Hello Joe,

I've added some Google translation links for you in my previous
reply above, but it's best not to translate pages with "contact"
information like the two council links, as translated names,
addresses and email addresses may not work.

Any other sites you want translated just put the URL (web
address of the page) in the Google translate box at the
Google Portuguese / English translator

sincerely,
David

http://propertysilvercoast.com/

View Thread started on February 10, 2010 2:30 AM| Replies (3)

Wow! The information you gave me is impressive.

I don't read Portuguese, but I will go to the sites you have
given me. Maybe if I use an on-line interpreter program, I can
get the information I am looking for.

Thank you very much for this great source of information.

Joe

View Thread started on February 10, 2010 2:30 AM| Replies (3)

Hello Joe

you wrote:

>I have been trying to find a source who might be able to tell
>me what the property values in Foz were in 2003 and 2006

I'm not clear whether you want a general idea of the property
asking prices back then, general statistics on property prices,
or whether you are looking for actual public record data of the
prices specific properties officially sold for?

The national statistics office data site is at:

www.ine.pt and it has an English version.

If it loads in Portuguese google will translate it if you - click here

For general statistics the more commercial Global property guide
page is in English at:-

globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/Portugal/square-meter-prices

is easier to understand and will give you price comparisons of
Portugal compared to other European countries. And you can get a
price history for Portugal on their site at:-

globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/Portugal/Price-History

For general Portugal prices the above page may work for you, but
it's hard to extract data specific to the Silver Coast which is
undergoing a more localised property boom. And I'm guessing you
want data on property sales in the specific area of the proposed
Rainha Golf development?

Your lawyer, solicitor, or realtor may be able to find the price
that any specific property sold for in the "Conservatória do
Registo Predial e Comercial das Caldas da Rainha" which is the
local land registry. (although some people list a lower selling
price than the amount they actually received in order to pay
less tax on their profit).

A good local estate agent (realtor) would be able to give you a
general idea of property prices now and in the past.

Alternatively, you could look at one of the internet archive web
sites and see for yourself what a particular estate agent's web
site looked like on a particular date and thus see what asking
prices were at that time.

>Would you have any idea who I may be able to contact?

You are best advised to have a lawyer or solicitor do this work
for you, but if you are competent in the Portuguese language you
may be able to do all this yourself. The Ministry of Justice web
site has a section on "Registo Predial" at:-

mj.gov.pt/sections/pessoas-e-bens/registo-predial

and that explains how you can apply for a copy of a property
registration document in the sections numbered 4,5 and 6
starting with "Como devo pedir o registo?"

Google translation is here:-

google.com/translate registo-predial

You can download the latest PDF document containing the
addresses of all the land registries in Portugal, with phone
numbers and email addresses here:-

mj.pt/IRN/sections/irn/a_registral/servicos-externos-docs/contactos/

But I've done that for you and the contact details of the land
registry for Caldas is:-

Conservatória do Registo Predial e Comercial de Caldas da Rainha
Rua da Praça de Touros, 34-AR/C
2500 - 167 Caldas da Rainha
Tel: 262 870 710
Fax: 262 870 719
E-mail: crpcom.caldas-rainha@dgrn.mj.pt

>Someone mentioned the "council" in Foz, but I cannot find any
>links to a council in Foz do Arelho.

The Junta de Freguesia da Foz do Arelho is the parish council
for Foz do Arelho which is an area under the jurisdiction of the
"Câmara Municipal de Caldas da Rainha".

You can see their contact details on the web via the Caldas
council web site at:

cm-caldas-rainha.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_MCR/JUNTAS/FOZ_ARELHO

or go direct to the Junta de Freguesia web site at:-

www.jf-fozdoarelho.pt/

Hope that helps,

sincerely,
David

Silver Coast Property at:-
http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on February 10, 2010 2:30 AM| Replies (3)

Dear David,

As you said there are in fact many renting agents in the area:
most of the real estate agents.

Mike can also put his advert directly to one of the local news
papers:

www.gazetacaldas.com

and

www.jornaldascaldas.com

Hope I've been helpful.
Kindest Regards,

FL

View Thread started on September 5, 2009 1:19 PM| Replies (4)

Hello Mike,

you wrote:

>I am going to follow most if not all of your tips.

Please let me know which ones produced the best results, if any.
I may even decide to rent my own property long term if I hear
that you do well :-)

>You're a true gent and I owe you a pint!

Now you're talking. A pint of bitter would really go down a
treat - shame it's not on tap anywhere around here.

Regards,
David

View Thread started on September 5, 2009 1:19 PM| Replies (4)

David,

I just wanted to say thank you very much indeed for your
exceptionally helpful reply. I am going to follow most if not
all of your tips. You're a true gent and I owe you a pint!

Regards
Mike

View Thread started on September 5, 2009 1:19 PM| Replies (4)

Hello Mike,

you asked for:

>any suggestions as to how to source a long term tenant for my
>3 bed villa which is at Perola da Lagoa near Bom Sucesso.

Presumably you mean residential rather than longer term (winter)
tourist letting?

As always when marketing anything, the first step is to identify
your target markets, and this is where you might strike the
first problem. Most of the likely target markets for long term
rental are going to provide very low income expectations when
compared to tourist rental.

A tourist rental property if marketed well might produce ball
park figures of the order of 10k a year after management costs.
Not many local employees could afford to compete with that as
rent. If they could they would probably be buying their own
apartment.

Traditionally the coastal quality properties are rented to
tourists, and inland properties in the towns are rented to folk
who cannot afford to buy their own place and who want to rent
nearer to their work and schools for the children. There are a
lot of very low cost apartments available for rent in Caldas da
Rainha (150 to 300 Euros a month), which drives down the likely
rental income on a house to at best half the potential tourism
income.

I recently spoke to Nuno Luz at "Luz & Filho, Lda" who told me
they rented some houses in Gaeiras (a district of Obidos close
to Caldas and the new technology park in Obidos). He told me
that typical rents achieved there are no more than 450 Euros a
month.

As there is the distance from work and schools issue, anyone
willing to drive to work every day from Perola da Lagoa would
either need to be working nearby, or have a nice car and funds
to cover the fuel costs to get to work. That also makes it
likely that they would be able to buy their own place.

Anyway, it seems to me that this limits your probable target
markets to folk working in one of the nearby golf developments,
or someone from elsewhere in Europe who is looking to rent a
property for just a couple of years.

One such target market are retired folk in the UK and elsewhere
who want to live out here but do not want to commit to
purchasing here. I know that there are many pensioners who are
prepared to give up their rental home in the UK and live in the
sun on lower rent and a lower cost of living. But again, if they
are looking to reduce their rent that may limit your rental
income?

Even after all the media hype and exchange rate scares regarding
such folk living on the Spanish Costas suffering from the low
value of the pound, it's still cheaper to live here in Portugal
than in many other countries in Europe. So retirees from any of
the higher income Euro based countries are good target markets
for you.

>I can't seem to find many long term letting agents in the area.
>I assume there must be some covering Obidos/Caldas da Rainha
>etc.

I'd say there are far too many estate agents making it harder to
find one good place to recommend for you. Almost all the estate
agents I've met also arrange property rental. I'll mention a few
in this post not as recommendations for any one in particular
(or otherwise), but simply to give you a feel for the market.

For example, I noticed one ad from "Casinhas Rurais" (a Rio
Maior based agent) online recently which said they wanted rural
properties for rental clients, yet when I actually looked at
their web site today you would not know they do rentals as well
as sales.

Since the Silver Coast started to go into a boom and attract
lots of new estate agents to the area who are mostly interested
in property sales, it's the older traditional and well
established agents that you may be looking for if you want to
rent to locally based workers.

When I lived in Caldas I knew of a couple of agents in Bairro do
Ponte in Caldas (that's the road beside the railway lines behind
the Vivaci shopping centre) who were well known for handling
such rentals. One of those was "J A Simoes" a neighbour of mine
and a nice well respected family business who dealt with such
transactions. Although it has to be said that they would mostly
be dealing with apartments and houses in Caldas.

Many such private rental transactions are handled directly after
advertising in the local papers, and a contract is signed
between the parties on a standard form purchased from the
notary.

>Any advice would be very gratefully received.

If you are trying to deal with this from the UK you probably
need to have a local solicitor involved, and I can recommend you
to a friend if you like. Alternatively, as the law requires you
nominate an agent here for such matters connected with your
property, I suggest you contact Ennis Property Management and
have them manage your property and all such matters for you.

You might also consider building your own web site, and/or using
the many free ad sites like u4it to advertise the property for
rent.

However since your initial target market seems to be either
employees of the local golf courses, or non Portuguese on a
contract here, I'd say you should talk to the owners of those
courses and let them know your property is available for any
employee who might want to rent it.

Also you should contact any rental/estate agents who have a
significant world wide presence. Remax and Century21 come to
mind as being major players here in Caldas who are world-wide
agents.

You might get in contact with one local estate agent I know,
Jack, (who speaks perfect English), at "Rey Estates" who has
many contacts in the golf courses as he used to work for one of
them. He may be able to help you with some contacts.

Other English speaking agents I know who have contacts with
estate agents in the UK and Ireland include:-

Sharon Clarke at moveportugal.com
Nuno Constantino at topcasas.co.uk

Here is a link to a Google search for "casa para aluguer caldas
da rainha obidos" which is set up to exclude the holiday rentals
market word "ferias".

You can see by that link that there are lots of web sites
advertising houses for rent in the Portuguese language.

Here is a link discussing the rental laws on the Century21
website

novo-regime-de-arrendamento-urbano

which may help you. And here is their English translation of the
same information:-

rent-a-house/nrau

I hope this has given you some ideas to work with and feel free
to post again if you have further questions.

sincerely,
David

Silver Coast Property at:-
http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on September 5, 2009 1:19 PM| Replies (4)

Hello Barbara,

I've just today received an email from the Freguesia Salir do
Porto which says that "the pool will be open to the public from
this August and its exploitation is the responsibility of the
company Orbitur."

Orbitur are the well known the camp site company.

The Gazeta das Caldas had a report last week that there is a
plan to make the pool a covered/indoor pool.

regards,
David

http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on February 6, 2009 2:54 PM| Replies (4)

Hello again,

had an idea this was what happens with hair-dryers,
seem to have a life of their own!

Thanks again
Bruce

View Thread started on July 1, 2009 11:48 AM| Replies (2)

Hello Bruce and Rene,

Thanks for your feedback. Glad to hear you enjoyed Villa
Apartment Cristina.

The apartments in the Moinhos da Costa condominium are mostly
owned by Lisbon folk who only use them in the August holidays
and at weekends, so for most of the year it is quiet and you
often tend to get the pool and tennis all to yourself.

We have a micro-climate around the lagoon, and often get a
morning mist which clears as the day goes on. It's part of what
makes the area popular for Lisbon folk trying to escape the city
heat.

Thanks for sending me the name of the Hotel in Porto, I've
placed a link to it in your message.

I take your point about the hairdryer, the last one had it's
plug removed by somebody for some unknown reason, and I found it
hidden away in an upstairs drawer, so I brought it home to
replace the plug. The travel one we supplied to clients before
that went missing, so we've not had a lot of luck with
hairdryers. But I've now put the plug back on the other one and
I'll replace it in the apartment.

sincerely,
David

View Thread started on July 1, 2009 11:48 AM| Replies (2)

I see in the Gazeta this week that Antonio Carneiro of Turismo do Oeste says that Rainha Golf is delayed "due to financial reasons".

See my article here:-

GolfeOeste invests 200 thousand euros in Silver Coast for 2009

View Thread started on May 11, 2009 9:53 PM| Replies (1)

Hello Anna,

You asked whether the housing market in Portugal is suffering on
account of the recession. Generally I'd say it's slowed down a
little, especially in the domestic housing market. So much for
my opinion, now on to some hard data from the Instituto Nacional
de Estatistica (INE)

House prices in Portugal fell 4.8% during the year to September
2008 and new building starts are slowing in 2009. (Building
permits and completed buildings trend - 1st Quarter 2009)

What is certainly true is that we've got less far to fall. The
worse may already be over as the market here has been much more
more sensible and finance not so easy to get. The silly rises in
most of Europe did not happen in Portugal. From 2001 to 2006,
average property prices rose in Spain by 100%, but in Portugal
that was a more realistic 17%

The only places in Europe where property is cheaper per square
metre are Bulgaria, Hungary, Turkey, Moldova and Macedonia. And
in Spain prices per square metre are double the prices here,
which may explain why they seem to have further to fall. In
France prices are on average four times as much and in the UK
they are just plain silly (second only to Monaco!).
Source Global Property Guide - square meter prices

The estate agents and the off plan golf developments were both
selling properties like hot cakes until recently on the Silver
Coast. But now the cakes are only warm.

It's pretty slow almost everywhere in the world at the moment as
far as I can tell. Some parts of the world are worse than
others. In Latvia prices have fallen 45% since the start of
2008. More than a third down in Dubai. Down 20% in Britain and in the
US prices have fallen by about 30% since 2006.

There are some bright spots, as of March 2009 the Global
Property Guide says that in Israel house prices have gone up by
6% in the last year. But many in Europe will not feel as safe
investing there. Parts of Africa and East Asia are also not
doing badly.

You also asked whether there any good property bargains to be
had here.

Yes. But mostly in the standard domestic property market, in
areas that would not usually interest foreign buyers. An
apartment in a larger town or city like Caldas da Rainha is
certainly a lot cheaper now than it was a year or two ago.

The investment property market is much more resilient, and
bargains there are to be found, if you dig for them, but they
are going to be fewer and harder to find. I've heard estate
agents grumble that sellers generally are not being realistic
and reducing their prices, and that is going to be even more
true in the higher priced coastal property which was bought as
an investment by foreign owners.

Anyone with money is going to hold on and wait. But I'd say that
there are a few people who may have over extended themselves,
and if the market doesn't pick up they may take a "silly" offer
if they need to make the payments this coming winter.

These might be any small builders who are building one or two
properties on bank finance. It might also include foreign buyers
who bought speculatively, possibly on foreign bank finance.
Those are the two kinds of situation I've heard tell of when
chatting to my bank manager, solicitor, and a few estate agents.

No harm in making a silly offer on anything you like.

You asked whether the Silver Coast is likely to be a good
investment if the area develops tourism the way the Algarve did?

Yes. and fortunately the regional development planners have a
policy of not making the same mistakes as have been made in some
areas of the Algarve. But the Silver Coast has already started
following the Algarve in developing tourism. The Regiao Oeste
has many projects underway which have the central government
"Project of National Interest (PIN) status.

It has been moving more and more in the tourism direction
consistently since we bought here in 1986. In this Regiao Oeste
it has grown with a lot more class than parts of the Algarve,
and around the Lagoa do Obidos, due to planning policy, it has
done so without the negative elements of "Costa" development.
(high rise not permitted around the lagoon!)

The pace has certainly picked up in recent years due to
investment in the infrastructure and the high quality golf
developments around the lagoon currently being completed and
more being built. You'll find several posts in the "Investment"
and "Infrastructure" sections that explain the phenomenal growth
potential this area has.

Feel free to ask more of your questions here.

sincerely,
David

Villa Apartment Rental with Pool and Tennis - Silver Coast.

View Thread started on June 13, 2009 8:57 PM| Replies (1)

Hello Patricia,

You asked whether Sao Martinho is a good base for property hunting?

Yes it is pretty good. It's not too far from Caldas da Rainha, which is in my opinion probably the best place on the Silver Coast to go property hunting. Sao Martinho is more of a summer beach resort, less business orientated and so not ideal as a location for a serious property hunting exercise.

Sure, if you want a six month holiday, with some looking at properties thrown in, then anywhere is fine. Depends how serious about the business a person's going to be. The sheer number of estate agents in Caldas is mind boggling. You'll get more business done in Caldas.

Winter rental - is 450 Euros a month fair?

Yes. It is a very good rate. You get what you pay for of course, and you'll get a better rate when you contract for a full six month period.

When you say including utilities I guess that is just light and water? Not heating?

For that price I assume the heating is basic firewood and/or gas bottle heaters, and I assume the price will not be including the fuel for either of those?

Sao Martinho may be lower in price, than say the Obidos Lagoon or Foz do Arelho. Sao Martinho does have some lower priced properties, and even some apartment high rise. But 450 Euros a month sounds too cheap if it is to include all utilities and heating for six months especially if it is including the month of September, which is still a tourist rental month.

So I'd have to assume the offers you've seen are not the highest quality properties, and not right on the coast? Perhaps not starting in September? Perhaps inland a bit? Maybe back in the hills between Sao Martinho and Nazare?

It's always a couple of degrees warmer in the winter on the coast, and of course a couple of degrees cooler in the summer. That phenomena around the world is part of what makes the coast popular. A rate to include full electric heating in a property with sea views would be more like 600 a month. That would not usually include the linen and cleaning which is of course included for the tourist season.

I have a coastal property myself, overlooking the lagoon, and we still get tourists into the first half of October, so I don't offer the cheaper winter rental rates myself until late October or November. I'd normally want to go back into tourist rates by mid March or April, depending on when the Easter tourism starts. (Easter is at the beginning of April in 2010)

If 600 was too much for a client, I would offer my place for a lower rate of 500 Euros a month for say the five months that are Mid October to Mid March, but for that lower rate I'd not include the electric heating. I'd offer gas bottle heaters and the solid fuel fireplace as the lower priced properties would.

Hope that helps, and good luck in your search. I'm certain you'll like the Silver Coast.

sincerely,
David

Villa Apartment Rental with Pool and Tennis - Silver Coast.

View Thread started on June 11, 2009 6:53 PM| Replies (1)

Hello Jose,

Yes, I believe Rainha Golf will happen. But the big question is of course "when precisely is work going to start?"

The latest information I have on the project is posted at Rainha Golf and Spa, and I'm not sure if you read the more detailed and more recent post there. As soon as I have anything more concrete on a start date, that's where I'll post it.

If I owned the project I wouldn't be in a rush to actually start moving in the more expensive heavy machinery just yet, so I would expect some of that to be postponed until the economy picks up and property in their other projects elsewhere start moving again.

But, I would have thought it would be worth their while to open a sales office on the site and do some of the less expensive work soon. That's what I would do.

sincerely,
David

http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on September 11, 2008 8:30 PM| Replies (5)

Dear David,

First of all thank you for all the hard work that you have developing this blog with such useful information.

Do you think that Rainha Golf is going to happen? and if yes do you have any idea when?

Kind Regards

Jose

View Thread started on September 11, 2008 8:30 PM| Replies (5)

Wow, great picture!

View Thread started on May 27, 2009 11:32 PM| Replies (1)

Hello Jane,

I asumed you were talking about six adults, so I forgot to mention,
that my own villa apartment has an excellent view and is ideally
situated in Foz do Arelho for groups of 4 adults and 2 children.

Take a look at the page entitled

Silver Coast Villa for more details.

Regards,
David.

View Thread started on February 3, 2009 2:02 AM| Replies (3)

I drove to Bom Sucesso Golf from the Obidos motorway exit today,
and I see the signs are now up indicating that the new road is
now the official route to the lagoon.

It's exactly 6 miles using the new road. I'd say that's cut 10
minutes off the journey for a leisurely driver like me.

View Thread started on April 26, 2009 1:01 AM| Replies (1)

Hello Sue,

You wrote of a:-

>a large construction project going on close to what I
>think is the ambulance headquarters

That is the dialysis unit. There are often quite a few
ambulances there waiting to return their patients to their
homes.

>We could not tell what it is but it is being built in front of
>beautiful views

That construction project is well underway now, it is the
"Complexo Escolar do Alvito" ( the Alvito School Complex).

>Someone suggested it is going to be a huge shopping mall with
>hotel and watersports by the Obidos dam. I did not think it
>was big enough

You're right Sue, it is not big enough. The Plaza Oeste complex
is going to be a lot bigger than that. It's going to be in the
land adjoining the school, but the entrance is going to be back
towards Obidos a bit, nearer to the motorway.

>I wondered if you know anything more about the extent of the
>project and what it will contain.

The project has been mooted in the local papers many times over
the recent years. You can read full details of the complex in
the Plaza Oeste post I've just made to the blog. It's a much
needed and largely welcomed investment for the area. I think
you'll be impressed.

The aerial view I've posted there may make it clearer to you
where the Plaza Oeste complex is to be located.

sincerely,
David

Villa Apartment Rental with Pool and Tennis - Silver Coast.

View Thread started on April 23, 2009 7:46 PM| Replies (1)

Hello,

You can contact the owners directly via their web site at:-

http://www.quintadacharlotte.co.uk/

sincerely,
David

http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on July 24, 2008 4:28 PM| Replies (2)

please send me more information about Quinta da Charlotte Silver Coast Cottage.
I will go for travel for 1 week

Best regards
Lavastre

View Thread started on July 24, 2008 4:28 PM| Replies (2)

Hello again,

I've today received an email from the Câmara
Municipal das Caldas da Rainha department of works
(Divisão de Execução de Obras).

It says that although they can't give a precise date,
it is their intention to open the pool "this swimming season"
(época balnear).

regards,
David

http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on February 6, 2009 2:54 PM| Replies (4)

Hello Barbara,

Regarding the Salir do Porto swimming pool, you wrote:

>somebody said they had read in the paper it was missing a
>toilet or something

Yes, it all came out when last year the councillors of the
opposition PS political party wanted information on the status
of the work, because the pool is outdoors and intended for use
during the summer, and folk were eager to use it.

Here is my translation of the response of the mayor of Caldas da
Rainha Council, Fernando Costa. "It was poorly designed, but it
is also true that the law has changed. Now we need a bathroom
for employees..." He also admitted that he felt guilty and even
ashamed stating "It is ridiculous, I was angry with staff that
this was not discovered earlier....."

Fernando Costa also said that there is "a problem that was not
properly considered, which is that the strong winds are causing
sand to enter the pool in frightening quantities."

According to the mayor, "perhaps we need to introduce a
protection of the pool," and it is "something to see, because
the best technical solutions are also more expensive."

The investment in the pool already exceeds one million two
hundred thousand euros. The complex includes a swimming pool
(12.50 x 25m), a learning pool (8x16m), with areas for users and
the general public, including showers, bar and terrace and
facilities to serve the beach.

You can read the story in Portuguese if you click here.

You also asked:-

>Can you tell me the plans for the pool and if it's opening
>this summer

On the site of the council of Caldas da Rainha you can see here
that the pool is listed as one of their projects. But they don't
give a completion date on that page. So I sent an email to both
the local parish council and the technical department of the
main council of Caldas da Rainha.

I've thus far received a very quick response from the local
"Junta de Freguesia de Salir do Porto" who, though fast, were
not too helpful. Their reply translated here was that the "pool
is a work of the Municipal Council of Caldas da Rainha," and
that they "do not know the opening date."

However, another local newspaper published the new year message
for 2009 from the mayor, Fernando Costa, writing in his role as
president of the district PSD party, here, in which he claims
the pool at the beach of Salir do Porto will be completed in 2009.

I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I'd think it a safe bet
that after being embarrassed by his political opposition over
the failure to open the pool last year he will try and get the
pool opened by this summer.

>and if you know of any other plans for the area.

Yes, you'll find plans for the larger area discussed here on the
Silver Coast Property blog. But if you mean more locally to your
own property, the Junta de Freguesia de Salir do Porto has a web
site here which has details of various projects planned and underway.

Among the items on the site you can see a detailed picture of
the plans for the urban regeneration of S. Martinho do Porto and
the beach of Salir do Porto. A large scale image is here.

The plan covers several areas of the two locations. The plan
includes (my translation).....

The rehabilitation of twelve beach access points.
Information boards of wooden structure.
Benches made of wood on stainless steel.
Expansion of existing areas of car parking.
Creation of paths and raised walkway.
Improving the quality of the dunes in two areas.
Improvement of the car parks on the left bank of the mouth of
the River Tornada (car park in Salir, near the mouth of the
river).
Implementation of a wooden bridge over the River Tornada.
Improving conditions for observing the birds on the right bank
of the River Tornada.
Improvement and creation of areas of marsh.
Upgrading and expansion of wetlands in the area of dunes.
Recovery of massive dunes in the whole area.
Interventions in the slope of the left bank of the River
Tornada.
Structures for containment of land to be located near the
existing parking,
New access ways on the dunes in wood.
The pedestrian bridge, the raised walkway in support of the
beach of Salir.
Considerable planting of trees and shrubs, and planting on the
dunes wetlands and marshes.

....I hope some of the above helps.

regards,
David

http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on February 6, 2009 2:54 PM| Replies (4)

I believe that the pool facilities were vandalised and a new staff
toilet was required before the opening ceremony. For whatever
reason the damage has not been repaired and the pool has not
opened.

Maybe this year?

Kevin

Project Management - Silver Coast, Portugal

View Thread started on February 6, 2009 2:54 PM| Replies (4)

Thank you for your prompt response. I'll check out your
suggestions and also keep searching. Yes, you may post this
correspondence on the blog.

Jane

View Thread started on February 3, 2009 2:02 AM| Replies (3)

Hello Jane,

Not being a major tourist destination Rio Maior is not well served
with such properties, none that I know of. As I say in my post
on Golden Eagle Golf course...

"If you plan to play the Golden Eagle course I would recommend
staying at the nearby coastal golf resort - see Praia D'el Rey
Villa Rental. But if you prefer to stay nearer to Golden Eagle
Golf resort there are a variety of Rio Maior Hotels to choose
from."

See:-

Portugal Holiday Destinations

or drop an email directly to their local property management
company at:-

admin@villa-management.com

who may be able to personally recommend something a little
closer to Rio Maior than Praia D'el Rey, perhaps beside the
Obidos lagoon or on the beach at Foz do Arelho, both only 30
minutes from Rio Maior..

If you stay near to Obidos you are only 20km from Rio Maior, and
with the motorway connecting the 2 towns you are only 15 minutes
away. And Obidos is quite simply the loveliest little mediaeval
castle town in the whole country of Portugal.

See this post on Obidos for a couple of pictures of Obidos.

May I post your message and my reply to the Silver Coast Property blog?

sincerely,
David

http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on February 3, 2009 2:02 AM| Replies (3)

Hello Graciano,

You didn't say which development you are interested in.

You will find a map in my post entitled "Silver Coast, Oeste
Region or Lisbon Golf Coast?" (click on the link) which shows
the location of most of the developments. If you drive around
the southern (Obidos) side of the lagoon, all those developments
are quite clearly signposted.

The one that is noticeably missing from that map is the one on
the Foz do Arelho (Caldas) side of the lagoon. The planned
development of "Rainha Golf and Spa" will be in Serra do Bouro
on the the Foz do Arelho side of the Lagoa do Obidos which is in
the area controlled by the Camara Municipal of Caldas da Rainha.

The last published information in the local newspapers suggested
that the land acquisition phase was almost completed, so no
doubt if you need a more precise location for this development
you can get some idea from the Caldas da Rainha PDM which is
available at the local council offices.

If not, then perhaps from the lawyer "Álvaro Baltazar da Silva
Jerónimo" who has been engaged in trying to contact some of the
folks who own the land. He is a member of the Municipal Assembly
for Caldas da Rainha - Wikipedia details here.

It is probable that the information on land acquisition is still
commercially sensitive and not easily available?

Hope that helps.

best regards,
David.
http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on September 11, 2008 8:30 PM| Replies (5)

David, Can you tell me exactly where this resort is going to be located?

Regards,
Graciano

View Thread started on September 11, 2008 8:30 PM| Replies (5)

Hello Carl,

You asked:

>"I heard a rumour that they were being taken over by the
>company that is planning to build a hotel on the site - is
>there any truth in this?"

Rumours of hotels are always good for the sales of houses and
"off plan" properties on golf courses and leisure developments.
And obviously the most successful courses do attract fine
hotels. I tend to take such rumours with a pinch of salt at
least until after the golf course is actually up and running
unless anyone from a hotel chain makes a firm commitment.

We do have some such successes locally. Praia D' El Rey
attracted the Marriott Praia Del Rey Resort after the course
was built and running successfully. CampoReal has the
Westin CampoReal Golf Resort & Spa and of course Bom Sucesso
opened their golf course for business just last month
(September 2008).

Of course Bom Sucesso has PIN (Project of National Interest)
status, which helps smooth any bureaucratic problems and
reassures hotel investors.

Even the more recent Royal Obidos which also has PIN status has
just had heavy machinery clearing the site, but thus far, I
don't see any sign of a golf course on Perola da Lagoa which has
had house construction in process on the site for many years.

The land around Perola da Lagoa has been the subject of some
discussion regarding the "Plano de Urbanização do Turisbel Casalito"
of 1996 and the REN (Reserve Ecologica Nacional) which
you can see details of with a Google search here. (Google should
provide a handy "translate this page" link beside each result if
you don't read Portuguese).

There is also a PDF file on the web site of the Agencia Portuguesa do
Ambiente (file in html here) which details the environmental studies
and the conclusions they came to in 2004 and 2005.

In July 2007 the Gazeta das Caldas reported (here) that António
Lino of London Investments was complaining of the wrongful
demolition of a building beside the lagoon by the "Instituto da
Água" (INAG) and the following week the same newspaper reported
(here) that INAG admitted responsibility for demolishing the
property without authorisation. Lawyers were reportedly
involved.

There is some sign of interest in the project. In the two
articles mentioned above of July 2007, the local newspaper also
reported that London Investments just the week before had
negotiated a contract of sale for the building to Sá Machado & Sons
of Braga for five million euros and that "Sá Machado & Filhos, de Braga"
were planning to restore that particular building as a water-side
golf club forming part of a nine hole course.

However, since these reports I've seen nothing in the local
media about further developments at Perola da Lagoa and
construction there is certainly not as hectic as all the other
developments in the area.

You also asked:

>"I have heard rumours that the London Investments sales office
>has been closed and that they are not maintaining the pool any
>more. Are you aware of what is happening?"

Unfortunately the web site at peroladalagoa.com requires the
installation of a "Flash" browser plug-in which I would not
recommend installing so I don't know whether you have seen
anything useful on that site about their plans. Rather than deal
in rumours I decided to take a look for myself.

I checked the business hours on the other more accessible web
site (here), and then I passed by the sales office, which was
closed during their normal business hours today. I took a look
at the padlocked pool area while I was there. The pool doesn't
look blue (as a salesman would probably want to see it even in
October), it has a definite cloudy greenish tint but the rather
lovely waterfall is still running.

It looks as though the sales office is inactive. There was a
notice pinned to the office door which translates to "for
whatever doubt or question please contact 262 830 130" - and as
that is not the phone number on the London Investments web site
I did a Google search (here) and found that the number is one
also currently showing as advertised by Construções Lino e Santo, S.A.
and a real estate agency on the first floor above that construction
company in Caldas da Rainha.

There is an email address given on the web site (here) but the
one on the sign at the local office is info@peroladalagoa.com
which is different and may also be useful to you.

You also wrote:

>Any info you have would be gratefully received

As the Gazeta das Caldas reported the interest of Sá Machado & Filhos
in buying the projected club house property here for 5 Million Euros
I thought it worth doing a Google search for Sá Machado & Filhos, de Braga (result here) which shows that a company of the
same name is a national civil engineering company.

One of their many projects is a beach development at Atlântico Village
2km to south of S. Pedro de Moel (details here) which suggests
that they may have an interest in developing resorts like
Perola da Lagoa. You might get more info if you ask them?

I hope some of the above is useful to you, and please share anything
you learn with other readers here.

best regards,
David

http://rainha.com/property/

View Thread started on September 30, 2008 10:38 AM| Replies (2)

David,

I am an owner at Perola da Lagoa. I have heard rumours that the
London Investments sales office has been closed and that they
are not maintaining the pool any more. Are you aware of what is
happening? I heard a rumour that they were being taken over by
the company that is planning to build a hotel on the site - is
there any truth in this?

Any info you have would be gratefully received

With best regards

Carl Miller

View Thread started on September 30, 2008 10:38 AM| Replies (2)