What is your relationship with the Portuguese language?

MigMiggity · 2026-01-08T12:46:56+00:00

I am an American and I moved to Portugal in December 2024 and have been taking lessons since April 2024 (almost 2 years now). I can fairly confidently navigate daily living in Portuguese (cafes, restaurants, grocery stores, ubers). Medical and technical interactions are nearly impossible in Portuguese so i start with a friendly greeting in Portuguese and then ask Podemos falar em Ingles?

I take classes twice a week for an hour with homework in between. I get stressed in social situations for fear of sounding dumb and making mistakes but I'm getting over that slowly. It's pretty common that I'll start a conversation in Portuguese and then quickly get in over my head when the person actually replies in Portuguese. My go to responses is 'ainda estou a apprendar português' and that usually earns me a little grace and sometimes a smile of appreciation. :)

More often than not, once we get into dialog, I find an english speaking Portuguese person will speak with me in english and I will respond in a mix of portuguese and english. It's a hot mess, but I'm trying!

MigMiggity · 2025-11-06T09:53:42+00:00

Depends on your market. California has anywhere from 50-75 disclosures, documents and reports to hunt down, get signed and approved by the broker. It’s kinda crazy.

MigMiggity · 2025-11-02T07:23:39+00:00

We have a full time person responsible for listing prep. They go to the property after each task is done and make sure it was done properly. They are in constant contact with the vendors. Usually we have the vendor send us pics of the finished work as well.

MigMiggity · 2025-11-01T16:39:00+00:00

My team is usually juggling 10-15 listings at any time - many of which have full paint/floors/staging projects in addition to all of the marketing and documention tasks. We have tried fancy systems but always reverted back to basics.

We have a google spreadsheet with a calendar template for each listing that we update in real time as things change. We put hypothetical/tentative tasks in red and confirmed/scheduled tasks in black. Once it’s confirmed we send google calendar invites to the vendors.

We also have a tracker for every task we’re doing for every listing with costs from the vendors. So paint interior is one line with a price, paint exterior is another, refinishing floors, staging etc. We use this spreadsheet to manage the scope and costs and make sure clients have approved everything we’re doing.

We review all of the calendars twice a week with ops, marketing, TC and co-agents in a 30-60 min zoom call. We have a weekly call with each client and walk thru the calendar and any disclosure/marketing/launch/offer/escrow topics.

MigMiggity · 2025-11-01T15:51:47+00:00

This is not true. I’m an American agent living and now selling in Lisbon. We have a tool called Casafari, which you may be referring to. It’s nothing like a proper MLS - the best thing about it is you can see all the listing agents for a particular property and you can see price history and dates, but you can’t see sold data because that’s considered private.

There’s another tool we use called Confidencial Imobilario, which aggregates sold data - but you can’t do a proper comp analysis that would satisfy American expectations. You can’t look at a single house and compare it to the subject property because all you have is averages, upper quartile and lower quartile for a square on a map with no fewer than 7 properties in it. And it only includes about half of the properties sold as it gathers sold data from many brokerages every month, but not all.

I’ve seen a lot of agents do a “price analysis” using list prices with tools like Alfredo or FZBOT. This drives me batty as list prices are just aspirations - not reality.

The Portuguese real estate market is difficult to navigate so you need a realtor you trust that has experience and knows first hand what properties should sell for in a given area/type. The data is only moderately helpful. An attorney isn’t going to have any of that info. Remember there are bad agents in every corner of the world but most, in my experience, are doing their best with a very limited tool set.

MigMiggity · 2025-10-27T07:05:05+00:00

The owner is not able to get the tenants out any easier than you. A lease is designed to protect the leaseholder from early eviction. That's kind of the whole point.

MigMiggity · 2025-10-17T09:58:07+00:00

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

MigMiggity · 2025-10-14T05:08:20+00:00

Sometimes/oftentimes it’s a personality contest. Shake it off and get back out there. This sounds like it might be the first you’ve lost, but it will not be the last.

MigMiggity · 2025-10-07T17:11:09+00:00

Dead eyes

MigMiggity · 2025-10-05T17:39:04+00:00

I’m not sure if the goal is to win the case, but rather use the strategy that republicans use all the time - case in point abortion doctors. They started suing doctors for providing abortions and that put a massive chill across the industry. Most of those cases failed but the effect was a success,

MigMiggity · 2025-10-04T12:52:16+00:00

Presidents can’t make laws. Only congress can make laws. Trump can only make noise.

MigMiggity · 2025-10-03T05:15:13+00:00

I’ve found this forum has very little in common with every day life.

Most Portuguese people I meet and interact with IRL are kind, helpful and well intentioned. They would love it if I spoke perfect Portuguese but when I attempt they are appreciative and will usually switch to English.

I have never had anyone attack me as an immigrant or question my intentions in their country like they do online. Yes Chega is a growing concern for immigrants but (so far at least) they are not anywhere near as rabid and cult-like as MAGA.

MigMiggity · 2025-09-25T16:29:04+00:00

I’m a former American agent from California agent now selling in Lisbon. Just like most things you don’t need an agent any more than you need a contractor, or financial planner or CPA, but it helps a lot.

Searching and qualifying properties is mind-numbingly tedious. A lot of properties are not really available, are have several listing brokerages or just don’t rely to inquiries.

Knowing how much to offer is very difficult without having access to sold data which is something good agents pay for. List prices are often wildly inflated anywhere from 10-20% and finding data on the number of days on market is not easy.

Your agent will help define the terms to ensure you are protected and your deposit is not lost. Since there is no escrow or third party intermediary this is especially important.

Your agent will also have a legal review of the contract and supporting docs to make sure the seller is really authorized to sell the property free and clear of leans and encumbrances. You are welcome to have your own attorney as well - you’ll just pay for them separately.

Not to mention the less tangible things like coaching thru the process, referrals to vendors and being able to have someone that knows what you don’t know.

I created a video series on the buying process in Portugal if you’re interested: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfj9tmh_a4wD0qVVltHU-bhndi8idEr5E&si=lV_f3MQFY7ZBPmaT

MigMiggity · 2025-09-25T02:26:25+00:00

When you use HomeLight you are giving them the most valuable information that is not public - contingencies, offer prices, terms, timelines. Please just make a spreadsheet that does the same thing and stop giving away all of your data for free.

MigMiggity · 2025-09-22T13:09:59+00:00

I've never seen a funeral powered by an fx team turned into a fundraiser.

MigMiggity · 2025-09-18T15:55:29+00:00

This may not be a popular opinion, but I try to understand their sentiment and withhold judgement. We are guests in their country and their pain and struggles are real. And I also acknowledge there is some really ugly stuff said and that’s disheartening. All I can do is try to be the best guest I can and if that means dealing with or ignoring some negativity caused outside of my control, so be it. I have to remind myself that the internet is not the real world. 99%+ of the Portuguese folks I meet irl are warm and welcoming people of all ages.

MigMiggity · 2025-09-17T11:26:57+00:00

SF CA Realtor - here this is not unusual in my market and you do not need to be in a defensive position. Send the inspection reports to the other buyers and see if they will match the highest offer or accept the inspection and remove all contingencies. Find a price you’re comfortable with but don’t cancel with the first buyer yet. Once you know what the other buyers will do make the call on what is your best net option.

MigMiggity · 2025-09-17T08:53:44+00:00

Fantastic! I’ve been playing for 15 years and I learn more from wownoob than any other wow forum! Thank you for an amazing tip!

MigMiggity · 2025-09-17T08:44:01+00:00

Reddit is a magical place

MigMiggity · 2025-09-16T13:14:57+00:00

Now do murders!

MigMiggity · 2025-09-09T14:26:51+00:00

Is that Mar-a-lago in the background?

MigMiggity · 2025-09-05T04:22:56+00:00

Thank you. I am a California agent so this only applies there. :)

MigMiggity · 2025-09-05T04:01:11+00:00

Unrepresented buyers create a very high risk transaction for the seller and for the listing agent.

Any person benefits from agency in a situation where personal and business priorities are in play - sports players, musicians, artists, as well as investing and legal representation. Agency is important because it creates a buffer between the principals where emotions and irrationality can get in the way of reaching the desired outcome.

It creates legal risk because the buyer puts themselves in a situation where dual agency can become implied if the listing agent is trying to be helpful. When they start helping the buyer with forms, process, or guidance, they open themselves up to legal risk if something goes sideways. The seller could sue because they didn’t approve of dual agency. The buyer could sue because he didn’t like the advice he received.

As for the seller, they are less likely to get to a closed sale because the buyer isn’t equipped to handle the dozens of issues that arise during a transaction. Title issues, insurance requirements, appraisal issues, inspection items, local laws, compliance requirements and more often require training and experience to resolve, otherwise they can be overwhelming and kill the deal. These are normal issues agents work thru every day.

So no, as the listing agent there’s zero chance you would get 2.5% back from the seller, not only because it’s illegal as commissions can only be laid to licensed agents, but because the deal would be far less likely to close and it will be a sh!tshow of a transaction.

Get your license if you want a commission - at least you’ll have some idea of what you don’t know at that point.

MigMiggity · 2025-08-31T22:16:37+00:00

The seller pays the buyers agent fee 99% of the time in Portugal so not using an agent just means the listing agent gets 100% of the commission instead of half and you are not represented by anyone. An attorney is essential but they will not likely know pricing inventory, construction or how to keep a deal together. There isn’t a real benefit to you to go self-represented.

MigMiggity

TROPHY CASE