Despite being bordered by only one other country (Spain), Portugal has an intercontinental feel. The culture, architecture, language and cuisine have all been influenced by centuries of global travel. Living standards are high due to the advanced economy, peaceful governance, and emphasis on moral freedom for its citizens. The weather is uniformly warm in the summer months, while temperatures in winter vary depending on location. For example, you’ll find snowfall in the mountains, mild microclimates by the coast and subtropical islands. But it’s the stunning variety of terrains that draws so many tourists and expats to the country. You can hike in the national parks, walk the cobbled streets of the historic villages, search the Atlantic horizon for glimpses of North America from dramatic cliffs or lounge on one of the many glittering beaches. The Portuguese have a hospitable nature and you can expect to eat freshly sourced ingredients cooked simply and served with a flourish. Fish, squid, smoked meats, olives, cheese, bread and local wines are plentiful and you’ll find produce markets and restaurants at every turn. Feasts are central features of many of the festivities but you’ll also find music, dancing and night-time revelries at the frequent celebrations throughout the year. The north of Portugal is rocky and rugged and famous for the port wine-growing region, the Douro Valley. Rising up from the rural interior are wild mountains dotted with hunks of granite and flowing from them, the wide, fertile Tagus, Guadiana and Douro rivers. Lisbon is the most densely populated city, closely followed by Porto, and the southern Algarve region is a tourist hotspot. The Madeira archipelago is made up of 8 volcanic peaks, only two of which are inhabited and there are 9 islands in the Azores offering pale beaches, thermal lakes, geysers and black lava fields. This land has been fought over by Celts, Goths, Greeks, Romans and Moors, each of whom have left their architectural marks. Modern property development tends towards spacious, open-plan homes with echoes of these historical styles. The people of Portugal revere a rural life and as a result, there are a lot of villas or plots of land for development available in the countryside. In contrast, the cities and coastal regions are filled with affordable apartments. The road networks are good, air travel is quick and easy from northern Europe and America and there are high-speed international trains from connecting cities in France and Spain. Children are legally required to be in education from six to eighteen years old and there is a range of schooling options for international students, from public state schools, private faith schools or international schools. There is a state healthcare system in Portugal too. EU citizens can access it for free once they’ve registered and received a healthcare number (cartão de utente).

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Are you looking for a change of scenery? &nbsp;If this is the case, France should be at the top of your list! This magnificent country is a treasure trove of stunning landscapes with a wide range of settings to suit everyone's tastes and a rich history that will captivate you. Starting with the southern part of the country, the warmth of the people will greet you at every turn. This region is well-known for its sunny weather, sun-kissed beaches, outdoor celebrations, vibrant markets, and music festivals. Over a glass of wine, people gather to celebrate life, exchange cultural traditions, and foster an environment that is warm and welcoming to visitors from all over the world. As a matter of fact, the <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/france/places-to-live/occitanie-0l58192">Occitanie</a> region in the southwestern part of France is truly a one-of-a-kind destination with its diverse offerings of landscapes and activities. With direct access to the Mediterranean coastline and the majestic mountains and ski resorts of the Pyrenees. &nbsp;Coastal cities such as Montpellier also offer a rich historical and cultural heritage, this region is an ideal choice for those looking to enjoy the nature, history and culture of France. A little further north, nature enthusiasts will find a peaceful haven in the renowned French Alps, known for their breathtaking alpine scenery and outdoor activities like downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sleigh rides. With the largest skiing area in the world, the <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/france/places-to-live/auvergne-rhone-alpes-0l60750">French Alps</a> offer unforgettable experiences for all kinds of nature lovers, all year long. Finally, with their world-famous cuisine and vibrant arts scenes, French cities such as Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux offer an unforgettable experience that combines the best of urban living and cultural heritage. Regarding the cost of living, France is a great place to call home. Although prices have increased in recent years, it remains more affordable compared to other European nations like the UK. With a strong economy and an excellent quality of life, &nbsp;You can experience a comfortable lifestyle without overspending. Also, the French culture offers a more relaxed and laid-back way of life that will have you feeling right at home in no time. Why not seize the moment and fall deeply in love with a property in France? Start living your dream today by preparing for your move and reading our location guides on different regions and provinces in France. &nbsp;

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Beautiful weather, excellent food and wine, world-famous art and culture and low living costs are just some of the reasons you should pack up and move to Spain. Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe and also one of the most geographically varied. With some of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the world, breath-taking mountainous regions, fertile plains, and sun-drenched isles, there is something to suit every preference. Visit Spain and you’ll enjoy a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers, mild winters, with snow in northern and mountainous regions. If you love art and culture you’ll have much to discover in Spain, which is home to some of the finest architecture in the world. There are ancient marketplaces, Moorish palaces, and the fantastical structures of Antoni Gaudi, not to mention the Dali museum, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim, Fundacio Joan Miro, and the numerous festivals which regularly take place throughout the country. Spanish food is as varied as its landscape; the Spanish are absolutely passionate about their local cuisine. Tapas is popular worldwide, and you’ve probably sampled at least one of these delicious little dishes. The variety of tapas offered in Spain is huge, and varies from region to region and also according to season. Spanish markets are abundant with huge fruits and vegetables, thanks to the long months of sunshine. The great news as a prospective buyer, is that food, like the cost of living generally in Spain, is very affordable and of excellent quality. Moving onto more practical matters, the healthcare system in Spain is ranked among the best in the world, spending 10% of its GDP on healthcare. There are also excellent transport links throughout the country, with modern metros, high speed trains connecting most cities, long distance coach services between major cities, and bus services in all major cities and towns. It’s no wonder that Spanish public transport is known to be some of the best in Europe. For those wishing to venture further afield, it’s easy to travel from Spain to other parts of Europe by plane, train or bus. And of course, with 36 international airports, it will be easy for friends and family from back home to come and visit!

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If you’ve not made up your mind yet where you want to buy a property, explore our <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/places-to-live/regions">region guides</a> for a broad overview of an area. Or if you have your eye on a particular area of Spain, take a look at our <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/places-to-live/provinces">province guides</a>. Find out what it’s like to live there, where the top locations are to buy a property, and discover what services and amenities could be on your doorstep.&nbsp;&nbsp;Or perhaps you already know which city / town you want to move to, and want to find out more about what it’s like to live there, things to do for expats, healthcare options, schools, jobs, and transport services. If so, check out our <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/places-to-live/cities">town and city guides</a>, which offer a deep dive into all these topics and more.&nbsp;For further location inspiration, check out our blog posts on the top destinations to buy property in Spain for <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/where-to-buy-cheap-property-in-spain-in-2024">budget hunters</a>, <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/where-to-buy-property-in-spain-2024">investors</a>, <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/11-best-destinations-to-live-in-spain-for-families">families</a>, <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/11-best-destinations-to-retire-in-spain">retirees</a>, <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/11-best-destinations-to-live-in-spain-for-digital-nomads">digital nomads</a>, <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/best-golf-resorts-to-buy-a-property-in-spain">golf lovers</a>, <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/lights-camera-spain-spanish-movie-locations-where-you-can-buy-a-property">movie fans</a>, <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/best-food-and-wine-destinations-in-spain-to-buy-a-property">foodies</a>, and <a href="https://www.kyero.com/en/advice/spain/best-properties-in-spain/best-heritage-destinations-in-1">history buffs</a>.

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Maura O'Grady

Hello Maura, 
Thank you for getting in touch. 
We will email you directly. Please check every other week for the next podcast. You may also find Marijkes’ blogs very interesting to read: <https://www.kyero.com/guides/finding-our-sunshine>. Happy reading and listening.

dawn at kyero.com

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Buyer Stories

 Shaun shares his  year search for the perfect overseas property.

 Shaun’s business experience and how it helped him choose his dream home.

 Plans for the future, including planning family visits in the summertime.

 What attracted Shaun to Spain?

 Advice from Shaun to potential Spanish property buyers.

Episode 80: Shaun, who purchased in Villaricos

&nbsp;Intro&nbsp;&nbsp;Welcome to the Kyero.com Spanish Property podcast, where we interview people who recently purchased their dream home in Spain.&nbsp;They tell us what worked, what didn’t and what they’d do differently next time.&nbsp;I’m Beth Davison and today I’m speaking with Shaun, from London, who purchased an apartment in Villaricos.&nbsp;Before retiring Shaun was formally the chairman and CEO of forty-seven companies, and has a total of five books published. So I'm really intrigued to find out which parts of his successful business mindset he found the most helpful when it came to buying property.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shaun worked with a state agent Spanish Property Expert to find his dream home in Spain.&nbsp;Check out the show notes at <a href="http://kyero.com/podcast">kyero.com/podcast</a> to find links and resources mentioned in this episode.&nbsp;&nbsp;Body of Transcript&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Hello my name is Shaun. I purchased an apartment in Villaricos which is run by Desert Springs, a few miles away. In fact it was after a rather long quest to find somewhere to live. I'd been meaning to buy somewhere overseas for about twenty years. My wife died eight years ago, so I sold my main house and I'm now living in a cottage.&nbsp;&nbsp;For the last five years I've been going to different places to try and find somewhere to live. First of all I went to the Moselle and I went to Florida, and then I went to Spain in Málaga, at Murcia, then I went to Algarve, and for various reasons I looked at properties in each of those places and decided they weren't suitable.&nbsp;&nbsp;So, finally I was looking at the television and there was a program called Place In The Sun, and on it the presenter was showing people around Málaga. So I thought, that's an interesting place, because I had heard that Almería was about the hottest part of Spain, and what I wanted particularly, not so much in the summer when it would be hot everywhere, but I wanted something that would be not too cold in the winter. What I wanted to do was to bathe in the sea, and I can bathe down to about fifteen degrees. That's possible.&nbsp;So anyway, what happened is after this program I though, I know, I'll go and spend a week there. So I rang two agents, one of whom was Daniel. I won't tell you the other one, and I booked to spend a day with each of the agents looking for three or four properties in Málaga. Well, I did, I went down for a week. I said to myself, "If I want to buy something I'll buy, within a week. I'll make up my mind and that's that."&nbsp;&nbsp;So, I saw on the Monday, I saw three places with the first agent, and I didn't like any of those. There's nothing wrong with them, but it just didn't suit me. I found Málaga a bit suburban and not a town with a proper centre. And the next day I met Daniel who turned up bang on time at my hotel and we saw three places in Málaga. Well, I didn't like any of those either. I mean I didn't dislike them, but I didn't think they were entirely suitable. I thought about them, and I said, "Now, what about somewhere outside Málaga?" He said, "I know what, we'll drive up going North up the coast going to Villaricos." He said, "I know a couple of apartments still available in one of the Desert Springs buildings." And we drove up there, I looked at the first one which was on the ground floor, and I thought, this is rather nice. I'd like one a bit higher with a balcony, and went upstairs and thought well this is about right!&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Amazing! So you just knew.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; I said to Daniel, "I'll tell you what, I'll think about it overnight, I've seen now six or seven properties, and I'll tell you in the morning." So, why don't we meet first thing in the morning and I'll give you the answer. Well sure enough, he turned up again on time, and I said, "Yes, I've chosen the one. That first floor apartment in Villaricos. What do we do now?"&nbsp;&nbsp;So he said, well, I'll tell you what, we'll drive straight up to the offices of Desert Springs, which is a few miles away." When I went there both of the people there spoke English. So, it was not too difficult for me, and I had a credit card with me. So I said, what shall I do to book it? They said, well, put a deposit down. I got on my mobile and gave them the deposit. I think it was ten thousand Euros and that was that.&nbsp;&nbsp;Obviously, I needed to have a proper look at the place again. So I went down with a lovely lady called Natalia, and we looked over the apartment, and she had a book showing all the sort of patterns that you needed for cupboards and what we needed. So I ordered cupboards, central heating, different types of cookers, washing machine, and that sort of stuff.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; As in, you did it then and there with Natalia?&nbsp;Shaun: &nbsp; I did it then and there.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Oh wow, you sound like a decision making pro. This would take people months.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; I know. I haven't always been decisive, but it served me well in business and I've done very well, so I can't complain and I've always been... People use to say I was firm but fair but very decisive. So, there we are.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah. Well I actually, I wanted to mention your business background, because am I right in saying you were the CEO of forty-seven companies?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; I've been the CEO of dozens of companies because I was what was called at the time, a company doctor, and I would be recruited to go in and sort out businesses which were failing or needed changing.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Right, but, so you mentioned, obviously, your ability to make decisions has been honed over many years of business. Is there anything else that you feel like you applied to the property search, to the property negotiations perhaps, that was a business mind set?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; No, I mean it was all very straight forward. Daniel sorted it out very well.He told me what to do and I did it. So...&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; It was as easy as that!&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; And the problem was, of course, I did not realise that when you buy a new property, you have to have a license for first occupation. I rang up Natalia about every month about the license, with the local town hall, took four and a half months to come through. They had to go see it and check it and whatever they do. But I didn't ask what they needed to do. I just wanted the licence because by the time the license came through, you were in lock down.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Lock down had happened, yeah.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; And lockdown, apparently, was pretty awful in Spain. Daniel said he was locked up in his house for about forty days or something.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, it was. It was stricter than in the UK certainly. Are you in London? Am I right in saying?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; No, no, I'm out in the country.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Oh, okay. But you're in the UK?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Ah yes, I live about thirty-eight miles from London.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Oh okay. So you were out there when you purchased it, and you made all of the decisions about the interior design, but you've not been out there since to see how it all looks now?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; No, no. All I was able to do was to book some furniture, which was done... my son did it. He's better at that than I am. I chose it in England, and the branch in Madrid, we emailed them and I paid by credit card, and they delivered it to the place, and Natalia found the firm to come and put all the bits together. It was one of those companies that supplied them in assembly form.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, and they'll move you in so it will all be there, and it's all set up for you.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Yes, but it's only the main stuff like tables, chairs, settees and so on. All the rest of it I've got to find. As soon as I get out there I'm going to ask Daniel, who's very helpful, where to go to get it. Maybe he'll even take me to somewhere where I can get all the rest of the stuff I need. You know, you need furnishings and bed linens and kitchen stuff and so on.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Oh totally, yeah.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; And I mean, now of course, with my wife having died, I mean I'm on my own because I'm also getting quite old. I'm nearly eighty-nine, so, people would say that I've lived a bit late to make the move.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; No! You'll get out there and you'll enjoy it so much once you're there. You'll enjoy it for years.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Well I would hope to live longer.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Exactly! Exactly! So what is your plan for the future? When you can make it there and make all of these final decisions, how do you think you'll use the property? Are you going to live there full-time or are you going to come back and forth?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; No, no, definitely not, no. I'll probably go for a month at a time.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, lovely.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Mainly in the winter, because I don't like the winters here much.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, it'll be so much warmer there.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; But my children will go out in the summer. So it will be an ideal arrangement.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; And have you got grandkids and stuff that will be using it?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Oh yes, definitely. I've got four grandchildren. The youngest is only six months old. So there's a big gap between my age and theirs.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah! How many years is that? Eighty-eight and a half?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Eighty-eight and a half!&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; But it'll be fantastic! So they'll get to use it as a holiday home. You'll go and spend sort of long periods of time there in the winter just to get a nicer injection of sun. And do you think the swimming you mentioned and the getting into the water, is that going to happen in winter? What's the temperature like over there?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Well, I'm told the water doesn't get much below fifteen at that particular place.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, lovely.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; And I can swim in fifteen, because I still row. I'm still a member of the local rowing club, so I row and swim.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Are you the oldest member at the rowing club? Is there anyone else in their late eighties who's still rowing?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; No, no.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; How amazing! I think it sounds great! I think your whole lifestyle sounds brilliant.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; There we are. I'm lucky you see.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah! So, and you've travelled the world. You travelled the world with her, and through business presumably you've travelled a lot. So what is it about Spain, do you think, that's really captured your heart? Of all the places that you looked at, and you said at the beginning how many different countries that was, what was it about Spain that drew you in?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Well I've always loved the Spanish. I love the environment: the villages more than the towns. I like to be sort of slightly, slightly cut off in a small environment. And I love the food, you know I'm a sort of a top paella cook myself, and you know the sunshine, the sea, the food, the comradery. I've got some Spanish, and I've written seven books as well as my business career, Five of which have been published, and one of them was on four languages: three romance languages, Italian, Spanish, and also I included German.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Oh okay, yeah.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; So I wrote this book called, Talk Your Way Around Europe, which is still being sold. You know, when I fly over to a place I sort of mug up as best I can. One of the parts of the book is a five-hundred word vocabulary, and different vocabularies for business and for buying food and eating out, which are the main things you need, and I try and sort of remember some of the vocabulary. So, I can sort of read some of the newspaper, but that's about as good.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; But it's nice to just try and to just show an effort to speak to people in their native language.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Well, when I go over there, one of my objectives is to become much better speaking. And I thought, if I'm staying there for months at a time I've damn well got to learn the language to speak it. Even if I found it hard to pick up.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, and I think you will though. I think being surrounded by it and being there for longer periods of time it's different than a short holiday. You'll pick it up more. What was your book called did you say? Talk Yourself Around Europe?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; No, Talk Your Way Around Europe.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Talk Your Way Around Europe, well fantastic, I will keep an eye out for it. My final question, which I ask everyone, is if you were going to give some advice to someone thinking about purchasing in Spain, or at the age of eighty-eight, if you were just going to give some life advice, I'm quite interested, what would you say to people?&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; I'd say first of all, get on with it. Don't hang around like I have for years, and be decisive. Decide, roughly, what type of place you want in advance. If finance is a problem then you've got to set a budget, but in my case I didn't need to because I can pay whatever the price was. But I knew that I wanted somewhere which had three bedrooms so my children could stay, and my grandchildren, and possibly I might go over there and stay with them. You know, either one or the other of my children and grandchildren.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Yeah, and just having those options. Giving yourself that kind of possibility.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Yeah.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; Fantastic! Well thank you Shaun, so much for chatting to me today! It's been lovely to talk to you.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Pleasure to speak to you.&nbsp;Beth:&nbsp; And fingers crossed you will make it over there really soon once lockdown has lifted, you'll be on your way! But have a lovely day Shaun and thanks again for chatting.&nbsp;Shaun:&nbsp; Good to speak to you! Bye!&nbsp;Outtro:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Thank you for listening and thanks to Shaun for sharing his experiences. He has impressive decision making skills, I think you'll agree. And I love that there's an eighty-eight year age gap between the oldest and the youngest getting to enjoy Villaricos.</li><li>Remember, if you like what you have heard you can search this agent's properties and more on Kyero.com and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.&nbsp;</li><li>This podcast was produced by Kyero.com and our mission is to connect you with estate agents and properties throughout Spain.<ul><li>Whether your dream home is a rustic farmhouse surrounded by olive groves or a lock-up-and-leave apartment on the seafront, you’ll find everything you need at Kyero.com</li></ul></li><li>We love hearing how these podcast episodes have helped you find your dream home in Spain. Please do continue to share your feedback with us, and if you’ve enjoyed this episode we’d really appreciate you taking the time to review and rate our podcast on iTunes or your preferred podcast listening app. Your feedback, reviews and ratings help us reach and connect more people with their dream home in Spain.</li><li>And, when you’re ready, here are four ways we can help you:<ul><li>Ask a question by emailing <a href="mailto:Beth@kyero.com">Beth@kyero.com</a>.&nbsp; We’ll try and answer them all in an upcoming Q&amp;A episode</li><li>Get a location guide by emailing <a href="mailto:Beth@kyero.com">Beth@kyero.com</a>.&nbsp; We’ll reply with the latest data and information on the areas you are interested in.</li><li>Calculate your budget. Simply visit <a href="https://www.kyero.com/budget">kyero.com/budget</a>, enter two numbers and you’re done!</li></ul></li><li>Be our guest. If you’ve already purchased your home in Spain, we would love for you to share your story on the podcast.&nbsp; Just email <a href="mailto:Beth@kyero.com">Beth@kyero.com</a> and we’ll take it from there.</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-intro&nbsp;<ul><li>Tune in next time when I catch up with Thomas, from Dorset, who's aim was to live in Spain whilst continuing to work. Find out how this went when he purchased a villa in Monte Pago.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>I’m Beth Davison and you’ve been listening to the Kyero.com Spanish property podcast. I’ll see you next time!</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Episode 80: Shaun, who purchased in Villaricos

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