International Living Community

I too am trying to find a permanent home in Portugal. I have visited many times. The South is probably the nicest area if you like year round sunshine and never too cold. Porto is very nice up north but it tends to get high rainfall in Winter. The south is the most expensive place to buy a property. The silver coast has some interesting coastal towns. Lisbon is probably the cheapest Capital City in Europe to purchase property and is a beautiful city. Good Luck. Ian

Thank you Glenda for your helpful information and useful website! We will spending a few months traveling around on a scouting trip for sure!

Great question! I'm not familiar with any sites or organizations in Spain that highlight accessible housing or communities. I would say that major cities would be the most accessible - Madrid and Barcelona. Smaller towns may be accessible in some areas but overall I find much of Spain was not built with accessibility in mind (except for the visually impaired). Most new buildings will have elevators but the units themselves may not be wheelchair accessible. Buses are wheelchair friendly but not all sidewalks are. I hope this helps!

Hello,
I spent 5 years living in Spain. I'm there casually now. I don't recommend people to do things the way I do, unless they are single. I was traveling a lot at the time, and after spending three days in Barcelona, I decided to make it home base for me. It was not my first (no last) international move. It was a great city and I quickly made many friends by going to events and co-working spaces. Like every country, there are pros and cons. My recommendation is to really think about exactly what you want. Then go to both Portugal and Spain and visit several areas to find which one will be best for you.
Regards, Sally Pederson
IL Spain Correspondent

RAY 0 said:
Hello from the Land of Smiles (LOS). I'm Ray, residing in one of the quiet suburbs of Pattaya - no, it's not all wild parties, alcohol, and neon.
I've come over on a bare-bones budget, so I'm learning how to navigate Visa, housing, healthcare and finance issues quickly, efficiently, and cheaply.
So, if you're waiting for everything to be just right, don't.
And by the way, if you're a Veteran, you'll also find V.F.W. and American Legion posts in town, with plenty of people willing to offer advice (even if you didn't ask for any- LOL).
Enjoy your stay in Thailand.
Thank you Ray! This will be a bare-bones budget for me as well! Best of Luck!