PORTUGAL life

Introducing “Portugal Life”, a new column about sharing life in the “Far East” of the Algarve.

Veronica, an American Expat, shares her experiences through a variety of mediums including print, internet and videos and now a new monthly column here in the East Algarve Magazine.

She enjoys sharing her travel adventure, tips & tricks, as well as real estate advise and helping those who want to move to Portugal through her YouTube Channel called “American in Portugal”.

Veronica moved from California to Portugal in 2017 as part of a dream she shared with her husband to retire early and move to Europe. After exploring the options and a reconnaissance trip they decided that

Portugal and the Algarve was the best fit for their needs.

When asked why they chose Portugal she explains that “the climate is like California; the beaches are beautiful, and the people are so friendly and kind.” The ease of travel through Europe by car or from the Faro airport sealed the deal. The pair began a travel blog in 2007 to document their travel experiences to fund their retirement travels through Europe. Veronica’s husband passed away before their final move, so she reminds us all that

“tomorrow isn’t promised” and reminds us to “live your life today and enjoy every moment”. Carpe Diem.

Veronica made the tough decision to continue their dream alone. After spending months driving and exploring every possible town in the Algarve (those which checked her list), she purchased a home in Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA). She dubbed VRSA the “Far East” of the Algarve (VRSA faces the Guadiana River, which is the border to Spain). During the pandemic a new future arose when she was recruited to sell real estate. Veronica obtained a California Real Estate License in 2008 and trained agents as part of her last job before she retired in the Algarve, so her experience caught a recruiter’s eye. This was a great fit since she couldn’t travel and was stuck inside with all of us during the lockdown. After seeing how the inside of real estate differed vastly from the California model, she left the company to make informational videos to protect the buyer here and help connect people to reputable agents and resources.

Veronica explained “I was surprised that there isn’t title, escrow or hazard disclosures available here and that professional home inspections, appraisals and other important processes are not standard in a cash purchase”. She feels directed to this new calling to use her experience to help others avoid pitfalls in purchasing a home. She shares her love of Portugal and expat life in Portugal with slice-of-life videos, travel videos as well as informational videos. This new calling helped her and the expat community to connect in a way which she says, “enhances the sense of connectivity and eases the process and transition for many who move here”. She is here to help and recommends watching her free videos and play lists on YouTube about Life in Portugal or Moving to Portugal at @ AmericanInPortugal. She is also on the “Good Morning Portugal” Show with Carl Mumford, the 3rd Thursday of each month at 9:00am live or the YouTube channel plays the video on demand at any time after the live show.

Her blog is TravelingQueen.com and you can reach her by email at info@ americaninportugal.com if you’d like personal recommendations or need assistance. All her videos are free, and she has additional private content if you subscribe to her free monthly subscriber list. She is available for private consultations (only 4 per week so email in advance).