(1888PressRelease)
October 17, 2007 - Those interested in investing in property in Portugal may well be familiar with the appeal of the Algarve, with its sunny weather, beaches, culture and lifestyle. A major aspect of this last attraction is the proliferation of golf courses in the region, the sort of think that particularly appeals to older ex-pats or holidaymakers who like to participate in a sport that can be enjoyed at a sedentary pace.
Connections between the sport and the property market recently drew the attention of property website Homes Worldwide. Not without reason either, for the Algarve is about to host the Portuguese Open, with the central Algarve venue of the Victoria Clube de Golfe hosting the tournament between October the 18th and 21st.
The site notes that the resort is a top-of-the range attraction, both for its golfing facilities and its overall standard, hence its staging of a major event. But the Algarve as a whole is replete with golf courses. One might wonder if any other part of Portugal could challenge the Algarve's supremacy.
Alentejo Home, an estate agency based in the neighbouring province whose name it bears, certainly believes it can. Owner Bert Snijder said the Alentejo was the "best kept secret" in the whole country.
He said: "The Algarve Property has gone sky high with prices, a lot of people can't afford it. But this region is just above the Algarve, it has a beautiful coastline, easy access - but prices are much lower."
This is not the first time that another part of Portugal has pointed out that prices are lower than the Algarve. But Alentejo, insisted Mr Snijder, had not just the same attractions, but the advantage of the slow-paced life that northern Europeans tended to come to Portugal to seek. "There's loads of space - not on the Algarve, of course, but the rest of Portugal - empty roads, living really from day to day. No stress," was how he described it.
But if Alentejo has cheaper prices and the attractions of a quieter lifestyle, what, one might ask, about the golf facilities? Here too, Mr Snijder was positive: "I foresee that in the next eight or nine years there will be at least 25 golf courses in the Alentejo region."
The Alentejo region is a large one, stretching from the south where it borders the Algarve to north of Portugal in the centre of the country, while it spans east-west from the Atlantic to the Spanish border. Much of this is therefore inland and agricultural, carrying the label of the bread basket of Portugal and producing various foods and wines.
Yet it is on the coast where those such as Mr Snijder are confident about the prospects for the region. If Alentejo is a bargain basement now, it may be the best time to cash in before the newly-built golf courses extend the Algarve factor northwards.
###
