Having drawn a blank on finding a house to rent in the region of Braganca (chosen destination for the Earth Collective project), I started to consider the idea of buying a small house. The thought of having some creature comforts such as heating (a rarity in Portugal), was very appealing. I am so done with freezing in the winter! A place to put my roots down and unpack my boxes, too. However, it would need to be inexpensive and require little work, so I could move in quickly. A tall order as most inexpensive properties, as you can imagine, are wrecks which require a large amount of work.

By some miracle, I found a two bedroom house that fitted the bill in a lovely location, except that it was an hour’s drive from the preferred area for the land search. Nonetheless, I was excited at the thought of finally having a place I could call home. Sadly, it turned out to be another lesson in how things work in Portugal. First, the seller wanted to involve me in his tax avoidance scheme (which I was not told about until I had travelled three hours to view the property). He wanted me to officially declare that the price was half the amount advertised, the rest being fixtures and fittings, so he could reduce his capital gains tax bill. No thought was given to the risk I would then take on, incurring a disproportionately large gain when I sold the property, thus an extra large tax bill, unless I could find someone to do the same and perpetuate the fraud. I was shocked at being asked to be part of such a deception. I don't like paying tax either. But it is up to each of us to arrange our affairs in the most tax-efficient way, and not coerce others into collaborating with us.

Second, having been told that all the furniture was included in the sale, and a sum factored into the price accordingly (even though I didn't want the furniture and would have to get rid of it), I offered a few thousand euros less than the asking price. Surprisingly, as I had been told the tax issue was non-negotiable, the owner backed down on this requirement. He also said he would remove the furniture. However, there would be no reduction in the price. When I asked why, I was told it was because he had conceded on the tax! But this was not a negotiating point, as far as I was concerned. I should not have been asked in the first place.

I decided to step away from the deal and look elsewhere, invoking the mantra, 'same or better'. I didn’t want to entangle with manipulative energy that was against my principles. Sadly, it seems to be normal and, given my experience of trying to buy land, I shouldn’t be surprised. I got the last laugh when I discovered the realtor's company name translated from Portuguese into English as 'Ethical Mediator'! You really can't make it up. Clearly the moral compass points in a different direction in Portugal.

Wall to wall almond blossom surrounding the village where the house was located

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