LIFE in a four-bedroomed farmhouse in Bedfordshire might seem idyllic enough, but Huw Leyshon and Lisa Duke dream of something more.
Systems analyst Huw and art director Lisa are in their thirties and want to trade their pounds 350,000 Victorian home for a place in the Algarve after a savings windfall. Apart from the obvious appeal of year-round sunshine and glorious beaches, Huw and Lisa hope that life in Portugal will give them the opportunity to improve their golf handicap. "We're mad about golf," says Lisa. "I've been visiting the Algarve for years and love it. Huw is always finding an excuse to come for a short break."
The couple asked ANNIE JONES to find them the perfect villa, preferably with a pool, and near one of the area's many golf courses. "It's our idea of heaven," says Huw.
THE COUNTRY
WITH an enviable climate and a low cost of living, it's difficult to find a reason not to move to the Algarve - golf lover or not!
The golf courses are excellent, and nowhere is more than 15km from the coast. Yet the terrain varies from the steep hillsides of Parque da Floresta to the near sea-level flatlands of Vilamoura III and Salgados.
Property-wise, as always, new homes are more expensive than old, and developments aimed solely at overseas buyers are the dearest of all. Buying a second-hand property in Portugal will cost from pounds 100,000 for a small apartment to pounds 400,000 for a family-sized detached villa close to a beach.
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