lisbon from the Silver Coast will be even shorter.

An Iberian world cup . . . the sky is the limit.

By Dylan Herholdt

The Silver Coast . . . the warm heart of Portugal

I had just finished meeting some clients and decided to stop off at one of my favorite spots for a beer. Being from South Africa we pride ourselves in having the best beer in the world but I have to say the Portuguese beer is some of the best I have ever tasted, not quite the point of the story.

I was sitting outside drinking my beer in Alfeizerão on the Silver Coast. The village of Alfeizerão is just outside São Martinho do Porto, 5 minutes from the amazing shell shaped bay and once again I was struck at just how amazing this place is, people are walking in and out, they do not know me but they greet me and everyone else, fathers are sitting there with all his kids as they color in and greeting everyone who walks in and out. This is normal, and this is what you will find at every coffee shop, pub or restaurant in Obidos, Nazare, Foz do Arelho and all over the Silver Coast.

This place truly is the warm heart of Portugal.

By Dylan Herholdt

How to choose the right agent (Part 4)

What you need when attempting to purchase a property here in Portugal is an honest, hard working and straight talking Estate Agent who will act in your best interests and can be assured that if they put in the work they will get the reward. That last part may sound a little out of place but think about it this way, if you try to work with every agent in the country then firstly you will not build a relationship with any of them and secondly each agent will show you the best villa or apartment they have on that day and then forget about you because they know that you are going to meet another 100 agents afterwards.

Is it not then better for you to have one Agent who puts 110% effort in finding you exactly what you want, rather than many agents who really don’t put in any effort at all? As I mentioned before, maybe it won’t happen the first trip but rest assured if you build a good relationship with that one Agent then he will still be working for you after you have gone home. Even if you see a property online you could ask your agent to go check it out and send you more photos or additional information etc. How much will this cost you? NOTHING AT ALL. Estate Agents in Portugal are paid by the vendor so take advantage of that fact.

So what Agent should you choose to work with here in Portugal? That is an easy one …….. The best Real Estate Agent in Portugal is without a doubt “Prestige Portugal”. We have offices in the Algarve, Lisbon and the Silver Coast. Licensed and regulated by INCI our AMI number is 5185. For more information please visit the “about us” section of our website.

By Colm Wilkinson

How to choose the righ agent (Part 3)

Ask your friends if they have bought in Portugal, talk to them about their experiences and learn from them. Make a shortlist of Agents who you think you would like to work with and interview them one by one. Pick up the phone or send them an e-mail, give them your property requirements and then ask them why you should choose them to work with. Some agents can sell any property in their chosen area, even if the property you really like the look of is listed on another agent’s site. This is via inter-agency agreements if the property is exclusive to the other Agent.

Once you have chosen an Estate Agent to work with then do be loyal to that Agent. Portugal is not a big country and if you have decided on a specific location, like the Silver Coast, then it is even smaller. A good agent will work hard on your behalf and even if it takes a couple of trips back to Portugal to find the perfect property the relationship that you build with that agent will be invaluable to you in the future. Many clients arrive in Portugal to view property without prior contact with any Agents. These clients then proceed to work their way from one Estate Agent to another each time attempting to explain what their requirements are whilst loosing track of the number of properties they have seen and getting more confused.

By Colm Wilkinson

How to choose the right Estate Agent in Portugal (Part 2)

If you are an overseas buyer then it will be in your best interest to choose an Agent who is based in Portugal and who has plenty of experience in dealing with foreign buyers. Obviously the issues and concerns that you will have prior and throughout the purchase will be completely different than that of a local Portuguese buyer. Don’t forget that you are in a foreign country and remember there is a language barrier especially pertaining to purchase contracts etc. It is very important that the Agent you choose to work with, is based in the area you want to purchase, in the case of the Silver Coast, you want an agent who is central to all the main areas like Obidos, São Martinho do Porto, Nazare, Caldas da Rainha and Foz do Arelho, an agent who can provide you with all the back up and support that you will require to make the purchase of your villa or apartment a smooth and enjoyable one.

There is a misconception that many overseas buyers have to not take recommendations from their Agents with regards to lawyers, mortgage brokers, management companies etc. If you are working with an established and reputable company then you should listen to their advice. Any recommendations for lawyers or mortgage brokers made by your Agent must be independent as stated under Portuguese law. If you have any doubts about the honesty of the Estate Agent then you should not be working with them in the first place.

By Colm Wilkinson

How to choose the right Estate Agent in Portugal (part 1)

We have all heard the horror stories of un-suspecting purchasers of overseas property being ripped off by agents. The overseas property industry is still largely unregulated although that is not the case for registered and licensed Estate Agents in Portugal. Each registered Estate Agent in Portugal will have an “AMI” license number (Associacão de Mediadores Imobiliarios) which is issued by the governing body for Portuguese Real Estate Agents “INCI” (Instituto da Construcao e do Imobiliária). To obtain this license agents must be trained and certified by INCI and undertake a proficiency exam every 3 years.

The large proportion of Overseas Property Companies who sell foreign property are NOT licensed or regulated in the individual countries that they operate. If you are considering a property purchase in Portugal then it makes more sense for you to use a Portuguese based and licensed Estate Agent. You will then have the peace of mind that the company you put your trust in will be regulated in the country that you purchase in. When looking at property on the Silver Coast you need to be sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company and whether acquiring property in Nazare, São Martinho do Porto, Obidos, Foz do Arelho or Caldas da Rainha you want a company that knows and operates in these areas.

By Colm Wilkinson

Portugal to play Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in world cup

Portugal will have to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina over 2 legs if they want to play in next year’s world cup on South African soil. It was announced yesterday that the 2 games will be played on the 14th and 18th of November with the home leg being played at ‘Estadio da Luz’ in Lisbon.

This means that the national team will be training and making their final preparations right here on the Silver Coast. The last time they made use of the training facilities in Obidos they won the following 2 games comfortably. Young and old fans from areas like Foz do Arelho, Caldas da Rainha, São Martinho do Porto and Nazare will be able to watch their heroes prepare for the do or die games against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

A little bit of Obidos magic will be needed once again . . .

By Dylan Herholdt

Rip Curl Pro Search kicks off today

The much anticipated surf event starts today in Peniche on the Silver Coast, the world’s top surfers from Australia, USA, South Africa, Hawaii and Brazil will go head to head in a bid to win the illustrious event. Competition will be fierce with some of the biggest names in surfing taking part such as Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow, Tom Whitaker, Adriano De Souza and more. Portugal’s hopes rest on the shoulders of one man; Tiago Pires, a resident on the Silver Coast in Ericeira, will be hoping that his knowledge of the local waters will give him an advantage over his rivals.

The event runs until the 30th of October and promises to entertain spectators coming from the surrounding Silver Coast towns of Lourinha, Ericeira, Areia Branca, Obidos, São Martinho do Porto, Foz Do Arelho and Nazare.

By Dylan Herholdt

Latest property listing: Sea view apartment

Our latest property listing is all about the location. Situated in the beautiful Silver Coast town of Foz do Arelho. This apartment has the most amazing view of the ocean and the lagoon mouth.

Not only that but this 2 bed apartment is beautifully finished, including a fully fitted kitchen, air conditioning, wooden flooring, stylish wooden shutters and a huge terrace that will make you feel like you are on top of the world.

Find out more . . .

The Greatest place for a morning run

If you ever met me in person you would probably find it hard to believe that I run, mainly because of the short tree stumps I am trying to pass off as legs. But it is because of my tree stumps that I NEED to run.

So every morning I take a run along the bay of São Martinho do Porto on the Silver Coast, there is a wonderful track that wraps around the bay for that purpose

My breathing is heavy my legs feel like they are going to fall off but the setting is perfect, the fresh morning air, the safety and the amazing bay at sunrise.

I was not built to run but this could be the greatest place to do so.

By Dylan Herholdt

Live music and comedy in Caldas da Rainha

The vibrant town of Caldas Da Rainha on the Silver Coast will host the show ‘Ola Ola’, an adaption of the popular TV show ‘Allo Allo’ presented by the ‘Costa de Prata Entertainers’ and written by Richard Hartwell.

The show will be split into two halves with the 1st part dedicated to the Ola Ola production and the 2nd part entitled ‘Songs from the shows’ will showcase popular chorus lines and solos from the most popular productions in the twentieth century.

The music and comedy special will be presented on the 17th of October at the Pimpões arts and sports centre in Caldas da Rainha. Tickets are only €5.

By Dylan Herholdt

Property Investment Tips (part3)

Prices for property on the Silver Coast range from just €150k for new build 2 bedroom apartments walking distance to the beach to only €235k for a new 3 bedroom villa with pool. With prices as low as these, every indicator points to the Silver Coast area having one of the highest growth potentials within the European Union . The area attracts buyers from all over Europe and is only a day’s drive from the centre of the EU. Many continental Europeans do in choose to drive to the Silver Coast which in turn lowers the cost of their holiday meaning they revisit the area more than once each year.

Local buyer interest in the Silver Coast is also strong with many Portuguese recognizing the investment potential of this area. In fact the Portuguese government has been pumping funds into the Silver Coast area since early 2000. Infrastructure improvements have included new motorways, schools, hospitals, commercial centers and within a few years a new high speed train link to Madrid and a new international airport. Currently receiving over 8.8 million euro a day from the EU the government is keen to upgrade the entire greater Lisbon area including the Silver Coast. All this of course has to be taken into consideration when weighing up the investment potential of this area.

Our advice to you …… take a few days , get on a plane to Lisbon and let us introduce you to some fantastic real estate opportunities before you lose out!

By Colm Wilkinson

Ronaldo off injured but Portugal beat Hungary

The Silver Coast air must have done the trick when the Portuguese national team trained in Obidos ahead of their crucial game against Hungary on the 10th of October.

Even though Ronaldo went off injured within 30 minutes, Portugal produced a fine team performance to win 3 – 0 in Lisbon in front of 50,000 passionate supporters. 2 Goals from Simão Sabrosa and 1 goal from Liedson saw the home team come out on top with the vital win.

With Denmark beating Sweden 1 – 0 Portugal now needs to beat Malta on Wednesday to stand a chance of qualifying for the world cup.

It looks like the magic of Obidos may just have done the trick.

By Dylan Herholdt

Christiano Ronaldo in Obidos on the Silver Coast

Christiano Ronaldo and his team mates have been training right here in Obidos in preparation for their crucial World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Malta. With qualification for the 2010 world cup in South Africa hanging by a thread Portugal have to win their two remaining qualifiers and hope that a few of the other results go their way and even then they are not guaranteed a ticket to next year’s show piece.

The team, however, was still able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Obidos on the Silver Coast as they were put through their paces and the state of the art training facility just minutes away from the amazing Obidos Castle.

Obidos Castle is seen by many as a symbol of good fortune, let’s hope that the Portuguese national team receives some of the good fortune.

By Dylan Herholdt

The Latest addition to the Prestige team

Congratulations to our colleague Colm and his better half Tanya as they gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on Wednesday the 7th of October.

Colm described his new son as healthy, happy and pink.

Welcome to the world Shane.

Property Investment tips (Part 2)

Portugal is an investors paradise . It is an established and well known tourist destination yet is also hugely popular with the holiday home buyers and the retirement community due to its easy access and year round good weather . Obviously as an investor there are three important points to consider when weighing up the merits of any real estate opportunity . 1) Value for money , location , quality etc . 2) How do you intend to service the running costs during the hold period of the investment ? 3) How do you intend to realize your investment , the all important exit strategy .

It is simple to invest wisely in property if you approach it logically and do your homework . Make sure to purchase a property that is appealing to holiday makers (for rental returns) so that you can service the costs of the property during the growth period but also make sure that it is a property which in the future will be appealing to potential buyers , for example think about buyers who would like a retirement property to spend the winter months . It is this profile of client who will have the most to spend on an overseas property in the future as they will have benefited from the 90s – mid 2000 property boom in the UK and Ireland on their residential property . Many of these people will end up downsizing at home and buying an overseas home with the left over funds .

You should be asking yourselves the question where in Portugal offers the best investment potential today ? Well there are certain areas in the Algarve that are indeed interesting such as the Eastern Algarve , more so because it is not a heavily developed as other areas of the Algarve and prices are more realistic . The real winner however is the SILVER COAST region of the country , located just 40 minutes drive from Lisbon this area boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe , one of the lowest costs of living in Portugal and high quality low density development which is still in keeping with traditional Portuguese design .

By Colm Wilkinson

Our 100th blog

This is our 100th blog! And what better way to celebrate then to tell you another wonderful story about this amazing place that I am so happy to call my home.

I was recently on leave and decided to spend some time in Cascais. I had a wonderful time resting, sleeping in and not having to worry about anything work related for a whole week. On Sunday I made my way back to my apartment in São Martinho do Porto on the Silver Coast and just my luck my car starts to overheat, the oil was fine and the water was fine but for some reason it kept overheating. I took evasive action turned off at the next off ramp and ended up in a little village called . . . ‘I don’t know what’.

There I was parked outside a little quinta that belonged to an old Portuguese farmer, let’s just say we had some communication problems but we both agreed that the car was not working. As I waited for the tow truck to come the old man and his wife were wonderful, offering me, a complete stranger, food, water and even beer.

I managed to get a tow truck driver to take me to a mechanic in Caldas Da Rainha. Now when you have a 30 minute trip with someone who doesn’t have much to say in Portuguese never mind English the trip feels a lot longer but then the unthinkable happened, the grumpy, non-talkative tow truck driver put in a Rod Stewart cd and all of a sudden there was no more awkward silence as we sang along to the classics together.

It turned out to be a great day and once again I was reminded of what a special place this is.

Here’s to an incredible country and here’s to the next 100 blogs.

By Dylan Herholdt

Property investment tips

Real Estate is still the number 1 investment vehicle available to everyday people. The key is to invest when the cycle is at its lowest rather than at the peak. It is an investment which we can manage ourselves and has the security of being a “Tangible Investment” unless of course you buy in Florida and a hurricane takes your investment away but then of course that is what insurance is for.

There is no other investment vehicle out there that places the investor in the same favorable position as real estate does. Where else can you place a deposit down for just a percentage of the investment value yet still maintain earning capability on 100% of the investment?

Over the past 30 years returns on property in Portugal have far exceeded worldwide averages although past data shows stable and moderate growth averages in Portugal of between 4% - 6% per year. Obviously there are certain areas of the country that saw “micro booms” such as some of the resort towns of the Algarve which experienced up to 15% growth per year yet this is not reflective of the country as a whole . Overseas buyers were to blame for this and these areas have now reached their peak years before they should have. (Obviously not the place to invest now so)

The current international market situation means that there has never been a better time to invest in Portugal. Interest rates are at a record low, there is an opportunity to secure fantastic property deals well below peak value and local banks are still very willing to finance property purchases. Today’s market is an incredible investment opportunity for the savvy investor.

When thinking of which market to invest in, we must arrive to certain conclusions:
What is the risk level we are prepared to take? Why are we investing in a particular country? Which part of the chosen country are we going to invest in? And are we looking for capital growth or rental returns or both?

by Colm Wilkinson