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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,
00:10Spain, 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,
00:41customs and most importantly the crack. What you just said is I want to live. It's wonderful.
00:49From 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.
01:18This week myself and Kevin are in Tomar, around an hour from the Atlantic coast and one of
01:24Portugal'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.
01:42It was a lot quieter back then. Really? Yeah. This is one of those towns that you know has a
01:47great vibe
01:47and it's gotten better in the space of the last few years. Well it is a college town. There's a
01:52bit
01:52of buzz to the place and it's basically Carlow. It's basically Carlow, yeah. So our house hunter this
01:58week cannot get on the property ladder back home and that's why she's here. You think it could be a
02:03good
02:03fit for her? I think so, yeah. All right. Shall we check it out? Yeah. 36-year-old chartered secretary
02:10Roisin Cunningham has decided to live abroad. Her father Bobby is a retired electrician and the family
02:16has plenty of hands-on experience of moving homes, having taken on five renovation projects over the
02:23past 30 years. Rather than struggling any longer to get a foothold on the Irish property ladder,
02:30they believe Portugal offers Roisin the best value. I couldn't buy a house outright in Ireland here
02:37anywhere. I like Portugal a lot because of the food. I also really like the Atlantic. So for me being
02:43close to water and the wildness of the Atlantic has a big draw. Also it's cheaper in Portugal than here,
02:50let's be very real. For me it's the fact that it's in the European Union with access to medical care,
02:56with access to transportation. That's important as I'm getting older. The house ideally would have
03:02two bedrooms. I'm very close to my parents so I would like them to have space in my new home.
03:07I'd like
03:08to be near a coffee shop and a shop shop. I'm not too isolated, especially if you're there on your
03:15own.
03:16They'd be public transport. I guess my main hobbies would focus on dancing. I love the movement. Music,
03:24I do play Irish traditional music and then board games too. So I think any one of those three are
03:32a
03:32great way to integrate with people and into the community. My budget would be like the absolute
03:37tippy top turnkey condition would be 250k. But lower down in the budget like we're happy to renovate.
03:44We're kind of almost excited to renovate. We've been unclear on what to do or where the next step is.
03:52We've been lost. Lost and lazy. Yes. You know we've never been able to figure out where do you find
03:58the
03:58surveyor. Where 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
04:09he'll know more about what he's looking at than I do and I'd like that expertise to be there with
04:14me.
04:14You'd hate to be left out, wouldn't you? I would. I would. That wouldn't suit me at all.
04:18Yeah. Sitting here wondering what you were doing.
04:26Portugal 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
04:38effect is now reaching 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
05:12the area sits at around €215,000. But because Roisin is open to taking on a renovation,
05:19it gives me the chance to look for some real bargains. We're meeting Roisin and Bobby,
05:25just north of the city, at the Egrewal River Pool.
05:28This is a beautiful spot here, isn't it? Come to the seas.
05:31Yeah, it's really pretty here, isn't it?
05:32It's believed these waters here actually have healing properties.
05:37Ah, stop.
05:37So did you bring your togs?
05:39A mountain.
05:39Did I bring my togs?
05:40Yeah.
05:41I'm going straight in for the clothing.
05:44Have you anything wrong? It'd be a sniffle or anything, no?
05:47Touch of baldness, I believe.
05:48I don't know if it can cure baldness.
05:55So being close to water is important to you, isn't it?
05:58Yeah, very much.
05:58So 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.
06:06Yeah, that's cool, yeah.
06:07I have a bit of work to do in Tomar for you as well.
06:10So will we get to it?
06:12Let's go.
06:13The first property we're viewing is in Chaus, 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.
06:32It includes a cellar, a large attic and two sizeable sheds,
06:37all set on a full hectare of land with 80 olive trees.
06:42But this is very much a full-scale renovation.
06:45There's no indoor bathroom and once the work is factored in,
06:49the €145,000 asking price could really stretch Roisin's budget.
06:55We're met at the property by architect Frederica Pereira,
06:59who brings expert knowledge of construction, regulations and planning in Portugal.
07:04So, house number one.
07:06What do you think?
07:06It's cute, isn't it?
07:08Yeah.
07:08Reminds me of my youth.
07:10You 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.
07:20Expensive or not expensive to do that?
07:22Under €6,000 you'll get a new roof.
07:24That's all right.
07:25That's not Irish prices, is it?
07:27No.
07:28Notebook.
07:29Now, you did ask for a fixer-upper.
07:30So I don't want you coming out here with the fear of God in your eyes, right?
07:36Watch this, 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.
07:41But I love even like the shutters on the windows and stuff.
07:45It's lovely.
07:45I like the floor, like everything.
07:47Does it come fully furnished?
07:49Do we keep the dresser?
07:50I want that dresser so I do.
07:52I like the dresser a lot, yeah.
07:53I want all the bits.
07:54Yeah.
07:54It does require work.
07:56You have to sort out a kitchen, like a toilet and a shower and ask about the plumbing.
08:01For what appears to be a very, very old cottage, it appears to be in pretty good nick, like.
08:07Not old like you'd have at home.
08:09It's old, dry.
08:11Yeah.
08:12Obviously, they had a single bed in here at some point.
08:15It's small, but it's grand.
08:16I wonder, could you knock the wall?
08:18Yeah, you could.
08:19And again, there's no sign of damp.
08:21No.
08:21Floors are solid.
08:23There's no staining.
08:26Tiny.
08:27But sure, if you knocked the wall like we were saying.
08:30Then you have one room that's a little bit bigger than tiny.
08:34I wouldn't be able to do a tiny bedroom forever.
08:37It's not forever.
08:38It's only until I build down a new bedroom.
08:40Yeah.
08:41Okay, fine.
08:42No, no, no, no.
08:46It does need a new roof, but the timbers look okay, Russian.
08:51You wouldn't panic about it.
08:53Yeah.
08:53It's not going to fall in.
08:56I found the toilet.
08:57Lovely.
08:58Yeah.
08:59We're halfway there, Russian.
09:00That's all we need.
09:01Is there anything that'd shake in here, like anything bad?
09:05It needs to be plumped, 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,
09:15because the house is very small.
09:18I like it too.
09:19I know.
09:20That's what makes it hard when there's so much that needs to be done.
09:23No, I do.
09:23I like it.
09:24It could be the middle of County Clare.
09:26Yeah.
09:28Well, how did that go?
09:30I can see why you brought us here.
09:31Like, it's a really pretty, well-proportioned little house.
09:35We asked for a fixer-upper.
09:37It 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 on bottom, even though they're poor, right?
09:47But there's enough.
09:48It's just the plumbing is a problem.
09:51And the house is, it's tight, isn't it?
09:55It's bijou.
09:56Bijou.
09:57So we saw that small kitchen.
09:59Yes.
10:00Yeah, there's a small kitchen downstairs, and it has indoor plumbing,
10:03very basic indoor plumbing.
10:04But the owner has also assured us that there is a septic tank.
10:07Even though it doesn't have an indoor bathroom, there is a septic tank in place.
10:10You have your wells in the front yard as well.
10:12Yeah.
10:13So there is fresh water on site as well.
10:15How much space is here?
10:16Yeah, we're wondering about all the olive trees.
10:19Yeah, you have a really nice, a little over two acres of olive trees with the house.
10:25Oh.
10:25Give you something to do, wouldn't it?
10:27Wouldn't it?
10:27Well, yeah.
10:28Of course, yeah.
10:28And the owner picks them, and he takes them to a place where they convert them into the olive oil.
10:33Yeah.
10:34And he gets some, which is...
10:35So he has like a constant supply of olive oil then.
10:37Or you could have a constant supply.
10:38Or you could have a constant supply.
10:41Yeah, there's a lot to think about.
10:42Yeah.
10:43Yeah.
10:43And this outbuilding here to the side, like that offers you quite a lot of space.
10:48If that building exists, does that make it easier to get planning to use that footprint
10:53to 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 city hall permissions.
11:04And Frederica was talking earlier to me about the cost of putting in a bathroom in Portugal, and that's also
11:09shocking.
11:10Talk to us.
11:11A small one, like vanity and toilet, you'll be like 3,000 euros.
11:15And if you want a bathtub or a shower, it would be 5,000 euros around this price with tiles
11:23and the plumbing and faucets.
11:24And I said it to myself to be 7,000 euros.
11:29Okay, so let's get onto the price.
11:30Yeah.
11:31It's on the market at the moment for 140,000.
11:35Okay.
11:35But 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.
11:44Whoever 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.
11:55It's a lot to think about, isn't it?
11:56It 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
12:13in.
12:14And I think I've found my first.
12:18Born and raised in Portugal to English parents,
12:22Daisy Eltonen returned five years ago after 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.
12:34What brought you back to Portugal?
12:37Well, 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.
12:46So 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.
12:59What is it about Tomar that you like so much?
13:01It's quite a small city, but it has a lot going on.
13:04There's quite a lot of cultural offerings.
13:07There's some sports activities.
13:09There's a big body of water for swimming in the summer.
13:12So lots of options.
13:13Yeah, something for everyone.
13:15Well, I'd love to see more of Tomar.
13:17Like, what's a good way to get around?
13:19Well, we could hop on a tuk-tuk.
13:21Ooh, okay.
13:22Hey.
13:23Hello.
13:33So it seems to be a small city, but lots going on.
13:36And because it's got a university during term time, there is quite like a hustle and bustle to it.
13:41Okay.
13:42But it's in the summer.
13:43There are more tourists.
13:44So actually, it kind of works out.
13:46Like, is there much of a nightlife?
13:48Maybe more of a cafe nightlife.
13:50Right.
13:50So late night cafes as opposed to late bars.
13:54Yeah.
13:54Yeah.
13:55So food and drink seems a lot cheaper here.
13:58Like, I got an espresso for like 150.
14:01I think you might have gone to one of the most expensive cafes around.
14:03All 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
14:13place
14:14without getting too overwhelmed by sort of all big city living.
14:19People are more patient if you're learning a language as well.
14:22Yeah.
14:23As opposed to like a major city where people are rushing all over the place.
14:26Absolutely.
14:27And there are a lot of initiatives to help people learn languages.
14:30Would 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 redheaded Portuguese people.
14:41Okay, cool.
14:41So then I'm a...
14:42You're a unicorn.
14:43You know?
14:47Wow.
14:49That is beautiful.
14:50Yeah.
14:51Not bad.
14:52Yeah.
14:53So what overall advice would you have for rushing?
14:56I'd say definitely learn the language.
14:58That will get you quite a few places.
15:01But then also don't be afraid to join some clubs or groups.
15:04Yeah, meet some like-minded people.
15:06Somebody told me you're into board games.
15:08Is that correct?
15:09Yeah.
15:10Yeah.
15:10I do dabble.
15:11Well, Roisin's quite into board games as well.
15:13Okay.
15:14I think you two should meet.
15:15Let's do it.
15:16All right.
15:19And with that happy coincidence, we're winding down our first day.
15:24While the kids play board games, us grown-ups have a talk.
15:28This is fun.
15:29I 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 and play with
15:36friends.
15:36Yeah, yeah, yeah.
15:37I wonder if something like a games night in even a setting like this would work.
15:42I think it would, definitely.
15:44Yeah, yeah.
15:44Putting out a little poster.
15:46Exactly.
15:46Advertising a game night.
15:47Yeah, yeah, yeah.
15:48It's a way of meeting people and introducing people.
15:52Are you feeling a bit more comfortable seeing her, meeting Daisy and...
15:57Of course, but it's not just Daisy.
15:59Daisy is great.
16:00It's everyone.
16:01It is, it is, yeah.
16:02We were just talking earlier on and people were saying things like, you know,
16:05nobody ever says no to you.
16:07Yes.
16:08You 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.
16:17There is, to be fair, no, there is, honestly.
16:20Well, the Cunninghams are wasting no time settling into Tomar.
16:24So we'd better get our skates on and find them somewhere to live.
16:28I like it.
16:28It has a lot of character.
16:30That's my favourite.
16:31It's your favourite.
16:31And we'll put their renovation skills to the test.
16:34I thought you would do everything.
16:36I could, but then you'd be just spoiled.
16:43This week, myself and Kevin are in Tomar, in central Portugal, with an important job.
16:49Helping 36-year-old Roisin Cunningham find her very first home.
16:53With an all-in budget of €250,000, she's looking for a property that has at least two bedrooms,
17:00space for her parents to join her in the future, and ideally is close to the water.
17:06Even if that means taking on a renovation project.
17:10So far, we've seen a cute two-bedroom traditional cottage that has lots of development options
17:16and a hectare of land.
17:18It's on the market for €145,000.
17:22Watch this, it's really cute.
17:23Yeah, it is, yeah.
17:24For our second property, we're travelling just six kilometres west of Tomar, to the village of
17:29Brazance.
17:30This four-bedroom villa is almost turnkey.
17:33Set on a quiet lane, with open views, and a generous plot planted with fruit trees.
17:39Priced at €195,000, it looks ready to move into.
17:44But there is a major issue we'll need to look at closely.
17:48I'm joined once again by architect Frederica Pereira to assess the property
17:52before Roisin and her dad Bobby arrive.
17:56Okay, Frederica, house number two.
17:57We are ten minutes from Tomar.
17:59We have another little village only a minute down the road.
18:02So for Roisin, she's really getting a bit of community and access to a social life.
18:08It's also a cute little house, isn't it?
18:10It's pretty well maintained.
18:11I like the roof, the drainage, pretty clean, tied up.
18:15I can see it's a very recent renovation.
18:18I see that crack there in that extension.
18:22Do you know anything about it?
18:23Yeah, I've talked to the agent about it and it is the flaw.
18:27I suppose they need to decide what they want to do with it.
18:30They're either rebuilding it or they're getting rid of it.
18:32Yeah.
18:33But either way something has to be done.
18:34Yes.
18:35Okay, will we have a look inside?
18:36Yeah.
18:37Let's go.
18:40Okay, so we have a bedroom down here to the end.
18:45Big living space here.
18:46So this is quite a long house.
18:48It's long, but it's pretty new.
18:50It is. It's in very good condition, isn't it?
18:53Electric system and like all of the finishings look brand new too.
18:57Then we have a bedroom and that would be the family bathroom, I suppose, there.
19:02And then up into this lovely living space,
19:05we have master bedroom to the left and a huge kitchen behind me.
19:10Like really, really nice space up here.
19:12It's quite big.
19:13But there is our elephant in the room and we really need to have a talk about that.
19:18This extension is glued to the house and it's kind of pulling itself away.
19:24It's basically straining the original house as well, isn't it?
19:27Yes, that's what's happening.
19:28It's going to have cracks all over.
19:30We can't just leave it, kind of fill the holes with a little bit of filler.
19:34We can't do that because I'll keep on, the cracks will keep on showing.
19:38So I'd open it up.
19:39I'd open up the whole extension to the exterior.
19:43And I'd turn it into a porch or like a veranda.
19:45Porch.
19:46Walls gone.
19:47Yes, yes.
19:47And that view is stunning out over the valley.
19:51Yeah, that sounds awesome.
19:54So let's get on to this house.
19:55Do you like the look of it?
19:57Once again, it's real pretty.
19:58I think you've clued in on that with me.
20:00It looks like everything is new.
20:02It obviously has had work done on it and it's been renovated over the years.
20:05Frederica loves the roof, which I'm delighted about.
20:08That's encouraging.
20:09Pretty clean and pretty tied up.
20:11I think it's ready to go, ready to live.
20:13Okay.
20:14Yeah, there is a little project inside that you might need to get your teeth into,
20:18but I think you two are up for that.
20:20I don't want to give you too much.
20:21Yeah.
20:24It's grinding clean in here, isn't it?
20:27Spotless.
20:28So, yeah, it's nice and fresh, isn't it?
20:29Yeah, it is.
20:30And the bedroom is finished looking.
20:32Yeah.
20:33A bathroom.
20:35Oh, that's tasty.
20:37Second bedroom here.
20:38Perfect.
20:39Oh, and living space.
20:41Oh, the big crack, yeah.
20:42Yeah.
20:43That's where the two buildings meet.
20:45Yeah.
20:45Massive crack and not in a good way.
20:50Oh, another bedroom with an ensuite.
20:54All those bathrooms.
20:56You'd have to inject some sort of personality, but sure, that's not a big deal.
21:01Kitchen is more than adequate.
21:03It's big.
21:04It's big, yeah.
21:06So, they managed to tick, I'd say, what, every box?
21:09Every one of them.
21:10Well, we didn't ask for the crack in the wall, but we got that.
21:12Yeah, but we also got a lemon and an orange tree.
21:17What did you think of the house?
21:18There's no smell of damp, nothing like that.
21:22So, yeah, it's very good.
21:24But then Bob spotted a massive crack.
21:27So, the structural engineer said that it could go around 30k, the price of fixing it,
21:33of reinforcing it.
21:35But probably you can also use this kind of amount to take it from the asking price of the house.
21:41As a negotiation.
21:42As a negotiation, yes.
21:44And what about removing the extension?
21:46That would be much better for the whole house.
21:48Leave it as a port.
21:49Correct.
21:50That way you'd just take that weight off your back.
21:53Okay, obviously the yard is ours and it's bits and pieces, but how far down this way does it go?
21:59You go right to the bottom of the valley.
22:01So, it's basically olive trees, fruit trees, vines, as far basically as you can see down into the valley.
22:08It's around an acre.
22:10That's like, I'm a country girl when it comes to it.
22:13Like, I like a bit of land.
22:14So, the price?
22:16Yeah.
22:16It's on the market at the moment for 195,000.
22:19Okay.
22:19You need to take advantage of that crack in that extension though, and you need to go under,
22:24like 30 to fix that.
22:26The estate agent does not need to know that you're not going to fix that.
22:29Okay.
22:30So, that has to come off the top straight away.
22:32Yeah.
22:32Right.
22:32I definitely think for 150, it looks like a sweeter deal, doesn't it?
22:37It feels nice for 150, doesn't it?
22:38It does feel right, doesn't it?
22:39Yeah.
22:40It does.
22:42It does.
22:43It's all very well talking about knocking walls and renovation potential,
22:47but what does a typical renovation in Portugal actually involve?
22:51Ooh, she's chilly this morning, boys.
22:53I'm back in the suburbs of Tamar on a cold winter's day to find out.
22:59Oh, hey.
23:00Hello.
23:01Noelle Liske and Harm Musker bought this two-bedroom house for €122,000 eight months ago.
23:08To keep costs down, they've been doing most of the renovation themselves while living on site.
23:14What they've learned along the way could prove crucial for Roisin,
23:18as she weighs up whether a Portuguese fixer-upper is really the right move for her first home.
23:23Right, so it's pretty cold today, and you guys are essentially living in a building site.
23:28Yes, we are.
23:30It is a 50-year-old building site.
23:32A lot of the houses are not very well insulated by a house in winter in Portugal,
23:37because then you can feel if it's damp, if there's cold coming through the walls, the floor.
23:44How much of this are you doing yourselves?
23:47Probably about 80%.
23:4880%, yeah, it's only the real electricity work.
23:52Plumbing also we have done with a professional.
23:54Like, how has it been like to live here?
23:56It's been wonderful when it hasn't rained.
23:59In summer, you're outside, and the sun, and everything's dry, and then the cold hits.
24:05You know what? You deal with it, because it's your house.
24:08God, you've a huge plot of land.
24:11Yep, we do.
24:12You've got olive trees as well.
24:1425.
24:1425.
24:15Wow.
24:15We do.
24:16So our house hunters have done a few renovations in Ireland.
24:20I would love for them to meet you, and maybe you could give them some tips,
24:25tell them what to watch out for.
24:27Bobby and Roisin have arrived, and Harm is wasting no time in putting this new free labor to work.
24:33So this is going to be our dining nuke.
24:36So hopefully you guys can help me today a little bit.
24:39I'll give it a go.
24:40How did you find out how to do all of the stuff?
24:42YouTube.
24:43You know, all the instruction videos are there.
24:46We're doing the cabinet, by the way.
24:48I think so, yeah.
24:48Yeah, so good.
24:49So we can kind of make like a flat line.
24:52So we'll let you put on the adhesive, and then we'll start into the toilet.
24:54Is that all right?
24:56I thought you would do everything.
24:58I could, but then you'd be just spoiled.
25:02Is this what you normally put on?
25:04Yeah.
25:09I have an escape conscription myself.
25:11Noel has an olive tree that needs pruning.
25:14Yes, keep going, Kevin.
25:17Keep going.
25:18And then you can take your hook or your hand, and you pull it down.
25:22So what do they taste like off the tree?
25:24Well, I think you should find out.
25:29Oh, for Christ of Almighty.
25:33Why is it so disgusting?
25:35Um, it's ripened, but it's not at its ripest.
25:38It needs to be in brine water for at least two to three days, sometimes longer.
25:44And then you can enjoy them.
25:47Ah!
25:47That looks good.
25:48Thank you very much.
25:51Do you have to put the roof on my house?
25:56So I think we all have a greater appreciation as to all the work that you've put into this house.
26:02Have you any tips for the guys?
26:04Go look at houses during the winter, because you see it at potentially its worst.
26:09There you go.
26:10And the other one is when you buy a house to get a good independent lawyer,
26:15the lawyers here can go dig deeper in the paperwork of the housing.
26:20There was somewhere written in the deed that the old owner who was living in the house
26:25would always have access to live in this house.
26:27She passed away, so she would never do it.
26:30But you know, you never know, maybe it's somebody else's name who is still alive.
26:33Exactly.
26:33And we heard some stories that all of a sudden some far nephew rucked up,
26:38who had the right of a certain part of the house to still live in while you have purchased it
26:42away.
26:42And then you're living with a stranger and they're allowed to do that.
26:46Yeah.
26:47The lawyer also very specifically with the notary and the old owner said all debts are cleared.
26:53It could be like unpaid electricity bills, unpaid...
26:57Property taxes.
26:58Property taxes.
26:59That moves on to the new owners.
27:01To the new owners.
27:03When we initially got it, you kind of see it as a dream.
27:07You know, you're like, oh, we got this house now.
27:09It's our house.
27:10We're in Portugal.
27:11You don't think it's hard until you get into the work.
27:15And then, yes, it has been tough, but it's been very rewarding.
27:18Yeah.
27:18It's worth it.
27:19It's a fabulous location.
27:21It really is, like, it's so nice.
27:23I can see why it drew you in completely.
27:26Yeah.
27:28Once they've recovered from their afternoon of renovating,
27:30Roisin and Bobby will be joining myself and Frederica to view our next house, or should I say, houses.
27:39North of Tomar is the small townland of Ferreira.
27:42It's a bit more rural, but there's a cafe, a short walk from the property we're viewing,
27:48and Tomar is a 20-minute drive.
27:50We're looking at a partially renovated two-story house that's in great condition and costs €110,000.
27:58However, I've a trick up my sleeve.
28:01The property across the road is also for sale at only €60,000, but it needs a lot more work.
28:09The big surprise here is that both are available at a combined price of €150,000, well under Roisin's budget.
28:18Living close by, but not together with her parents, could be a good fit for Roisin,
28:24but I'm keeping the second house as a surprise till later.
28:28So house number three, a little bit of a wild card, but I'm going to keep that under my hat
28:32for the end.
28:34We have a lovely little farmhouse, outbuilding, lovely garden.
28:37We are 20 minutes to Tomar, 20 minutes to the lake, and a coffee shop, a walk up the road.
28:43So what are your first impressions?
28:45It's a very nice little farmhouse.
28:47I like it, it has a lot of character.
28:49That's my favourite.
28:50It's your favourite?
28:50Yeah, without any shadow of it at all.
28:52It just looks like a stable, solid structure.
28:55And this roof is completely new, which is a very good asset.
29:00So I'm thinking myself and Frederica will go into this one with you.
29:02Oh, great.
29:08So we're inside now, and in true traditional Portuguese style, all the living space is upstairs.
29:14We're directly into the living room.
29:16We have little bedrooms here off to the side.
29:19What do you think?
29:19I like old, where you can mix traditional with new and make it your own.
29:26Like it has personality.
29:28The wood is quite well kept, very dry.
29:31Yeah.
29:32There's no damp.
29:33I mean, the house is pretty nice.
29:35Also the floorings, I would just replace some of the planks and it would be ready to live.
29:41Well, also the electricity is connected and things like that.
29:44How do you feel about the bedrooms being on the small side?
29:46Would you be okay with that?
29:48To begin with, yeah.
29:49You can move in and then see how it functions for you.
29:53Like the hope would be if you're in Portugal, a lot of the year you can be outdoors.
29:57Yeah.
29:58Now we're in the old kitchen with probably the most beautiful fireplace I've ever seen.
30:04What do you think of it?
30:05It's dominant, prominent, either word, both words.
30:09It was a central part of the house and normally they would cook everything here in this oven.
30:15The fire doesn't do anything for me.
30:17Are you serious?
30:18I'm serious, yeah.
30:19Okay.
30:19I'd knock it.
30:21Bobby!
30:21There we go.
30:23Yeah, Bobby just wants electric or gas.
30:25Done.
30:25Done.
30:27It's because you're 200 is what she said.
30:29Did you lie about my edge?
30:30She took a decade off.
30:34No, if we knock this wall, it changes the disproportionality of the fireplace in this room.
30:41It's something that could be done.
30:43To the back, we actually have the overspill kitchen.
30:47So this would have been their kind of utility, I suppose.
30:50It's kind of an add-on, isn't it? But essential.
30:53Yeah.
30:54You'll need it.
30:55Yeah.
30:56Ah, Russian, this gets better.
30:58Yeah.
30:58It does, yeah.
30:59Oh, wow.
31:01Look at that.
31:02That's not a little bit of space.
31:04No, it's heaps.
31:04So what do you think?
31:06I really like it.
31:08Maggie called it a wild card, so I don't know what that means.
31:10It means it's either very, very expensive or very, very cheap.
31:16Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too.
31:17Yeah.
31:19Okay, this house is on the market at the moment for 110,000.
31:24What would you think if you could get a house for your mum and Bobby across the road as well
31:31and still not break your budget?
31:32This property across here is on the markets for 60,000 euro.
31:37It's all of it together.
31:38So if you bought both together, we're on good recommendations from the estate agent
31:43that 150,000 could secure both.
31:47That's a grind saw.
31:48We'll check that.
31:50What?
31:51That's unreal.
31:52Do you want to see that house?
31:54Yeah.
31:54I'm a bit shocked, but yes, please, I would.
31:58It has that colour, that character that I really, really like.
32:02A lot of cracking at the front of the house there that obviously we'd have questions about,
32:06but aesthetically, it's really lovely.
32:08Do you repair it or do you replace it?
32:10You repair it.
32:11Why don't you two go in and have a good look around?
32:14Oh, it looks better on the inside and it looked good outside.
32:18What do you think, Bob?
32:19I like it.
32:20You like it better than the other one, do you?
32:22I think I do.
32:24There's a bit of work, but it's an old house.
32:27And yet again, there's no sign of damp or mould or it's a real surprise.
32:31Well, she's called it a wild card.
32:34If you put 50 grand into this, you'd have a house.
32:36Imagine if you went to Rogue and just went for this one.
32:40Oh, you'd have to buy the two of them.
32:41Yeah, you'd have to buy the two of them.
32:43The value is in the two.
32:44Yeah, I think so too.
32:45It's been a busy couple of days, but I think we've made real progress.
32:50The house hunt has taken shape and everyone now has a much clearer sense
32:54of what renovating a house in Portugal really involves.
32:58So how did that renovation today compare to what you and your dad have done?
33:02It was different to what we've done, but not different on scale.
33:06You wouldn't look at that and be intimidated?
33:09No.
33:10Really?
33:10No, you'd look at that and you'd see what it could be.
33:13Yeah.
33:13So the garden was amazing.
33:15There's so much space.
33:17The house, it's such a great footprint that you could make your own.
33:21So that's not intimidating, that's just potential.
33:25And that's what you go into this looking for.
33:27Yeah, I would run a mile from that.
33:29Yeah, I can see that on your face there.
33:32Yeah, it seems like there's a lot to do.
33:35But they have room and water and they have a bed and they have cooking facilities.
33:40So they don't, what do you need?
33:42Yeah.
33:44Like...
33:44I don't think I'm too used to comfort.
34:15Yeah.
34:16I don't think I'm too busy.
34:47And finally, two houses for the combined price of 150,000 euro.
34:54While Kevin is getting a feel for Portuguese culture,
34:57I've made my way to the village of Porto Mendoto
35:00to meet Emmanuel de Touche and his wife Carla,
35:03who bought a once grand house in 2023
35:06and have been bringing it back to life ever since.
35:10So did you both see the beauty in the house in the beginning?
35:14No.
35:15I know.
35:16I did.
35:17It was a ruin.
35:19It still is outside, so I could not see what it could be inside at first.
35:25But you only need one person to see the beauty, and you saw it?
35:29Yeah, I used to do that in France.
35:31Okay.
35:32So when we came here, I see there is a big potential
35:35to do a bedroom for each part of the family.
35:38We do have three kids, so we need four bedrooms
35:41and a bathroom and kitchen and everything.
35:44And it was possible here inside.
35:46Because it's a beautiful house.
35:48It's a big house.
35:48Yeah.
35:49People here in this village call that the Palacette.
35:52A small palace.
35:54Yeah.
35:55Well, I'm looking forward to seeing inside.
35:57Can we go have a look inside?
35:58Yes.
36:01This is beautiful, very modern.
36:03At the beginning, this was not part of the house.
36:06The kitchen was over there and the house finished here.
36:08So this was an annex that didn't exist before.
36:12So Emmanuel saw potential on it, but I didn't, of course.
36:16Of course.
36:16We have to raise the roof a little bit just for having space and light also.
36:22Not that much.
36:23Maybe 10, 15 centimeters.
36:25There was no windows.
36:27There was no doors.
36:28So we have to create everything.
36:31So all your tiling is new as well, is it?
36:33Choice of Carla.
36:34Yes, this is my choice.
36:35I already project myself inside.
36:38So I wanted to keep a little of this old style of the house.
36:44We're now in the original building.
36:46What kind of a room was this when you came here first?
36:49This was the kitchen, the original kitchen.
36:51Okay.
36:51This opening behind me is a really great example of how thick the walls were in the original house.
36:56That's, I think, why the house is so warm in the winter and fresh in the summer,
37:03because it keeps the temperature ideal.
37:05It's very good for us.
37:05It's great, yeah.
37:07So down this end of the house, we have a lovely master suite.
37:11The bedroom is stunning, by the way.
37:12That fireplace?
37:13Yeah.
37:14Was that here originally?
37:15Yes.
37:15This is the only thing we kept, because she wanted to keep it.
37:19I wanted to keep it.
37:20I see where you're coming from.
37:22So we're outside now on this gorgeous private terrace.
37:26It was funny, because we lived here for at least three months, when kids told me,
37:32Mom, did you notice that we had all our dinners outside?
37:36Oh, lovely.
37:37Yes, it was very, very good.
37:38We feel very good here.
37:40I feel like this is the place that made you fall in love with this house.
37:43Yes, probably.
37:44Yes, I think so.
37:45I think so.
37:46How long ago did you buy the house?
37:47In February 2023.
37:50It was 77,000 euros.
37:53Wow, and the balconies, and the windows, and the fireplace.
37:57So how much did you spend with the work?
38:01120,000 euros.
38:02Okay.
38:02And it's still now maybe 10,000 more to finish the outside.
38:07That's a fantastic house for under 200,000 euros.
38:11Great work.
38:11And you were 100% sure you love it now?
38:13Oh, no, yes.
38:14100%, okay.
38:16Emmanuel and Carla did a great job here.
38:20They took a house that had kind of a quirky layout and turned it into a really functional, large family
38:25home.
38:26And it just goes to show that with a little bit of imagination, you could do it too.
38:32One of the things I love about Portugal is how rich the culture is.
38:37You really don't have to go too far to find a festival or social gathering.
38:42We've stumbled upon the tiny village of Longra and their winter festival.
38:46The entertainment is provided by a local dance group called Celia.
38:51Watching these ladies dance, I can't help but feel I've traveled back in time a few hundred years.
39:11Wow, Sao.
39:12That was amazing.
39:14I really, really enjoyed it.
39:15Oh, thank you very much.
39:16We were a group of friends.
39:20We all love to dance.
39:22We get together to make Celia.
39:24So the dance itself, is it a medieval dance?
39:28Medieval folk dance.
39:30Tomar is a Templar city.
39:33So that's like the Knights Templar.
39:35Yes.
39:38And in the middle of the dance, you have this amazing battle.
39:43Do you enjoy fighting?
39:44Yeah, you don't speak English.
39:47Yeah, you enjoy, you enjoy.
39:51My big question is, do you accept new members?
39:55Yes, I accept new members.
39:56Really?
39:57Yeah.
39:57Because I have somebody that loves to dance and I think she would love to meet you.
40:02Oh, that's very good.
40:04But no swordplay?
40:06No sword.
40:06No sword.
40:06Just dancing?
40:07No sword.
40:07Just dancing.
40:08Okay, good.
40:09Okay, good.
40:13You have to step outside of the big cities to find little places like this that are completely
40:20unique, you know?
40:42Yeah.
40:52Like the dance is so communal.
40:52Because they went in.
40:53Yeah.
40:53And then they start, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
40:56What about the footwork?
40:58Um, I'll get there.
40:59I was counting it out when they were doing it.
41:01Mm-hmm.
41:02So hopefully I can get it.
41:04Hello.
41:05Hi, Sal.
41:05Hello.
41:06This is Roisin.
41:08Roisin has a little bit of dance experience.
41:10Yes.
41:10Uh, Latin, ballroom, and a little bit of, uh, well, I've done swing and a little bit
41:15of Irish set dancing.
41:16Hopefully that will help.
41:18Yes.
41:18We're gonna try this dance again with you.
41:21Okay.
41:21Okay.
41:23Let's go.
41:24Best of luck.
41:26Then we go eight steps to the right, okay?
41:30Yeah.
41:31Okay, eight steps.
41:32Yeah.
41:33She's, uh, she's up, she's up for the crack in here.
41:37You go in the middle with the, the, the colleagues will go.
41:42Okay.
41:42One.
41:43Two.
41:44Evolve.
41:45Three.
41:46Four.
41:46And then you go far.
41:48And then.
42:01Okay.
42:05Three.
42:06Four.
42:08Four.
42:09Four.
42:09Two.
42:10Three.
42:12Four.
42:12Good crack?
42:13Yeah, it was good crack, yeah.
42:14It's unusual, isn't it?
42:15It's unusual, but when she explained that it's based on the wall step, it makes it a lot
42:21easier to follow it.
42:22So, the big question is, would you come back again?
42:25Absolutely.
42:26Yeah, I loved it.
42:26Amazing.
42:27Amazing.
42:28What power are you rushing?
42:29Thanks.
42:31Our last house is another turnkey option.
42:34This beautiful four bedroom villa in the village of Caraguera is in great condition.
42:40Comes with an acre of land, outdoor kitchen, a massive shed and a big garden.
42:46This is my showstopper.
42:49The most complete property I'm showing Roisin and Bobby.
42:52The price reflects this at €230,000.
42:57Okay, lads.
42:58Final house.
42:59What do you think?
42:59I think it's a nice change not having to ask, what's that crack there?
43:03I don't see anything of concern or it is lovely.
43:07It seems like less of a doer upper than the others.
43:10It's pretty solid, no cracks like you say.
43:13The roof is also like completely tight.
43:16All the service is too.
43:18Perfect.
43:19We have again a very traditional layout originally.
43:22We would have had most of the house on the top floor and then this kind of cellar level.
43:26But here the bottom has been converted into living space.
43:30So Bobby, how do you feel about a pink house?
43:32I live in a pink house, Maggie.
43:34I do.
43:35Brilliant.
43:36This is perfect then.
43:37Perfect.
43:39What do you think, Bob?
43:41It's the best house we've seen in Roisin.
43:44I hate the lights.
43:45I'm going to be honest, there is a better way to light a space.
43:48It looks like a new kitchen and the heart like the other place, but smaller.
43:54Nice big living room here.
43:56There isn't a crack.
43:57There isn't a draft.
43:58There isn't a smell.
43:59There's nothing.
44:00Yeah, and the stove in the corner looks like it's a working functional stove.
44:04It is.
44:04Keep you nice and warm.
44:05It is, and it's ideal having the curtains hanging down beside it.
44:09So the dining area then is over here.
44:12And a bathroom.
44:13I might rework the layout a bit.
44:18Oh, it's nice and bright, isn't it?
44:20Oh man, big improvement.
44:22Yeah.
44:24So we've bedroom one here.
44:28Orange tree out the window.
44:30Oh man.
44:31Bedroom two.
44:32Another pretty substantial room.
44:35Three.
44:37And bathroom.
44:39And bedroom four.
44:41Fourth bedroom.
44:42Plenty of bedrooms anyway.
44:45Ah, here, yeah.
44:47Ah, it's a little light terrace, is it?
44:49I'd turn one of these rooms into an upstairs sitting room or something like that.
44:53Yeah.
44:53But I'd probably go with the one with the orange tree outside the window.
44:56That's the one, yeah.
44:56Yeah.
44:57Yeah.
44:57Change that one into a sitting room.
44:58I like it.
45:00It's going to be a million euro.
45:05A little workshop, Bob.
45:06It's your garage.
45:08This is huge, Rosie.
45:09This is massive.
45:10I want to live here.
45:12Just in here?
45:13Just in here.
45:15Yeah.
45:16How did that go?
45:17It's a really nice house, isn't it?
45:19Like it's finished.
45:19It's a nice house.
45:20Yeah.
45:21But would you prefer something to do?
45:23No.
45:24No.
45:24The ideal is perfect, right?
45:27And then like you walk your way down to sort of building something.
45:30Yeah.
45:30But you'd rather if you could afford.
45:32Perfect.
45:33Perfect.
45:33Of course you would.
45:33That's the ideal situation.
45:35Of course it is, yeah.
45:36Yeah, absolutely.
45:36But there's plenty to do, a bit of painting and stuff like that.
45:39Tightening up, power washing.
45:41That's grand.
45:42Yeah.
45:42Yeah.
45:43So the rest, no, no, I hate work.
45:47And the kitchen behind me, this outdoor kitchen, what do you think it is?
45:50Oh no, I love that.
45:51Cool, isn't it?
45:52That's where you'll be living, isn't it?
45:53Yeah.
45:53So you have an acre of land with this place and it stretches right down to the back and
45:57up the side of the mountain where you can see the tall trees.
46:00It's all substantial then, outside and inside.
46:01Yeah, it is.
46:02It is very substantial, yeah.
46:03The good part also is that the garden, you can also build a pool if you want to, another
46:10barbecue there.
46:11Yeah.
46:11Because it's in the regulation that you can kind of extend the house, which is good.
46:16Oh.
46:17But again, that's not immediate.
46:18Like the other properties, you immediately may have to do something.
46:22Oh yeah.
46:22Whereas here, you can make it like pretty.
46:26So only having to do these small finishes does come at a cost though.
46:29Of course, yeah.
46:30Yeah.
46:30So it's on the market at the moment for 230.
46:33So it's up there.
46:34But it's a substantial house though.
46:36It is, it is.
46:37The other ones, you're still going to be paying 2 or 13.
46:39It could take you two years.
46:40Yeah, more.
46:41That's true.
46:41Jeez, if you were lucky, yeah.
46:42Take you two years because you're going to be the one that has to do it.
46:45Let's go four years.
46:50I'm quite proud of the range of homes we've uncovered for Ocean and Bobby on this trip.
46:55There was the cute but compact two bedroom cottage at €145,000.
47:00The renovated villa with a troubled extension for €195,000.
47:07The two for the price of one option in Ferreira for a combined €150,000.
47:14And finally, the ready to move into villa at €230,000.
47:20Now it's time for Roisin and Bobby to reveal which of these feels like the right choice for them.
47:26OK, favourite house.
47:28Talk to me Roisin.
47:29So my favourite house was the white house of the wild card.
47:35And then Bobby has a different opinion.
47:37Bobby!
47:37I prefer the second house of the wild card.
47:40You know that suits everyone actually really well.
47:42Yeah.
47:42I kind of thought that was the way you were going to go.
47:45It was a great fit for the two years.
47:46Yeah.
47:47Even you weren't looking for a house right now.
47:49So logistically what I do is get an engineer to find out what the cost of those two to make
47:55them structurally sound would be.
47:57Yeah.
47:57And then if it was creeping up in cost, house number four was a really close second.
48:03That house basically had everything done, didn't it?
48:05Yeah.
48:05It was perfect.
48:06The most important thing for me is that you found something that kind of caught your heart.
48:10Meeting you, Frederica, everyone.
48:14It's had a lot of value for me.
48:16And I'd say you as well.
48:17Well, I got a heap of it, yeah.
48:18Yeah.
48:19But here, like, you're going under the asking price.
48:22And you can negotiate.
48:23At home, even if you're going under the asking price, somebody's going to come along.
48:27And it's just going to creep up and creep up and creep up.
48:29Yeah.
48:29It's probably the way buying a house should be.
48:31Yeah.
48:32Do you know?
48:32Non-traumatic.
48:34Yeah.
48:34Yeah.
48:35I feel like you're a hard man to please, Bobby.
48:37No, I'm not.
48:38Are you not?
48:38No.
48:39Sometimes I even smile.
48:45God, they got so much out of that.
48:47And I am so glad that I was the one that was there with them.
48:50No matter what way that engineer's report goes, they had three houses that worked for them.
48:55And, like, that's a win in anyone's books.
48:59There is great value in Portugal.
49:01You just have to remember that Portugal isn't just the Algarve.
49:04And it gets so much more affordable the further in you come.
49:08Great value still here.
49:09And the best thing about this area is the people.
49:11The people are unbelievably friendly.
49:13Like, they'd bring you in off the streets to have a cup of tea.
49:16Would you move?
49:17100%, yeah.
49:18I think the price of pints alone could help me here.
49:22I'll get the first round in.
49:27See you next time.
49:27Bye, everybody.
49:28Why don't you see that?
49:30Bye, everybody.
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