The Ideal Homes Portugal Team

“I’m now approaching my twelfth year working in the property industry. In that time I’ve met and worked with some of the most successful people in the business and helped hundreds of people find their ideal home in the sun. Seven years ago I decided to start my own company, Ideal Homes. I wanted to build a strong client focused service that is unsurpassed in its field, for going the extra mile. My team of passionate individuals were all specifically recruited for sharing my vision and enthusiasm for providing unrivalled service. So far it has proved to be a fulfilling and exciting venture and with that in mind we can’t wait to meet you and welcome you into the Ideal Homes family.”   chris@idealhomesportugal.com

I am originally from Sheffield. Worked as a Customer Service Manager for a large retail chain for most of my career. I moved to the Algarve 11 years ago ready for a change. It was supposed to be a 2 year career break, but I loved it so much I found myself a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful dogs. This is now home and my life is working in real estate in the lovely Algarvian sunshine.

I was raised in South Africa and studied cosmetology. Directly upon graduating I followed my natural business instincts and started my own business, which I managed successfully for 4 years. On deciding to leave South Africa, I sold my business and relocated to the UK where I took a management post within the hospitality industry. After this I moved to Portugal to invest in real estate and take on a management role within the media industry. In 2014, I joined Ideal Homes where I matched my keen interest in finance and real estate with my work. At Ideal Homes, I focus on assisting clients in navigating the local buying process and securing mortgage financing for their property investments. I am fluent in English, Portuguese and Afrikaans.

After spending over twelve years on the Costa del Sol, it was time for a change. Although the weather is not much different here in the Algarve, the people and more laid back lifestyle are and this suited me perfectly. I joined the Ideal Homes team back in 2017 and was introduced into the world of digital marketing. With ten years of sales and customer service experience, jumping into the digital deep end was a challenge that I dived straight into. Nearly four years down the line and I could not have picked a better team to work with on a daily basis, they are here to help you every step of the way through your property purchase!   

My story - I purchased a property in the Algarve in 2000, perched up high in the hills above the historic beautiful town of Loule. My aim was a holiday home to use in the winter and a rental investment for the summer months.  I fell in love with the Algarve and then decided to move out to Portugal in 2007 full time. My passion for the Algarve grew even more, then I was offered an opportunity to work in real estate in Tavira, East Algarve. Something I jumped at as I have always had a passion to work in property, something so different from my UK background working in exhibitions along with working in areas on TV presenting with shopping channels like QVC and various others.  I am now in my 6th year of working at Ideal Homes. My satisfaction in my work comes from meeting so many happy clients who allow me to help them find that dream home here in the sun! We are a family at Ideal Homes International and we will go that little bit further in making dreams come true! If you are thinking about buying a perfect holiday home in the sun, that special villa situated on one of the many championship Golf Courses or a villa/penthouse apartment with spectacular sea views to wake up to every morning, why not try us? allow Ideal Homes to help you find that perfect property. The Algarve is easily accessible with flights from all around the globe not just the UK and Europe with flights into Faro and Lisbon. The wonderful lifestyle, fantastic beaches, abundance of glorious weather, great food and local produce and the cost of living, what's not to like? Along with the golf, tennis, sea, sunshine, great food, delicious wines and hidden gems, falling in love with the lifestyle and the country is so easy!   I look forward to meeting you soon along with the TEAM!

Hi my name is Elliot and I grew up in a small town in Worcestershire called Tenbury Wells in the UK. I have worked alongside Chris since 2006 when I moved back to Europe from Australia where I started my real estate career in 2000 and lived there in Sydney for 12 years. Coming back to Europe in 2006 the market was booming and I quickly was offered a position with a large International real estate company based in Marbella and was positioned on the Portugal team as we marketed property in 20 different countries. This is what started my love of Portugal and I always aspired to moving to the Algarve to sell property on the ground. This opportunity came around in 2011 when I was asked to move to the Algarve to live the dream and work for a company here, although I had sold property remotely in the Algarve I had never actually been to the Algarve. But I happily handed in my resignation packed up my car and drove to the Algarve and have never looked back. Six years on and I have a beautiful Portugese wife and two gorgeous baby girls both born here in Portugal. Portugal is definitely the hidden gem of Europe and a wonderful safe place to bring up a family or retire too, I can highly recommend this beautiful part of the world that has become my new home.    

I have lived in the Algarve now for over 30 years after coming here originally just for a summer job. I fell in love with the place and never left, there are worse places to be in the world. Originally I was involved in the marketing of major golf and property developments but got tired of being office bound. I have worked for Ideal Homes for 3 years in the sales department and I absolutely love it. Who wouldn’t want to spend their time meeting interesting people, travelling around the Algarve and showing beautiful properties? Ideal Homes is an exceptional company to work for – great vision, great team, great service.  

I was born and raised in the French Riviera. I mainly worked in the hotel and restaurant industry in the United States, Canada and the UK. I have also been involved in real estate sales and development in the south of France. My wife and I have five children, three grandkids and all of them live in the UK, California or France. After having traveled a lot with my better half, we discovered Portugal and, like many, we fell in love with this wonderful country. We decided very quickly to come and live here and appreciate the beautiful weather all through the year. Three years ago, we bought the house of our dreams in Sao Bras de Alportel, a very typical small town with everything that comes with it. The people here are exceptionally friendly, the food is excellent and the beaches are beautiful. I recently joined the Ideal Homes team and I am looking forward to helping you find your dream home. Investing in a property requires good support, which is why I will be by your side every step of the way to accompany you and assist you in making the right decisions. My goal is to share the feeling of serenity and happiness that comes with living in the beautiful Algarve.  

I joined Ideal Homes in 2019 and have since then helped hundreds of clients find their ideal investments and/or relocation properties in the sunny Algarve. I first came down to the Algarve from the silver coast for holidays and it was love at first sight. After spending a week down the Algarve I was sure it was where I wanted to be. The beautiful Atlantic beaches, very low crime waves, no hustle and bustle like in the big cities i've been to within and out of the country, no language barrier as almost everyone speaks English or some other foreign language, good weather all year round (300 days of sunshine) and I can keep naming it.... Who wouldn't fall in love with the Algarve? Ideal Homes is a one stop shop and we can help you from start to finish. We have a variety of services that we offer to our client such as: finding you the ideal property, we have an in house mortgage team to assist you with securing the best mortgage in Portugal, rental/property management and after sales services, currency exchange with guaranteed best rates, we can also put you in contact with highly recommended lawyers, tax advisers and architects that we have been working closely with over the years. Get in touch and I am here to give you expert advice and guide you in finding your ideal property in the sun.

I was born and raised in the United States, and moved to Portugal with my family after graduating high school in 1991, so I've watched Portugal grow and develop over the last couple of decades! Having lived in various parts of the country, I decided my forever home in Portugal would be the Algarve. Beautiful beaches and a laid back lifestyle are only the start of the many reasons why I love the Algarve so much. I joined Ideal Homes because I love sharing my knowledge about the country and helping people settle into a wonderful new lifestyle!

I am originally from West Yorkshire in the north of England, where I worked as a wedding stylist for over 10 years. I have been visiting Portugal for many years. In 2011, I went travelling to Australia and Thailand and realised that my dream was to one day live in a sunny country close to the beach. I have visited many places around the world, but Portugal has always held a piece of my heart. In 2012 after travelling I decided to move to London and enjoy the big city life. I made the decision in 2016 to take a 6 month sabbatical from my job in London. I filled my car up and set off on my adventure driving through Spain and Portugal. I love my life here, it was the best decision I made. The sunshine, laid back lifestyle and great friends I have made over the years. I spend my work days talking to other people about this amazing little sunshine paradise, helping them to find there own dream holiday home or investment . I am very lucky and happy to call Portugal my home.  

My family and I moved to the Algarve from Berkshire in 2019 and we are so grateful we did as it is just a fabulous place to live due to the amazing climate, beaches, people & food (+ wine). My wife and I opened and ran an organic and zero waste business here for a couple of years before I got the opportunity to work as a real estate advisor for the brilliantly reputed Ideal Homes. I am so excited to learn even more about the Algarve as I help as many of you as I can to find and purchase the place of your dreams and join us in the sun.

I was born and raised in Algarve, and for me this is the best place to live in Portugal, we have 9 to 10 months of sunny days, nice weather, beautiful beaches, beautiful places to visit, we barely have traffic, it's really the best! Growing up, I discovered that I really enjoy being in contact with people, help whenever it's needed and I also love to organize things. I worked in some clothing stores, and my favourite part of it was to bring what the client wants, and needs.  This year, I wanted to make some changes in my life, try different things, and that is what brought me to Ideal Homes. Here, I can be all of that and more! I am really grateful that I found such an amazing team to work with.

After becoming a Mom I found myself wanting more for my family. I felt the need to learn more, I needed a new challenge, because being a Mom is not enough of a challenge right? On this search I found the Ideal Homes Team, from day one they made me feel part of the family and super excited for this new chapter to begin. Having always worked in Hospitality in the Algarve I love to take care of all clients and show them they are in good hands and what better place to do that than with Ideal Homes.

Bi Lingual Mortgage Professional More than 16 years Mortgage Experience Pre approvals in less than 24h Service free of charge Specialist in Non Resident Mortgages  

Although born in Lisbon my parents decided to immigrate to South Africa where I was raised and lived until 2017. During 2017, I decided to relocate to Portugal where I joined the amazing Listings Team here at Ideal Homes. My main focus within the company is to contact homeowners within the Algarve who are interested in selling their property, all of whom I am keen and willing to assist during their sale, or purchase of your home. With my experience in owning a Recruitment Agency while I lived in South Africa, I found I enjoy people and have an ability to be able to understand what a client wants and needs, therefore attaining the perfect enf result. I am able to speak English, Portuguese and Afrikaans. 

I´ve lived and worked in the Algarve for just over 21 years and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.... "this is my home". I bought my first property in 1998 in escudos and opened a Real Estate company in 2003. I know the Algarve from East to West and it's beauty and people are second to none in hospitality and kindness. I have also lived, worked and have my Real Estate license for the Cayman Islands based on the MLS system which is different which helps when dealing with American investors. I lived there from 2010 to 2014, it was idyllic! but still not Portugal !  I have a wealth of experience in property sales and the knowledge required when purchasing property here. I have now embarked on arranging mortgages for clients looking to purchase here and I work with a great team to offer you exceptional service. I look forward to assisting you with all your requirements.

My name is Catarina Carvão Sardinha Magarreiro. I am Portuguese and lived in Belgium for 23 years with my husband and my son working as a Beautician. Ten years ago we decide to return to Portugal to be closer to the family. Here in Portugal I continued to work as as a Beautician and I also worked for 6 years in a food disorders clinic in Alvor. Recently I felt the desire to follow a new professional orientation and believing I had the necessary qualities I joined the team at Ideal Homes International. Over the years I have been able to intereact with the public and within this work it is a necessary quality to be able to communicate with possible buyers and sellers and therefore it is helpful that I speak fluent French and English, a little Spanish and naturally Portuguese. I like and practice sports 3 to 4 times a week and I really enjoy having good times with friends, travelling, dancing and going to the beach.   

I am an American, originally from a small town in middle Georgia, but I moved to Portugal from Charleston, South Carolina. My professional background includes serving in the US military, law enforcement, management of insurance claims offices and operating a furniture manufacturing business. After my only child got married, I sold almost everything I owned and moved to the Algarve in 2021, seeking a better quality of life. Considering the beautiful beaches, abundant restaurants, lively nightlife, affordable cost of living, no real language barrier, amazing culture, friendly people and a more laid back way of life, the Algarve was an easy decision. Having an interest in real estate for a very long time, I joined the Ideal Homes Portugal team in 2022.

Originally a photographer from Fortaleza, Brazil, I first decided to come to Portugal in 2019 for my sister's wedding. When I arrived, I immediately fell in love with the Algarve, its weather, safety and the so relaxed and peaceful vibe. I've been here since then, happily, and I'm always recommending to anyone - moving here it's the best choice. 

In a reversal of normal circumstance I waited until my children were old enough and then I left home! Initially settling in Costa de Sol in Spain I spent 5 wonderful years there which is where I initially met and worked with Chris, the CEO here at Ideal Homes. I decided on a change of scenery and moved to the Algarve at Chris's suggestion and have never had any regrets! Over the past 10 years I have predominantely worked with Chris in Real Estate for Ideal Homes. I have participated in numerous roles within the company from touring our clients and selling property, attending exhibitions, became the Listings Manager and am now currently in the office communicating with interested parties on the phone and by email. I have a great love of Portugal and have immersed myself into the culture and mindset of the way of life. I am happily married - I met my husband at Ideal Homes - a true romance! - and own a 3 bed house in Armacao de Pera which we share with our beloved dog and cat (and my husband's 1965 Vespa! ). My sister lives close by in Albufeira, my brother in Spain and we all enjoy the fact we can return to the UK on a regular basis with the large portfolio of direct flights from Faro, Lisbon and Seville. People I meet are sometimes surprised by the very diversity enjoyed not only by the Portuguese population but by the international expatriate community based in the Algarve. From my experience it is one of the best and easiest places to assimilate into the gentle laid back way of life! I look forward to meeting you and hopefully passing on my passion and respect for my beloved adopted country. 

Having lived in the UK for 19 years, I moved to Portugal a few years ago where I live with my husband and young daughter. I am a former hospitality professional and have managed busy reception/ front of house desks for some well-known restaurant groups. As I have always been passionate about property and all that it encompasses, joining Ideal Homes felt like a natural step in my new chosen career. As soon as I joined I felt so welcomed and that without a doubt translates so well into all that they are offering their clients. Am looking forward to continuing to contribute to this great company. 

Originally from San Diego California has been living in the Algarve for 5 years. Frank has a background in customer service and management. For the last 20+ years he worked in the Insurance Industry. In his spare time Frank enjoys acting and is a member of the Algarveans Theater Group, the only English speaking theater company in the Algarve.        

I moved to the Algarve three months ago so I’m very new to the country but have already fallen in love with the culture and lifestyle. My previous role was a Project Manager for construction companies so I’m happy to be able to bring my experience and tools to Portugal in order to help you with your property management and can assure you, you’re in good hands!

I relocated to the Algarve in July 2021 after visiting many times and falling in love with the area. I finished my degree of Fashion Marketing and left my job in the UK of 6 years as a Building Services Coordinator, looking after commercial buildings, and found Ideal Homes here in the Algarve. The opportunity allows me to look after beautiful spaces for our clients, as well as welcoming holiday goers into the properties and ensuring they have a 5* service during their stay. The best part of my day is seeing customers faces when I open the door to our beautiful properties.

I moved from South Africa to Portugal almost three years ago. I was living in Agueda. The North is very cold and wet and I missed the African sun. Moving to Tavira brought the sunshine back into my life. Ideal Homes is the beginning of a new and exciting adventure.  

My name is Catarina, I'm Portuguese and I have lived in the Algarve since I was born. I worked as a receptionist in 5 star resorts for about 3 years, which made me love customer service even more. Then came the opportunity to work with Ideal Homes Portugal, in March 2022, where I started as a Property Manager. Welcoming our clients and making their stays memorable is the best part of my job.

I love and very much enjoy my work. I was born and raised in Romania, 15 years ago I took a leap of faith and left all behind. I moved to the sunny Lagos, on the south coast of Portugal, where I still live with my husband and two teenage sons. With a diverse corporate background, spanning from business development to human resources and personal development, I am a well-being focused person. Having high empathy, I always try to understand and help people the best and fastest way possible. By joining the Ideal Homes family, as a Property Manager for Adega Lagos I am very much looking forward to contributing to a smooth and fruitful relationship with you.  

I'm from Cheshire, UK, but have lived in the Algarve for 11 years with my parents studying both in England and Portugal. I have always worked in customer service bringing smiles to everyone I meet. In my young career having the opportunity to work with ideal Homes and to grow with the company felt like a natural step. I’m very excited to start a future for myself and to spend many more years here. I'm looking forward to welcoming our clients and making their stays memorable and bringing excellent customer service to all.

My name is Inês. I'm Portuguese, from Porto. For the last 5 years I have been working in aviation, living in Dubai and more recently in our lovely Algarve. I have a degree in Languages and Business Affairs. I am fluent in Portuguese and English. I'm looking forward to welcoming our clients and making their stays memorable, going above and beyond to provide the best customer experience.

My name is Mr. Pringles, I was without a home so came to visit Ideal Homes in their beautiful office in August. I am looking for a home which I can share with some lovely cuddly people, but until then these kind people have given me a temporary house just outside for me to live in. I have heard Ideal Homes are the best at finding homes for people, so I am hoping they can do that for me too. Call in the office and we can meet, not to be cheeky but if you have a little treat I would not say no to it. Maybe, just maybe we could find a home together. P.S. For the last 5 years the humans thought I was a girl but I am actually a boy