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00:00I'm Maggie Malloy and I'm on a mission to help Irish house hunters discover the
00:05overlooked gems of affordable European property. We're on the hunt in Italy,
00:11Spain, Portugal and France for great bargains. You've definitely surprised us.
00:16Feels nicer in the sun for sure. Property experts in each country will help guide
00:21our search. Vanity and toilet you'll be like 3,000 euros. And our very own
00:26intrepid reporters Kevin McGahern and James Cavanagh will be getting to know
00:31the regions we visit. Can we give it a bit of welly? I suppose we could. Clubs are a great
00:36way
00:36to connect with people. They'll be giving our house hunters a head start on local complexities,
00:42customs and most importantly the crack. What you just said is I want to live. It's wonderful.
00:50From forever homes in Portuguese villages. Massive crack, not in a good way. To sun-drenched
00:56Spanish cities. We need to talk about this price. You could throw anything at me. I'll help find the
01:01best homes a modest budget can buy. It's a cracker of a house. It's massive inside. So grab your passport,
01:08pack your bags and join us on the hunt as we go in search of cheap European homes.
01:19This week myself and Kevin are in Tomar, around an hour from the Atlantic coast and one of
01:25Portugal's best kept secrets. Founded by the Knights Templar in the 12th century,
01:30it's now a bustling city with a young energetic feel. We're visiting in December but even in winter
01:37the Portuguese sun shines through. You've been here before haven't you? I have about three years ago.
01:43It was a lot quieter back then. Really? Yeah. This is one of those towns that you know has a
01:47great vibe
01:48and it's gotten better in the space of the last few years. Well it is a college town. There's a
01:52bit of
01:52buzz to the place and it's basically Carlo. It's basically Carlo. Yeah, yeah. So our house hunter
01:59this week cannot get on the property ladder back home and that's why she's here. You think it could
02:03be a good fit for her? I think so, yeah. All right, should we check it out? Yeah.
02:0836 year old Chartered Secretary Roisin Cunningham has decided to live abroad. Her father Bobby is a retired
02:15electrician and the family has plenty of hands-on experience of moving homes, having taken on five
02:22renovation projects over the past 30 years. Rather than struggling any longer to get a foothold on the
02:29Irish property ladder, they believe Portugal offers Roisin the best value. I couldn't buy a house
02:35outright in Ireland here anywhere. I like Portugal a lot because of the food. I also really like the
02:42Atlantic. So for me being close to water and the wildness of the Atlantic has a big draw. Also it's
02:48cheaper in Portugal than here, let's be very real. For me it's the fact that it's in the European Union.
02:54We have access to medical care, we have access to transportation. That's important as I'm getting older.
03:00The house ideally would have two bedrooms. I'm very close to my parents so I would like them to have
03:06space in my new home. I'd like to be near a coffee shop and a shop shop. I'm not too
03:13isolated,
03:15especially if you're there on your own. Maybe public transport.
03:19I guess my main hobbies would focus on dancing. I love the movement. Music I do play,
03:26Irish traditional music and then board games too. So I think any one of those three are a great way
03:32to
03:32integrate with people and into the community. My budget would be like the absolute tippy top turnkey
03:39condition would be 250k. But lower down in the budget like we're happy to renovate. We're kind of
03:45almost excited to renovate. We've been unclear on what to do or where the next step is. We've been lost.
03:54Lost and lazy. Yes. You know we've never been able to figure out where do you find a surveyor,
03:59where do you find legalities. So there's an opportunity here to sort a lot of that out in
04:04our heads, in our thinking. Isn't there? Yeah. Also it's important that my dad be included because
04:10he'll know more about what he's looking at than I do and I'd like that expertise to be there with
04:14me.
04:15You'd hate to be left out wouldn't you? I would. I would definitely suit me at all.
04:18Yeah. Sitting here wondering what you were doing, you know.
04:27Portugal was once seen as a country of cheap property, but that perception is out of date.
04:33Strong demand along the Algarve and western coastline has driven prices up and the knock-on effect is now
04:40reaching inland. Even in Tomar, away from the coast, house prices have been climbing.
04:46Roisin has an all-in budget of €250,000 and is searching for a two-bedroom home close to the
04:53water. And we're lucky that this region has the Castelo de Bode Reservoir, a vast scenic stretch
05:00of water that feels more like a lake district than inland Portugal. So for this week's house hunt,
05:06we're keeping within a 20-minute drive of the city and the reservoir. The average property price in the
05:13area sits at around €215,000. But because Roisin is open to taking on a renovation, it gives me the
05:20chance to look for some real bargains. We're meeting Roisin and Bobby, just north of the city at the
05:27Agrawal River Poon.
05:29This is a beautiful spot here, isn't it? Yeah, it's really pretty here, isn't it?
05:33It's believed these waters here actually have healing properties.
05:37Ah, stop. So, did you bring your togs?
05:40A mountain. Did I bring my togs?
05:41Yeah. I'm going straight in for the clothing.
05:44If you've got anything wrong, it'd be a sniffle or anything, no?
05:47A touch of baldness, I believe.
05:49I don't know.
05:51I don't know if it can cure baldness.
05:55So being close to water is important to you, is it?
05:58Yeah, yeah, very much.
05:59So what would you think if I told you your first house was only 10 minutes from here?
06:02From here?
06:03Yeah.
06:03That's really good, isn't it?
06:04That's really close.
06:05That's exciting, yeah.
06:06Yeah, that's cool, yeah.
06:08I have a bit of work to do in Tomar for you as well.
06:11So will we get to it?
06:12Let's go.
06:14The first property we're viewing is in Chaouse, a village 16 kilometres from Tomar.
06:19It has a population of around 500 and the essentials you'd expect, a small shop and a local cafe.
06:27This is a two-storey, two-bedroom house that's about as authentically Portuguese as they come.
06:33It includes a cellar, a large attic and two sizeable sheds, all set on a full hectare of land with
06:4180 olive trees.
06:43But this is very much a full-scale renovation.
06:46There's no indoor bathroom and once the work is factored in, the €145,000 asking price could really stretch Roisin's
06:55budget.
06:56We're met at the property by architect Frederica Pereira, who brings expert knowledge of construction, regulations and planning in Portugal.
07:04So, house number one, what do you think?
07:07It's cute, isn't it?
07:08Yeah.
07:09Reminds me of my youth, you know, little houses around at home and things like that, the road, everything.
07:13So Frederica has had a look.
07:15Yeah, outside I'd say I'd replace the roof probably and the drainage.
07:21Expensive or not expensive to do that?
07:22Under €6,000, you'll get a new roof.
07:25That's not Irish prices, is it?
07:27No.
07:29Notebook.
07:29Now, you did ask for a fixer-upper, so I don't want you coming out here with the fear of
07:32God in your eyes.
07:33Right?
07:37Watch it, it's really cute.
07:38Yeah, it is, yeah.
07:39It's bigger on the inside than I thought it was going to be from the outside.
07:42But I love even, like, the shutters on the windows and stuff, it's lovely.
07:46I like the floor, I like everything.
07:48Does it come fully furnished?
07:49Do we keep the dresser?
07:51I want that dresser, so I do.
07:52I like the dresser a lot.
07:53I want all the bits.
07:54Yeah.
07:55It does require work.
07:56You have to sort out a kitchen, like, a toilet and a shower and ask about the plumbing.
08:02For what appears to be a very, very old cottage, it appears to be in pretty good nick, like.
08:08Not old like you'd have at home.
08:09It's old, dry.
08:11Yeah.
08:13Obviously, they had a single bed in here at some point.
08:16It's small, but it's grand.
08:17I wonder, could you knock the wall?
08:18Yeah, you could.
08:19And again, there's no sign of damp.
08:21No.
08:22The floors are solid.
08:23There's no staining.
08:26Tiny.
08:28But sure, if you knocked the wall like we were saying.
08:30Then you have one room that's a little bit bigger than tiny.
08:35I wouldn't be able to do a tiny bedroom forever.
08:37It's not forever.
08:38It's only until I build on a new bedroom.
08:41Yeah.
08:42Okay, fine.
08:42No, no, no, no.
08:47It does need a new roof, but the timbers look okay washing.
08:52You wouldn't panic about it.
08:53Yeah.
08:54It's not going to fall in.
08:55Yeah.
08:56I found the toilet.
08:57Lovely.
08:58Yeah.
08:59We're halfway there washing.
09:00That's all we need.
09:01Is there anything that'd shake in here?
09:05Like anything bad?
09:06It needs to be plumbed, wired, roofed.
09:08There's probably some issues with cracks in the walls.
09:11Okay.
09:12This extension would need to be looked at or maybe another extension put on,
09:16because the house is very small.
09:19I like it too.
09:20I know.
09:21That's what makes it hard when there's so much that needs to be done.
09:24I like it.
09:25It could be the middle of County Clare.
09:26Yeah.
09:28Well, how did that go?
09:30Well, I can see why you brought us here.
09:32Like, it's a really pretty, well-proportioned little house.
09:35We asked for a fixer-upper.
09:38It might be a lot of fixing up.
09:40Really?
09:41I have so much faith in the two of you.
09:43What were you worried about?
09:44The electrics aren't bothering me, even though they're poor.
09:47Right.
09:47But there's enough.
09:49It's just the plumbing is a problem.
09:52And the house is, it's tight, isn't it?
09:55It's bijou.
09:56Bijou.
09:57So we saw that small kitchen.
10:00Yes, yeah.
10:01There's a small kitchen downstairs and it has indoor plumbing,
10:03very basic indoor plumbing.
10:05But the owner has also assured us that there is a septic tank.
10:07Even though it doesn't have an indoor bathroom,
10:09there is a septic tank in place.
10:11You have your wells in the front yard as well.
10:13Yeah.
10:13So there is fresh water on site as well.
10:15How much space is here?
10:16Who wants all...
10:17Yeah, we're wondering about all the olive trees.
10:20Yeah, you have a really nice,
10:21a little over two acres of olive trees.
10:24Oh.
10:24With the house.
10:25Oh.
10:26Give you something to do, wouldn't it?
10:27Wouldn't it?
10:28Well, yeah, of course.
10:28And the owner picks them and he takes them to a place
10:31where they convert them into the olive oil.
10:34Yeah.
10:34And he gets some, which is...
10:35So he has like a constant supply of olive oil then.
10:38Yes, yes.
10:38Or you could have a constant supply.
10:39Or we could have a constant supply.
10:41Yeah, there's a lot to think about.
10:43Yeah.
10:43Yeah.
10:44And this outbuilding here to the side,
10:46like that offers you quite a lot of space.
10:48If that building exists,
10:50does that make it easier to get planning to...
10:52Oh, yes.
10:53...to use that footprint to put on an extension?
10:54Yes, if it exists, it's easier for you to apply or to even...
10:58You can do the works inside and you don't have to apply to any kind of a city hall permissions.
11:04And Frederica was talking earlier to me about the cost of putting in a bathroom in Portugal,
11:09and that's also shocking.
11:10Yeah, like a small one, like vanity and toilet, you'll be like 3,000 euros.
11:16And if you want a bathtub or a shower, it would be 5,000 euros around this price,
11:23with tiles and the plumbing and faucets.
11:25I did it myself, she was seven.
11:26Yeah.
11:29Okay, so let's get on to the price.
11:31Yeah.
11:32It's on the market at the moment for 140,000, but I think it's a bit overpriced.
11:38Now, to be fair, this is a country where you can bid under anyway,
11:41but I would be thinking more along the lines of maybe 90.
11:45Whoever takes this on, there's a lot of work to be done.
11:47So I'd be cheeky enough now.
11:49We'll know more about this house when we have other houses to compare them to.
11:55Yeah.
11:55It's a lot to think about, isn't it?
11:57It is, yeah.
11:58Founded over 800 years ago, Tomar is a place where history is a part of everyday life.
12:04That sense of continuity helps create a strong community.
12:08And if Roisin is to move here, I'm keen to find a few friendly faces who could help her settle
12:14in.
12:14And I think I've found my first.
12:17Hey guys, it's Daisy from Bigfield.
12:19Born and raised in Portugal to English parents, Daisy Eltonen returned five years ago
12:24after studying art in Wales and chose Tomar as her base.
12:29Many of the reasons she settled here are the same ones that make the city a good option for Roisin.
12:35What brought you back to Portugal?
12:36Well, I wanted to be closer to my family again and some of my friends that live in Lisbon.
12:43But sort of Lisbon and the coast is all quite expensive.
12:47So we found Tomar, which is a really lovely city.
12:51And obviously the weather in Portugal is quite a lot better than Wales, as you can see.
12:57Just slightly.
12:58Yeah.
12:59What is it about Tomar that you like so much?
13:01It's quite a small city, but it has a lot going on.
13:05There's quite a lot of cultural offerings, there's some sports activities,
13:10there's a big body of water for swimming in the summer.
13:13So lots of options.
13:14Yeah, something for everyone.
13:16Well, I'd love to see more of Tomar, like what's a good way to get around?
13:19Well, we could hop on a tuk-tuk.
13:22Ooh, okay.
13:23Hey.
13:24Hello.
13:26Hi.
13:33So it seems to be a small city, but lots going on.
13:37And because it's got a university, during term time, there is quite like a hustle and bustle to it.
13:42Okay.
13:42But it's in the summer, there are more tourists.
13:45So actually, it's, yeah.
13:46So it kind of works out.
13:46Like, is there much of a nightlife?
13:48Maybe more of a cafe nightlife.
13:50Right, so late night cafes as opposed to late bars.
13:54Yeah, yeah.
13:56So food and drink seems a lot cheaper here.
13:59Like, I got an espresso for like 150.
14:01I think you might have gone to one of the most expensive cafes around.
14:04All right, okay.
14:04Is there something nice about moving to a small place as opposed to, you know, a big major city?
14:09I think it can help you sort of adapt to the culture and sort of get a feel for the
14:14place without getting too overwhelmed by sort of all big city living.
14:19People are more patient if you're learning a language as well as opposed to like a major city where people
14:25are rushing all over the place.
14:26Absolutely, and there are a lot of initiatives to help people learn languages.
14:31Would you consider yourself Portuguese?
14:33I think I'm a good mix of British and Portuguese.
14:36I would say Portuguese just because there's not too many red-headed Portuguese people.
14:41Okay, cool.
14:42So then I'm a...
14:42You're a unicorn.
14:43Yeah.
14:47Wow.
14:49That is beautiful.
14:51Yeah, not bad.
14:53Yeah.
14:53So what overall advice would you have for Roisin?
14:57I'd say definitely learn the language.
14:59That will get you quite a few places, but then also don't be afraid to join some clubs or groups.
15:05Yeah, meet some like-minded people.
15:06Somebody told me you're into board games, is that correct?
15:10Yeah, yeah, I do dabble.
15:11Well, Roisin's quite into board games as well.
15:14Okay.
15:14I think you two should meet.
15:15Let's do it.
15:16All right.
15:20And with that happy coincidence, we're winding down our first day.
15:24While the kids play board games, us grown-ups have a talk.
15:29This is fun.
15:30I like this.
15:30Did you play many board games back home?
15:32We kind of have a games night once a month up and I go up to Dublin.
15:36I love you.
15:37Yeah, yeah, yeah.
15:37I wonder if something like a games night in even a setting like this would work?
15:43I think it would, definitely.
15:45Yeah.
15:45Putting out a little poster.
15:46Exactly.
15:46Advertising a game night.
15:48Yeah, yeah, yeah.
15:48Yeah.
15:49It's a way of meeting people and introducing people.
15:53Are you feeling a bit more comfortable seeing her, meeting Daisy?
15:57Of course, but it's not just Daisy.
16:00Daisy is great.
16:01It's everyone.
16:02It is.
16:02It is, yeah.
16:03We were just talking earlier on and people were saying things like, you know, nobody ever
16:06says no to you.
16:07Yes.
16:08Well, you can ask for help here, help there.
16:11People just seem to be supportive and helpful and they have a great outlook.
16:15It's a real Irish vibe to them, isn't there?
16:17There is.
16:17Yeah.
16:18There is, to be fair, no, there is, honestly.
16:21Well, the Cunninghams are wasting no time settling into Tomar.
16:25So we'd better get our skates on and find them somewhere to live.
16:28I like it.
16:29It has a lot of character.
16:30That's my favourite.
16:31It's your favourite.
16:32And we'll put their renovation skills to the test.
16:35I thought you would do everything.
16:36I could, but then you'd be just spoiled.
16:45This week, myself and Kevin are in Tomar in central Portugal
16:49with an important job, helping 36-year-old Roisin Cunningham find her very first home.
16:55With an all-in budget of €250,000, she's looking for a property that has at least two bedrooms,
17:03space for her parents to join her in the future and, ideally, is close to the water.
17:08Even if that means taking on a renovation project.
17:12So far, we've seen a cute two-bedroom traditional cottage that has lots of development options
17:19and a hectare of land.
17:20It's on the market for €145,000.
17:24Watch it, it's really cute.
17:25Yeah, it is, yeah.
17:26For our second property, we're travelling just six kilometres west of Tomar,
17:30to the village of Brazance.
17:32This four-bedroom villa is almost turnkey.
17:35Set on a quiet lane with open views and a generous plot planted with fruit trees.
17:42Priced at €195,000, it looks ready to move into.
17:46But there is a major issue we'll need to look at closely.
17:50I'm joined once again by architect Frederica Pereira to assess the property
17:54before Roisin and her dad Bobby arrive.
17:58Okay Frederica, house number two.
18:00We are ten minutes from Tomar.
18:02We have another little village only a minute down the road.
18:04So for Roisin, she's really getting a bit of community and access to a social life.
18:10It's also a cute little house, isn't it?
18:12It's pretty well maintained.
18:13I like the roof, the drainage, pretty clean, tied up.
18:17I can see it's a very recent renovation.
18:20I see that crack there in that extension.
18:24Do you know anything about it?
18:25Yeah, I've talked to the agent about it and it is the flaw.
18:29I suppose they need to decide what they want to do with it.
18:32They're either rebuilding it or they're getting rid of it.
18:34Yeah.
18:35But either way something has to be done.
18:36Yes.
18:37Okay, will we have a look inside?
18:38Yeah.
18:39Let's go.
18:43Okay, so we have a bedroom down here to the end.
18:47Big living space here.
18:49So this is quite a long house.
18:50It's long, but it's pretty new.
18:52It is. It's in very good condition, isn't it?
18:55Electric system and like all of the finishings look brand new too.
18:59Then we have a bedroom and that would be the family bathroom, I suppose, there.
19:04And then up into this lovely living space, we have master bedroom to the left and a huge kitchen
19:11behind me, like really, really nice space up here.
19:14It's quite big.
19:15But there is our elephant in the room and we really need to have a talk about that.
19:21This extension is glued to the house and it's kind of pulling itself away.
19:26It's basically straining the original house as well, isn't it?
19:29Yes, that's what's happening.
19:30It's going to have cracks all over.
19:32We can't just leave it and kind of fill the holes with a little bit of filler.
19:36We can't do that because the cracks will keep on showing.
19:40So I'd open it up.
19:42I'd open up the whole extension to the exterior.
19:44And I'd turn it into a porch or like a veranda.
19:48Porch.
19:48Walls gone.
19:49Yes.
19:49Yes.
19:50And that view is stunning out over the valley.
19:53Yeah, that sounds awesome.
19:56So let's get on to this house.
19:57Do you like the look of it?
19:59Once again, it's real pretty.
20:00I think you've clued in on that with me.
20:02It looks like everything is new.
20:04It obviously has had work done on it and it's been renovated over the years.
20:07Frederica loves the roof, which I'm delighted about.
20:10That's encouraging.
20:11Pretty clean and pretty tied up.
20:13I think it's ready to go, ready to live.
20:16Okay.
20:16Yeah, there is a little project inside that you might need to get your teeth into,
20:20but I think you two are up for that.
20:22Oh, absolutely.
20:22I don't want to give you too much.
20:24Yeah.
20:26It's grand and clean in here, isn't it?
20:29Spotless.
20:30So yeah, it's nice and fresh, isn't it?
20:32Yeah, it is.
20:32And the bedroom is finished looking.
20:34Yeah.
20:36A bathroom.
20:37Oh, that's tasty.
20:38Second bedroom here.
20:40Perfect.
20:42Oh, and living space.
20:43Oh, the big crack, yeah.
20:45Yeah.
20:45That's where the two buildings meet.
20:47Yeah.
20:48Massive crack and not in a good way.
20:52Oh, another bedroom with an ensuite.
20:56Waters, bathrooms.
20:58You'd have to inject some sort of personality, but sure, that's not a big deal.
21:03Kitchen is more than adequate.
21:05It's big.
21:06It's big, yeah.
21:08So they managed to take, I'd say, what, every box?
21:11Every one of them.
21:12But we didn't ask for the crack in the wall, but we got that.
21:15Yeah, but we also got a lemon and an orange tree.
21:19What did you think of the house?
21:21There's no smell of damp, nothing like that.
21:24So, yeah, it's very good, but then Bob spotted a massive crack.
21:29So the structural engineer said that it could go around 30k, the price of fixing it, of reinforcing it, but
21:37probably you can also use this kind of amount to take it from the asking price of the house.
21:43As a negotiation.
21:44As a negotiation, yes.
21:46And what about removing the extension?
21:47That would be much better for the whole house.
21:51Leave it as a porch.
21:52Correct.
21:52That way you'd just take that weight off your back.
21:55Okay, obviously the yard is ours and bits and pieces, but how far down this way does it go?
22:01You go right to the bottom of the valley.
22:03What?
22:04So it's basically olive trees, fruit trees, vines, as far basically as you can see down into the valley.
22:10It's around an acre.
22:12That's like, I'm a country girl when it comes to it.
22:15Like, I like a bit of land.
22:17So the price?
22:18Yeah.
22:18It's on the market at the moment for 195,000.
22:21Okay.
22:22You need to take advantage of that crack in that extension though, and you need to go under like 30
22:27to fix that.
22:29The estate agent does not need to know that you're not going to fix that.
22:31No, okay.
22:32So that has to come off the top straight away.
22:34Yeah.
22:34Right.
22:35I definitely think for 150, it looks like a sweeter deal, doesn't it?
22:39It feels nice at 150, doesn't it?
22:40It does feel right, doesn't it?
22:42Yeah, it does.
22:44It's all very well talking about knocking walls and renovation potential,
22:49but what does a typical renovation in Portugal actually involve?
22:53She's chilling this morning, boys.
22:55I'm back in the suburbs of Tamar on a cold winter's day to find out.
23:01Oh, hey.
23:02Hello.
23:03Noel Liske and Harm Musker bought this two-bedroom house for €122,000 eight months ago.
23:10To keep costs down, they've been doing most of the renovation themselves while living on site.
23:16What they've learned along the way could prove crucial for Roisin,
23:20as she weighs up whether a Portuguese fixer-upper is really the right move for her first home.
23:25Right, so it's pretty cold today, and you guys are essentially living in a building site.
23:31Yes, we are.
23:32It is a 50-year-old building site.
23:34A lot of the houses are not very well insulated.
23:37Buy a house in winter in Portugal, because then you can feel if it's damp,
23:42if there's cold coming through the walls, the floor.
23:46How much of this are you doing yourselves?
23:49Probably about 80 percent.
23:5080 percent, yeah, it's only the real electricity work.
23:54Plumbing also we have done with a professional.
23:56Like, how has it been like to live here?
23:58It's been wonderful when it hasn't rained.
24:01Right, yeah.
24:01In summer, you're outside, and the sun, and everything's dry,
24:05and then the cold hits.
24:07You know what, you deal with it, because it's your house.
24:10God, you've a huge plot of land.
24:13Yep, we do.
24:14You've got olive trees as well.
24:1625.
24:1625.
24:17Wow.
24:17We do.
24:18So our house hunters have done a few renovations in Ireland.
24:22I would love for them to meet you, and maybe you could give them some tips,
24:27tell them what to watch out for.
24:29Bobby and Roshin have arrived, and Harm is wasting no time
24:33in putting this new free labour to work.
24:35So this is going to be our dining nuke.
24:38So hopefully you guys can help me today a little bit.
24:41I'll give it a go.
24:42How did you find out how to do all of the stuff?
24:44YouTube.
24:45You know, all the instruction videos are there.
24:48We're doing the cabinet, by the way.
24:50I think so, yeah.
24:51So we can kind of make like a flat line.
24:54So we'll let you put on the adhesive, and then we'll start into the toilet.
24:57Is that all right?
24:58I thought you would do everything.
25:00I could, but then you'd be just spoiled.
25:04Is this what you normally put on?
25:06Yeah.
25:11I have an escape conscription myself.
25:13Noelle has an olive tree that needs pruning.
25:16Yes.
25:16Keep going, Kevin.
25:19Keep going.
25:20And then you can take your hook or your hand, and you pull it down.
25:24So what do they taste like off the tree?
25:27Oh, I think you should find out.
25:32Oh, Christ of Almighty.
25:35Why is it so disgusting?
25:37It's ripened, but it's not at its ripest.
25:41It needs to be in brine water for at least two to three days, sometimes longer, and then you can
25:47enjoy them.
25:49That looks good.
25:50Thank you very much.
25:53Thank you very much.
25:53Do I have to put the roof in my house?
25:58So I think we all have a greater appreciation as to all the work that you have put into this
26:03house.
26:03Have you any tips for the guys?
26:06Go look at houses during the winter, because you see it at potentially its worst.
26:11There you go.
26:12And the other one is when you buy a house to get a good independent lawyer.
26:17The lawyers here can go dig deeper in the paperwork of the housing.
26:22There was somewhere written in the deed that the old owner who was living in the house would always have
26:28access to live in this house.
26:29She passed away, so she would never do it.
26:32But you never know, maybe it's somebody else's name who is still alive.
26:35Exactly.
26:36And we heard some stories that all of a sudden some far nephew rucked up
26:40who had the right of a certain part of the house to still live in while you have purchased it
26:44away.
26:44And then you're living with this stranger and they're allowed to do that.
26:49Yeah.
26:49The lawyer also very specifically with the notary and the old owner said all debts are cleared.
26:55It could be like unpaid electricity bills, unpaid taxes, property taxes, that moves on to the new owners.
27:03To the new owners.
27:05When we initially got it, you kind of see it as a dream.
27:09You know, you're like, oh, we got this house now.
27:11It's our house.
27:12We're in Portugal.
27:13You don't think it's hard until you get into the work.
27:17And then, yes, it has been tough, but it's been very rewarding.
27:20Yeah.
27:21It's worth it.
27:21It's a fabulous location.
27:24It really is like, it's so nice.
27:25I can see why it drew you in completely.
27:28Yeah.
27:29Once they've recovered from their afternoon of renovating, Roshan and Bobby will be joining
27:34myself and Frederica to view our next house, or should I say, houses.
27:41North of Tomar is the small townland of Ferreira.
27:45It's a bit more rural, but there's a cafe, a short walk from the property we're viewing,
27:50and Tomar is a 20-minute drive.
27:53We're looking at a partially renovated two-story house that's in great condition and costs 110,000 euro.
28:00However, I've a trick up my sleeve.
28:03The property across the road is also for sale at only 60,000 euro, but it needs a lot more
28:11work.
28:11The big surprise here is that both are available at a combined price of 150,000 euro, well under Roshan's
28:20budget.
28:21Living close by, but not together with her parents, could be a good fit for Roshan,
28:26but I'm keeping the second house as a surprise till later.
28:29So house number three, a little bit of a wild card, but I'm going to keep that under my hat
28:34for the end.
28:36We have a lovely little farmhouse, outbuilding, lovely garden. We are 20 minutes to Tomar,
28:4220 minutes to the lake, and a coffee shop, a walk up the road.
28:45So what are your first impressions? It's a very nice little farmhouse. I like it,
28:50it has a lot of character. That's my favourite. It's your favourite?
28:53Yeah, without any shadow of a doubt. It just looks like a stable, solid structure.
28:57And this roof is completely new, which is a very good asset.
29:02So I'm thinking myself and Frederica, we'll go into this one with you.
29:05Oh, great.
29:10So we're inside now, and in true traditional Portuguese style, all the living space is upstairs.
29:16We're directly into the living room. We've little bedrooms here off to the side. What do you think?
29:21I like old, where you can mix traditional with new and make it your own. Like it has personality.
29:30The wood is quite well kept, very dry. There's no damp. I mean, the house is pretty nice.
29:38Also the floorings, I would just replace some of the planks and it would be ready to live.
29:44And also the electricity is connected and things like that.
29:46How do you feel about the bedrooms being on the small side? Would you be okay with that?
29:50Yeah. To begin with, yeah. You can move in and then see how it functions for you.
29:55Like the hope would be, if you're in Portugal, a lot of the year you can be outdoors.
29:59Yeah.
30:01Now we're in the old kitchen with probably the most beautiful fireplace I've ever seen.
30:06What do you think of it?
30:07It's dominant, prominent, either word, both words.
30:11It was a central part of the house and normally they would cook everything here in this oven.
30:17The fire doesn't do anything for me.
30:19Are you serious?
30:20I'm serious, yeah.
30:21Okay.
30:21I'd knock it.
30:23Bobby!
30:23There we go.
30:25Yeah, Bobby just wants electric or gas.
30:27Done.
30:28Done.
30:29It's because you're 200 is what she's saying.
30:31Did you lie about my head?
30:33She took it to get off.
30:36No, if we knock this wall, it changes the disproportionality of the fireplace in this room.
30:44It's something that could be done.
30:46To the back, we actually have the overspill kitchen.
30:49So this would have been their kind of utility, I suppose.
30:52It's kind of an add-on, isn't it? But essential.
30:56Yeah.
30:56You'll need it.
30:57Yeah.
30:58Ah, Russian, this gets better.
31:00Yeah.
31:00It does, yeah.
31:01Oh, wow.
31:03Look at that.
31:04That's not a little bit of space.
31:06No, it's heaps.
31:07So what do you think?
31:08I really like it.
31:10Maggie called it a wild card, so I don't know what that means.
31:13It means it's either very, very expensive or very, very cheap.
31:18Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too.
31:19Yeah.
31:21OK, this house is on the market at the moment for €110,000.
31:26What would you think if you could get a house for your mum and Bobby across the road as well
31:33and still not break your budget?
31:34This property across here is on the market for €60,000.
31:39It's all of it together.
31:40It's all together.
31:41So if you bought both together, we're on good recommendations from the estate agent
31:45that €150,000 could secure both.
31:48Do you think that's a grind saw?
31:50We'll check that.
31:52What?
31:53That's unreal.
31:54Do you want to see that house?
31:56Yeah.
31:56I'm a bit shocked, but yes, please, I would.
32:00It has that colour, that character that I really, really like.
32:04A lot of cracking at the front of the house there that obviously we'd have questions about,
32:08but aesthetically, it's really lovely.
32:10Do you repair it or do you replace it?
32:12You repair it.
32:13Why don't you two go in and have a good look around?
32:16Oh, it looks better on the inside and it looks good outside.
32:20What do you think, Bob?
32:21I like it.
32:22You like it better than the other one, do you?
32:24I think I do.
32:27There's a bit of work, but it's an old house.
32:29And yet again, there's no sign of damp or mould or it's a real surprise.
32:33Well, she's called it a wild card.
32:36If you put €50,000 into this, you'd have a house.
32:38Imagine if you went to Rogue and just went for this one.
32:43Oh, you'd have to buy the two of them.
32:44Yeah, you'd have to buy the two of them.
32:45The value is in the two.
32:46Yeah, I think so, too.
32:48It's been a busy couple of days, but I think we've made real progress.
32:52The house hunt has taken shape and everyone now has a much clearer sense of what renovating
32:58a house in Portugal really involves.
33:00So how did that renovation today compare to what you and your dad have done?
33:04It was different to what we've done, but not different on scale.
33:08You wouldn't look at that and be intimidated?
33:11No.
33:12Really?
33:13No, you'd look at that and you'd see what it could be.
33:15Yeah.
33:15So, like, the garden was amazing.
33:17There's so much space.
33:19The house, like, it's such a great footprint that, like, you could make your own.
33:24So that's not intimidating.
33:25That's just potential.
33:27And that's what you go into this looking for.
33:29Yeah, I would run a mile for that.
33:31Yeah, I can see that on your face there.
33:34Yeah, just, it seems like there's a lot to do.
33:37But they have rum and water and they have a bed and they have cooking facilities.
33:43So they don't, what do you need?
33:44Yeah.
33:46I don't think I'm too used to comfort.
33:49Yeah.
33:51When it comes to comfort, opinions may vary, as we'll see with our final property.
33:56So the dining area then is over here and a bathroom.
34:00I might rework the layout a bit.
34:03And Kevin encounters Portugal's medieval past.
34:07Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
34:12Remember the more important.
34:15It's the final days of our trip to Tomar in central Portugal,
34:19with Roisin Cunningham and her dad, Bobby.
34:22Roisin is hoping to buy her first home here,
34:25but would also like the option for her parents to be able to join her in the near future.
34:30The family have plenty of experience in renovating homes.
34:33So we're looking for the best deals we can find in this underrated part of Portugal.
34:40First, a cottage with no indoor toilet in need of full renovation.
34:45Then, a property with significant cracking that could end up being a bargain.
34:51And finally, two houses for the combined price of €150,000.
34:58While Kevin is getting a feel for Portuguese culture,
35:01I've made my way to the village of Porto Mendoto to meet Emmanuel de Touche and his wife, Carla,
35:07who bought a once grand house in 2023 and have been bringing it back to life ever since.
35:14So did you both see the beauty in the house in the beginning?
35:19No.
35:20No.
35:21I did.
35:21It was a ruin. It still is outside. So I could not see what it could be inside at first.
35:29Okay. But you only need one person to see the beauty?
35:32Yeah. And you saw it?
35:33Yeah. I used to do that in France.
35:36Okay.
35:36So when we came here, I see there is a big potential to do a bedroom for each part of
35:42the family.
35:42We do have three kids.
35:44Okay.
35:44So we will need four bedrooms and a bathroom and kitchen and everything.
35:48And it was possible here inside.
35:50Because it's a beautiful house. It's a big house.
35:53Yeah. People here in this village call that the Palacette.
35:57A small palace.
35:59Well, I'm looking forward to seeing inside. Can we go have a look inside?
36:05This is beautiful, very modern.
36:07At the beginning, this was not part of the house.
36:10The kitchen was over there and the house finished here.
36:12So this was an annex. It didn't exist before. So Emmanuel saw potential on it.
36:18And I didn't, of course.
36:20Of course.
36:21We have to raise the roof a little bit just for having space and light also.
36:26Not that much. Maybe 10, 15 centimeters.
36:29There was no windows. There was no doors. So we have to create everything.
36:35So all your tiling is new as well, is it?
36:37Choice of Carla.
36:39Yes, this is my choice. I already project myself inside.
36:42So I wanted to keep a little of this old style of the house.
36:48We're now in the original building. What kind of a room was this when you came here first?
36:53This was the kitchen. The original kitchen.
36:55Okay. This opening behind me is a really great example of how thick the walls were in the original house.
37:01That's, I think, why the house is so warm in the winter and fresh in the summer,
37:07because it keeps the temperature ideal. It's very good for us.
37:10It's great, yeah.
37:12So down this end of the house, we have a lovely master suite.
37:15The bedroom is stunning, by the way. That fireplace?
37:17Yeah.
37:18Was that here originally?
37:20Yes, this is the only thing we kept, because she wants to keep it.
37:23I want to keep it.
37:24I see where you're coming from.
37:26So we're outside now on this gorgeous private terrace.
37:29It was funny, because we lived here for at least three months, when kids told me,
37:36Mom, did you notice that we had all our dinners outside?
37:40Oh, lovely.
37:41Yes, it was very, very good. We feel very good here.
37:44I feel like this is the place that made you fall in love with this house.
37:47Yes, probably.
37:48Yes, I think so. I think so.
37:50How long ago did you buy the house?
37:52In February 2023. It was 77,000 euros.
37:57Wow, and the balconies, and the windows, and the fireplace.
38:02So how much did you spend with the work?
38:05120,000 euros.
38:07Okay.
38:07And it's still now maybe 10,000 more to finish the outside.
38:12That's a fantastic house for under 200,000 euros.
38:15Great work. And you were 100% sure you love it now?
38:17Oh no, yes.
38:18100%, okay.
38:21Emmanuel and Carla did a great job here. They took a house that had kind of a quirky layout
38:26and turned it into a really functional, large family home. And it just goes to show that with
38:32a little bit of imagination, you could do it too.
38:37One of the things I love about Portugal is how rich the culture is.
38:42You really don't have to go too far to find a festival or social gathering.
38:46We've stumbled upon the tiny village of Longra and their winter festival.
38:51The entertainment is provided by a local dance group called Celium.
38:55Watching these ladies dance, I can't help but feel I've traveled back in time a few hundred years.
39:15Wow, Sao. That was amazing. I really, really enjoyed it.
39:20Oh, thank you very much.
39:21We were a group of friends. We all love to dance. We get together to make Celium.
39:28So the dance itself, is it a medieval dance?
39:32Medieval folk dance.
39:34Tomar is a Templar city.
39:38So that's like the Knights Templar?
39:39Yes.
39:43And in the middle of the dance, you have this amazing battle.
39:47You enjoy fighting?
39:49Yeah, you don't speak English.
39:51Yeah, you enjoy, you enjoy.
39:55My big question is, do you accept new members?
39:59Yes, I accept new members.
40:00Really?
40:01Yeah.
40:02Because I have somebody that loves to dance and I think she would love to meet you.
40:07Oh, that's very good.
40:09But no swordplay?
40:10No sword.
40:11Just dancing?
40:11Just dancing.
40:12Okay, good.
40:17You have to step outside of the big cities to find little places like this that are completely
40:24unique, you know? Like the dance is so communal. I think it would be perfect for Roisin.
40:39Roisin is an experienced dancer, so I expect she's going to fit right in with Celium.
40:50Well, what do you think?
40:51It's so cool, isn't it?
40:52Isn't it cool?
40:53Yeah, it's kind of a little bit like set dancing because they went in.
40:57Yeah.
40:58And then they sort of, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
41:00What about the footwork?
41:03I'll get there.
41:04I was counting it out when they were doing it.
41:06So hopefully I can get it.
41:08Hello.
41:09Hi, Sal.
41:10Hello.
41:10This is Roisin.
41:12Roisin has a little bit of dance experience.
41:14Yes.
41:16Latin ballroom and a little bit of, well, I've done swing and a little bit of Irish set dancing.
41:21Hopefully that will help.
41:22Yes.
41:23We're going to try this dance again with you.
41:25Okay, okay.
41:26The set dance, okay?
41:27Okay.
41:27Let's go.
41:28All right, let's go.
41:28Best of luck.
41:30Then we go eight steps to the right, okay?
41:34Yeah.
41:35Involve.
41:36Okay, eight steps.
41:37Yeah.
41:37She's up for the Kraken here.
41:41You go in the middle with the colleagues will go.
41:46Okay.
41:46One, two, evolve.
41:49Oh, three, four.
41:50And then you go far, and then you go far, and then.
42:20You go in the middle, but when she explained that it's based on the wall step, it makes
42:25it a lot easier to follow it.
42:27So, the big question is, would you come back again?
42:29Absolutely.
42:30Yeah.
42:30I loved it.
42:30Amazing.
42:31I love it.
42:32I love it.
42:32I love it.
42:35Our last house is another turnkey option.
42:38This beautiful four-bedroom villa in the village of Caraguera is in great condition.
42:43It comes with an acre of land, outdoor kitchen, a massive shed, and a big garden.
42:51This is my showstopper, the most complete property I'm showing Roisin and Bobby.
42:56The price reflects this at €230,000.
43:01Okay, lads, final house.
43:03What do you think?
43:04I think it's a nice change not having to ask, what's that crack there?
43:07I don't see anything of concern or it is lovely.
43:11It seems like less of a doer-upper than the others.
43:14It's pretty solid, no cracks, like you say.
43:17The roof is also, like, completely tight.
43:21All the service is too.
43:22Perfect.
43:23We have, again, a very traditional layout originally.
43:26We would have had most of the house on the top floor and then this kind of cellar level.
43:31But here, the bottom has been converted into living space.
43:34So, Bobby, how do you feel about a pink house?
43:37I live in a pink house, Meggy.
43:38I do.
43:39Brilliant.
43:40Sure, this is perfect then.
43:41Perfect.
43:44What do you think, Bob?
43:45It's the best house we've seen Roisin.
43:48I hate the lights.
43:49I'm not famous, but there is a better way to light a space.
43:53It looks like a new kitchen and the heart like the other place, but smaller.
43:59Nice big living room here.
44:00There isn't a crack, there isn't a draft, there isn't a smell, there's nothing.
44:04Yeah, and the stove in the corner looks like it's a working, functional stove.
44:08It is.
44:09Keep you nice and warm.
44:09It is, and it's ideal having the curtains hanging down beside it.
44:13So, the dining area then is over here, and a bathroom.
44:18I might rework the layout a bit.
44:22Oh, it's nice and bright, isn't it?
44:24Oh man, big improvement.
44:28So we've bedroom one here, orange tree out the window.
44:34Oh man.
44:35Bedroom two, another pretty substantial room.
44:39Three, and bathroom, and bedroom four.
44:45Fourth bedroom.
44:46Plenty of bedrooms anyway.
44:50Ah, here, yeah.
44:51Ah, it's a little light terrace, is it?
44:53I'd turn one of these rooms into an upstairs sitting room or something like that.
44:57Yeah, but I'd probably go with the one with the orange tree outside the window.
45:00That's the one, yeah.
45:01Yeah, change that one into a sitting room.
45:03I like it.
45:04It's going to be a million euro.
45:09A little workshop, Bob.
45:11It's your garage.
45:12This is huge, Russia.
45:13This is massive.
45:15Yeah, I'm going to live here.
45:17Just in here.
45:17Just in here.
45:20How did that go?
45:21It's a really nice house, isn't it?
45:23Like it's finished, it's a nice house.
45:25Yeah.
45:25But would you prefer something to do?
45:27No.
45:28No.
45:28The ideal is perfect, right?
45:31And then like you walk your way down to sort of building something.
45:34But you'd rather if you could afford.
45:36Perfect.
45:37Perfect.
45:37Of course you would.
45:38That's the idea in the situation.
45:39Of course it is, yeah.
45:40Yeah, absolutely.
45:40But there's plenty to do, a bit of painting and stuff like that.
45:44Typing up, power washing.
45:45That's grand.
45:46Yeah.
45:46Yeah.
45:47So the rest, no, no, I hate work.
45:51And the kitchen behind me, this outdoor kitchen, what do you think of this?
45:54Oh no, I love that.
45:56That's where you'd be living, isn't it?
45:57So you've an acre of land with this place and it stretches right down to the back and up the
46:01side
46:02of the mountain where you can see the tall trees.
46:04It's all substantial then, outside, outside.
46:06It is, it is very substantial, yeah.
46:08The good part also is that the garden, you can also build a pool if you want to, another
46:14barbecue there.
46:15Yeah.
46:16Because it's in the regulation that you can kind of extend the house, which is good.
46:21But again, that's not immediate.
46:23Like the other properties, you immediately may have to do something.
46:26Oh yeah.
46:26Whereas here, you can make it like pretty.
46:30So only having to do these small finishes does come at a cost though.
46:33Of course, yeah.
46:34Yeah.
46:34So it's on the market at the moment for $230.
46:37So it's up there.
46:39But it's a substantial house though.
46:40It is, it is.
46:41The other ones, you're still going to be paying $230 and you could take two years.
46:44Yeah, more.
46:45That's true.
46:45Jeez, if you were lucky, yeah.
46:46Take you two years because you're going to be the one that has to do it.
46:50Let's go four years.
46:55I'm quite proud of the range of homes we've uncovered for Ocean and Bobby on this trip.
46:59There was the cute but compact two bedroom cottage at €145,000.
47:05The renovated villa with a troubled extension for €195,000.
47:12The two for the price of one option in Ferreira for a combined €150,000.
47:18And finally, the ready to move into villa at €230,000.
47:24Now it's time for Roisin and Bobby to reveal which of these feels like the right choice for them.
47:31OK, favourite house. Talk to me Roisin.
47:33So, my favourite house was the white house of the wild card.
47:38And then Bobby has a different opinion.
47:41Bobby!
47:42Yeah, I prefer the second house of the wild card.
47:44You know, that suits everyone actually really well.
47:46Yeah.
47:47I kind of thought that was the way you were going to go.
47:49It was a great fit for the two years.
47:51Yeah.
47:51And even you weren't looking for a house right now.
47:54So, logistically, what I do is get an engineer to find out what the cost of those two,
47:59to make them structurally sound would be.
48:02And then, if it was creeping up in cost, house number four was a really close second.
48:07That house basically had everything done, didn't it?
48:09Yeah.
48:09It was perfect.
48:11The most important thing for me is that you found something that kind of caught your heart.
48:14Yeah. Meeting you, Frederica, everyone, it's had a lot of value for me.
48:20And I'd say you as well.
48:21Well, I got a heap out of it, yeah.
48:22Yeah.
48:23But here, like, you're going under the asking price.
48:26And you can negotiate. At home, even if you're going under the asking price,
48:30somebody's going to come along and it's just going to creep up and creep up and creep up.
48:34It's probably the way buying a house should be.
48:36Yeah.
48:36Do you know, non-traumatic.
48:38Yeah.
48:38Yeah.
48:39I feel like you're a hard man to please, Bobby.
48:41No, I'm not.
48:42Are you not?
48:43No. Sometimes I even smile.
48:49God, they got so much out of that.
48:51And I am so glad that I was the one that was there with them.
48:54No matter what way that engineer's report goes, they had three houses that worked for them.
49:00And, like, that's a win in anyone's books.
49:03There is great value in Portugal.
49:06You just have to remember that Portugal isn't just the Algarve.
49:09And it gets so much more affordable the further in you come.
49:12Great value still here.
49:13And the best thing about this area is the people.
49:16The people are unbelievably friendly.
49:18Like, they'd bring you in off the streets to have a cup of tea.
49:20Would you move?
49:21A hundred percent, yeah.
49:23I think the price of pints alone could help me here.
49:26I'll get the first round in.
49:28Ha ha, ha, ha, ha.
49:29Join us in.
49:31Have a roundbook of toys?
49:33Go.
49:35Go.
49:48Go гоrock.
50:10Transcription by CastingWords
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