The Meravista team believes that the Algarvean lifestyle is the unique selling point for every property in the Algarve. The results of our recent survey of expats living in the region, confirmed that whether a buyer’s budget is €100,000 or €1m, the natural beauty, best year round climate in Europe and relaxed way of life top the list of reasons for moving to the region.
With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, it’s not surprising that 71% of respondents cited the Algarve’s warm climate as a key factor for making their life-changing move. Almost half of the expats who took part chose the Algarve for the favourable lifestyle that it offers and their comments suggest that they haven’t been disappointed.
Who participated in our survey?
Of the 300 plus expats who completed our survey, just under half have lived in the Algarve between 7 and 10 years, 76% having originated from the UK. Other nationalities who took part included Dutch, German, Belgian, French, American and Canadian.
Knowing that the Algarve is one of the most popular retirement destinations in Europe, we weren’t surprised that the average age of our respondents was 64 and that 45% of them selected retirement as one of the key reasons for moving to the region.
However, the spread of respondents across the Algarve was fairly even, with the expected higher numbers of participants from the more densely populated Municipalities of Silves, Loulé and Lagos. A quarter of those who took part were aged under 50 and around 7% were under 35, making our results a good reflection of the opinions of the expat community as a whole.
What drew people to live in a particular area?
‘Back to nature / quiet’ was ranked number one among respondents as the main driver in choosing the area they live in. The runner up was ‘Traditional Portuguese’ with ‘Close to the beach’, ‘Lower price / more for your money’ and ‘Close to shops and restaurants’ making up the top five reasons.
Around two thirds of respondents said they owned their Algarve property outright, with a third of these being situated in a rural location. A quarter said they’d lived in their current homes for more than 10 years.
Is the Algarve a good place to raise children?
There’s no doubt that the Algarve offers a great environment for children, with plenty of opportunities for fun, good food, fresh air and physical activity. But what did expat parents have to say about the region’s schools?
Over half of expat parents who took part in our survey said their children attended local Portuguese schools. A fifth of parents rated Algarve schools as excellent and a further 28% said that the choice was limited but the schools were good.
Is there much to enjoy in the Algarve?
Almost half of all respondents agreed that there are definitely more things to appreciate in the Algarve and 69% said they certainly have more opportunity to enjoy their leisure time. Dining outwas voted the most popular way to spend recreational time. Walking, hiking and ramblingtopped the activity poll, surprisingly attracting substantially more votes than golfing and giving credence to Meravista’s claim that there’s far more to the Algarve that sunshine and golf!
But, you can’t please everyone! Not all respondents were happy with the range of activities on offer. Bungee jumping, bell ringing, wheelchair dancing, horseracing, ice skating and snow skiing were all highlighted as lacking in the region. So, some great ideas for anyone seeking a niche market opportunity – the snow might be a little tricky though.
Expats say there’s a lot to love about the Algarve
Whether retired or working in the region, remarks made by expats surveyed indicated that the majority of them find the Algarve a relaxing, fulfilling and exciting place to live.
These are some of the many positives voiced by respondents to our survey:
“The local Portuguese people, the wonderful countryside.”
“The sense of adventure and the unexpected.”
“The weather, the waves, the quiet, the space, the views.”
“Less traffic, less crowded, good climate, excellent golf.”
“Sun, lifestyle, Portuguese friends and being able to ride a motorcycle all year.”
For Algarve restaurant owner Jan Pomfrett, the weather is one of the best things about living in the region. Jan, from the Lagoa area, also commented on her work-life balance: “We moved for a better quality of life and we certainly have that.”
In fact 64% of Algarve earners surveyed claimed that they worked significantly less hours than before they moved to the region, and a quarter of those with jobs or a business here said: “It’s not work, it’s all pleasure.” 50% of those who told us that they ran a business in the Algarve also added that they’d found it ‘simple’ or ‘relatively easy’ to set up.
Judi H is originally from the UK and has lived in South Africa as well as in Portugal. She has a townhouse in Albufeira and is disabled. Judi told us that the disabled facilities in the region are a plus for her. She also wrote: “I find that people are much more helpful and understanding than I've been used to.”
Kate Holmes-Throup, from Silves, sold her private day nursery business in the UK to live in the Algarve. Kate likes the Portuguese people and the laidback way of life: “I love it, I will never leave.” she said.
We were delighted that very few aspects of living in the Algarve got the thumbs down from our participants. The bureaucracy in Portugal and ‘red tape’ were penned as negatives by a few. But hey, we don’t live in a perfect world! Ian from Corotelo, near São Brás de Alportel, made us smile with his response to what he liked least about living in the Algarve: “The people outside the Algarve/Portugal (plus one or two bumpy roads around Santa Barbara de Nexe).”
Friendly people, social life, less traffic, low pollution levels, lower crime rates, medical care, affordable cost of living, house prices and frequent UK flights, were also reasons given for loving the Algarve. In fact, 71% of the expats we surveyed are so in love with the region that they said they’d ‘definitely’ or ‘very likely recommend living in the Algarve to friends and family, which in itself is a huge endorsement for the Algarvean lifestyle.
So, what can we conclude from our survey?
Whether they came here to retire, to work or to raise a family, the majority of expats living the dream on Portugal’s south coast chose the region for the lifestyle it offers. For many, the region has lived up to expectations, providing them with an overall better quality of life. But sadly, no snow!
Editor's note
Maybe you’re considering investing a holiday home in the sun or relocation to somewhere with a warmer climate and a better lifestyle. You can view over 14,000 properties for saleon our website and read more about buying propertyin the Algarve.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
Meravista Algarve Expats Survey 2013 – the results
by Meravista
The Meravista team believes that the Algarvean lifestyle is the unique selling point for every property in the Algarve. The results of our recent survey of expats living in the region, confirmed that whether a buyer’s budget is €100,000 or €1m, the natural beauty, best year round climate in Europe and relaxed way of life top the list of reasons for moving to the region.
With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, it’s not surprising that 71% of respondents cited the Algarve’s warm climate as a key factor for making their life-changing move. Almost half of the expats who took part chose the Algarve for the favourable lifestyle that it offers and their comments suggest that they haven’t been disappointed.
Who participated in our survey?
Of the 300 plus expats who completed our survey, just under half have lived in the Algarve between 7 and 10 years, 76% having originated from the UK. Other nationalities who took part included Dutch, German, Belgian, French, American and Canadian.
Knowing that the Algarve is one of the most popular retirement destinations in Europe, we weren’t surprised that the average age of our respondents was 64 and that 45% of them selected retirement as one of the key reasons for moving to the region.
What drew people to live in a particular area?
‘Back to nature / quiet’ was ranked number one among respondents as the main driver in choosing the area they live in. The runner up was ‘Traditional Portuguese’ with ‘Close to the beach’, ‘Lower price / more for your money’ and ‘Close to shops and restaurants’ making up the top five reasons.
Around two thirds of respondents said they owned their Algarve property outright, with a third of these being situated in a rural location. A quarter said they’d lived in their current homes for more than 10 years.
There’s no doubt that the Algarve offers a great environment for children, with plenty of opportunities for fun, good food, fresh air and physical activity. But what did expat parents have to say about the region’s schools?
Over half of expat parents who took part in our survey said their children attended local Portuguese schools. A fifth of parents rated Algarve schools as excellent and a further 28% said that the choice was limited but the schools were good.
Is there much to enjoy in the Algarve?
Almost half of all respondents agreed that there are definitely more things to appreciate in the Algarve and 69% said they certainly have more opportunity to enjoy their leisure time. Dining out was voted the most popular way to spend recreational time. Walking, hiking and rambling topped the activity poll, surprisingly attracting substantially more votes than golfing and giving credence to Meravista’s claim that there’s far more to the Algarve that sunshine and golf!
Whether retired or working in the region, remarks made by expats surveyed indicated that the majority of them find the Algarve a relaxing, fulfilling and exciting place to live.
These are some of the many positives voiced by respondents to our survey:
“The local Portuguese people, the wonderful countryside.”
“The sense of adventure and the unexpected.”
“The weather, the waves, the quiet, the space, the views.”
“Less traffic, less crowded, good climate, excellent golf.”
“Sun, lifestyle, Portuguese friends and being able to ride a motorcycle all year.”
For Algarve restaurant owner Jan Pomfrett, the weather is one of the best things about living in the region. Jan, from the Lagoa area, also commented on her work-life balance: “We moved for a better quality of life and we certainly have that.”
Judi H is originally from the UK and has lived in South Africa as well as in Portugal. She has a townhouse in Albufeira and is disabled. Judi told us that the disabled facilities in the region are a plus for her. She also wrote: “I find that people are much more helpful and understanding than I've been used to.”
Kate Holmes-Throup, from Silves, sold her private day nursery business in the UK to live in the Algarve. Kate likes the Portuguese people and the laidback way of life: “I love it, I will never leave.” she said.
Friendly people, social life, less traffic, low pollution levels, lower crime rates, medical care, affordable cost of living, house prices and frequent UK flights, were also reasons given for loving the Algarve. In fact, 71% of the expats we surveyed are so in love with the region that they said they’d ‘definitely’ or ‘very likely recommend living in the Algarve to friends and family, which in itself is a huge endorsement for the Algarvean lifestyle.
So, what can we conclude from our survey?
Whether they came here to retire, to work or to raise a family, the majority of expats living the dream on Portugal’s south coast chose the region for the lifestyle it offers. For many, the region has lived up to expectations, providing them with an overall better quality of life. But sadly, no snow!
Editor's note
Maybe you’re considering investing a holiday home in the sun or relocation to somewhere with a warmer climate and a better lifestyle. You can view over 14,000 properties for sale on our website and read more about buying property in the Algarve.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.