Are there any future Expats out there ?

[silvers]

No problemo. ;-)

[siobhanwf]

Originally Posted by j-lo-78

Oh and silvers sorry for my lack of reply, it's been manic here. 8 week old baby, active three and a half year old and six weeks to sort a move. I've saved the builders details, we will start that process when we come out!

Good luck with your move.

[phfitz]

Hi. I am planning to move permanently to Lisbon in the next year or two. Meanwhile I am making trips of 3 months where I rent a place and take language lessons.

I am from the US where I have lived in various places all my life. I have a son who lives in Lisbon and who has encouraged me to move there. I have been to Lisbon
about 20 times or more and love the city
and country-side.

I have never met an expat from another country living in Portugal. I am most curious what expats are like.

I am a psychologist by profession and, at age 66, am not going to try to get certified
in Portugal to practice my profession. I may want to work part-time as a consultant. I plan to take drawing and painting lessons, to join an expat book club or something that introduces me to the British and American communities.

Some questions:
1. Is it better to keep my residency in the US or change it to Portugal in terms of buying a home or apartment in Lisbon? In terms of anything else?
2. How difficult was it for any of you to make English speaking friends if not working for a company or corporation?
3. Right now I would think it better not to keep one's assets in Portuguese banks and investments?
4 Any of you who have moved all your assets from your home country, did you need an international tax lawyer? Did you
have any import or international taxes to move your assets from the US to any European country?
5. What is the residential real estate market like right now in Lisbon?
6. What are the best ways you have found to find a place to rent?

That is enough questions for now!

[travelling-man]

I'm an ex pat Brit living close to the Kruger National Park in South Africa and moving to Central Portugal on 22nd September.

We've rented a small cottage in central Portugal whilst we house hunt and arranged a hire car from interrent.com until I can get my classic Jeep shipped over with the household belongings.

We're lucky in that we can run our (mostly online) businesses from anywhere in the world so don't need to seek employment.

Oh & my wife & I are both in our mid 50s.

[silvers]

Originally Posted by phfitz

Hi. I am planning to move permanently to Lisbon in the next year or two. Meanwhile I am making trips of 3 months where I rent a place and take language lessons.

I am from the US where I have lived in various places all my life. I have a son who lives in Lisbon and who has encouraged me to move there. I have been to Lisbon
about 20 times or more and love the city
and country-side.

I have never met an expat from another country living in Portugal. I am most curious what expats are like.

I am a psychologist by profession and, at age 66, am not going to try to get certified
in Portugal to practice my profession. I may want to work part-time as a consultant. I plan to take drawing and painting lessons, to join an expat book club or something that introduces me to the British and American communities.

Some questions:
1. Is it better to keep my residency in the US or change it to Portugal in terms of buying a home or apartment in Lisbon? In terms of anything else?
2. How difficult was it for any of you to make English speaking friends if not working for a company or corporation?
3. Right now I would think it better not to keep one's assets in Portuguese banks and investments?
4 Any of you who have moved all your assets from your home country, did you need an international tax lawyer? Did you
have any import or international taxes to move your assets from the US to any European country?
5. What is the residential real estate market like right now in Lisbon?
6. What are the best ways you have found to find a place to rent?

That is enough questions for now!

Hi Phfitz,
Ok let's give this a go;
1, take residency in Portugal or you may find life biting you in the butt further down the line.
2, Easy peasy, you will meet lots of friendly English speaking people. There is even a group of expats on Facebook who meet up every Month in Lisboa
3,Any bank is only as good as it's liabilities, i.e. Some Portuguese banks only cover you for upto €100,000
4,As I am British, this wasn't a problem for me.
5,Real estate in Lisboa is better than most of the rest of the country. Prices are still bouyant, bargains are still available.
6, Custojusto.pt casasapo.pt or just try any of the agents in Lisboa, they all have some for rent.
Good luck
James

[phfitz]

Thanks James! What is the non-residency issue
That could come back to haunt me?

Do you know how I could join the Facebook group?

Patty

[silvers]

Dear Patty,
one facebook group is here, there are more
Portugal Friends - Wall | Facebook
It is a legal requirement that you take residency if you intend living here.

[silvers]

Lisbon Expat Meetup Group | Facebook

[silvers]

Lisbon British Expats Meetup Group (Lisbon) - Meetup

[phfitz]

Hi Silvers. When is the next meet up group meeting and where.