Location, location, location - apartment for sale?

[MrsB]

We're coming over in October with a view to buying a quality one bed apartment in a good location.
Must haves include: large balcony/ roof terrace with a nice view, top floor preferred, communal pool, some parking, walking distance to town (don't mind a steep hill!)

Naturally, we will be contacting the local estate agents but if you have been considering selling but haven't done anything about it yet, please let me know.

Location is paramount and we don't want to waste anyone's time so the name of the street would be useful so that I can pinpoint it on Googlemap!!

[fmm]

There is a two bedroom for sale in my complex. They are looking for 140k euros. The apartments are over the top of A Rede and Marisqueira (opposite Villa Medici). There are around 12 apartments in our block, large pool which is hardly used (several of the apartments are lived in year round and they don't really use the pool), garden, two balconies, private sun terraces (I have views of the sea - no idea about the one for sale). 10 minutes max walk down the hill to the beach. Parking outside the apartments (in the summer parking at the rear near the municipal courts). I have had my apartment here for 4 years and I think it is one of the best locations - close enough to town, but far enough out not to get noise at 2am in the morning. Not sure whether it is a ground floor or top floor apartment. Will try to find the internet link for you. It is in Estrado do Farol.

[fmm]

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[MrsB]

Thanks for responding so quickly. Not sure I could cope with being above a bar/shop though - I think the late night chatter would drive me mad!

[fmm]

Depends on which side of the complex you are on. I am over the bar which I actually really like. When the canopies are up the noise doesn't come through unless the doors are open (I have air con so often have the doors shut as it is too hot!) - plus I often come out on my own and feel happy knowing the bar and restaurant owners well so I always feel very safe. I viewed over 100 apartments in the Algarve before I found this one. If you want peace and quiet in an apartment, then you will find you are either miles from anywhere or you are over a business. Perhaps a villa would be more appropriate for you? I saw several apartment blocks that were quiet but they were either nowhere near the sea and beach (which is a bit silly if you want a holiday apartment), miles from the nearest restaurants (or there was only 1 restaurant which is not exactly giving you a choice), or the area was too remote and I was concerned about the safety (see the problems shown on some of the other threads).

However, my advice would be to see as much as you can that fits into your budget. What I bought was not what I was originally looking for, but as soon as I saw it I knew that was the right thing for me - you will find the right one for you but there is a lot of leg work involved!!!

[MrsB]

That's a really interesting observation - I never really considered the possibility of being on the 'quiet' side of a central complex. You're quite right though, we don't want to be somewhere remote. Maybe I need to be more open-minded! We have rented villas in Carvoeiro before but think we would prefer to buy a lock up and go apartment, without the large running costs and hassle of own pool, garden, etc. If you can find the link you mentioned, I'll certainly have a look.

[martin]

take care when you buy an older apartment, someone I know renovated am apartment in villamoua, they put new kitchens in , new bathrooms , changed the plumbing and drainage etc The old plumbing was the galvanized type which when they took out was completely rotten , in fact the only thing holding the water was the concrete channel that surrounded the tube

so great news that it was all changed but what the owners of the renovated apartment dont have any control over is all the other apartments above, aside and below whose pipework is about ready to burst

[fmm]

You are absolutely right. the other problem with the multi storey apartments is that they either have lifts (which don't always work and cost a fortune to maintain) or don't have lifts in which case the stairs can be a nightmare.

[fmm]

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[carvoeiro1]

Myself included and many other friends and family have always regreted buying 1 bed propertys.
Please please think twice, if a 1 bed is all you can afford wait till you can afford at least a 2 bed.

[MrsB]

It's really useful to hear all these comments and I take on board what you are saying about a one vs two bed and new vs older properties. Thanks for the link fmm - I thought I'd done a thorough trawl of the web for estate agents but I've not come across Rederal before. We're over for 10 days in October so I do want to compile a short list before we go to save time. It'd be interesting to hear why you've all chosen what you've chosen... and why. If we can at least pin down the areas we are seriously interested in, then I'm prepared to wait for the right property to come along. Pros and cons of all the different parts of town would be great.

The top floor issue is only 'cos I can't bear hearing clippy cloppy heels on the tiles above at 2 in the morning (been there, heard that) - but I can see it would be a way to avoid anyy dodgy plumbing problems too!

[alf1956]

i would advise you to pop in to see edgar lagos at his office called" EDL" in carvoeiro,extremely helpful&with a very good knowledge of the local property market.

[joanne]

The other thing you have to watch for when buying appartments are the costs involved communally, we had an appartment before we bought our Villa and the communal fees cost us more than it costs us now to run a 3 bed Villa, also others in the block were not paying, and could not be tracked down, we thought the same lock up and leave but we have had less problems since we moved.

[adrian]

Hi, Pretty new to the Carvoeiro website so apologies in advance if we mess things up. Have you ever considered a town house? Our spectacular view overlooks the village and the sea and the village is a short walk down a rather steep hill. We have had the house for three years now. It is two bedroomed and has an ensuite and further bathroom. The bathrooms and kitchen have all been refurbished. It is on a small development of 26 houses, some which are residential. It also has a lovely pool. The complex is called Colina Branca. We fell in love with it as soon as we saw it.

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[MrsB]

Thanks for all the responses - they are very helpful

I've sent you a private message, Adrian. We've stayed in that area before - turn up the steep hill by the Irish bar.