Portugal Know-How

Steve Marque gesturing toward a townhouse as an expat couple hold the keys on a cobbled street in Lagos, Western Algarve

Anyone Can Be an Estate Agent in Portugal (Yes, Really)

In Portugal, individual estate agents need no licence or exam. Here is why that matters when you are buying in the Algarve, and how to choose well.

Steve Marque, expat estate agent, sitting on a terrace overlooking the Lagos coastline in the Western Algarve

Why an Expat Agent Helps You Buy or Sell in the Algarve

I moved to the Algarve from Brussels eight years ago. Here is why working with an expat agent who has lived the process helps you buy or sell with less stress.

Cross-laminated timber villa structure under construction on a hillside above Praia da Luz, Western Algarve, with the Atlantic in the distance

Build a Villa in the Algarve in One Year With CLT

Three years to approve one Lagos build. With the new Simplex and CLT timber, you can now go from bare plot to a finished Algarve villa in about a year.

Smiling couple sitting at a round marble table outside a cafe on a sunny cobblestone street with blue window shutters and potted flowers.

Your First 90 Days in Lagos: A New Resident’s Checklist

Moving to Lagos? Here is the practical 90-day checklist new residents actually need - NIF, AIMA, utilities, healthcare, driving licence, and more.

Healthcare in Portugal for Expats: Navigating Public vs Private Systems in the Algarve

Let’s be honest—planning a move to a new country is exhausting. You’ve finally wrapped your head around the immigration paperwork, you’ve sorted your D7 Visa or Golden Visa, and you’re aggressively researching buying property in Lagos Algarve. But right around the time you start looking at houses, a midnight panic sets in: What happens if I get sick? I get it. It’s the number one worry I hear...

The Sunny Steve 4-Phase Framework for Selling with Serenity in the Algarve

In the competitive Lagos and Western Algarve market, a simple listing won't cut it. For expat sellers, our goal isn't just a sale—it's a strategic outcome that delivers the serenity you moved here for. We manage the entire lifecycle through four distinct, data-driven phases: Phase 1: 💰 The Price & Polish Foundation This preparation phase determines the entire sales trajectory. Get it...

The “Alojamento Local” trap that nearly cost my american clients €200.000 😱

When you're packing up your life and moving to a place as beautiful as Lagos, Algarve, you're looking for sun, peace, and financial clarity. You've navigated the visa process (maybe the D7 or even the old Golden Visa route), bought a stunning home, and now you're ready for the next chapter—perhaps downsizing or releasing equity for that long-awaited travel fund. The last thing you expect is to find a...

The Expat’s Most Expensive Mistake when moving to the Algarve is “Testing the Waters”

🏠 Why 'Testing the Waters' in Lagos Is the Most Expensive Advice You'll Ever Take It’s the first piece of advice every well-meaning friend gives a new expat: "Rent for a year to get a feel for the area." It sounds safe, right? It sounds prudent. You’re intelligent, you’re financially qualified, and you want to make an informed decision. But here’s a straight-talking dose of the Algarve...