- 2 days ago
A Place In The Sun
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00:00The Eastern El Garb has got a stunning coastline, year round sunshine and plenty of culture.
00:06More than enough reasons for single mum Hannah Sheldon to leave behind the London Rat Race
00:10for a better way of life here in one of the most beautiful and laid back areas in Portugal.
00:42Today's house hunter Hannah has come to Portugal to find herself a new home and she's bought best friend Sue
00:49to lend a hand.
00:50This lady knows what she wants and what she doesn't.
00:56Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. So a stranger to Portugal but no stranger to speaking her mind, will Hannah
01:03find that dream place in the sun?
01:06I'm getting tearful already. Stop it. Just stop it.
01:13After years of battling commuter traffic and the hectic pace of London life, hairdresser Hannah is 40 and feeling it.
01:21So she's decided to pack up her brushes and head for the calmer coasts of sunny Portugal.
01:27To fund her plan, Hannah has sold her successful salon and hopes shortly to be coiffuring in sunnier climes.
01:35She is desperate to make the move as soon as possible so that daughter Jessica May can start school and
01:41Hannah can start her new life.
01:43And that new life would be here in Portugal's eastern Algarve.
01:51This famous coastline has long been popular with Brits like Hannah looking for time away from the blustery shores back
01:58home.
01:59Until recently, this 18-mile stretch of coast to the east was considered to be the western Algarve's poorer cousin.
02:06But that is changing.
02:08A surge in low-cost flights means the area's tourist industry has exploded and now clocks up around 45,000
02:16visitors a year.
02:17Property prices have, of course, reflected this and are up a whopping 125% from five years ago.
02:24It's not all bad, though. House prices here are still 15% lower than in the west of the region.
02:31So, with a budget of £150,000, before the ladies can be let loose, I need to find exactly what
02:38it is thereafter.
02:40So, Hannah, you're a single mum.
02:42I am.
02:42And you've made this big decision to up sticks and move over here to the eastern Algarve.
02:46Yes.
02:47It's a bit brave, isn't it?
02:48No, not really. No. No, my father was in the Air Force, so I'm used to travelling around, making new
02:53places home.
02:55And, Sue, you're here as best friend, helping hands along the way.
02:58I am.
02:58Yeah, to keep her feet on the ground, because she need to.
03:00And are you used to sort of helping her with these sorts of big decisions?
03:04Yeah, she looks on me, really, as a big sister, I suppose, and we bounce off each other.
03:09So, Jessie's your little girl. How do you think she's going to cope with the move?
03:13Oh, she'll be fantastic. She's like a little sponge, so I'll just get her into a local Portuguese school,
03:17and she'll just ingratiate herself with everyone, and she'll just absorb it and adapt.
03:22And your property, what's important for you?
03:25Where shall I start? Right.
03:27I'd like a nice, big back garden for Jessie to play out and be safe in, and to run and
03:31let loose.
03:32I'd love a balcony to come off of my bedroom. I would just so love that.
03:36And my Achilles heel has always been a sea view.
03:39Sea view, okay. Yeah.
03:40You've got quite a long list so far. How many bedrooms do you want?
03:42It's got to be at least three, really, because I've got to have my room, and obviously Jessica's room, and
03:47room for Sue.
03:48Room for Sue too.
03:49So you want coastal views, you don't want to be too isolated. No.
03:51Room for Sue, garden. Anything else you want to add to the list?
03:55A man that does. A gardener.
03:57I don't know about Achilles, this sounds more Herculean to me.
04:02Sea views on top of everything else?
04:04Hannah has a very specific image of her life out here.
04:08The question is, does her dream home exist, or is it the stuff of legend?
04:18To start our search, I decided to show Hannah and Sue the joys of inland Portugal.
04:23The majority of people here work on the land, where this rugged countryside has been cultivated for centuries.
04:29The small village of Carense has 600 residents, and is certainly a beautiful alternative to frantic city life.
04:36So, do you think you'd like this kind of village life?
04:40I do. I think the whole place is absolutely beautiful. It's stunning.
04:44But I'm just that little bit worried that there's just not going to be enough to do in the wintertime.
04:49Well, it is small, but you've got everything on hand.
04:52You've got grocers, little restaurants, and there's a really, really good school for Jessica.
04:55Okay.
04:56If they can see what's on offer, even without the sea views, they may just be tempted to rethink that
05:02long list of requirements.
05:03The first house, I'll show you, is this one here.
05:08Right.
05:09It looks a bit small.
05:11From the outside, it's called Casa Allegra, which means happy home.
05:15Oh, that's lovely.
05:17This farmhouse has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and plenty of outside space for Jessica to play in.
05:23You've got a double bedroom there, and this is your lounge area.
05:29Oh, it's lovely. I do like this.
05:32Yeah?
05:32I think this is probably where you'd spend most of your time. You've got a nice big kitchen.
05:38Oh, it's lovely.
05:40Is this kind of similar to perhaps what you've got at home?
05:42I wish.
05:44Really?
05:44Show me more.
05:45You've got your sit-down family dining area. Huge table here.
05:49Oh, look.
05:50Oh, this is just lovely.
05:52Oh, that's lovely.
05:53I've got goosebumps.
05:54I have, really. Look.
05:56You've not even seen the best bit yet.
06:01Oh.
06:02Oh, wow.
06:04That's lovely, isn't it?
06:05So, you've got loads of wardrobe space for all your clothes, big double bed, nice little muslin over there.
06:11So, you roll out of bed in the morning, and straight out here.
06:15Oh, heaven.
06:17And that is all yours.
06:20All of it?
06:21Yes.
06:21All the way back to those outbuildings there.
06:24Oh, wow.
06:24I'm just blown away.
06:25Come on back inside, and we'll go down and take a look at the garden.
06:28Wow.
06:29Good start.
06:31And this building here, this used to be a garage.
06:34It's just recently been refurbished.
06:36Have a quick look in there.
06:38What do you think you'd use that for?
06:40Aunty Sue's room.
06:41Well, at the moment, it hasn't got a bathroom or anything, but this space here is actually used to be
06:46a chicken coop.
06:47Knock it down, en suite bathroom.
06:50There you go.
06:50Rent it out to Sue.
06:52Pay my mortgage for me.
06:53Pay your mortgage.
06:54And you've got this huge garden space.
06:56All 750 square metres of it.
06:59Oh, I'm so blown away by it all.
07:02I know Hannah wants to see views, but for her budget, she's going to have to compromise somewhere.
07:08With all that land, there's plenty of space for a pool, and for around £10,000, Hannah and Jessie could
07:14have their very own alternative to the beach.
07:16It talks to you when you walk in.
07:18It wraps itself around you.
07:19It's lovely, isn't it?
07:20It really is.
07:22The school's only just up the road, so that's handy for Jessica.
07:25But I just wonder if there's going to be enough here to keep her occupied in the wintertime and also
07:30just out of school.
07:31It's gorgeous, isn't it?
07:32Right, ladies.
07:33First property on the right tracks.
07:35Is this the kind of thing you expected?
07:37That's the house of your dreams, this is.
07:39But, and there's always a but, I'm just a bit worried about the location.
07:43I have to say, I thought you might have a concern with the location.
07:46Fantastic, fantastic house.
07:48That's brilliant.
07:48But you are compromising on where it is a little bit, aren't you?
07:51We are.
07:52Okay, well, if you're up for it, I want to take you to the coast and see what you can
07:56get for your money around there.
07:57Yes, please.
07:57Here we go.
07:58So far, so mostly good, but I'm still hearing that wish list.
08:01And it sounds like the girls are set on seeing something coastal and in lively surroundings.
08:08And wait till Hannah gets a preview of this sea view.
08:11This Aia Bonita is an oasis of protected lagoons and marshland and forms part of the Rio Formosa National Park.
08:19The island itself is a ten-mile parade of sparkling beaches and rolling sand dunes.
08:26Fishing has long been a part of island life and sardines particularly are a prominent aspect of day-to-day
08:33living.
08:33The day's freshest catches are still on the menu and the houses originally built for the hard-working fishermen still
08:40stand.
08:41So, how do you fancy having all of this on your doorstep?
08:44I love it.
08:46Well, on this island itself there's only basically a handful of fishermen's houses and building work is now restricted.
08:51But the house that I want to show you is just back on the mainland a short boat trip away.
08:56Oh, that sounds lovely.
08:57Well, I'm glad Hannah likes what she's seen of the area so far, but now it's back to the mainland
09:03to see the house.
09:05The town of Tavira has a year-round population of 25,000, which swells to more than 40,000 in
09:11the summer.
09:12That's a lot of potential haircuts.
09:15Will this be the house to tempt Hannah into letting her hair down?
09:19So, how about this for a location right in the centre of a town?
09:23I love the town.
09:24The apartment I'm going to show you is actually in this block here.
09:28Oh, okay.
09:29Don't be too put off by this road.
09:31Okay.
09:32You prepared to take a look?
09:33I'm here, let's look.
09:34Come on then.
09:36Set in a block of 12 houses and apartments, this property was built just four years ago.
09:40It's spread over three floors and has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two living areas.
09:46For £126,000 and at £24,000 under Hannah's budget, you get your money's worth.
09:53But, well, she thinks so too.
09:55Ooh, it's a bit pokey, isn't it?
09:58Hate it.
09:58Hate it.
09:59Hate it.
10:00I don't know, I just feel claustrophobic in here.
10:01Yeah.
10:02Come and have a look at the kitchen because it does give you a bit more space through here.
10:06Well, this is a nice kitchen though.
10:08I hate it.
10:10That's a little bit harsh.
10:12Why?
10:13It doesn't please me then.
10:14That's better.
10:15Because the house is on the coast and does have a lot of space, after all, five children
10:20already live here, it's definitely a property worth viewing, although it doesn't seem to
10:24be doing it for Hannah.
10:25But before she gives it the big thumbs down, I do want her to look upstairs to see the house's
10:30full potential.
10:31All right, well humor me and come out and have a look at your little terrace here.
10:37Err.
10:38It's just not doing it for you, is it?
10:40It's not, no.
10:42I love the outside downstairs in the courtyard, but no, the house just isn't right for me
10:46as a mother with Jessica.
10:47It's not right.
10:47You don't want to look at the rest of the rooms?
10:49No.
10:49No, I don't.
10:50So, let me get it straight.
10:51What exactly is wrong with this house?
10:53What don't you like?
10:54It's the safety aspect, as far as for a child goes.
10:58Right.
10:58That's what I don't like.
10:59Well, I've pretty much exhausted the property search in Tavira for your budget and this is
11:03the best I could come up with.
11:05If you don't want this, then you're looking at an apartment where you're really compromising
11:08on space, or one of the modern builds which I think we've driven past.
11:13I think you ought to have a look at a more modern one or a new build.
11:16Yeah.
11:17Well, it was worth a try, but it's still not heating Hannah's hair dryer.
11:21It looks as though I'm going to have to work even harder if I'm going to meet Hannah's
11:25high expectations.
11:27But I won't start tearing my hair out just yet.
11:30I've found two more properties that might just put a smile back on Hannah's face.
11:34Where do I sign?
11:42I'm helping single mum Hannah Sheldon make a life-changing decision.
11:46She wants to relocate to the Eastern Algarve with her four-year-old daughter Jessica and
11:51hopes to swap the rush hour of London for a more relaxed way of life on the Portuguese
11:56sunshine coast.
11:57And Hannah is still not splitting any hairs over what she wants.
12:02Uncompromising and undeniably exact.
12:04Will I find Hannah exactly what she's after?
12:08Our next house is just outside the town of Mon Carapacho.
12:13Although inland, it is only a ten-minute drive to the beach and has yet to be hit by tourists
12:18in their masses.
12:19The town is centred around the Church of Santa Cristo, built in the 16th century.
12:24While life here is calm and quiet, there is more on offer than in Quarenza.
12:29The town's community centre offers, among other things, free music and dance classes to children.
12:36Because the town isn't swamped with visitors, and the property here is among the more rustic
12:41I've seen, prices are considerably lower than in surrounding towns.
12:45So, you've got all your facilities in this little town, and best of all, a year ago,
12:50they opened a really lovely small school that Jessica could go to.
12:53Oh, did they?
12:54Yeah.
12:54Lovely.
12:55Brilliant.
12:55And on to business fronts, I've heard on the grapevine that the local English-speaking
12:59mobile hairdresser may be moving back to England.
13:03It's famous, isn't it?
13:04So cute.
13:05We've got a ready-made business here.
13:07Wow.
13:07Let's hope you like the house.
13:09While taking over the mobile hairdressing business would be more than possible, Hannah may find
13:14that while she's cutting hair, she's also cutting prices.
13:18At the moment, a cut and blow-dry around here costs just £10.
13:22I found Hannah a house in the middle of a quiet residential estate, where all the houses
13:27are permanent homes, not holiday villas.
13:29Having mainly Portuguese neighbours would certainly help her learn the language.
13:33OK.
13:34You gave me a wish list.
13:36I did.
13:37You wanted modern.
13:38I did.
13:39On an estate.
13:40Close to a town.
13:41Now, on paper, I'm quite chuffed with myself because I think this one might be what you're
13:46after.
13:46I think it could be.
13:47Crack on, girl.
13:48You're smiling again.
13:49Hooray.
13:50I found my smile.
13:51This house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and metres of open plan living space, all
13:56designed to be as low maintenance as possible.
13:58A must for any busy working mum.
14:01Well, I think this property pretty much speaks for itself.
14:04Oh, my God.
14:08Where do I sign?
14:10Really?
14:11It is, yes.
14:12That much?
14:12This is lovely.
14:13This is me, isn't it?
14:14Isn't it?
14:14Isn't it?
14:15Oh, I've got goosebumps.
14:16I've got it right.
14:17Fantastic.
14:19Your table and chair's there, your sofa and all the beds are actually built in.
14:25Wow.
14:26So you don't really need to do any deals on negotiating to see if the furniture's included.
14:30It's lovely.
14:31So come through this way and this will be your master bedroom.
14:36Oh, wow.
14:37Now this is my master bedroom, isn't it?
14:40Well, I'm glad you like it because, again, you can't really change too much about it
14:43because your bed's built in there.
14:45But I think it's pretty comfy.
14:48Oh, and she's getting in.
14:50Oh, right.
14:51Okay.
14:52Yes, yes.
14:53And you can bounce all you like because it's built on stone and it ain't gonna break.
14:57What are you trying to say, Victoria?
14:59Anyway, follow me.
15:01Right.
15:02Wow.
15:02En suite walk-in wardrobe.
15:04Yay.
15:05And you've got no neighbours, so you sort of alfresco bathing going in there.
15:10Oh, yes.
15:12Oh, it's...
15:13Oh, thank you.
15:15Oh, wow, isn't it?
15:18Oh.
15:19Oh, that's so nice.
15:20It is.
15:21It is.
15:22Right, I think I'm gonna leave you two girls to explore this house further.
15:26Wow.
15:27Because I think you need a bit of time, don't you?
15:28Take it in.
15:29Take it in.
15:30Yeah.
15:32Oh, wow.
15:33Oh, my lordy.
15:34What's this?
15:35Alternative stairs.
15:38Oh, wow.
15:39It's got a bedroom.
15:41No.
15:42Yeah.
15:43Brilliant.
15:43But this couldn't be your bedroom.
15:45Why not?
15:46Because you're useless in the morning with your wobbly legs and coming down there in your
15:49pink fluffy.
15:51It's okay.
15:51I'll just abseil over the edge.
15:53That'll do it.
15:54It's not a problem, is it?
15:55Generally, when I'm hugged while looking around a house, it indicates that I'm on the
15:58right track, and I think that I might be with this house.
16:01But I wonder if this is gonna be the one that's gonna inspire Hannah to make the big
16:05move.
16:06Oh, wow.
16:07Now, look at this.
16:09Oh, that's lovely, isn't it?
16:10This is heaven to me, but what do you think about Jessie?
16:14Being out here with this kind of flooring, and there's nowhere for her to sort of get
16:18on a scooter or a bicycle, is there?
16:20Right.
16:22This property has been on the market for a year and a half.
16:25Just because you love ankle-breaking stairs, it doesn't mean that everyone will, which
16:30is something to bear in mind when putting the house back on the market.
16:34How did the rest of the house still go?
16:35Oh, fabby.
16:37Yeah?
16:37I mean, love.
16:39Great.
16:39I love it.
16:40I really do love it.
16:41My only concern would be the garden, the lack of garden.
16:45Right, it's too small.
16:46Yes.
16:46Well, this property's been on the market for a year and a half now, and the owner has
16:50recently dropped it by £20,000.
16:53So it's on the market for £156,000.
16:57Now, it's standard in this region anyway for buyers to knock off 10-15% off the asking price
17:02anyway, but you're in such a strong position here, I think you could go further than that.
17:07I mean, I'd say putting in an offer of £130,000 and taking it from there.
17:11Pinch me, I'm dreaming.
17:14So I've still got one more house to show you.
17:16It's a coastal property.
17:19Coastal views, they are spectacular.
17:21It is offering something different.
17:23Do you want to take a look at it?
17:24Choice is yours.
17:25I want to challenge Victoria.
17:26You see if you can beat that.
17:27Now that Hannah's seen and loved some of the property on the market, she seems to have
17:32reined in that runaway wish list.
17:34But before she signs on any dotted lines, I want her to see the next house.
17:40Having been told that property with coastal views for Hannah's budget were virtually impossible
17:45to find, I wasn't convinced.
17:47And after some serious groundwork, I managed to find her just what she said she wanted.
17:52I'm taking the girls back to the coast in the small fishing town of Santa Lucia, AKA capital
17:58of the octopus.
17:59Here, fishing and tourism are the town's main economies.
18:02There's also a local beach, which can be reached by boat, by foot or by train.
18:07Adults go for 60p, but children ride for free.
18:12Like the rest of the Algarve, much of Santa Lucia's architecture was destroyed during an
18:17earthquake in 1755.
18:19Property here is varied in style and the town's buildings have nearly all been built or rebuilt
18:24since then.
18:25Well, one of your criteria was to be by the coast, wasn't it?
18:28It was, yeah.
18:29Now, this next house, I don't think you're going to love it as much as the last one, but
18:33I really think it is worth you taking a look at to see what you can get here.
18:37Okay.
18:37Okay?
18:37Yeah.
18:37That's it.
18:38That's the house we're going to see.
18:40Oh, it's a bit skinny.
18:41This property is Santa Lucia's version of Canary Wharf, but without the towering price.
18:47For £153,000, you get three bedrooms spread out over four floors, topped off with that
18:54elusive sea view.
18:55Could this property be the one, or is it just another arrow through Hannah's heel?
19:00From the outside, this place looks quite sort of narrow and skinny, but you can see it
19:04really opens up when you come in, doesn't it?
19:06Look, you're kind of on four different levels here, but I'm going to take you straight to
19:12the best bit of the house, I think.
19:14Right.
19:14Now, this is the probably would be onto Sue's room.
19:17Oh, right.
19:18It's a bedroom.
19:18Yeah.
19:19This would be a bedroom.
19:20Okay.
19:21Wow.
19:22Well, this is it.
19:24Oh, hello.
19:25It is fabulous, isn't it?
19:26I love this view.
19:27So, back down these stairs, and this is your lounge with kitchen through there.
19:33Oh, it's a lovely size, isn't it?
19:36Yeah.
19:36But that's not.
19:37That's a bit pokey.
19:38No, this too is a holiday home.
19:40It's not a home home.
19:40It's not for you, is it?
19:41It's not to live all the time.
19:43Fair enough.
19:44Okay, it's not for Hannah, but it would make a great holiday home.
19:48Most of the surrounding houses are holiday properties, which are rented out during the
19:52summer.
19:52A house of this size could easily fetch £500 a week.
19:56I'm just so confused.
19:58I really loved that architect-designed house.
20:01I really did.
20:01And now I can't stop thinking about the village house.
20:04And I just can't get into this at all.
20:07It's not doing it for me.
20:09Hello.
20:09When relocating abroad, there are bound to be dilemmas and difficulties.
20:13With not one, but two properties to call home, it looks like I've really confused Hannah.
20:18So, I thought I'd take the girls out for some much-needed refreshment to weigh up the
20:23situation.
20:24So, the dilemma is you love the village house and the architect's house.
20:29I know.
20:30They're fantastic.
20:32But it's such a life-changing move for Jessica and I to be doing this that I've got
20:37to get it just right.
20:38It's more for you to think about than just yourself as well, isn't it?
20:40There is, yeah.
20:41It's her whole life.
20:42Okay.
20:42So, let's start with the architect's house.
20:44Tell me what the pros are for that one.
20:46It's just so unique.
20:47Yes, it is.
20:48It's like a Beverly Hills house to look at from the outside, isn't it?
20:52Yeah.
20:52And what are your negatives?
20:54Concerns back garden.
20:56Lack of.
20:56Lack of.
20:57Great for barbecues, but nowhere for Jessie to play.
21:00Okay.
21:00So, the village house.
21:01Why do you love that?
21:04It's breathtaking.
21:05Have you got half an hour?
21:05It just blows me away.
21:07Yeah.
21:08I love that garden out the back.
21:10It's just fabulous and Jessie would be in her element.
21:13Why are you holding back?
21:14What are your concerns with that house?
21:15Am I going to get enough work?
21:17I've still got to pay that mortgage.
21:18Well, you're ten minutes drive from Lule, which is a really big industrial town.
21:22You're going to have loads of work there.
21:24Right.
21:24Is it going to help if I offer you the opportunity to go back and look at one of those
21:28again?
21:29It would.
21:29Yeah?
21:30It would.
21:30All right.
21:30So, what's it going to be?
21:31The village house or the architect's house?
21:33Village.
21:34Village.
21:35Well, at least Hannah's made up her mind about which house she wants to see again.
21:39So, it's back to Corenza to see the traditional village house.
21:42While Corenza isn't huge, it is close to other, much bigger towns.
21:46And if you do find a house to fall in love with, that's half the battle won.
21:50Here it is.
21:51What are you thinking now?
21:52Looking at it for a second time.
21:54Good.
21:54Good.
21:55Just get me in there.
21:56All right.
21:56Well, this is a really, really big decision for you.
21:58So, go and have a really good look around this house.
22:01Okay?
22:02Yep.
22:02Will do.
22:03Go ahead.
22:03I'll see you afterwards.
22:07Oh, yeah.
22:09Definitely.
22:10It's just got everything, hasn't it?
22:12I could be doing my cooking here and watching Jessie in the garden.
22:14Can I?
22:15Yeah.
22:16Wow.
22:17Look at that garden.
22:18I feel like Julie Andrews.
22:20Come on, Sue.
22:22I can't stop smiling.
22:26Well, I'll be out all the time anyway, won't I?
22:29I know.
22:29I'm getting tearful already.
22:30Stop it.
22:31Shape up, Mrs.
22:32I just...
22:33I never thought that me, myself, could ever find anything like this.
22:37Not me.
22:38I've never had any luck.
22:39I've been lucky even.
22:40Starts now.
22:43Done it just, eh?
22:44Soppy tart.
22:45Yeah.
22:46Come on.
22:49Wow.
22:49How'd it go?
22:51I love it.
22:52I love it.
22:52I do.
22:53Fantastic.
22:54You love it.
22:55Great.
22:56I do.
22:57So, what do you want me to do about it?
22:58Right.
22:58Well, I just want to catch my breath.
23:00Good idea.
23:01I want to get Jessie over in two and a half weeks' time when it's half term.
23:04And then I want to go around all the schools locally, speak to a couple of the teachers,
23:10really comb the area more thoroughly.
23:12Okay.
23:12So, in the meantime, so we don't lose this property, do you want me to have a word with
23:15the estate agent for you?
23:16Yeah.
23:16Could you just tell him, I'm really, really, really, really, really keen, and if you could
23:19just keep me in the picture while I'm back in England.
23:22Definitely.
23:23Yeah.
23:23That won't be a problem at all.
23:24He's a really nice man, so I'm sure he'll tell you if there's any other interest in the
23:27house.
23:27In the meantime, it's been such a pleasure finding you this house.
23:31I can't tell you.
23:32No, thank you.
23:33I hope Jessie loves it as much as you do.
23:35She will do.
23:36She will do.
24:03She will do.
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