Every coastal town looks good on a sunny afternoon. What separates a place you can live in from one you can only visit is what happens on a wet Tuesday in February.
Buyers going through properties for sale in Algarve would do well to run through a short checklist for the town itself before they fall for any particular house.
Start with the basics of daily life. Is there a decent supermarket, a pharmacy and a health centre within a short drive? Do the shops on the main street stay open outside summer?
A town with a working market, a bakery and a few cafes that serve residents is usually a good sign.
The seasonal test
Visit in winter if you can. Some towns almost close down, while others keep a steady life going all year. Neither is wrong, but you should know which you are choosing. Notice how many houses have their shutters closed, since a street of empty holiday homes feels very different from a street of lived-in ones.
Try to see the town several times a day. Mornings show you the working rhythm, with deliveries, school runs and market stalls setting up. Evenings show whether people come out to eat and walk, or whether the streets go quiet at six. A town that feels alive at both ends of the day is likely to suit longer stays.
Noise and crowds
Ask about summer noise, particularly near bars, event spaces and main roads. A house two streets back from the seafront can be far calmer than one facing it. Parking is another point, because many old town centres have narrow streets and limited spaces.
Festivals and summer events bring life to a town, and they also bring crowds and late nights. Ask neighbours when the busiest weekends are, and how they cope with them. Local residents are usually happy to tell you, and their answers give a more honest picture than any estate agent’s summary.
Health and services
If you plan to spend long stretches abroad, look at the nearest hospital, how English is spoken in surgeries and how easy it is to reach services without a car. These matter more as the years go on.
Check pharmacies, dentists and opticians too. A town with a good range of everyday services makes life easier, and it is reassuring to know where to go if someone in the family is unwell. Ask other residents which doctors and clinics they use and whether they would recommend them.
Getting about
Look at how people move around. Is there a bus service that runs year-round, and are the stops close to where you would live? Can you walk to the shops, or would you need a car for every errand? Cycling is increasingly popular in parts of the Algarve, so see whether there are safe routes.
Think about the journey to the airport as well. A town forty minutes from Faro is a different proposition from one that takes ninety, especially if you plan to make the trip often.
Local life
Look for clubs, markets, festivals and sports teams. A town with a calendar of local events usually has a community that welcomes newcomers. Chat with people at the market, because a few minutes of conversation will tell you more than a guidebook.
Notice who lives there. Some towns have a mix of Portuguese families, long-term foreign residents and seasonal visitors. Others lean heavily in one direction. Neither is better, but the mix affects the atmosphere, the shops and the services on offer.
Check the practicalities of the house itself
Once the town passes the test, look at the specifics of the property. Ask about the water supply, drainage and internet. In some rural areas, houses rely on wells or septic tanks, and the quality of broadband varies. Find out who is responsible for road maintenance if you are on a private track.
It is also worth asking about flood risk, wildfire risk and any local planning rules. These details can be easy to miss, and a local professional can tell you what to look for.
Keep a record
Write down what you noticed in each town, including small things such as the smell of the bakery, the friendliness of the cafe owner or the sound of the evening. Those impressions fade fast, and your notes will help you compare places later on.
If a town still feels right after a wet February visit, you can look at houses with far more confidence.
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