Hi all,

just wondering was anyone over in Cabanas lately. I'ts been quiet here lately and I was wondering has anybody got an update on progress.

INVESTMENT

Hi all. Just my thoughts

Euro -pound echhange rate. I think that may change when the ECB gets its act together. At the moment its making life very difficult for some european exporters.

End of low cost air fares . Yes hopefully end of weekend stag parties, and short stay trips,which I imagine would damage hot spot tourist resorts,catering for the younger generation.I see the Algarve as being a destination for families and golfers , and with the weather we get here now ,I think the sun will win out.,also as regards flights, Portugal should win out over some of  the further destinations,fuel wise.

My feeling is you could invest in a lot worse , Look whats happening in the markets and financial institutions

Yes- the financial model doesn't stack up any more for all the reasons you have identified.

We have asked for our money back- shame because it does look good (we were there a couple of weeks ago).

INVESTMENT DISASTER?

Is anyone else getting nervous about their investment?  With the Euro Pound exchange rate, the forecasted demise of low cost air fares and the general economic downturn, is what seemed like a good investment opportunity a couple of years ago now looking a bit sick?  Anyone got any opinions?  Anyone got any experience of backing out without scarificing your 10% deposit?

Hi everyone

Just wondering about the extras packages available from Newlyn.The security systems,underfloor heating, stoves,air con,etc.Are people going for them,are they all necessary? Would like to know what everyone thinks.I would have thought for the prices we are paying,all those things should have been included in the price.

Hi all.  I have just returned from Opomar and can back up everything that Bren has said.  I talked with Jaoa from Newlyn and he was telling me that they're 7 months into a 2 year building project so it SHOULD be finished early 2010.  If it runs on then it'll be the summer of 2010.  They have most of the buildings underway and it certainly looks impressive.  One thing to bear in mind is the buildings will go up relatively quickly then the development will seem to slow down considerably.  This is because of 1st, 2nd fixings etc.  You will think nothing is happening but there will be lots going on inside the apartments. 

Hopefully it'll have been worth the wait when it is finished.  We'll wait and see.  While we were there we went to the beach.  Agree with you Bren, It's very special. 

Anyway I took too many photos to put up online however if you want me to email me privately I'll send you on what I have.

Oh by the way, great news about the bar.  Don't forget the Guinness!

Cheers

J

Thats great news

hi everybody. i´ve just buyed the space that will be a bar of O POMAR in the future. i can assure to the owners of the apartments that the bar of the pomar will be a nice place to have a drink and to enjoy the night with your friends. we are planning to do something like the pubs in UK. we hope that you will enjoy the place in the future and we also are looking to do our best to have the greatest bar in algarve just for you.

Hi everybody. I've just returned from Portugal and went to see what was happening at O Pomar. Things are moving on pretty well now; the site is a hive of activity [I was informed that they had upwards of 500 men working on it recently] and the buildings are really beginning to take shape.

I was told that a show apartment would be ready "within 2 months". Also my apartment [block 301] would be ready "this time next year" and that the whole development would be completed by summer 2010. Obviously, I'll take these dates with a pinch of salt for now until things become a bit clearer but I'm a lot more optimistic that I was a few months ago.

In the sales office they now have a mock-up of both the bathroom and the kitchen; they look very good and are of a decent standard. If the actual finish in the apartments is as good I think that we'll be happy.

We stayed for a few days in Cabanas and it looks to be slowly waking up, with plenty of development accommodation wise and a few shops etc opening. This may not be a good thing, depending on what you are looking for, but it is evidence that the resort is gearing up to be a bit more that a sleepy fishing village. I still think that the beach is one of its best assets, let's hope thay don't ruin that. Personally, I think that more still needs to be done to make it a high quality resort but it's moving in the right direction.

I've taken a few pictures and I'll post them as soon as I have time.

Hi Morgan11,

Regarding your e-mail question, we are based in Albufeira / Central Algarve.

Kind Regards

Furnishpomar

Hi fellow buyers

           I just have a query about the prices being sought for furniture packages both by Newlyn and other operators.I have no experience in this area,but I thought the prices asked seem on the high side,€14000 upwards,when all the kitchen appliances and units are included in the selling price,as well as all built in furniture in the bedrooms.Am I naive on would it be cheaper to source furniture yourself.

Also ,anybody any updates on building progress?

Unfortunately out there the first week in sept so I'll miss you.  Sent all details back to solicitors, not expecting to hear anything for a while.  Would like more info from Newlyn alright.  Not hearing enough from them.

Regarding Furnishpomar, I have to acknowledge that after I posted my mail on this site I went into my private account and they had previously left an address and directions. So apologies to them although I still find it a strange way to conduct business.  Hopefully I 'll have time to pop by in a fortnights time.  Will update you all then.

Later

J

If anybody out there is planning to be in the area between 21st and 30th September and would like to meet up to compare notes, please get in touch.

If anybody else like me is experiencing a frankly awful service from Newlyn's lawyers Bulha, i would be interested to know.  Newlyn seem to be in denial about this.

David

I have replied to you in the past on private message but you haven't disclosed who you are, where you are located or anything about yourselves.  What difference does it make whether people are authentic or not.  All you're doing is selling furniture not trade secrets!  I can understand peoples scepticism about yourselves.  For a furniture company which is trying to sell it's wares, you are actually doing your best to piss us off and drive us away.  How can you have customers from this development when they've only started building?  The first apartments won't be ready until summer 09.  The whole thing doesn't ring true.  I am travelling over to portugal in 2 weeks and all I get on my private hotmail account is a sales pitch with no substance.  So my decision is not to take this any further.  Please don't contact me on my private hotmail anymore.  Regards

We used a company called  Eurocooling on our villa for air con and heating done a great job

www.eurocoolingalgarve.com   as for furnishpomar  we have been here for 20 years never heard of them if you look on company info in Portugal they are not there

Hi Furnish Pomar,

You say you have been in business for 25 years, but you give no website, i have never heard of your company and i can't find you on the web and with a name like furnishpomar it sound like you are just touting for business. The way you are doing it is not very crederble, so in my opinion people should stay away as something is not right here.

 A friend of mine is there at the moment and I should have more pictures of the development in a few weeks. The builders appear to be making good progress.

I have struggled for some time to find a good air conditioning service company in Algarve.

I heard about AVACFRIO in Albufeira  and thought I would give them a try and I have been pleased with the service I received.

My call was answered right away and were able to schedule an appointment within a few days.

My technician (Mr Sérgio) arrived right on time and did a great job. And, I found their prices to be very good.

We visited the site in early May this year and were pleased to see that construction had commenced.  Sadly Newlyn remain hopeless at communication and we certainly had not been told.  We quizzed the local manager who said that they were still waiting for a number of construction permits but remained confident that they would come in and that buildout would be complete - subject to external finishing-off (public areas) by mid to late 2009.  It might take another 3 months to finish everything, so don't think of trying to let your property before the beginning of 2010 (his words not mine).

With regard to the furniture packages, Newlyn have put out offers to several suppliers and, at the date of our visit, had received a firm proposal with full pictures, from just one.

For those buying as an investment, i have put down a marker with Newlyn as to the provision of a central letting service.

Cabanos is slowly being smartened up, but hopefully not too much.  There is talk of building a bridge to the island, which would be a pity as it puts the ferrymen out of business and the present arrangement keeps the riffraff out.  To see what I mean, try getting on to the Isla de Faro on a busy weekend.

My father in law bought at Opomar on our advise last year as we are all going to use it as a holiday home to share together. We were very impressed with newlyns first resort Victoria Boulevard in Vilamoura, if they keep to the same standards we will be very happy with the finish product.

The only thing i would say is i hope that their furniture packages will be better priced this time, as the ones they were showing at Victoria seemed quite expensive; as well as their other optional extras. I know its early but i am starting to look around for other options to fit out our unit, if anyone has any recomendations i would be happy to hear them. 

Hi. All. Just had a letter from Newlyn to say their crew are mobilizing on site, and its all systems go as regards the building. E mailed my solictor to see if he can something a bit more concrete {like a house} from them. It's looking like early 09

Hi DavidRangeley, I was over there in sept as well and by the sounds of things nothing has changed since.  As they've decided to do all phases together, they went for planning all at once however each phase and type of building requires individual permission.  I believe they have that now and should be starting soon but we've been told this before.

Likely won't be in before spring next year.  Out of interest, where and what did you buy elsewhere?  More curious than anything to know what's about if you don't mind.

Hi All,

Just want to know if anyone has any insight into the expected completion date for Phase I? Just spent last Thursday - Saturday (17th - 20th Jan) over there and from what i can see the building hasn't started yet. The roads are in but there is no groundwork (foundations, footings etc) in evidence.  It looked like they were just about to start the roundabout into the norteast side of the  development. No English speaking workers about so couldn't get any info

Denee

p.s. if you are going over to check out the area i would strongly recommend Vila Monte in Moncarpacho (about 10mins by car). Staff, accomodation, food, setting, spa absolutely top notch.

Hi, wanted to join in as my husband and I purchased a townhouse in phase 3 last summer, and we have not yet visited the site, just to answer David did you try the Manor properties office the girl we deal with is called Rebbeca and she's very helpful,

AnnC

I and my wife called in at Newlyn's office on the EN125 last Friday.  Surprisingly none of the persons present seemed to know anything about O Pomar, despite the likelihood that they are regularly receiving requests for information about the planning consents.

I was promised that somebody called Grace would call me back later that day but I heard nothing.

It is getting ridiculous that we have had no update since September.  Long silences only serve to disillusion investors.

David Rangeley

Hi Marie

A friend recently visited the site and said all ground works completed - local council very slow in approving commencement of building. He said developers not selling any more units at the moment as they said they had enough sold to be able to build all in one go with delivery in 2009 - is that the case ? if so I wonder how many units left ? The development is close to all amenities - surrounding land may be developed in future so thats really the only unknown. I think it will be a quality development - see Newlyns other development on the Victoria Course in Vilamoura

MW

Hi.starbird.

I'm using Justin  Ryan at Braganca Bruno & Associates. Obviously from this part of the world, he seems pretty good. www.bbassoc.pt

hi, just about to purchaser in opomar, any recommendation with regard to the which solicitor to use, developer has rec. 2. and for easyiness sake i am planning to use one of them, would appreciate any suggestions.

starbird