December 11, 2024 • 15 mins
Discover the hidden gems of retirement in Europe as we explore Olvera, Spain, and Elvas, Portugal, two charming towns that offer safety, affordability, and a vibrant LGBTQ community. With their stunning landscapes, rich history, and welcoming atmospheres, both locations provide an appealing alternative for those looking to retire abroad. Join Mark Goldstein as he delves into the local climate, cost of living, and LGBTQ resources, ensuring you have all the information needed to make an informed decision. From the sun-soaked streets of Olvera to the historic allure of Elvas, you'll learn why these destinations are perfect for retirees seeking a picturesque lifestyle. Tune in for insights on visas, walkability, and the local culinary scene that will make these towns feel like home.
Takeaways:
- Olvera, Spain and Elvas, Portugal are two charming towns ideal for LGBTQ retirees.
- Both towns boast low property taxes and affordable living costs compared to US standards.
- Olvera enjoys 300 sunny days per year, making it perfect for sun lovers.
- Elvas offers a rich cultural experience with its UNESCO-recognized historical sites.
- LGBTQ communities in both Spain and Portugal are known for their inclusivity and safety.
- Understanding visa options is crucial for retirees considering living in Spain or Portugal.
Links referenced in this episode:
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Welcome to the Where Do GaysRetire? Podcast where we help you
in the LGBTQ community find asafe and affordable retirement place.
Join Mark Goldstein as heinterviews others who live in gay
friendly places around theglobe. Learn about the climate, cost
of living, health care, crimeand safety, and more. Now here's
(00:23):
your host, Mark Goldstein.
And welcome back to the WhereDo Gays Retire? Podcast City Snapshot
series. And I'm your host,Mark Goldstein. And today we're going
to jet off, metaphorically ofcourse, to explore two European hidden
(00:45):
gems. Alvera, Spain, and ElVache, Portugal. Both are picture
perfect towns with charm,affordability, and most importantly,
a vibrant LGBTQ potential. Ifyou tuned into our last episode,
you heard Bruce Joffe and RussWarren share their retirement experiences
(01:06):
in Spain and Portugal. Today,we're diving deeper into these countries,
zooming in on these quaintdestinations. So it's sort of like
a little condensed version. Solet's get into it. Okay, so let's
talk about location andpopulation, starting with Olvera,
Spain. It's located in theCadiz Province of Andalusia, Spain.
(01:31):
This beautiful town is home tojust under 8,000 residents, giving
you that small town vibe.Think cobblestone streets, whitewashed
houses, and sweeping views ofrolling hills. God, that sounds nice.
And then there's Elvas,nestled in Portugal's Alejandro Oro
(01:53):
region, but with a slightlylarger population of 20,730 people.
Famous for its UNESCOrecognized fortifications and rich
history, Elvash offers a blendof rural charm and cultural depth.
Okay, the weather. Olveraenjoys 300 sunny days per year, which
(02:19):
is fantastic for soaking upthe Andalusian sun. The region sees
very little rain, about 21 to31 and a half inches annually, and
virtually no snow. It's aretiree's dream if you hate shoveling
your driveways. Over inElvash, the sun shines bright at
about 252 days a year. Prettyclose, with slightly more cloudy
(02:44):
days than Olvera. Like itsSpanish counterpart, Elvash doesn't
see snow and experiencesaround 20 inches of rain annually.
Both towns scream, pack yoursunglasses and ditch the snow boots.
So let's get into the cost ofliving. Now, let's talk about your
wallet, because retiring instyle is great, but you want to stretch
(03:06):
that dollar, that euro or thatpeso. In Olvera, the cost of living
is incredibly low. A singlefamily home can range anywhere from
98,550 Euro to 158,400 Euro.And when it comes to paying property
taxes, you'll pay between 0.4%and 1.1% of the cadastral value.
(03:35):
For example, a property worth$200,000 could mean annual taxes
of 480 Euro Euro to 1320 Euro.Affordable, right? It sounds a lot
more affordable than here inthe us. So Elvash, on the other hand,
also shines in affordability.The median home price is €153,000
(04:03):
and property taxes here rangefrom €459 annually for urban properties
to 2010 for property forproperty purchase tax. Honestly,
you spend more on coffee inNew York than you would living in
either of these towns. Allright, so now that we got that under
(04:26):
control, let's talk about theLGBTQ + presence and resources. So
what about the LGBTQ scene inno Vera? Spain's overall LGBTQ population
hovers around 6.9%. And whileit's not a massive metropolis, it
(04:48):
offers inclusivity, awelcoming vibe and close knit communities.
Again, it doesn't matterwhether you're gay, straight or whatever,
it's all accepted there. Spainalso ranks high on the Ilga Europe
rainbow map for LGBTQequality, ensuring your rights are
(05:12):
protected. Elvish has asimilar story with Portugal's LGBTQ
population at about 9%.National organizations like Ilga
Portugal and local resourcesprovide support. So while Elvish
might not have the gay bars ofLisbon, it's LGBTQ friendly and offers
(05:35):
a safe and welcomingenvironment. So I don't think you
can go wrong in eitheranywhere really in Portugal or Spain
as far as feeling safe andbeing protected with your rights
as far as the LGBTQ communitygoes. All right, so let's talk a
(05:56):
little bit about visas. Thisis crucial if you're dreaming of
retiring in Overa or Elvash.Here's the breakdown. So for Spain,
I'll name off and I'll justread off a list of current visas
that are available. So we havethe non lucrative visa. It's great
(06:19):
for retirees or those with apassive income work visa required.
If you have employment. InSpain, they have an entrepreneur
visa for starting aninnovative business. There's a student
visa for studying programsover 90 days. There's still the golden
visas, but those are nowlimited for investments over €500,000
(06:42):
through this program. And thatmay be phased out soon. In fact,
I understand Portugal's. Ibelieve Portugal's is totally phased
out. Not quite sure forinvestments you will have to contact
an expert in this field as faras visas are concerned. And Spain
(07:05):
is abolishing the golden visa,but I understand that the actual
law to abolish didn't Passyet, so you still might have a chance.
Not quite sure. Again, speakto a professional regarding visas.
(07:26):
They also have a digital nomadvisa for remote workers with income
around 2,000 to $2,500 permonth. There's a family reunification
visa for joining familymembers already living in Spain.
There's a highly qualifiedprofessional visa for skilled professionals
(07:49):
with job offers. There's anintra company transfer visa for employees
of multinational corporcorporations. There's also a research
visa tailored for academicsand researchers. And we'll talk about
visas for Portugal. Verysimilar, although I think it's easier
(08:11):
to get a visa in Portugal thanit is Spain. But anyway. D1 visa,
a subordinate work visa forthose with a Portuguese job offer.
D2 visa, entrepreneur visa forfreelancers and entrepreneurs. D3
visa, highly qualifiedprofessional visa for specialized
(08:33):
professionals. D7 visa, whichmost retirees will be interested
in, is the passive incomevisa, ideal for retirees with passive
income. So in other words, ifyou're a retiree and just have your
Social Security and pensionscoming in, the D7 visa would work
(09:00):
for you. Digital nomad visafor remote workers with stable income.
And again, we don't know whatthat stable income means. Please
contact a visa professional.Also a student visa for studying
in Portuguese institutions.They also have a family reunification
visa for family members orresidents of citizens. Job seeker
(09:24):
visa for those looking foremployment in Portugal that I've
never heard of either, butit's listed. Golden visa, now terminated
but used to offer residencythrough investment religious purposes
visa. Another one I have notheard of for engaging in religious
(09:44):
activities or training. Sotrust me, whether you're sipping
sangria or wine in Spain orenjoying port wine in Portugal, you'll
want to get this paperworksorted before moving. Contact a professional
to make the process smoother.Most visas start in the country that
(10:07):
you currently live in. So ifyou live in the United States, there
are certain places that you'reallowed to, certain embassies that
you go to to start the visaprocess. Okay, now that we got visas
out of the way, let's talkabout walkability, transportation,
(10:30):
arts and culture. All right,so we're shifting to lifestyle. In
Olvera, walkability scores asolid 6 out of 10. It's not great,
but it's a compact layout.It's great for exploring on foot,
but the hilly terrain makesyou, you know, might make you second
(10:52):
guess. Public transportationis limited, so a car will come in
handy. Elvash offers a similarwalking vibe, especially in its historic
center. You can even hop on atrain to Lisbon, just three hours
away. Both towns are rich inhistory and culture, with castles,
(11:16):
churches, museums that willkeep your weekends interesting for
a while. Okay, Food and diningOne of my favorite subjects. Why
is it that I always love tohear about food? I don't know. So
anyway, foodies rejoice.Alvera has 35 brick and mortar restaurants,
(11:40):
while Alvash offers offersaround a hundred. In Spain. Expect
tapas, paella and churros.Love churros. Churros dipped in chocolate.
I've never actually had one,but I want one for breakfast. In
Portugal, it's all aboutcodfish dishes and pastel de nata.
(12:04):
Your taste buds are in a treatare in for a treat in either town.
So pretty good meals. Iremember Bruce saying he wasn't crazy
about Portuguese food, andI've heard that from a few other
people. But again, it's amatter of taste. So where would you
(12:29):
choose? Olvera with its sunnycharm and low property taxes, or
Elvas with its historic vibesand Portuguese pastries? Both offer
affordability, safety andinclusivity, making them ideal retirement
spots. Whichever you choose,you can't go wrong. I also want to
(12:53):
point out we talked about thelast time we talked about language.
Again, just as a reminder,wherever you go, whether it be Portugal
or Spain or wherever in theworld, it's a great idea to try to
learn the language of thecountry that you're going to and
you're going to spend sometime in, either as an expat or as
(13:16):
an immigrant for the rest ofyour life. So even if you make the
attempt, if you're learningSpanish or you're learning Portuguese
and you make the attempt totry, the locals will so much appreciate
that. They will. They will.Probably. If they do know English,
they'll change it over toEnglish and it'll just be a better
(13:42):
experience. So you aredefinitely going to miss out on a
lot of things if you are notfamiliar with the language. That
doesn't mean that you have tobe fully proficient, you just have
to have at least the basicswill make you so much better off.
(14:04):
So with that, whichever placeyou choose, again, you can't go wrong.
So thank you again for tuninginto this episode of the Where Do
Gays Retire Podcast. Don'tforget to subscribe, leave a review
and join the conversation onFacebook. So we have a Facebook group
(14:25):
and we also have our websiteat www.wheretogaysretire.com. until
next time, keep dreaming,exploring and finding your perfect
place to retire. Ciao for now.Take care. Bye bye.
Thank you for listening to theWhere Do Gays Retire? Podcast if
(14:49):
you enjoyed today's episode,please subscribe to our podcast and
consider making a donation byclicking the coffee cup on any page
at www. Each cup of coffeethat you buy costs $5 and goes towards
helping us continue thepodcast. Thank you for your continued
support.
Welcome to the Where Do GaysRetire? Podcast where we help you
in the LGBTQ community find asafe and affordable retirement place.
Join Mark Goldstein as heinterviews others who live in gay
friendly places around theglobe. Learn about the climate, cost
of living, health care, crimeand safety, and more. Now here's
(00:23):
your host, Mark Goldstein.
And welcome back to the WhereDo Gays Retire? Podcast City Snapshot
series. And I'm your host,Mark Goldstein. And today we're going
to jet off, metaphorically ofcourse, to explore two European hidden
(00:45):
gems. Alvera, Spain, and ElVache, Portugal. Both are picture
perfect towns with charm,affordability, and most importantly,
a vibrant LGBTQ potential. Ifyou tuned into our last episode,
you heard Bruce Joffe and RussWarren share their retirement experiences
(01:06):
in Spain and Portugal. Today,we're diving deeper into these countries,
zooming in on these quaintdestinations. So it's sort of like
a little condensed version. Solet's get into it. Okay, so let's
talk about location andpopulation, starting with Olvera,
Spain. It's located in theCadiz Province of Andalusia, Spain.
(01:31):
This beautiful town is home tojust under 8,000 residents, giving
you that small town vibe.Think cobblestone streets, whitewashed
houses, and sweeping views ofrolling hills. God, that sounds nice.
And then there's Elvas,nestled in Portugal's Alejandro Oro
(01:53):
region, but with a slightlylarger population of 20,730 people.
Famous for its UNESCOrecognized fortifications and rich
history, Elvash offers a blendof rural charm and cultural depth.
Okay, the weather. Olveraenjoys 300 sunny days per year, which
(02:19):
is fantastic for soaking upthe Andalusian sun. The region sees
very little rain, about 21 to31 and a half inches annually, and
virtually no snow. It's aretiree's dream if you hate shoveling
your driveways. Over inElvash, the sun shines bright at
about 252 days a year. Prettyclose, with slightly more cloudy
(02:44):
days than Olvera. Like itsSpanish counterpart, Elvash doesn't
see snow and experiencesaround 20 inches of rain annually.
Both towns scream, pack yoursunglasses and ditch the snow boots.
So let's get into the cost ofliving. Now, let's talk about your
wallet, because retiring instyle is great, but you want to stretch
(03:06):
that dollar, that euro or thatpeso. In Olvera, the cost of living
is incredibly low. A singlefamily home can range anywhere from
98,550 Euro to 158,400 Euro.And when it comes to paying property
taxes, you'll pay between 0.4%and 1.1% of the cadastral value.
(03:35):
For example, a property worth$200,000 could mean annual taxes
of 480 Euro Euro to 1320 Euro.Affordable, right? It sounds a lot
more affordable than here inthe us. So Elvash, on the other hand,
also shines in affordability.The median home price is €153,000
(04:03):
and property taxes here rangefrom €459 annually for urban properties
to 2010 for property forproperty purchase tax. Honestly,
you spend more on coffee inNew York than you would living in
either of these towns. Allright, so now that we got that under
(04:26):
control, let's talk about theLGBTQ + presence and resources. So
what about the LGBTQ scene inno Vera? Spain's overall LGBTQ population
hovers around 6.9%. And whileit's not a massive metropolis, it
(04:48):
offers inclusivity, awelcoming vibe and close knit communities.
Again, it doesn't matterwhether you're gay, straight or whatever,
it's all accepted there. Spainalso ranks high on the Ilga Europe
rainbow map for LGBTQequality, ensuring your rights are
(05:12):
protected. Elvish has asimilar story with Portugal's LGBTQ
population at about 9%.National organizations like Ilga
Portugal and local resourcesprovide support. So while Elvish
might not have the gay bars ofLisbon, it's LGBTQ friendly and offers
(05:35):
a safe and welcomingenvironment. So I don't think you
can go wrong in eitheranywhere really in Portugal or Spain
as far as feeling safe andbeing protected with your rights
as far as the LGBTQ communitygoes. All right, so let's talk a
(05:56):
little bit about visas. Thisis crucial if you're dreaming of
retiring in Overa or Elvash.Here's the breakdown. So for Spain,
I'll name off and I'll justread off a list of current visas
that are available. So we havethe non lucrative visa. It's great
(06:19):
for retirees or those with apassive income work visa required.
If you have employment. InSpain, they have an entrepreneur
visa for starting aninnovative business. There's a student
visa for studying programsover 90 days. There's still the golden
visas, but those are nowlimited for investments over €500,000
(06:42):
through this program. And thatmay be phased out soon. In fact,
I understand Portugal's. Ibelieve Portugal's is totally phased
out. Not quite sure forinvestments you will have to contact
an expert in this field as faras visas are concerned. And Spain
(07:05):
is abolishing the golden visa,but I understand that the actual
law to abolish didn't Passyet, so you still might have a chance.
Not quite sure. Again, speakto a professional regarding visas.
(07:26):
They also have a digital nomadvisa for remote workers with income
around 2,000 to $2,500 permonth. There's a family reunification
visa for joining familymembers already living in Spain.
There's a highly qualifiedprofessional visa for skilled professionals
(07:49):
with job offers. There's anintra company transfer visa for employees
of multinational corporcorporations. There's also a research
visa tailored for academicsand researchers. And we'll talk about
visas for Portugal. Verysimilar, although I think it's easier
(08:11):
to get a visa in Portugal thanit is Spain. But anyway. D1 visa,
a subordinate work visa forthose with a Portuguese job offer.
D2 visa, entrepreneur visa forfreelancers and entrepreneurs. D3
visa, highly qualifiedprofessional visa for specialized
(08:33):
professionals. D7 visa, whichmost retirees will be interested
in, is the passive incomevisa, ideal for retirees with passive
income. So in other words, ifyou're a retiree and just have your
Social Security and pensionscoming in, the D7 visa would work
(09:00):
for you. Digital nomad visafor remote workers with stable income.
And again, we don't know whatthat stable income means. Please
contact a visa professional.Also a student visa for studying
in Portuguese institutions.They also have a family reunification
visa for family members orresidents of citizens. Job seeker
(09:24):
visa for those looking foremployment in Portugal that I've
never heard of either, butit's listed. Golden visa, now terminated
but used to offer residencythrough investment religious purposes
visa. Another one I have notheard of for engaging in religious
(09:44):
activities or training. Sotrust me, whether you're sipping
sangria or wine in Spain orenjoying port wine in Portugal, you'll
want to get this paperworksorted before moving. Contact a professional
to make the process smoother.Most visas start in the country that
(10:07):
you currently live in. So ifyou live in the United States, there
are certain places that you'reallowed to, certain embassies that
you go to to start the visaprocess. Okay, now that we got visas
out of the way, let's talkabout walkability, transportation,
(10:30):
arts and culture. All right,so we're shifting to lifestyle. In
Olvera, walkability scores asolid 6 out of 10. It's not great,
but it's a compact layout.It's great for exploring on foot,
but the hilly terrain makesyou, you know, might make you second
(10:52):
guess. Public transportationis limited, so a car will come in
handy. Elvash offers a similarwalking vibe, especially in its historic
center. You can even hop on atrain to Lisbon, just three hours
away. Both towns are rich inhistory and culture, with castles,
(11:16):
churches, museums that willkeep your weekends interesting for
a while. Okay, Food and diningOne of my favorite subjects. Why
is it that I always love tohear about food? I don't know. So
anyway, foodies rejoice.Alvera has 35 brick and mortar restaurants,
(11:40):
while Alvash offers offersaround a hundred. In Spain. Expect
tapas, paella and churros.Love churros. Churros dipped in chocolate.
I've never actually had one,but I want one for breakfast. In
Portugal, it's all aboutcodfish dishes and pastel de nata.
(12:04):
Your taste buds are in a treatare in for a treat in either town.
So pretty good meals. Iremember Bruce saying he wasn't crazy
about Portuguese food, andI've heard that from a few other
people. But again, it's amatter of taste. So where would you
(12:29):
choose? Olvera with its sunnycharm and low property taxes, or
Elvas with its historic vibesand Portuguese pastries? Both offer
affordability, safety andinclusivity, making them ideal retirement
spots. Whichever you choose,you can't go wrong. I also want to
(12:53):
point out we talked about thelast time we talked about language.
Again, just as a reminder,wherever you go, whether it be Portugal
or Spain or wherever in theworld, it's a great idea to try to
learn the language of thecountry that you're going to and
you're going to spend sometime in, either as an expat or as
(13:16):
an immigrant for the rest ofyour life. So even if you make the
attempt, if you're learningSpanish or you're learning Portuguese
and you make the attempt totry, the locals will so much appreciate
that. They will. They will.Probably. If they do know English,
they'll change it over toEnglish and it'll just be a better
(13:42):
experience. So you aredefinitely going to miss out on a
lot of things if you are notfamiliar with the language. That
doesn't mean that you have tobe fully proficient, you just have
to have at least the basicswill make you so much better off.
(14:04):
So with that, whichever placeyou choose, again, you can't go wrong.
So thank you again for tuninginto this episode of the Where Do
Gays Retire Podcast. Don'tforget to subscribe, leave a review
and join the conversation onFacebook. So we have a Facebook group
(14:25):
and we also have our websiteat www.wheretogaysretire.com. until
next time, keep dreaming,exploring and finding your perfect
place to retire. Ciao for now.Take care. Bye bye.
Thank you for listening to theWhere Do Gays Retire? Podcast if
(14:49):
you enjoyed today's episode,please subscribe to our podcast and
consider making a donation byclicking the coffee cup on any page
at www. Each cup of coffeethat you buy costs $5 and goes towards
helping us continue thepodcast. Thank you for your continued
support.
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