Episode Summary

In this episode of Notes From the Field, Ronan McMahon shares an on-the-ground update from Portugal after time spent on the Silver Coast and in Caminha—one of the most compelling lifestyle markets on his beat.

But this dispatch goes beyond market fundamentals. Using his own home purchase in Caminha as the case study, Ronan reflects on what has made the investment successful so far, the mistakes he made earlier in his career, and why relationships—not just numbers—can make all the difference in overseas real estate.

Episode Description

Broadcasting from an airport hotel near Porto after two weeks in Portugal, Ronan checks in with fresh perspective from both the Silver Coast and Caminha. While he notes that the Silver Coast has clearly entered a much more internationalized phase—with stronger demand, more Americans on the ground, and fast-rising values—the heart of this episode is Caminha.

Rather than simply restating the investment case for the area, Ronan uses this dispatch to examine his own purchase there and ask a more important question: what actually makes an overseas real estate investment successful?

For Ronan, Caminha was never just about numbers. It was a lifestyle-led purchase—one designed to create a home his family would love, a place to host friends and visitors, and a long-term base in a stunningly beautiful location. But as the project has unfolded, it has also reinforced a much bigger lesson from decades on this beat: success overseas is not just about finding the right property. It is about building the right relationships.

From local banking support and trusted service providers to neighbors, rental managers, and project teams, Ronan explains how investing time in people has helped unlock smoother logistics, better decisions, and a richer overall experience. It is a lesson he admits took time to learn—but one he now sees as central to making overseas investing work.

He also touches on the continued momentum in Caminha itself, where demand is growing, international interest is widening, and the right kind of inventory remains limited. For Ronan, it is still one of those rare places where lifestyle, scarcity, and long-term upside intersect in a very powerful way.

In This Episode

Ronan covers:

• His latest impressions after time in Caminha and on Portugal’s Silver Coast
• Why Caminha was primarily a lifestyle-motivated purchase
• How to define success based on your actual investment goals
• The importance of building strong local relationships
• Why banks, neighbors, rental managers, and vendors matter more than most buyers realize
• Lessons from earlier mistakes in overseas real estate
• Why getting ahead of logistics and timelines is critical
• How Caminha continues to benefit from growing demand and limited inventory
• Why the market still has room to run

Key Takeaway

A successful overseas property purchase is about more than buying well. It is about knowing why you are buying, getting ahead of the process, and building the local relationships that make everything else work.