Portugal
Portugal is a country of enormous history and interest – Portuguese is the 5th most spoken language in the world and it has a rich history of ancient settlements, world exploration and an enlightened society with a stable popular government. Buying a property in Portugal is a straight forward process and there is much to recommend an investment here either to live in or for family holidays or rental.
Climate and Safety
Perhaps the top attraction for those from northern Europe is the fantastic climate, with mild winters, a pleasant Atlantic breeze, warm balmy summer days and long evenings, just perfect for sitting out with a glass of delicious local wine…. In winter the temperature rarely falls below 15ºC and in summer around 30ºC is the norm – just perfect for winter sunbathing or eating outdoors….
Another major factor is that Portugal is one of most secure countries in the world for personal security. It is in the top 5 safest places to live and this is a huge draw for people coming from large cities and other parts of globe. This well advertised advantage has created an enormous new demand for properties either for full time living or holidays.
Education and Lifestyle
The Portuguese education system is free to University level with the advantage for children to learn the language and embrace the culture. There are also excellent private schools.
Health
The public health service (SNS) is excellent and free – equivalent to e.g. the UK´s NHS. All residents are entitled to register with the public health service for free benefits, vaccinations etc.
There are also two private hospitals offering full services including specialists and surgeons – located in Faro and Alvor.