Great info, as always. However, the state of California has nothing to do with the interpretation of the Portuguese visa requirements, ie. San Francisco versus Washington DC.

It may be worthwhile to consider "creatively" relocating to the East Coast just prior to applying for the visa through the DC Embassy (in preference to SF), if six months of rent can be saved.

The issue seems to be uneven application of their (Portugal's) internal policy.

I'm not blaming, but simple stating facts, I experienced this also in The Caribbean. This way of overpricing houses is worldwide caused by Americans. Since Americans are used to higher rents and have higher incomes, they offer to pay higher rent/house prices. This is jeopardizing the local population who does not have high incomes from their jobs. In Portugal people earn between € 500 – € 800 salary per month. The rents of a room are now € 800. How on earth could they pay for this?

I would have to investigate whether requiring more than one/two months deposit is against EU legislation. F.i. this is the case in The Netherlands, which is part of EU. I doubt it that this is allowed in Portugal.

no it's the consulate.

Thanks for providing this information about what’s happening on the ground in Portugal. It’s a little disheartening to hear about what’s happening there. My hubby and I were considering Portugal at one point because of the proximity to his family in Netherlands and my Portuguese language background. We are now looking at other options. But we truly enjoyed our time there back in 2019 but things have drastically changed! I will say this, we spent time in Turkey and had to pay six months up front plus a month deposit and when it was time for us to leave they gave us our full deposit back in cash. Mind you the dollar to Turkish ratio can’t compare to the Euro but anytime you’re in a foreign country you must be prepared to lose the deposit and just hope for the best.

Great info. Watching the replay

I'm patiently waiting for the next lesson Digital Strategist for businesses.

Hey, you're still here. Right on.

OMG, I am so sorry. There is no way in #$@! that I would pay a year upfront. The only good thing is you locked in the exchange rate. We just got our apartment in August and we paid 2 months upfront + 2 months' security deposit. I added into the lease that the deposit will be returned within 30 days less any damage. We had a Portuguese-speaking friend help us and we were not in the country (California VFS 😡) but he found it for us and walked us through it via video. Has it changed that much in 3 months?!?! OMG

Registered for the Zoom. The ad playing after your video was "Come along and ride on a fantastic voyage", lol!!!

Thank you for the video

Let's discuss some details that I never see mentioned anywhere. Let's assume you buy a 400k euros apartment in the Lisbon/Oeiras area. Assuming enough square meters for a family of three (i.e., 90 m2), that amount will buy you a slightly better than average apartment, but don't expect anything really fancy, and definitely not newly built:

1) the real estate agency is charging 6,15% (5% + 23% VAT = 24,600.00), so the seller is actually selling the house for 375,400.00

2) the buyer is spending between 26k euros in taxes, deed, etc (if it's for primary residence), and 32k (if it's a second house)

3) so you've basically paid 430,000.00 for a 375,000.00 house

4) that house will be worth around 1,366.00 euros/month (16,400.00/year – 4.1% of 400k) in the rental market, an horrendously high price in a region (Lisbon/Oeiras) with an average income of around 1700/month (the average for the whole of Portugal is around 1300/month)

5) but although that rent is ridiculously high, the investment/return ratio is actually pretty lousy. The landlord is getting 3.8% (on the 430k he effectively spent) before taxes and expenses, and probably little over a measly 2,0% after taxes and expenses (property tax, income taxes, contributions to HOA, maintenance expenses throughout the years, etc. – and I'm not even factoring in the risks associated with tenants who suddenly vanish, sell appliances or furniture, or destroy the interiors…)

6) inflation is presently 10%+, so your chances of earning any money (or at least not losing on your investment) are totally dependent on the house going up in price, but: a) that may or may not happen b) it needs to go up in price A LOT, because you started by paying 430k for a 375k flat and there might again be expenses at the moment of selling (most certainly if you use a realtor's services when selling, and also because the Portuguese State has a knack for charging taxes on profits that simply do not exist – unrealistic money devaluation tables, maintenance expenses that are not accepted for tax purposes, etc)

So Portugal achieves the feat of having rents that are simultaneously surreal from the point of view of the tenants, and really lousy in terms of investment ratios.

How much is the ratio in the USA if you rent out a flat that you've bought for 430k Euros/USD? It is not 2%, is it?

Please feel free to leave your comments on this issue, I'm curious to know how foreigners view these numbers.

Whew! I can't wait for Zoom. Life is becoming a whole situation.

How can I find out about my State requirement for Portugal when come to amt. of months for lease requirement. I think I'm asking the right questions.

Why did I have my alarm set and still missed you live?!🤦🏽‍♀️ Listening now Cinnamon

I chime sometime after your live but I would like to ask how is California people is affecting potential people moving there? Well, one thing I can say they have ruined people live here in the states with coming areas paying cash for homes in the US causing increases in home values. I could imagine what they are doing there.