Whether we like it or not, it's established fact that children shape their parents' holiday choices. Each year the TripAdvisor family travel survey demonstrates the influence that kids have on their parents' decisions. In 2014, some 92% of respondents planned to travel with family and relatives' considerations were plain to see in the amenities wish list, with complimentary breakfast, close proximity to local attractions, free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool and room service making the top five.

If you live in a village in Portugal, you’re likely to have an abandoned school building in your immediate neighbourhood. Certainly in the Algarve there are numerous examples of abandoned schoolhouses, some have been sold or are up for sale, but the majority remain under local council ownership and don’t appear to have a very bright future ahead.

The Chinese year of the sheep, which begins next month, is set to see investors flocking to Portugal in search of high end properties costing €500,000 or more, that qualify them for the country's golden visa scheme. 

The sheep is representative of people who combine creativity with considerate planning, which is typical of those with the imagination and organisational skills to move overseas and start a new life in a foreign land.

It was a good year for the overseas property market in 2014, as interest increased for purchasing a property outside a client’s home country for the purpose of a holiday/retirement home, possible immediate investment by rental return or future growth.

This was mainly led by better economic news in some of the countries where potential buyers were situated (UK, Germany and Scandinavia) and the continuation of low interest rates.

The Portuguese property market records 12 months of growth, with outlook for 2015 equally positive. “If you’re looking to buy property in Portugal, now is the time.”

Bold words indeed from Chris White, Founding Director of boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, but the figures certainly add weight to his claim.

As the nights draw in and those early morning starts seem ever colder, the idea of sitting outside and soaking up the sun may seem like a distant dream, but the perfect outdoor terrace is actually a lot closer than you might think.

According to Eurostat, the pursuit of winter sun expanded over the 2013/14 season, with 15.4 million more nights spent in hotels and similar establishments within the European Union, an increase of 2.9% on the previous year. The 2014/15 season looks to be a good one too thus far, with the Airports Council International reporting an increase of 5.6% in passenger traffic at EU airports in October.

Guia is a small town, a friendly town and a well situated town. Right in the middle of the Algarve, Guia is a short drive from Albufeira’s beaches and hustle and bustle – yet far enough away to be a quiet traditional village. Famous for its Piri Piri chicken, the village has many restaurants serving this and other local dishes.

Guia area is also great for shopping: the Algarve Shopping mall as well as the retail park next door, plus Leroy Merlin and Max Mat for your DIY and Makro cash and carry.

Every year in December Land & Houses Algarve reflects on the past year and provides an outlook for the property market in the year ahead, 2015. Twelve months ago we predicted that trading conditions for real estate would improve which proved to be an accurate assumption. The increase in transaction volume which started in 2013 continued in 2014 at even a higher pace.

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