Moving to the Algarve: A Property Insider's View

You've been coming to The Algarve for over twenty years. What finally made you move? My family bought a holiday home in Vale de Éguas, near Almancil, when I was younger, so The Algarve has always felt like a second home. But it wasn't until the first Covid summer that everything shifted. I came out alone for two months and something clicked. I'd grown tired of London's pace and grey skies. I tried for over a year to relocate with my job at Swarovski, but it didn't work out. Eventually, I took the plunge - jobless, alone and with no plan. Within two days, a company I'd interviewed with six months earlier called to offer me a role. It was FARFETCH, a Portuguese company perfectly happy for me to work remotely. It felt like the universe had aligned. What do you love most about life here compared to London? The spontaneity. In London, even seeing your closest friends requires planning weeks in advance. Here, I can call someone at 9am, say "fancy a walk?" and ten minutes later we're on one of the most stunning beaches in Europe. This happens all the time. I also love the lack of traffic, quick commutes, and easy parking. It's a small thing, but it makes a huge difference to everyday life. You learned some hard lessons when you bought your own property here. What happened? I bought my home before I started working in real estate, and I made every rookie mistake in the book. In the Golden Triangle, when you find the right property, you need to move fast and I simply wasn't ready. As a result, I lost the house. It was devastating. A LONDONER IN THE ALGARVE Now, the very first thing I tell anyone who is seriously looking is to get prepared before you fall in love with something. Choose your lawyer. Consult your tax advisor. Speak to a mortgage broker. Put yourself in the best position so that, when the right property appears, you can move quickly and minimise the bumps along the way. What's one thing about the Portuguese property market that surprises people? The lack of price transparency. In the UK or the US, sold prices are publicly available so you can see what any house on any street has sold for. Here, that information simply isn't in the public domain. It can make the market feel quite opaque, which is why having the right guidance from the outset makes such a difference. One tip you'd give newcomers to settle into life quickly? Play padel. It's one of the fastest ways to meet people and feel like you belong. It's how I met some of my closest friends here, and even how I found my job in real estate. I play at a variety of local clubs in the area and love getting the chance to meet so many interesting people of all nationalities while getting in a workout. If you're new to The Algarve and not sure where to start — start there! Meera Patel is Sales Director at ReCo Real Estate. With a background across global brands including IMG, Swarovski and FARFETCH, she brings international experience to the local property market. Whether you're looking for a beachside retreat or a tranquil hillside home, she's always happy to share advice or talk things through. Meera Patel swapped grey skies and the London rat race for spontaneous beach walks and padel at sunset. Now Sales Director at ReCo, a boutique real estate agency specialising in the Golden Triangle, she talks to us about falling in love with the region, making rookie mistakes, and why the best thing you can do when you arrive is pick up a padel racket.

Mobile: +351 932 015 840 Email: mp@re-co.io Instagram: @meerapproperty “In the Golden Triangle, when you find the right property, you need to move fast.”