Maya is originally from the South of France. She has been living abroad for about 20 years. She lived in the UK, studied in Poland, and then spent 6 years in China, where she met her husband. They worked and lived in Shanghai and Beijing and left in 2011. Maya moved to Switzerland to work for the Olympic Committee, and her husband went to Morocco to set up a project. In 2015, she joined him in Morocco, where they worked together. Whilst in Morocco, they adopted their daughter from Sierra Leone.
In 2020, they moved to Portugal. After a few months of soul searching, Maya felt that the stars aligned for her to work in real estate, a domain she always loved. She initially worked for a real estate listing agency, and seeing a gap and issues with the market setup, she created an exclusive buyer’s agency for international buyers.
Maya offers exclusive buyer’s advice and support throughout their journey of starting their new life in Portugal. She has met tremendous people, she is lucky to have amazing clients, and she has found something that brings a smile to her face.
Connect with Maya on Instagram or LinkedIn, and make sure to check out her website at The Buyers Agent.
About Maya
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: France
Q: What country and city did you move to?
A: Olhão, Portugal
Q: When did you move?
A: 2020
Q: Is this your first expat experience?
A: No, I was in Morocco, Switzerland and China before that
Q: Did you move here alone or with a spouse/partner or family?
A: With family
Q: Reason for moving?
A: A change of quality of life/new start
Living in Olhão
Q: What do you enjoy most about Olhão and Portugal in general?
A: The quality of life, the weather, and safety. Portugal is a country rich in culture, and we missed the European touch in our other destination... It is also the place that allowed me to become an entrepreneur. The country has a lot to offer, and the fact that it is still in development means that it is a little ‘old-fashioned’, and I love that. Often, strangers will say hi to each other on the streets; old people get to chat with the cashier in a local supermarket.
The Algarve has changed a lot since Covid, with an influx of foreigners, but also different profiles to what Portugal is accustomed to. Younger families, digital nomads. This has allowed many new businesses to flourish, so there are a lot more restaurants and activities.
Q: Have you had any low points? What do you miss most about France?
A: With every expatriation, you have your honeymoon period, and interestingly enough, mine lasted much longer than in other destinations – and that’s a testament to Portugal. Like every place in the world, it has drawbacks ( heavy red tape, lack of infrastructure, and the notion of timekeeping is frustrating when you have a business).
Q: What misconceptions about Olhão, if any, have you learned were not true?
A: Portugal is quite different from area to area and offers different lifestyles. Although I knew Portugal via Lisbon and Porto, which are vibrant cities full of innovative and creative souls, I was disappointed that I did not find the same energy in the Algarve. Now, for the last 2 years, I feel a change of pace, with many foreigners opening new businesses.
Q: What are the biggest adjustments you had to make when settling into expat life in Olhão? Did you experience culture shock at all?
A: I am a seasoned expat and have lived in countries with much more adjustments needed (mainly China and Morocco), so frankly, this was an easy move for us. The language is challenging, but the level of English speaking in Portugal is quite impressive.
Q: What are your favourite things to do on the weekend? Any particular places or experiences you’d recommend to fellow expats?
A: When I am not busy with clients, we love going into nature; there are many hikes near where we live. I am addicted to Padel, and that takes quite a bit of my time. My husband loves his golf. We like to do weekends away, but it is true that with inflation, Portugal isn’t as cheap as it used to be, so these gateways have become more expensive. We live close to Spain, so we love to take advantage of its proximity, and Seville is one of our favourite cities. Meeting up with friends and trying new restaurants – as the Algarve is attracting an increasing number of new restaurants and styles of cuisine.
Q: What’s the cost of living in Olhão compared to France? Are there specific things that are especially expensive or cheap there?
A: Portugal’s cost of living – like the rest of Europe – has increased a lot since we moved here 5 years ago. Real estate and construction/renovation costs are no longer affordable, and it is very difficult to find long-term rentals. I would say that since we moved to Portugal, the cost of living has, on average, increased by 25%. But compared to other countries, it is still affordable. The cost of living will also depend on where you live, your lifestyle, and the type of restaurants you frequent, which school your children attend.
Q: What’s public transport like in Olhão and across Portugal?
A: I found public transport quite limiting. Most people own a car in the Algarve. Of course, it is different in the big cities. But here in the Algarve, the network is quite limiting and not very practical. Uber is a great option for moving around as it is very affordable.
Q: What do you think of the healthcare available in Olhão? What should expats expect from local doctors and hospitals?
A: There are two systems in Portugal. The SNS system (public), which any resident can access and the private system. The public system is akin to the UK system in the sense that it is centralised. You have your local health centre where you are assigned a doctor and can receive free of charge/low compensation medical services. It is usually quite slow, but I found that the doctors do the best with what they have.
It is very different from France, where I have the opportunity to choose my GP or make an appointment with the specialist of my choice and there is little need for referrals. There are many private clinics with very good standards and highly qualified doctors and nurses. Usually, people will look to take private insurance to cover part of the cost. I wrote an article on that topic.
Q: What’s the standard of housing like in Olhão? What different options are available?
A: I currently live in a fishing town called Olhão, a 15-minute drive from Faro. Since Covid, we have seen an explosion of new buildings – whether you are talking condos, houses, or townhouses. They have different specs, energy ratings, and levels of finishes. You will find this to be true all across the Algarve. You then have your traditional houses and older properties, which will need renovation, as the standard of construction was not very good (low insulation, damp issues). You have your choice of properties near the coastline or in the countryside.
Q: Are there any areas or suburbs you’d recommend for expats to live in?
A: That is a long conversation as the Algarve, for such a small area, is very versatile. So, one of the most important aspects of my job is to expose buyers to the various lifestyles Portugal has to offer. If you take the Algarve, for instance, Western Algarve, Central Algarve or Eastern Algarve offer different lifestyles, atmospheres and even climates. What’s certain is that the country has something for everyone.
Meeting people and making friends in Olhão, Portugal
Q: Was meeting people and making friends in Olhão easy? How did you go about meeting new people?
A: Compared to other countries I loved in, I found it a bit more difficult to meet people at first. We slowly made friends through school and sports activities, and several of my clients are now my friends. Being in real estate means I am out and about, meeting people all the time. Since we moved here, we have seen many associations and groups develop. I recently joined the Algarve Women Network, where I have met wonderful women with different backgrounds, and it has been amazing to make new friends and find like-minded people to bounce off ideas and learn from.
Q: Have you made friends with locals, or do you mix mainly with other expats? What advice would you give to new expats looking to make friends with the locals?
A: I have a few Portuguese friends which I met either through my professional activity or through Padel, but most of my friends are foreigners like me. One thing I have learned through expatriation is that it is not easy to make friends with locals. Not because they are not welcoming or friendly but simply because they have their life established and usually plenty of friends and family to go around.
Speaking the language will make things easier as it is unfair to get invited to a party and expect everyone to switch to English to accommodate you. So if you want to make friends with Portuguese, speak their language and frequent local cafes and bars.
Working in Olhão, Portugal
Q: How easy or difficult was getting a work permit or visa? Did you tackle the visa process yourself, or did you enlist the services of an immigration consultant?
A: Being an EU passport holder, the process was very simple. I didn’t need a work permit or a visa. My husband managed to get his residency before Brexit, so that was easy as well. We are arriving at our 5 years and due to renew our residency permit...Ask me again in a few months, but I don’t think it will be smooth sailing this time!
Q: What is the economic climate in Olhão like?
A: With inflation, you can see people are struggling. Whether it is businesses that are more expensive to run than they used to or employees for whom their monthly salary is not stretching as far as it used to be. Post-Covid, we had a bit of a boom, with people coming here, real estate booming, and helping locals and foreigners alike earn through their property sales, but now things are slowing down. There is still a very positive sentiment that Portugal is ‘on the map’ so to speak, and will continue to attract Americans and British.
Family and children in Olhão, Portugal
Q: How has your partner adjusted to your new home?
A: For my husband and I, we adjusted very quickly. We found our feet and felt very fortunate to be here. For our daughter, it took a little bit more time.
Q: Did your children settle in easily? What were their biggest challenges during the move?
A: For our daughter, the language was an issue. But she is now fluent in Portuguese.
Q: What are your favourite family attractions and activities in Olhão?
A: We love to go to the islands, and our personal favourite is Armona. We often take our kayak and go there. There are many activities catering to families in the Algarve, such as water parks, but that’s not our thing.
Q: What are the schools in Olhão like? Any particular suggestions?
A: Ah, schools...the never-ending topic! What I have learned through our experience is that the choice of school and the experience your children will have is very personal. What is a great school for one family will not be for another one. As a foreigner, you have a few choices: public school, private Portuguese (called Colegio), and international schools. Some parents choose to home-school. In Olhão, you have public schools and a private Portuguese school.
Final thoughts
Q: Any advice you’d like to offer to new arrivals in Olhão?
A: from my personal experience and those of my clients, finding the area that suits you is key. Often, as foreigners, we bring our knowledge from where we were previously living and try to duplicate it. Every country has its way, and it is important to ask yourself what works and doesn’t work for you. Understand that things will not necessarily be worse or better – just different! And enjoy this beautiful country!
►Interviewed on April 2025
