“AZOREANS ARE CONTENT SIMPLY MAKING A LIVING INSTEAD OF BECOMING RICH”


Lesley and Alan Woodward settled on Faial – nicknamed “Blue Island” due to the abundance of summer-blooming hydrangeas – after careers in the yachting industry.


Home is a detached stone house which cost £18,000 eleven years ago. Built on 2,500m² of land, it allows space for a sub-tropical garden and self-catering cabin, which they rent out. The islands remind Alan of Britain 50 years ago. “There is little traffi c, no pollution and people are content simply making a living instead of becoming rich.”


The scenery attracted Lesley, who runs Azores High (www.azoreshigh.com), a self- catering holiday accommodation website. From her garden, she looks towards the conical-shaped mountain of Pico, Portugal’s highest at 7,000 feet, on nearby Pico Island. “Faial has a beautiful green rolling landscape which never fails to enthral us – and the people are so friendly.”


The islands’ remoteness and lack of direct UK fl ights – limited to services from Gatwick and Manchester to Sao Miguel between April and October, where an internal fl ight network links the other islands – mean they will never be big hitters in the property world, delighting the few Brits who’ve already bought and treasure the islands’ exclusivity and tranquillity. Kevin Ormston, of Property Shop


Portugal (www.propertyshopportugal. com), says: “The Azores is a niche market, but I can see it becoming increasingly popular. It’s liked by environmentalists, in particular.” Currently, no international


property companies specialise in the Azores. In fact, some islands have no estate agent, others just a handful. Houses are still often sold via word-of- mouth, adverts in the local paper or sticking notes in shop windows. The Azores may not enjoy such


settled weather as Madeira and Cape Verde but still boasts a temperate climate with temperatures


66 aplaceinthesun.com


rarely dipping below 13 degrees or climbing above 26. House prices are cheaper than


the mainland. If you’re prepared to renovate, bargains can be bagged, especially as properties below €115,509 (£91,300) are exempt from property tax if it’s a main residence. Secondary homes attract one per cent fees. There is no large-scale development


on the islands and many properties being marketed are renovated stone farmhouses or those needing modernisation. On Flores, a furnished three-bedroom property of 3,500 squared metres sold recently for €150,000 (£118,000); on Sao Miguel, an equivalent property would have fetched double. But bargains can be found on Sao Miguel, too. ERA (www. era.pt) are marketing a three-bedroom detached home in the capital, Ponta Delgada, in need of modernisation, for €50,000 (£40,000). Prices vary between islands: Sao Miguel and Terceira, home to an American airbase, are pricier while


The Azores really are hidden gems in the middle of the Atlantic. Quieter than Madeira and parts of Cape Verde, the islands retain an old world charm.


Faial, €135,000 (£107,000) Two renovated one-bedroom houses close to Horta, the main town. Being sold together, these double-glazed properties with sea views are in a quiet location and have fi tted kitchens, garages and vine-covered patios. Contact: Property Shop Portugal, www.propertyshopportugal.com


Faial, €175,000 (£139,000) Renovated stone farmhouse 14 miles from Horta, this three- bedroom property enjoys extensive sea views. Two bathrooms, sauna, large workshop and newly-fi tted kitchen.


Contact: Property Shop Portugal, www.propertyshopportugal.com


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