One Year of Retirement in Portugal, Here’s the Reality

[@davidleong6606]

Muito Abrigado for sharing Bobby! Happy for your new chapter and appreciate all your insights! Kalie you’re a really good interviewer! You keep it moving, staying on all the essential topics to us viewers!

[@bobbyedelson901]

Kalie and Josh Inspired us to start this journey. They continue to inspire us❤

[@cassidottir]

I totally agree

[@elizg]

Bobby is so sweet and he illustrates perfectly the typical experience in moving to Portugal. I moved to the Algarve 17 months ago (retired) and have not yet been able to explain the experience to family and friends as eloquently as Bobby. As a single woman, I’m so grateful for the kindness of the Portuguese and the safety of the country. I only hope to contribute to Portugal’s well being as much as Portugal has facilitated mine. ❤

[@grandadan]

Congratulations on your choice 👍 That's my favourite part of the country weather wise. Wish you lots of happy things in Portugal and I hope time will make you fall in love with the Algarve.

[@bobbyedelson901]

Is great to hear your comments! It always helps when we share our stories❤

[@Anita-kd4zu]

I'm thinking of going. I'm 63 and alone. I was worried about that. I just want a peaceful retirement where I can relax, breathe and be surrounded by culture. But I want to be safe.

[@grandadan]

@Anita-kd4zu Just go first for one or two months and spend a week on each of the best places and then choose the one you prefer. There's a big difference from the east side to the west side. Both are incredible on its way, The east has no rocks and steps and has warmer water easy to walk and not so crowed as the other areas. The central area it has better facilities and the west is stunning but cold water 💧 and lots of rocks 🪨 and stairs to go up and down. So depending on your feeling and on your eyes, there's a place for you for sure. Have fun.

[@operadoc]

He is so sweet but I do need an insulin shot to her through this video

[@grandadan]

What a nice gentleman. Europe welcomes people like you👌👍

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you for the comment. That's very nice of you! :-) - Josh & Kalie

[@camiller4916]

Thanks for sharing. Bobby is a wonderful person. I’m happy they found a good place for themselves

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

You're welcome. Thank you for watching. Bobby is a wonderful person indeed. - Josh & Kalie

[@pbohearn]

Grest interview Kaylie as usual! Your guest was delightful; im glad he and his husband have had such a good experience. I've been here over 4 years and i cant paint such a rosy picture of retirement and immigrating here. In fact, i confronted and continue to cope with protracted bureaucratic problems, several lawsuits and having my bank account frozen for a year, and facing the monolith of dysfunction, the immigration system. These should not be minimized. I did pass the basic fluency exam which allows me to apply for citizenship, which I've also done, but im not at all certain I'm going to stay in Portugal once I become an EU citizen. I love the weather, the history and generally, I find people here to be helpful and pleasant. They are polite and decent, but they are not necessarily open to making friends with immigrants, as they often times have very close relationships with family and friends, which are their priority, and i feel still like an outsider. But the most frustrating : every type of interaction with public bureaucratic systems involves a runaround and many times, you enter a dystopian creaky socialist system where problems in one of them can ripple into the others leading to many frustrations. And sometimes there's no recourse, but you just put up with it even if you hire an attorney or have somebody come with you who speaks the language fluently you cannot resolve the issue. I've been living with an expired identity card for over 2 1/2 years. There is no recourse. I've tried 8 different ways. Not having a valid identity card is not a good situation. I'm hanging in here. I haven't left. I've thought about it, but I have to resolve these lawsuits before I leave. I was never a litigious person and really never was involved in significant legal processes until I came here. Since then it has been necessary for me to retain legal counsel and various areas of specialty several times at significant cost, some of which are still not resolved. be careful of transferring money from the United States into your bank account here because even when you warn your bank manager and tell him what's going to happen and why, (in my case it was to transfer money for a deposit for a purchase of a condo), the federal government may for whatever reason come to question the origins of those funds and freeze your bank account pending investigation. And there's nothing you can do about it.

[@AureliePoulain]

Thank you for the reality check. There are several Facebook groups which paint the same picture of dysfunction and cultural differences. Apparently at least a third of US citizens who choose to “settle” in Portugal change their minds after a few years, and decide it’s not for them. Visiting and living long-term are completely different.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hi Patrick! Thank you very much. We're sorry to hear about your on-going struggles in Lisbon. It seems like when it rains and pours. You know, Portugal doesn't work out for some people and Aurelie stated. One of the interesting things is that there's no exit survey for us to know why people have left. In our community, people rarely leave because of the bureaucracy but rather other factors like health of a family member back in the States, a work situation changes, or it was never intended to be a longer term move. We've made some content about this as well. We hope things get better for you and we appreciate that you've continued to watch while already being in Portugal. - Josh & Kalie

[@bobbyedelson901]

Hi Patrick, I totally get and feel your frustration. I did mention we did have our share of bumps, some of the US side as well as in Portugal. I just did not go into great detail. I sure am happy to be more vulnerable with you considering your share. Up front I will say ithat we had an incredible attorney that stayed ahead of some of these bumps. On a more personal level, as much as we have been great at creating results in our lives, we recognize how much control we put on the best outcome. Even as our plans fell apart, and they did fall apart, we found ourselves exerting more control. How interesting to us that in the end, when we surrendered, the results were better than our plan . Although frustrating, we are learning to release control more often. For us, this has left us with greater peace, which has been very positive. Again, sorry for your frustrations. I can only hope they resolve quickly 🙏🏻

[@marjoriegarner8746]

@@bobbyedelson901 How did you find a lawyer, real estate agent and other assistance?

[@Positive_Atrributes]

Laundering money is on the necessary demands for the risk detection system service processing treatment for every "Western" finance institution! ONLY frontier markets do not enforce it, but these are unsafe!🏥

[@DanielWyatt-x2e]

Retirement becomes truly rewarding when you have two key components: a solid financial foundation and a clear sense of purpose. Making wise investment decisions is crucial to achieving strong returns and enjoying a secure retirement.

[@FerdLerd]

Rising costs have impacted my original plan to retire at 62, work part-time, and grow my savings. I can't help but wonder if those who navigated the 2008 financial crisis had an easier time compared to the challenges I’m currently facing. Market volatility, combined with a lower income, has me concerned about having enough for a comfortable retirement.

[@FrankJaaay]

You’re absolutely correct-financial advisors have access to strategies and opportunities that aren’t always available to the general public. I earned £560k in 2022 with guidance from my fiduciary advisor. Am I cashing out? Definitely not. I’m taking a step back to watch how the market evolves.

[@Toni__Michelle]

I’ve been considering that path myself. I have a significant stock portfolio, but some holdings are starting to decline in value. I'm unsure whether to hold onto them or sell, and I think hiring your advisor could help me effectively restructure my portfolio.

[@FrankJaaay]

Rebecca Lynne Buie has consistently been my top recommendation. She’s widely recognized for her expertise in financial markets and has a strong track record. I highly recommend her.

[@HotManP-l5g]

Thank you for the recommendation. I did some research on Rebecca Lynne Buie, and fortunately, I found her details. My goal is to retire in five years, and I’m hoping her expertise can help me make that a reality.

[@andreworld8417]

Amazing interview Bobby, I’m really glad I was able to be your Real Estate Agent, and help you and Mark to find your beautiful apartment in Batalha, Porto. Wish you guys all the best✌️

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hey, Andre. Did Bobby share this video with you or did it pop up on your home page and you said "I know that guy!" Either way, thanks for watching. - Josh & Kalie

[@operadoc]

I could use a realtor in porto

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

@@operadoc Kalie keeps a running list of recommended realtors if you'd like to email her at [e-mail] - Josh

[@SKIESTHE]

Bobby what area in Porto do you recommend renting my wife and myself I'm looking to retire Porto help us. Just getting started was it very hard to get a one-year resident Visa

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

@@SKIESTHE Hi! It's unlikely that Bobby will see this. It's really hard to answer this question for someone else without knowing your likes and dislikes. If you've seen our neighborhood series for Porto, you'll see that Kalie and I have differing opinions even of what neighborhoods we'd like to live in. - Josh & Kalie kzbin.info/aero/PL25TVkE0JZWmcElaSYObpE4AXzpvc8pFw

[@amyyates8273]

Oh my gosh! I’ve been following Josh and Kalie for years and we live in San Diego too. My SIL retired to the Algarve years ago and we are seriously considering it in the next 5-10 years. I’m wavering between Porto and Cascais but if Bobby and his partner are examples of the early retirees moving to Porto, sign me up!

[@bobbyedelson901]

How exciting for you! We had done our research, and for us Porto was a no-brainer. It was the people first, and then the city itself we fell in love with. Wishing you the best!

[@moward301]

What a great interview! I appreciate that it covers every aspect of challenges one could face in daily living, within Portugal (or any foreign country). Excellent questions as usual. Thanks Kalie & Josh(I know he's working in the background)! 🫶🏿👍🏾

[@cheriecordero1676]

This is so fascinating, truly interesting depth. Thank you both

[@bobbyedelson901]

Congratulations! Look forward to connecting with you when the time is right

[@_Xensei_]

Bobby my wife and are moving to Porto 2025 visas is in motion. I am a realtor from sacramento ❤️

[@bobbyedelson901]

@@_Xensei_ Exciting!

[@NS-eq2im]

Great interview Kalie with both gentleman. Can’t wait to move to Porto one day and attend a met up!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much. We're glad that you found the podcast. We're really excited for the work that we're doing over there on that channel. We look forward to seeing you at a meetup. - Josh & Kalie

[@sagmahi]

What a wonderful video...I feel like I say this every time you guys post something, but it's truly helpful. I'm so happy to hear the healthcare is still affordable even now. I hope I can come over again soon for a few months like Bobby and Mark did in the beginning. Also, thanks to Bobby for sharing his experience and all the valuable information.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

What a wonderful compliment! We really appreciate feedback like this. :-) We think that Bobby will see this comment ;-) - Josh & Kalie

[@bobbyedelson901]

Thank you so much for your feedback. It sure has been an exciting and fulfilling experience❤

[@bobbyedelson901]

It was a treat to work with Josh and Kalie and share our experiences❤

[@chamlo11]

Thank you so much Bobby! My husband and I are currently deciding between France, Spain and Portugal. You have sold Portugal to us.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

We're glad the interview with Bobby helped you. All the best on your move. Keep us posted. - Josh & Kalie

[@dalitsolidarity]

I am from San Diego, CA. Enjoyed your interview. Planning to move to Portugal soon.

[@lga908]

We have also bought an apartment in August within 2-minute walk away from Bobby's home. We totally understand the urge to buy at the moment because the location and surroundings are perfect and too hard to resist once the property agent presented us with the opportunity. We look forward to meeting the ExpatsEverywhere community once we settle in Porto next year.

[@ttcostadc]

Fantastic mentality, with regards to living in the present and being optimistic. Retiring in Portugal is my goal, as well. Good advice on the team to surround yourself with.

[@People_of_the_Mouse]

That was a really good for this guy turning 60 in 2 weeks. btw - 6 lessons in on the certification course at 2 hours 2x per week. I cannot imagine doing this 5 days a week.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

All the best with your certification course! - Josh & Kalie

[@conradcastillo9563]

We did our first trip to Europe to see where we want to retire, we started in Madrid, then Lisboa and final Milan. We saw that Madrid is not a city for family or small children. Milan was fine and we like the most Lisbon. My wife is Brazilian and we speak Portuguese with different accent. I need to visit more cities to make a decision or take longer vacations in one or more cities.

[@globalretirementus]

Great video! It’s really insightful to hear about the reality of retirement in Portugal. I’m curious, how do the healthcare services compare to what retirees might be used to in the U.S.? Are there any challenges in terms of medical care or insurance for expats? Would love to learn more!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hi, we see that you're new here! Thanks for subscribing. Please feel free to use the "search bar" to see how insurance and healthcare works here. We've made several videos that will be richer and more in-depth than what I can type here. - Josh & Kalie

[@bobbyedelson901]

For us, has been no comparison between Healthcare in Portugal and the US. The equipment here and be healthier approach to Medicine in Portugal is light years ahead of the us. The cost is a small fraction for medical care and medication compared to the US. The availability of Dr still blows us away, often being seen the same or next day from needing an appointment. And as I probably said in the video, simply put, Portuguese puts the CARE back in healthcare. It's not about insurance or cost. We've had a lot of experience with medical here, and they absolutely put the patients needs first. I hope that helps

[@cassidottir]

@@bobbyedelson901Thank you Kalie in capturing my interest in Portugal and Porto. You keep things real, often giving the pros and cons

[@terrisokolow7796]

Fun to watch this video, Kalie!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks, Terri! - Josh & Kalie

[@higherpowertravel]

Thanks for sharing. Appreciate you sharing any love back. 🤙🏻

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for the love. - Josh & Kalie

[@Stopit77]

Great interview; well done!

[@fariteymourtash7101]

Very genuine and informative conversation. Thank you.

[@nidiasmith1666]

I just come from there and i absolutely, loved it❤❤❤❤❤. I stayed in the Gaia area and the people are just amazing🎊🎊

[@chuckmurray1825]

Great video. I had a conference call with my Portuguese contacts this morning. I've got to clear up a few issues but if everything works out, I will be there by next November.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for sharing! We appreciate the feedback, Chuck. Clear that stuff up and join us. - Josh & Kalie

[@cassidottir]

Thank you for this wonderful interview with Bobby. You are such an “efficient “ interviewer because you covered so many details in a very relaxed conversational style. I’m glad I hit Subscribed bedore.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much! We appreciate the feedback. :-) Thank you for subscribing. - Josh & Kalie

[@shirleyfoggepiazza6984]

From, MA,NYC, LAST 10YRS FL. BUT PORTO MAY BE MY FAVORITE CITY

[@JenShea]

Yet another excellent video. Awesome Kaley. Really nice guy!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you, Jen! Bobby and Mark are great guys. :-) - Josh & Kalie

[@elizg]

Great questions Kalie!

[@terrymain515]

I want to move to Portugal and be friends with Bobby and his partner! What a great interview!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much, Terry! And they'd likely be friends with you too! Cool people tend to attract each other. :-) Josh & Kalie

[@bobbyedelson901]

awe . . . Thanks for your sweet comment❤

[@cassidottir]

I’d like to be there and meet you all

[@dmariebouie]

Senior citizen moving to Porto in 2025. This was such a refreshing episode. Thank you! Love your platform.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much. :-) We appreciate the feedback. We wish you well on your move. - Josh & Kalie

[@DianaLeallifefix]

It will be nice if one of the retired people will talk about how easy or hard it is to deal when moving and dealing with SSI thanks

[@lynetterosario5697]

Great info. I would have liked to hear more about the Apartment purchasing, he said he signed an ' agreement'? without actually having the funds. How does that work? Great interview!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you. We can ask and try to get more details but it was likely, they signed, transferred the deposit, and then had a certain amount of time to "get the rest of the money". So they liquidated assets, moved money into Euros, and then paid off the rest of the contract with the cash to complete the all-cash deal. Does that make sense. - Josh & Kalie

[@bobbyedelson901]

Yes, Josh and Kalie's comment is accurate

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

@@bobbyedelson901 thank you for chiming in! - Josh & Kalie

[@michelehernandez5992]

Great interview with Bobby. Really useful insight. Thanks for sharing. Did you two buy an apartment or a single family home.

[@bobbyedelson901]

We bought an apartment. The single family homes that were sent to us we're over 850 k, mostly 4 - 5 + bedrooms, which was way too much space for us. On top of that, they all needed to be totally remodeled which was not something we were willing to take on. To be fair, we didn't continue searching single family homes after that, so there might be other options out there.

[@macaccount4315]

We met at Third Thursday! 😊

[@MariE-go7ol]

It’s national healthcare and everyone gets the same treatment in Portugal. I just returned from a month there. America would be so much more healthier if we had national healthcare. So freaking cheap in Portugal for quality food, healthcare and products.

[@afaria6173]

It isn’t cheap for Portuguese people earning a Portuguese salary.

[@veronicadcf]

It is about the mindset. Nationalized health won’t fly in America.

[@tatianaschoenfield9819]

National healthcare has its challenges and limitations. I can tell many negative experiences of a family member dealing with advanced cancer. „freaking cheap“ that statement is subjective and saying that with a US income it sounds inconsiderate.

[@People_of_the_Mouse]

@@veronicadcfAnd Americas hate intercity trains as Brightline maxes out ridership.

[@kappa2ou3]

@@afaria6173If is not cheap for Portuguese people, then why are the private hospitals full of Portuguese people?

[@donnavoigt3261]

Is it possible to move there with 2 small dogs?

[@luisvasconcelos1053]

He should visit Madeira during the flower festival

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Good call! - Josh & Kalie

[@user-td3mf9zy2k]

surprised by how many people from California, and specifically the San Diego area are moving/ planning to move to Portugal. I wonder if the word just got around here more for some reason? I'm from SD and currently waiting for my residency visa to be sent in the mail! Its been about a year so far of waiting, so think good thoughts haha!

[@afaria6173]

There may be an increased awareness of Portugal in San Diego there is a historical migration from Portugal to San Diego especially in Point Loma.

[@kennethwollesen2328]

Dear Sir, have you been waiting about a year so far after the full application submission to VFS without any feedback? Oh dear! Good luck! Hope it finally comes through for you!🙋‍♂️😎

[@bobbyedelson901]

We had our VFS appointment in january, about 6 weeks after we last December. We received our residency card shortly after. Hope that helps ✌️

[@kennethwollesen2328]

@@bobbyedelson901, thank you for replying.

[@valentinahernandez7291]

Thank you for this interview, and I'm so glad that Bobby and Mark are enjoying the expat life in Portugal! I would love to move to Portugal, stay in an Airbnb for a while, decide which area I would like to live in, and then buy a property. I don't understand the part where Bobby says that he doesn't want to make any life-altering decisions for a year. At that point, he and Mark already moved to Portugal and purchased a property. Aren't those life-altering decisions? What else is left?

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks, Valentina. I think they mean, give it a year and not uproot again after doing all the work to get here. Some people move and in 3-6 months, they make up their mind that a place isn't for them. Properties can be bought and sold so they should be able to get out of that fairly easily. :-) - Josh & Kalie

[@alanmartins6349]

How about finding someone who left Portugal while they were children but now want to return at retirement age and what their thoughts are.

[@AllChad]

They’re going to to freak out when they finally get to the Douro valley lol so amazing!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Let's go Orlando! - Josh & Kalie

[@AllChad]

@ come visit! New theme park opening next year 😆

[@bobbyedelson901]

Can't wait to freak out😂

[@timlinator]

I'm interested in moving to Portugal and have EU citizenship by decent of my dad's birth in Ireland. How difficult is it to transfer funds to Euro based accounts?

[@bobbyedelson901]

No problem for us. At that time we used Charles Schwab

[@timlinator]

@ my funds are in fidelity.

[@kappyw8735]

Surrender to life, surrender to Portugal. My retirement path to be!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

:-) - Josh & Kalie

[@lifetothefull8416]

What a great video

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you. - Josh & Kalie

[@stevepovey2489]

If I live in Portugal on a UK pension of €45,000pa, how much tax will I pay? Also, what is the inheritance taxation on my death if my son still lives in the UK?

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hi Steve, we would highly recommend you speaking with a tax specialist. Kalie keeps a list of ones that are recommended. If you'd like some recommendations and introductions, please email Kalie at [e-mail] - Josh & Kalie

[@Endtimerevolutionists]

I would love his real estate agent and attorney referrals! Looking to move to where he moved. Thank you!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Are you saying that you'd like to buy their apartment? 😉 Email Kalie at [e-mail] for those referrals. Thank you for watching and commenting. - Josh

[@MyChannelMyStories]

Since these guys are gay. I researched and I found that Portugal is considered a very gay-friendly country, with progressive laws and a generally accepting society. While there may still be some challenges, especially in more rural areas, the positive trajectory in terms of legal rights, cultural acceptance, and vibrant community life makes it a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ individuals.

[@skurinski]

yeah but we dont like woke and libtards, so watch out. Im gay and we are still a christian society that likes things traditional

[@jhonny50612]

If I had an house to sell in the USA and spare money to buy new sports bmw your mercedes , I would move to Portugal straight away

[@peterkelly5672]

I thought about retiring in Portugal but the rentals that I’ve seen online are expensive minimum €1000 per month for a shack is big chunk of my pension 😂😂

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Yes, housing prices in major areas has gotten expensive! - Josh & Kalie

[@Mr.S65]

He didn’t make any long term decisions but he purchased a property? I didn’t get that.

[@bobbyedelson901]

Valid question. I would say in part its because we really felt we'd be happy to spend a year or so at the least. Also, the property was AL, Airbnb, so there was always the option to rent it out, and with the great location and amazing view of the monastery, we were comfortable taking that risk. Hope that helps?

[@Mr.S65]

@@bobbyedelson901Sure, I understand. In my case, I’m from Boston, I’ve been living in Portugal for one and a half years. We travel the country all the time which keeps us interested in Portugal. However, buying a property would seem like we’re committing forever when we aren’t sure we’d like to stay. For one, we were in Boston for 3 months and upon returning to Portugal I got really homesick. It’s very easy to fly back and forth but again we must comply with the in country residency. The prospect of staying here that long, made me feel very homesick. All we’d have to do is pack and go back if we don’t own property.

[@ZZ-rg6li]

@@Mr.S65I think that’s a question of sitting on the fence, make the decision and enjoy the journey!! You can always go back on holiday,

[@tral403Hrytw]

Portugal is no longer affordable, too much taxing.

[@peterbedford2610]

Lower cost of living, great weather and very civilized society. Why not?!?

[@frankiecooper]

It’s pretty obvious that this guy practices meditation. Take note.

[@YinusaSaheed]

Amazing video, A friend of mine referred me to a financial adviser sometime ago and we got talking about investment and money. I started investing with $120k and in the first 2 months , my portfolio was reading $274,800. Crazy right!, I decided to reinvest my profit and gets more interesting. For over a year we have been working together making consistent profit just bought my second home 2 weeks ago and care for my family.

[@YinusaSaheed]

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[@YinusaSaheed]

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[@YinusaSaheed]

Lookup with her name on the webpage.

[@LiamOlivia-4]

@@YinusaSaheed *MARGARET MOLLI ALVEY* her trading strategies is working for me for more than a year now and I’m making good profit from the stock market and she's 100% honest, reputable and trustworthy

[@adelesr4965]

António Desejos a todos estrangeiros que estão aposentados,que seijam felizes no meu Portugal. Amigos, Portugal tem mais cidades bonitas Viana do Castelo - Ponte de Lima - Braga -Pôvoa de Varzim -Vila do Conde Bragança - Chavez etc.etc.