Reply to: Holiday home anyone?

[Pinto]

You portuguensi, Pinto?

no, I'm portuguesi

[Lucifer Box]

Quite, Lucifer old chap.

The bright red skin, horns, tail & pitchfork do tend to frighten the natives a bit...

You didn't think it was a coincidence there is a place called "Boca do Inferno" (The Mouth of Hell) not far from my pile did you?

[Francko]

Good stuff. Glad to see that there are people that don't think Portugal is just the Algarve!

You portuguensi, Pinto?

[Lucifer Box]

Good stuff. Glad to see that there are people that don't think Portugal is just the Algarve!

Never been there! I'm quite happy tootling around places such as Sintra, Tomar, Coimbra, Obidos and the like, as I'm not a beach sort of person.

[Pinto]

Yes, but not quite that far (Estoril).

Good stuff. Glad to see that there are people that don't think Portugal is just the Algarve!

[Lucifer Box]

Along the coast that takes you to Cascais?

Yes, but not quite that far (Estoril).

[Pinto]

West of Lisbon.

Along the coast that takes you to Cascais?

[Lucifer Box]

I bet Algarve, have I won my 5 pounds?

Nope.

[Francko]

I bet Algarve, have I won my 5 pounds?

And certainly not close to the spanish coast either but in the full set of golfing clubs and irish pubs in the Algarve new british resort.

[Lucifer Box]

West of Lisbon.

[Pinto]

Lucifer,

Where in Portugal, if you don't mind me asking?

[Lucifer Box]

Not sure about the mate bit, Sasguru. What happens if he lets you down? Sounds to me like he's not going to be that bothered about doing anything.

Good basic concept though. Take no notice of all the misery punters on here and get your holiday pile. I've had a place in Portugal for quite a while and have never regretted it for a moment (even when it's empty).

[sasguru]

There's something I'm not telling you

My mate who will live in the property is an old university friend from 15 years ago. Some years ago he turned his back on the rat race and now lives in Crete where he's been working as an odd job man renovating people's second homes.
He trained as an engineer and is pretty good with his hands.
So the deal is I buy a wreck (which can be obtained for not much more than the price of a top end car here) and he slowly does it up, in exchange for living there rent free.
So not such a bad investment after all, I think. Only slight downside is is it wise to come to such an arangement with a mate?

[Francko]

so let's get this straight, you plan to pay cash for a stone hut in Crete which you will call your holiday _home_ and you plan to visit there 3 or 4 times a year and when you're not there you know a cretin who will live there and maintain it for you

Milan.

Some of my relatives went on holidays in the same place at the same location for 20 years. If they have bought a flat there, they would have saved money plus would have had a capital at the end. It pretty much depends on your lifestyle but I wouldnt say that it's the worst investment in the world if you plan to spend a consistent number of holidays in the years to come at the same place. Certainly there are better investment opportunities, including the possibility of renting it out most of the year but then again, it's all up to individual lifestyle and greed (and also possibility of sudden holidays).

[sasguru]

so let's get this straight, you plan to pay cash for a stone hut in Crete which you will call your holiday _home_ and you plan to visit there 3 or 4 times a year and when you're not there you know a cretin who will live there and maintain it for you

Milan.

Yes. Good, eh?