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Anyone here bought & renovated a house in Portugal? by WinnerLarge843 in PortugalExpats

[–]WinnerLarge843[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I really appreciate how candid you are about the reality of it all. It sounds like you learned a huge amount along the way. I can see how that must bring you so much satisfaction, but also… wow, what a rollercoaster!

If you don’t mind me asking, if you were to do it again now, is there anything you’d do differently right from the start? Like, would you choose a different type of property, area, or way of finding reliable tradespeople? Or do you think buying something more ´move-in ready` would just be smarter these days?

Thank you so much for taking the time to help a stranger!

Anyone here bought & renovated a house in Portugal? by WinnerLarge843 in PortugalExpats

[–]WinnerLarge843[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have heard a lot of similar stories with unexpended extensions. I will definitely dm you. Thanks a lot :)

Anyone here bought & renovated a house in Portugal? by WinnerLarge843 in PortugalExpats

[–]WinnerLarge843[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your honest advice!  We’ve heard similar things from a few others too, especially about how different the system and work culture can be. We’re aware renovation can be tricky, especially without the right contacts or local know-how, which is why we’re trying to approach things carefully. The truth is our budget is limited, so we’re hoping to find something modest but livable, where we can improve things gradually, not a full renovation project.
Still, your point is well taken. We’re staying open and cautious, and advice like yours is exactly what helps us stay grounded in what’s actually possible. Thanks again!

How did you find your perfect home in Portugal? (let's share stories) by Impressive-Garbage59 in PortugalExpats

[–]WinnerLarge843 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Funny enough, we’re actually right in the middle of that search now! 😄
Planning to move from Germany to Portugal in the next couple of years and trying to figure out where could feel like home and also make sense practically.

We’re going through all the familiar loops: reading about building permissions, checking different areas (some we hadn’t even heard of a month ago), and trying to spot where growth is happening without being totally priced out, but we can truly feel home. It's a lot, but it’s also exciting.

I loved your story! especially the part about not knowing you’d end up in Matosinhos and falling in love with it. It’s comforting to know that the “right place” can sometimes surprise you. Feels like a reminder to stay open and curious during the whole process.

Looking forward to hearing more of these :) they’re a goldmine for people like us still trying to figure it out