Greetings from The Hayfield Manor hotel in my hometown of Cork, in the south of Ireland.
Tomorrow, I’ll be jetting off to Caminha in the north of Portugal. I’ve been doing some research in advance of this trip and have some great listings to show you from there. Those are below.
But first I wanted to share a little of my history with Cork and The Hayfield Manor, because this is a very special place to me.
This grand historic building wasn’t always a hotel. When I started next door as a college student at University College Cork in 1993, The Hayfield Manor was a private home. Back then this was a sleepy university neighbourhood in Cork city. As Ireland’s economy boomed, the university and other related industries like research and healthcare expanded in this area. But the home and gardens used to be like a private island. Until a hotelier came along and made the owner an offer she couldn’t refuse. The “Path of Progress” eh!
University College Cork, where I started as a college student in 1993. The university is just next to The Hayfield Manor, a historic home turned hotel where I had a pre-wedding wedding and today am celebrating my 50th birthday with family.
As you read this, I’ll be gathering with my immediate family to mark my 50th birthday. The actual date was in February and I celebrated with fellow members of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) group at our annual Lifetime members event—The Gathering. But now I’m in Ireland and it’s a moment when my family can get together.
This is also where my wife Sayuri and I got married. Well…kinda.
Sayuri is Mexican and our wedding was planned for Cabo. The logistics of friends and family traveling from Ireland to Cabo were very complicated. It would have been 30-plus hours each way…three flights or more. So we planned a pre-wedding wedding in The Hayfield Manor.
Then, before our Hayfield Manor pre-wedding, U.K. charter company TUI announced a direct London to Cabo flight. This made it logistically feasible for more of my family to travel to Cabo. And they did.
The Path of Progress again!
Tomorrow we’ll drive to Shannon airport 90 minutes away and make the two-hour flight to Porto. There are multiple daily flights from Cork to Faro in the Algarve but unfortunately none to Porto. Not a big deal. Shannon is close and it’s a tiny airport, making it largely stress free.
I’m going to northern Portugal to visit the historic mansion that I recently bought for €410,000. This is a historic home of 5,000 square feet—fully furnished with incredible antiques and awesome lagoon and ocean views—perched right atop a charming village close to the stunning medieval town of Caminha. And speaking of the Path of Progress…it’s coming to Caminha.
The medieval town of Caminha boasts incredible history and culture. This is also a vibrant and increasingly upmarket destination. Yet property prices here remain highly affordable.
I fully expect the home I paid €410,000 for will be worth more the €1 million in a few short years. In the meantime, I get to enjoy it…and maybe rent it when I’m not using it.
The home also has a three-bed apartment at ground level, which is perfect for guests. My sister and her family will visit with us in August. My in-laws will come from Mexico in October. None of this would be possible if we weren’t getting so much home for our money and buying ahead of the crowds.
I want to see firsthand how the work is going on our home. While it was fully move-in ready when we bought it, well…we decided to make some significant cosmetic changes. Redo the kitchen and bathrooms totally. Move some things around.
I usually hate the idea of spending more on a place that’s really good as is…but this time I felt we are getting the home so inexpensively (€410,000 for 5,000 square feet) that we were playing with the casino’s money.
Of course, it’s easy to persuade me to spend time in Caminha…
The view from my home, with Spain visible just across the water. This photo doesn’t do the view justice. (Follow along on my Instagram next week where I share photos in “stories” as I go.) It’s taken from the original broker’s listing. In general, in this part of the world agents’ photos and presentation of homes are terrible. The reality is much better. This is good to know. Do not be put off by bad photos…
To zoom out for a moment…
Portugal is one of the world’s most popular destinations among vacationers, expats, and real estate investors.
But there is an amazing region of this country that remains overlooked and undervalued.
The stunning towns and cities north of Portugal’s second city of Porto boast incredible soft-sand beaches…rich history and culture…and stunning food and architecture—basically, all the elements that make destinations to the south so appealing.
But they are virtually unknown to foreign tourists, expats, and second home owners. And because of this, prices in these towns and cities are astonishingly affordable. This is Portugal’s “undiscovered north.”
Towns and cities north of Porto such as Caminha, Viana do Castelo and Ponte de Lima are stunningly beautiful and rich with opportunity.
I ranked Caminha and the “undiscovered” surrounding region as the No. 1 destination in the world to buy real estate in 2025 on the Real Estate Trend Alert International Real Estate Index.
The history, the lifestyle, and the value are just so incredible.
I’ll have more when I put boots on the ground. Today, ahead of my return, my team and I have been digging into the listings in the region.
Here’s some of the best we found…
Charming 18th-Century Country Home with Pool Near the Beach in Âncora, Caminha
Listing price: €450,000 ($509,300)
This three-bed, four-bath country villa has 2,120 square feet of interior space, and is just five minutes from the beach in the heart of Portugal’s Alto Minho region.
Originally built in the early 18th century, the home has been expanded and modernized over the years while preserving its traditional character and original architectural features.
Outside, the villa offers privacy and views of lush mountain vegetation. The grounds include a garden, a swimming pool, and a barbecue area.
This property is on the market for €450,000 ($509,300). Read the full listing here.
This house in Caminha has mountain views and a swimming pool on its 10,150-square-foot plot of land. Listing here.
Charming 1930s Stone House with River Views in Lanhelas, Caminha
Listing price: €150,000 ($169,800)
This four-bed, two-bath semi-detached home offers 1,647 square feet of interior space and sits on a 9,257-square-foot plot in the peaceful riverside parish of Lanhelas, Caminha.
Originally built in 1937, the home retains its traditional stone character and includes two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen, two bathrooms, and a terrace on the ground floor. Upstairs are two additional bedrooms and a second terrace with sweeping views over the River Minho and into Spain. A built-in barbecue enhances the outdoor living space.
The property also includes a garage for two cars.
It’s on the market for €150,000 ($169,800). You can see the full listing here.
This four-bed, two-bath stone house in Caminha dates from 1937.
Elegant Historic Home in the Heart of Ponte de Lima
Listing price: €465,000 ($526,600)
Ponte de Lima is often referred to as the oldest vila (chartered town) in Portugal, with an official founding date in 1125. Though in reality, it’s much older still.
Sitting on the south bank of the River Lima, the town was a significant Roman settlement.
It later became a fixture on the pilgrim road from Braga to Santiago de Compostela and Lugo in southwestern Spain. Today, it’s still part of the Portuguese Camino Central route, a pilgrim trail that remains popular with hikers.
Here you’ll find this beautifully restored detached home. With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, it spans 2,066 square feet spread over three floors. Located on a quiet, nearly traffic-free street in the center of Ponte de Lima, it offers a rare blend of traditional Portuguese architecture and modern comfort.
The home features two entrances: one leads to a self-contained studio (or fourth bedroom) with its own kitchen and bathroom. The other opens into a charming traditional hallway with original doors, framed glass, and access to the upper levels.
The top floor is the heart of the home, with a modern open-plan kitchen and living area under a cathedral ceiling. Three French doors open onto a sunny south-facing terrace. North-facing windows look over a private garden and a nearby church.
This property is on the market for €465,000 ($526,600). The full listing is here.
This four-bed, three-bath house in Ponte de Lima is only steps from the Lima Bridge and features a beautiful cathedral ceiling on its top floor.
Stylish One-Bed Duplex with Private Terrace in the Heart of Historic Braga
Listing price: €350,000 ($396,400)
Braga is one of Portugal’s oldest cities, founded more than 2,000 years ago in the Roman era as Bracara Augusta. It’s also a major religious center, famed for its dozens of churches in Romanesque, baroque, and neoclassical architectural styles. Wander its circular, mostly pedestrianized historic center and you’ll rarely walk down a cobblestoned street or alley without ending up in a plaza…looking at a church.
And yet, despite this abundance of history and religious traditions, Braga feels youthful and vibrant. This is a university town and major economic center. Around 40% of its population is under 30. Chic bars and restaurants occupy many of its centuries-old buildings.
My scout Ciaran Madden scouted Braga 18 months ago. He was amazed to see the prices of listings there now.
Take for example this one-bed, two-bath duplex on the third floor of a well-maintained building with an elevator, just steps from the iconic Sé de Braga cathedral.
Spanning 1,399 square feet, the apartment features a bright, open-plan living and dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a service bathroom on the main level. Upstairs in the converted attic are two rooms used as bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a private terrace with sweeping views over the city rooftops.
This property is on the market for €350,000 ($396,400). Read the full listing here.
Braga is one of Portugal’s oldest cities. This duplex lies in the heart of Braga’s historic center.
Spacious Four-Bed, Four-Bath Villa with Pool and Sea Views in Carreço, Viana do Castelo
Listing price: €550,000 ($622,800)
Viana do Castelo is the largest city north of Porto and Braga. Though “city” is perhaps a generous way to describe it.
The wider metropolitan area, encompassing nearby commuter towns, has a population of less than 90,000. Within Viana itself, there are just 36,000 people.
This helps explain its charming small-town atmosphere.
Set on a 40,888-square-foot plot of gardens and woodland, this four-bed, four-bath villa offers 3,229 square feet of living space in a quiet, west-facing hillside setting with expansive sea views, just minutes from Viana do Castelo.
The ground floor features a bright living room with direct access to the garden and pool, a modern, well-equipped kitchen opening onto a rear terrace, one bedroom, and a full bathroom. Upstairs, the first floor includes a suite with dressing room, two additional bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, and another bathroom.
This property is on the market for €550,000 ($622,800). Read all the details here.
This villa minutes from Viana do Castelo comes with 40,888 square feet of land Listing here.
Stay tuned for my reports from Caminha. They’re coming your way soon.
Wishing you good real estate investing,
Ronan McMahon
Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. If you’re interested in any of these listings you should hire an attorney and do your own due diligence. We haven’t done any due diligence on them.
