Having lived in the UK for 19 years, I moved to Portugal a few years ago where I live with my husband and young daughter. I am a former hospitality professional and have managed busy reception/ front of house desks for some well-known restaurant groups. As I have always been passionate about property and all that it encompasses, joining Ideal Homes felt like a natural step in my new chosen career. As soon as I joined I felt so welcomed and that without a doubt translates so well into all that they are offering their clients. Am looking forward to continuing to contribute to this great company.

Meet the Team

Having lived in the UK for 19 years, I moved to Portugal a few years ago where I live with my husband and young daughter. I am a former hospitality profess

Cristina Raru | Meet the Team | Ideal Homes Portugal

Cristina Raru

&lt;p&gt;The Ideal Homes team share many years of experience in finding and selling the best &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/algarve&quot;&gt;properties in the Algarve&lt;/a&gt;. We work hard and have the expertise and knowledge to help, whether you are buying or selling a home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We are friendly, fun and accommodating - we know that the customer comes first; that is why we listen to your needs and do everything we can to pick the property to suit you. We want you to feel confident and comfortable with us, and we work openly and honestly at all times.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you have questions, please don&#39;t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to help. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you to find that perfect Portugal property!&lt;/p&gt;

The Ideal Homes team has 35 professional staff with many years of experience in finding and selling the best properties on the Algarve. We work hard and have the expertise and knowledge to help, whether you are buying or selling a home.

Meet the Team - Ideal Homes Portugal

“I’m now approaching my 18th year working in the property industry. In that time I’ve met and worked with some of the most successful people in the business and helped hundreds of people find their ideal home in the sun. 14 years ago I decided to start my own company, Ideal Homes. I wanted to build a strongly client-focused service that is unsurpassed in its field, for going the extra mile. My team of passionate individuals was all specifically recruited for sharing my vision and enthusiasm for providing unrivaled service. So far it has proved to be a fulfilling and exciting venture and with that in mind we can’t wait to meet you and welcome you into the Ideal Homes family.”

Chris White

I am an American, originally from a small town in middle Georgia, but I moved to Portugal from Charleston, South Carolina. My professional background includes serving in the US military, law enforcement, management of insurance claims offices and operating a furniture manufacturing business. After my only child got married, I sold almost everything I owned and moved to the Algarve in 2021, seeking a better quality of life. Considering the beautiful beaches, abundant restaurants, lively nightlife, affordable cost of living, no real language barrier, amazing culture, friendly people and a more laid back way of life, the Algarve was an easy decision. Having an interest in real estate for a very long time, I joined the Ideal Homes Portugal team in 2022.

Brian Bartlett

Cathy Meza

After spending over twelve years on the Costa del Sol, it was time for a change. Although the weather is not much different here in the Algarve, the people and more laid back lifestyle are and this suited me perfectly. I joined the Ideal Homes team back in 2017 and was introduced into the world of digital marketing. With ten years of sales and customer service experience, jumping into the digital deep end was a challenge that I dived straight into. Nearly five years down the line and I could not have picked a better team to work with on a daily basis, they are here to help you every step of the way through your property purchase!

Tia Parker

I was born and raised in Algarve, and for me this is the best place to live in Portugal, we have 9 to 10 months of sunny days, nice weather, beautiful beaches, beautiful places to visit, we barely have traffic, it's really the best! Growing up, I discovered that I really enjoy being in contact with people, help whenever it's needed and I also love to organise things. I worked in some clothing stores, and my favourite part of it was to bring what the client wants, and needs. This year, I wanted to make some changes in my life, try different things, and that is what brought me to Ideal Homes. Here, I can be all of that and more! I am really grateful that I found such an amazing team to work with.

Margarida Neto

My story - I purchased a property in the Algarve in 2000, perched up high in the hills above the historic beautiful town of Loule. My aim was a holiday home to use in the winter and a rental investment for the summer months.  I fell in love with the Algarve and then decided to move out to Portugal in 2007 full time. My passion for the Algarve grew even more, then I was offered an opportunity to work in real estate in Tavira, East Algarve. Something I jumped at as I have always had a passion to work in property, something so different from my UK background working in exhibitions along with working in areas on TV presenting with shopping channels like QVC and various others. I am now in my 6th year of working at Ideal Homes. My satisfaction in my work comes from meeting so many happy clients who allow me to help them find that dream home here in the sun! We are a family at Ideal Homes International and we will go that little bit further in making dreams come true! If you are thinking about buying a perfect holiday home in the sun, that special villa situated on one of the many championship Golf Courses or a villa/penthouse apartment with spectacular sea views to wake up to every morning, why not try us? allow Ideal Homes to help you find that perfect property. The Algarve is easily accessible with flights from all around the globe not just the UK and Europe with flights into Faro and Lisbon. The wonderful lifestyle, fantastic beaches, abundance of glorious weather, great food and local produce and the cost of living, what's not to like? Along with the golf, tennis, sea, sunshine, great food, delicious wines and hidden gems, falling in love with the lifestyle and the country is so easy!   I look forward to meeting you soon along with the TEAM!

John Baker-Malpas

I have lived in the Algarve now for over 30 years after coming here originally just for a summer job. I fell in love with the place and never left, there are worse places to be in the world. Originally I was involved in the marketing of major golf and property developments but got tired of being office bound. I have worked for Ideal Homes for 3 years in the sales department and I absolutely love it. Who wouldn’t want to spend their time meeting interesting people, travelling around the Algarve and showing beautiful properties? Ideal Homes is an exceptional company to work for – great vision, great team, great service.

Sasha Sharpley

Hi my name is Elliot and I grew up in a small town in Worcestershire called Tenbury Wells in the UK. I have worked alongside Chris since 2006 when I moved back to Europe from Australia where I started my real estate career in 2000 and lived there in Sydney for 12 years. Coming back to Europe in 2006 the market was booming and I quickly was offered a position with a large International real estate company based in Marbella and was positioned on the Portugal team as we marketed property in 20 different countries. This is what started my love of Portugal and I always aspired to moving to the Algarve to sell property on the ground. This opportunity came around in 2011 when I was asked to move to the Algarve to live the dream and work for a company here, although I had sold property remotely in the Algarve I had never actually been to the Algarve. But I happily handed in my resignation packed up my car and drove to the Algarve and have never looked back. Six years on and I have a beautiful Portuguese wife and two gorgeous baby girls both born here in Portugal. Portugal is definitely the hidden gem of Europe and a wonderful safe place to bring up a family or retire too, I can highly recommend this beautiful part of the world that has become my new home.

Elliot De Marco

I was born and raised in the French Riviera. I mainly worked in the hotel and restaurant industry in the United States, Canada and the UK. I have also been involved in real estate sales and development in the south of France. My wife and I have five children, three grandkids and all of them live in the UK, California or France. After having traveled a lot with my better half, we discovered Portugal and, like many, we fell in love with this wonderful country.  
We decided very quickly to come and live here and appreciate the beautiful weather all through the year. Three years ago, we bought the house of our dreams in Sao Bras de Alportel, a very typical small town with everything that comes with it.  
The people here are exceptionally friendly, the food is excellent and the beaches are beautiful. I recently joined the Ideal Homes team and I am looking forward to helping you find your dream home.  
Investing in a property requires good support, which is why I will be by your side every step of the way to accompany you and assist you in making the right decisions. 
My goal is to share the feeling of serenity and happiness that comes with living in the beautiful Algarve.

Marc Iltis

Dina is a seasoned real estate professional with over 14 years of expertise in the Canadian market. Now, she brings her wealth of knowledge and passion for property to Portugal, specializing in selling the captivating sunsets of Algarve. With Dina's experience, rest assured she'll help you discover your dream home in this picturesque destination.

Dina Amaral

Andy Knight

Amresh Gauba

Kim Hillary

Andy Wilks

Alex Goncalves

Francisca Barros

In a reversal of normal circumstance I waited until my children were old enough and then I left home! Initially settling in Costa de Sol in Spain I spent 5 wonderful years there which is where I initially met and worked with Chris, the CEO here at Ideal Homes. I decided on a change of scenery and moved to the Algarve at Chris's suggestion and have never had any regrets! Over the past 10 years I have predominantly worked with Chris in Real Estate for Ideal Homes. I have participated in numerous roles within the company from touring our clients and selling property, attending exhibitions, became the Listings Manager and am now currently in the office communicating with interested parties on the phone and by email. I have a great love of Portugal and have immersed myself into the culture and mindset of the way of life. I am happily married - I met my husband at Ideal Homes - a true romance! - and own a 3 bed house in Armação de Pera which we share with our beloved dog and cat (and my husband's 1965 Vespa! ). My sister lives close by in Albufeira, my brother in Spain and we all enjoy the fact we can return to the UK on a regular basis with the large portfolio of direct flights from Faro, Lisbon and Seville. People I meet are sometimes surprised by the very diversity enjoyed not only by the Portuguese population but by the international expatriate community based in the Algarve. From my experience it is one of the best and easiest places to assimilate into the gentle laid back way of life! I look forward to meeting you and hopefully passing on my passion and respect for my beloved adopted country.

Caroline Roseblade

My family and I moved to the Algarve from Berkshire in 2019 and we are so grateful we did as it is just a fabulous place to live due to the amazing climate, beaches, people &amp; food (+ wine). My wife and I opened and ran an organic and zero waste business here for a couple of years before I got the opportunity to work as a real estate advisor for the brilliantly reputed Ideal Homes. I am so excited to learn even more about the Algarve as I help as many of you as I can to find and purchase the place of your dreams and join us in the sun.

Daniel Rolph

I spent the last 20 years living in the UK and spending my work days at the BBC flagship in London. As I had grown up under the South African sun and yearned for clearer skies I decided to relocate to the Algarve to enjoy the warmth. After a year of being a stay-at-home dad I searched for the Ideal career move. Joining an innovative and dynamic team was essential for my next appointment so I'm thrilled to be part of Ideal Homes Portugal.

Almiro Jorge

<div>I joined Ideal Homes in 2019 and have since then helped hundreds of clients find their ideal investments and/or relocation properties in the sunny Algarve. I first came down to the Algarve from the silver coast for holidays and it was love at first sight. After spending a week down the Algarve I was sure it was where I wanted to be. The beautiful Atlantic beaches, very low crime waves, no hustle and bustle like in the big cities i've been to within and out of the country, no language barrier as almost everyone speaks English or some other foreign language, good weather all year round (300 days of sunshine) and I can keep naming it.... Who wouldn't fall in love with the Algarve? Ideal Homes is a one stop shop and we can help you from start to finish. We have a variety of services that we offer to our client such as: finding you the ideal property, we have an in house mortgage team to assist you with securing the best mortgage in Portugal, rental/property management and after sales services, currency exchange with guaranteed best rates, we can also put you in contact with highly recommended lawyers, tax advisers and architects that we have been working closely with over the years. Get in touch and I am here to give you expert advice and guide you in finding your ideal property in the sun.</div>

Rene Tabe

Charlee Jo-Hanks

Phil Veness

Luke Wakefield

Ross Canning

Patrick James Steward

Orla O'Keeffe

Sarah Davis

Daryl Lopez

Lena

Jacob McCormick-Ingram

Although born in Lisbon my parents decided to immigrate to South Africa where I was raised and lived until 2017. During 2017, I decided to relocate to Portugal where I joined the amazing Listings Team here at Ideal Homes. My main focus within the company is to contact homeowners within the Algarve who are interested in selling their property, all of whom I am keen and willing to assist during their sale, or purchase of your home. With my experience in owning a Recruitment Agency while I lived in South Africa, I found I enjoy people and have an ability to be able to understand what a client wants and needs, therefore attaining the perfect end result. I speak English, Portuguese and Afrikaans.

Ana Bela Monteiro

My name is Catarina Carvão Sardinha Magarreiro. I am Portuguese and lived in Belgium for 23 years with my husband and my son working as a Beautician. Ten years ago we decided to return to Portugal to be closer to our family. Here in Portugal I continued to work as as a Beautician and I also worked for 6 years in a food disorders clinic in Alvor. Recently I felt the desire to follow a new professional orientation and believing I had the necessary qualities I joined the team at Ideal Homes Portugal. Over the years I have been able to interact with the public and within this work it is a necessary quality to be able to communicate with possible buyers and sellers and therefore it is helpful that I speak fluent French and English, a little Spanish and naturally Portuguese. I like and practice sports 3 to 4 times a week and I really enjoy having good times with friends, travelling, dancing and going to the beach.

Catarina Magarreiro

Catalin Groza

Nilton Borges

Marcio Suster

<ul>
<li>Bi Lingual Mortgage Professional</li>
<li>More than 16 years Mortgage Experience</li>
<li>Pre approvals in less than 24h</li>
<li>Service free of charge</li>
<li>Specialist in Non Resident Mortgages</li>
</ul>

Nicholas Martins

I was raised in South Africa and studied cosmetology. Directly upon graduating I followed my natural business instincts and started my own business, which I managed successfully for 4 years. On deciding to leave South Africa, I sold my business and relocated to the UK where I took a management post within the hospitality industry. After this I moved to Portugal to invest in real estate and take on a management role within the media industry. In 2014, I joined Ideal Homes where I matched my keen interest in finance and real estate with my work. At Ideal Homes, I focus on assisting clients in navigating the local buying process and securing mortgage financing for their property investments. I am fluent in English, Portuguese and Afrikaans.

Cristina Guimarães

I moved to the Algarve three months ago so I’m very new to the country but have already fallen in love with the culture and lifestyle. My previous role was a Project Manager for construction companies so I’m happy to be able to bring my experience and tools to Portugal in order to help you with your property management and can assure you, you’re in good hands!

Anthony Murphy

I am an experienced South African expat in Portugal, blending my insurance expertise with aftersales and rentals. I am a dedicated people person, adept at building connections. I joined the Ideal Homes team in 2023, and I am committed to delivering top-notch 5-star service.

Justine Ness-Van Niekerk

I am originally from South Africa. My family and I relocated to the beautiful Algarve in 2022. I have worked in the legal, finance and property industries for many years. I joined the Ideal Homes Team in 2023 as Property Manager and now moving into Aftersales &amp; Long Term Rentals. I am very excited in upholding our client relationships, welcoming our guests and assisting clients to make their journey a memorable one.

Natalie O'Kelly

After becoming a Mom I found myself wanting more for my family. I felt the need to learn more, I needed a new challenge, because being a Mom is not enough of a challenge right? On this search I found the Ideal Homes Team, from day one they made me feel part of the family and super excited for this new chapter to begin. Having always worked in Hospitality in the Algarve I love to take care of all clients and show them they are in good hands and what better place to do that than with Ideal Homes.

Daniela Proenca

My name is André and I'm from Portugal, particularly the Algarve, having lived here my whole life. I've decided to take on this new role with Ideal Homes to help everyone discover and fall in love with the place I'm lucky to call home and provide them with the holidays they won't forget.

André Costa

Matilda Mullet

I relocated to the Algarve in July 2021 after visiting many times and falling in love with the area. I finished my degree of Fashion Marketing and left my job in the UK of 6 years as a Building Services Coordinator, looking after commercial buildings, and found Ideal Homes here in the Algarve. The opportunity allows me to look after beautiful spaces for our clients, as well as welcoming holiday goers into the properties and ensuring they have a 5* service during their stay. The best part of my day is seeing customers faces when I open the door to our beautiful properties.

Alexandria Mackintosh

I moved from South Africa to Portugal almost three years ago. I was living in Agueda. The North is very cold and wet and I missed the African sun. Moving to Tavira brought the sunshine back into my life. Ideal Homes is the beginning of a new and exciting adventure.

Joca Correia

My name is Catarina, I'm Portuguese and I have lived in the Algarve since I was born. I worked as a receptionist in 5 star resorts for about 3 years, which made me love customer service even more. Then came the opportunity to work with Ideal Homes Portugal, in March 2022, where I started as a Property Manager. Welcoming our clients and making their stays memorable is the best part of my job.

Catarina Sousa

I love and very much enjoy my work. I was born and raised in Romania, 15 years ago I took a leap of faith and left all behind. I moved to the sunny Lagos, on the south coast of Portugal, where I still live with my husband and two teenage sons. With a diverse corporate background, spanning from business development to human resources and personal development, I am a well-being focused person. Having high empathy, I always try to understand and help people the best and fastest way possible. By joining the Ideal Homes family, as a Property Manager for Adega Lagos I am very much looking forward to contributing to a smooth and fruitful relationship with you.

Cristina Ghencian

I'm from Cheshire, UK, but have lived in the Algarve for 11 years with my parents studying both in England and Portugal. I have always worked in customer service bringing smiles to everyone I meet. In my young career having the opportunity to work with ideal Homes and to grow with the company felt like a natural step. I’m very excited to start a future for myself and to spend many more years here. I'm looking forward to welcoming our clients and making their stays memorable and bringing excellent customer service to all.

Chloe Birkett

<div class="gmail_attr">My name is Inês. I'm Portuguese, from Porto. For the last 5 years I have been working in aviation, living in Dubai and more recently in our lovely Algarve. I have a degree in Languages and Business Affairs. I am fluent in Portuguese and English. I'm looking forward to welcoming our clients and making their stays memorable, going above and beyond to provide the best customer experience.</div>

Inês Alves Da Silva

Ella Hayley

Filipa Henriques

James Denton

James Fordham

Andre Aubrey de Laveu

Carrie-Marie Bratley

Josh White

Sara White

<div>Born and bred in South Africa to Portuguese parents has made it easier to relocate to Portugal at the end of 2023. Joining the Ideal Homes team as their Digital Designer has made me realize that the move to Europe was definitely the best choice. Being able to work with an internationally recognized company is indeed very rewarding.</div>