&lt;p&gt;Cheap mortgages, rising property values and international appeal attracted Rudi Pijnnaken to invest in Portugal. After expert guidance from &lt;em&gt;Ideal Homes Portugal&lt;/em&gt;, he’s reaping the rewards. Rudi, a Dutchman who lives in Texas, bought an apartment in Lagos in the early stages of construction at the end of 2020. The strength of the Algarve market and demand for new-build stock meant the property’s value rose significantly, and in less than a year, he sold it for a €230,000 profit.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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        &lt;img src=&quot;/media/1btpkpdl/rudi_carvoeiro.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Rudi&quot; class=&quot;no-full-width max-width-100&quot; /&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&#160;&lt;br&gt;It was an unplanned meeting with Ideal Homes Portugal at a property event that opened 65-year-old Rudi’s eyes to investment opportunities in Portugal.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“Back in November 2020 I went to an expo in Mexico looking for places to invest,”&lt;/em&gt; said Rudi, a retired physical therapist, who emigrated to the US after leaving the Dutch Airforce in 1984. “&lt;em&gt;I came across the Ideal Homes Portugal stand and got chatting to owner Chris White. We got on well and he introduced me to the Algarve and told me about some of the deals he was able to offer and the cheap finance available. So, I decided to go for it. At that point, I had never been to Portugal, let alone considered investing there!”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After securing a very competitive mortgage rate of 0.93 per cent, in December 2020 Rudi reserved a three-bedroom apartment that was close to completion in Lagos. The agreed purchase price was €445,000 and he needed to pay a €90,000 deposit.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“The attractive finance deal was a big part of the appeal,”&lt;/em&gt; continued Rudi. &lt;em&gt;“In January 2021, I headed out to Portugal to see my new property. When I got there and saw everything for the first time, my eye was turned by another new project, the Adega complex near Lagos marina. There was an unfinished three-bedroom apartment there for the same price as the one I had already reserved, so Chris allowed me to swap my contract over, which was brilliant of him. A year or so later, I sold the completed Adega apartment for €675,000, realising a nice profit.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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        &lt;img src=&quot;/media/420ex1ge/adega.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Adega&quot; class=&quot;no-full-width max-width-100&quot; /&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Adega complex - Lagos&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The 60-unit Adega complex overlooks Lagos’s famous marina and is ideally located within walking distance of the city’s amenities. Offering open-plan living, apartments there have large terraces with views across to the marina. Communal facilities include a lift, roof terrace, indoor and outdoor pools and gym and there is individual parking. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Keen to maximise his investments in Lagos, especially around the marina which has become a hot spot for prime residential developments, Rudi enquired about another project under construction. Called the Don Maria Residences, Ideal Homes was able to offer him the development’s only one-bedroom apartment for €375,000. Located a short distance from the Adega complex, the Dona Maria Residences’s shared facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a luxury spa with gym, sauna and Jacuzzi, a roof-top terrace and private underground parking.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Lagos Marina&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“So I snapped up the Dona Maria property too,”&lt;/em&gt; said Rudi. &lt;em&gt;“A year or so later and I have decided to put that on the market for €489,000, to test the water. I am visiting Portugal again in December (2022) as part of a three-month tour of Europe with my partner Pam, a retired nurse from Texas. If it has not sold by then, we may well keep it. We have nothing to lose. Throughout all of this, Chris has been a guiding hand and the Ideal Homes Portugal team really helpful.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rudi hasn’t ruled out ever moving to Portugal and joining the increasing number of US citizens who are benefiting from accessible visas, low taxation and the favourable exchange rate. &lt;em&gt;“First and foremost, I need to take Pam there to experience it all. We both love the beach and being by the sea. I think the Algarve is amazing – it’s clean, the food is healthy and inexpensive, especially the fresh fish, then you have the friendly people, the history and culture.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/em&gt;Thanks Rudi, welcome to the Algarve!&lt;/p&gt;

"I’ve struck gold with my Portugal property investments"

Cheap mortgages, rising property values and international appeal attracted Rudi Pijnnaken to invest in Portugal. After expert guidance from Ideal Homes Por