More stories

  • in

    Thinking of Buying a Home in Portugal? The Government Just Made It More Expensive

    Portugal has long been popular among travelers, and in recent years, it’s become a hotspot for foreign, high-net-worth homebuyers, too. But that’s about to change.

    This month, the Portuguese government announced its plans to end its special tax regime for non-habitual residents starting in 2024. Under the current NHR program, qualifying individuals who live in the country at least part-time enjoy tax exemptions for up to 10 years on income earned in Portugal and are also exempt from paying taxes on their global earnings. Additionally, in February, Portugal also said it would be pulling the plug on its golden visa program over concerns that wealthy expats were causing property prices to rise.  

    “We already have clients that are looking to reconsider their plans,” Alex Ingrim, a private wealth manager and senior investment analyst at Chase Buchanan, told Business Insider. “I think it’s caused a lot of people to reconsider why they were moving to Portugal if it’s not going to be as easy as they first thought.” The good news is that Americans and other foreigners who are already living in Portugal will still keep their tax benefits through the duration of their 10-year term.

    Portugal announced that in 2024 it will be ending its Non-Habitual Residency tax regime for new entrants.

    Unsplash/Louis Droege

    As of 2022, there were approximately 10,000 Americans living in Portugal. Per the New York Times, that’s a whopping 239 percent increase since 2017. According to a recent report from the Property-Market Index, home values throughout the country spiked 6.5 percent over the last year due to the country’s inability to keep up with demand.  

    In the Algarve region specifically, prices rose 15 percent in the same period, with cities like Lisbon experiencing similar surges. At Quinta do Lago, a golf community on the Algarve coast, prices have jumped over 28 percent since 2020, and the research firm estimated that values will climb by 19 percent by 2025.

    “It’s causing people to take a step back and go, ‘Okay, Portugal was the easy answer, and now there’s no other easy answer out there. France, Italy, or Spain might be back on the table,’” Ingrim told Insider. More

  • in

    Otis’s House From ‘Sex Education’ Can Be Yours for $1.8 Million

    Netflix’s Sex Education might be in its fourth and final season, but now fans can own a piece of the show’s history. For £1.5 million (or roughly $1.8 million), that is.  

    The real-life home used as the residence for teenage sex therapist Otis Milburn (played by Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother, Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson), has hit the market. Known as The Chalet, the dreamy U.K. property is located on four-and-a-half verdant acres in Symonds Yat in the Wye Valley, which sits right on the border of England and Wales and has been dubbed an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  

    The home where Otis and Jean Millburn live in the Netflix series Sex Education is up for sale.

    Knight Frank

    Prior to its stint on the cult-favorite British series, the red-and-white abode dates back to 1912, when it was built as a Norwegian-style fishing lodge. The current owner scooped up the hillside pad over 20 years ago, in 2002, and has since put the place through a massive renovation. Altogether, the 3,100-square-foot spread comprises five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Some of the more recent updates include new plumbing and electric systems, a new roof, and a custom-painted kitchen. The conservatory has also been enlarged.  

    “The fact that this property is so well known only adds to the appeal of what is an incredibly rare opportunity to own a spectacular home,” says James Toogood, office head at Knight Frank Bristol, in a press statement.  

    The Chalet in Symonds Yat is a 100-year-old former fishing lodge.

    Knight Frank

    In addition to the charming home, the property has two greenhouses, an orchard, and a summer house. Marketing material indicates there’s an old chapel at the top of the driveway that is also available to purchase by separate negotiation.

    For fans who fancy having morning coffee or reading the paper out on the terrace à la the mother-son sex therapist duo, there are plenty of spaces to do so. One of the lower decks is equipped with a Swedish wood-burning tub, while another sports a stone pizza oven. Also not fictionalized for the TV show are the oh-so-real river views.

    Click here to see all the photos of The Chalet.  

    Knight Frank More

  • in

    A Best-Selling British Crime Writer Is Selling His English Country Home for $5.5 Million

    British crime novelist Felix Francis is closing the chapter on his English country house.  

    After 16 years, the best-selling author and son of best-selling crime writer Dick Francis is turning the page on his historic pad in Banbury, England. Positioned on the edge of the Cotswolds, the Manor House, as it’s known, dates to 1607. Francis, along with his wife, Debbie, purchased the property in 2007 and spent the better part of a decade renovating it. Now, the couple is asking £4.5 million (roughly $5.49 million) for the updated residence. 

    “Manor House is an extraordinarily beautiful Cotswolds house,” says Nicholas Rudge, head of Savills Banbury, in a press statement. “You can really see how Felix and his family have thoughtfully restored the home while sensitively adding to it.”  

    Best-selling British author Felix Francis is selling his home in Banbury, England.

    Savills

    Nestled on just shy of five acres, the 8,200-square-foot residence sports a ton of period details like exposed timber beams, decorative moldings, open fireplaces, and stone mullion windows. Some of the home’s many rooms include a bespoke Mark Wilkinson kitchen, a snooker room, and a reception hall with a sweeping oak staircase. Of course, there’s also a galleried library with fitted bookcases. Per the listing, Francis penned more than a dozen of his suspenseful stories at the residence.

    The residence dates to the 17th century but has been updated by its current owners.

    Savills

    My wife, Debbie, and I have greatly enjoyed our 16 years in the Manor House,” says Francis. “I have written 16 of the Dick Francis novels here in the expansive office, including my latest, No Reserve, which is published this autumn. The house has been a great inspiration for my writing, but Debbie and I feel that, with our children now having flown the coop, it is time for another family to take over the stewardship of this historic Oxfordshire property.” 

    The compound also includes a detached two-bedroom guest cottage, a heated outdoor swimming pool, and a stone pool house. Considering that many of the Dick Francis thrillers are centered around British horse racing, it’s not too much of a surprise that the estate has interconnecting paddocks and an all-weather riding arena.  

    Click here to see all the photos of Manor House.

    Savills More

  • in

    NBA Star Bradley Beal Is Tossing His Maryland Mansion on the Market for $10 Million

    Bradley Beal isn’t bringing any baggage with him to the Phoenix Suns, and that includes his home in Bethesda, Maryland.  

    The former Washington Wizard, who was traded in June after a decade with the team, has just hoisted his sprawling D.C.-area mansion onto the market for $10 million. According to property records, the NBA All-Star guard shelled out $7.8 million for the palatial spread back in 2019, which he snapped up directly from the developer. The roughly 13,500-square-foot property sits on two acres and comprises six ensuite bedrooms and nine bathrooms.  

    NBA player Bradley Beal is selling his Maryland mansion for $10 million.

    Raul Rivero | riv photo + film

    According to the listing, held by Jill Schwartz and Andres Serafini of RLAH @properties, the trendy pad draws its design cues from South Florida, with an overall contemporary ambiance and chic finishings. Rest assured, there’s no shortage of jaw-dropping spaces. Think textured wallcoverings, abstract wool carpets, dramatic light fixtures, and hand-laid Italian mosaic tile in the foyer. Plus, the place is packed with custom cabinetry, ornate wrought iron railings, and heated tile floors. 

    Formal living and dining rooms are joined by a family room with a wet bar, a home office, and a chef’s kitchen that’s decked out with Viking appliances, plus a giant center island that’s topped with rare natural granite. Among the more unconventional extras, the all-time leading scorer’s abode sports its own fitness center and an arcade room, both of which have floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that look down on an NBA-certified underground half-basketball court.

    The house has an NBA-certified underground half-basketball court.

    Raul Rivero | riv photo + film

    Like the house, the grounds are fit for an athlete. There’s a full-size tennis court with stadium lighting and a heated swimming pool. However, you don’t have to be the active type to enjoy the outdoor areas. There’s also an alfresco kitchen for the culinary-inclined and a fire pit if you just want to kick back and get cozy. 

    Click here to see all the photos of 8913 Holly Leaf Lane. 

    Raul Rivero | riv photo + film More

  • in

    Richard Burton’s Former London Mansion Hits the Market for $9.8 Million

    Richard Burton went from being a humble, stage-trained Welsh actor to an international movie star, and it was while he lived in a handsome house in London’s leafy Hampstead Village that he cemented his status as an Old Hollywood legend. 

    The late performer lived on Lyndhurst Road with his first wife, Sybil Christopher, between 1949 and 1956. The couple originally bought a one-bedroom, ground-floor apartment in the building and eventually purchased the remaining floors following Burton’s success. It was while in residence on Lyndhurst Road that he took on some of his most famous roles, including those in The Desert Rats, The Robe, and Alexander the Great.

    It’s also where he lived when he first met Elizabeth Taylor in 1953. Burton and Taylor would not, however, get to know each other romantically until after they were reacquainted in the early 1960s on the set of the epic period drama Cleopatra. They would later and famously go on to marry—twice.

    The London residence where Welsh actor Richard Burton once lived has hit the market

    Grant Frazer

    Fast-forward to today, and the Victorian residence is now on the market for £7.95 million (or roughly $9.8 million). A blue plaque near the front door commemorates Burton’s time in residency; the historic destination was unveiled in 2011 by fellow Welsh actor Michael Sheen. 

    “This Blue Plaque house is not only notable due to the provenance of its former famous resident, but it also represents a rare opportunity to purchase a magnificent family home situated in the heart of Hampstead and within easy walking distance of Hampstead Heath,” says Mark Pollack, co-founding director of Aston Chase, in a press release. 

    The primary suite has views of St Paul’s Cathedral

    Grant Frazer

    The abode, built by architect Henry Davidson, dates back to the 1860s. Altogether, the spread comprises a semi-detached dwelling with six bedrooms plus a separate self-contained two-bedroom garden apartment. 

    There are heaps of original period details throughout, like high ceilings, tall windows, marble fireplaces, and French doors. Other highlights include a top-floor penthouse studio, a 60-foot-long rear garden, and views of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the primary suite.

    “It’s a rare find on one of Hampstead’s most sought-after tree-lined streets,” adds Knight Frank’s Katy Brookes, who’s co-listing the home. 

    Click here to see all the photos of Richard Burton’s house.

    Grant Frazer More

  • in

    This $8.1 Million Riverfront Mansion in the UK Has Ties to a British TV Host

    Charles Allsopp, a former Christie’s chairman and father of British TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, is moving on from his longtime English country home. 

    The 6th Baron Hindlip set his sights upon the mid-19th-century farmhouse in Dorset nearly 25 years ago. Known today as Lyddon House, Lord Hinlip lived at the riverfront residence alongside his late interior designer wife, Fiona. Speaking to the Daily Mail, their daughter, Kirstie, recalled what initially drew her parents to the property. “They always wanted a house with water, and when Lyddon House came on the market, they jumped at the chance to buy it,” the Love It or List It UK co-host told the British newspaper. Kirstie also hosts several other reality programs, including Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location. 

    Kirstie Allsopp’s father, Charles Allsopp, is selling his longtime English country house in Dorset.

    Knight Frank

    Today, the comprehensively restored and updated spread is listed with Knight Frank for £6.5 million, or roughly $8 million. It occupies 48 tranquil acres along the River Lyddon and is considered one of Dorset’s finest country houses. Inside the main pad, there are more than 5,600 square feet of living space, with four en-suite bedrooms and all sorts of character features such as sash windows and tall ceilings.

    In addition to the three main reception rooms, there’s a dining room, a study, and a kitchen with views towards the garden. One of the modern updates to the historic home is an indoor swimming pool pavilion, which is capped with a glazed roof. Here, you’ll also find a changing room, shower, and sauna. 

    Lyddon House has been totally renovated and includes an indoor swimming pool.

    Knight Frank

    Beyond Lyddon House, the estate includes a converted mill with two reception rooms, a kitchen, three double bedrooms, and a small garden of its own. Guests can also enjoy a two-bedroom apartment known as The Cottage, positioned above the garage and stables. The grounds are equally impressive, with an on-site orchard, three large ponds, a greenhouse, and a sprawling horse pasture.

    It’s no wonder Lord Hinlip fell in love.  

    Click here to see all the photos of Lyddon House.  

    Knight Frank More

  • in

    Spy Novelist John le Carré’s Cliffside English Cottage Can Be Yours for $3.7 Million

    Back in the 1960s, English author John le Carré found solace along the U.K.’s Cornish coast, where his longtime home is now up for grabs.

    The late spy novelist, best known for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Constant Gardener, both of which were adapted into films nominated for multiple Oscars, wrote many of his bestseller thrillers at Tregiffian Cottage, where he lived until his death in 2020 at the age of 89. Spectacularly situated on a cliff between the villages of Lamorna and Porthcurno, the two-story stone residence comprises four bedrooms and four bathrooms. And, best of all for espionage aficionados, Carré’s writing room is still intact.

    Late novelist John le Carré’s former home in Cornwall just listed for $3.7 million

    Savills

    Listed for £3 million (or roughly $3.7 million), the residence is actually three original fisherman cottages put together. The author and his wife purchased the estate some 60 years ago and combined it with the surrounding outbuildings to form a spacious and unpretentious 5,000-square-foot family home.  

    “My earliest memories are of playing in the garden at Tregiffian and adventuring along the coastal path to St Loy or Mousehole,” says le Carré’s son, Nick Cornwell, in a press statement. “The whole place is alive with butterflies, rabbits, swallows, foxes, and occasionally badgers. In winter, you bank up a log fire, and listen to the wind around the house, and feel as if you’re in a castle or a lighthouse. The storms are dramatic and beautiful, and when they’re gone, you get that wild horizontal sun. It’s a wonderful place to rest, or work, or just be yourself.” 

    Known as Tregiffian Cottage, the waterfront property sits on three acres atop a cliff

    Savills

    Inside the main dwelling, you’ll find comfortable living and entertaining spaces, an up-to-date eat-in kitchen, and a conservatory, which faces out towards Scilly Isles. Not surprisingly, there’s an impressive library that is decked out with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and showcases a window that’s believed to be part of a World War II fighter plane.

    Among the very le Carré features is a safe room befitting any number of the author’s fictional characters. Elsewhere, the compound also has an indoor swimming pool that’s discreetly tucked away inside one of the chalet-style outbuildings.  

    “In all, a hugely inspiring home,” adds Chris Clifford, who is marketing the property for Savills. 

    Click here to see all the photos of Tregiffian Cottage. 

    Savills More

  • in

    Bob Dylan’s Historic Scottish Mansion Just Hit the Market for $4 Million

    It’s the end of the line for Bob Dylan and his long-time Scottish estate.  

    After recently putting his 16-bedroom mansion near Nethy Bridge up for sale, you could say the singer-songwriter’s heart is no longer in the Highlands. According to The Times, Dylan scooped up Aultmore House nearly two decades ago in 2006 alongside his brother. At the time, they paid £2.26 million for the spread. Now, the 82-year-old rocker has hoisted the Edwardian abode on the market for a cool £3 million (or roughly $3.9 million). 

    “They bought it as a base,” Knight Frank agent Tom Stewart-Moore told the Scottish Daily Express. “They’ve not been able to use it in recent years, and that’s the reason for the sale. Up until about pre-Covid times, Bob and his brother would normally go there for a few weeks a year.” 

    Bob Dylan’s home in the Scottish Highlands just listed for $3.9 million

    Knight Frank

    Located within Cairngorm National Park, the property spans a whopping 24 acres surrounded by lush forests. The 18,357-square-foot main residence, which was originally built between 1911 and 1915, underwent a complete restoration in 2000. Since then, Dylan and his brother have continued to improve upon the pad including making updates to the heating and hot water systems. There are also three fully renovated cottages on-site.

    Inside the main house, the Grade A–listed structure still sports a ton of period details. Think marble fireplaces in most of the reception rooms, intricate plasterwork on the ceilings and archways, along with timber flooring throughout. Past the entrance hall, you’ll find a billiard room, a drawing room, and a formal dining area. Also on the ground floor are two kitchens, an office, and a sitting room. 

    The renovated Aultmore House was originally built between 1911 and 1915

    Knight Frank

    The country house certainly plays the part of a tranquil oasis from the outside, too. Take a stroll around the grounds of the stately manse and you’ll stumble upon two gazebos, a central fountain, a walled garden, and a picturesque pond. Of course, there are plenty of activities to go along with the striking views including a croquet lawn and paddocks. If you’re interested, come knocking on Dylan’s door.  

    Click here to see all the photos of Aultmore House. 

    Knight Frank More