This family left the U.S. and bought an apartment in Portugal for $534,000—look inside their 400-year-old home

Portugal has much to offer to those looking for respite, from its hospitality to its breathtaking beaches and mountains there’s a calming environment and something for everyone to enjoy. One family looking for a relaxing getaway found so much more. They fell in love with a new way of life and with that, found a new place to call home. 

Lifechanging Vacation to Portugal. 

In 2015, Alex Trias, along with his wife, Noki, and daughter, Evie, took a vacation to Portugal. They traveled to Lisbon, Portugal’s Capital City. Two days into their vacation something magical happened. They had fallen in love with Portugal and decided to begin the search for a new home. The family estimates that they looked at 100 places online, and a few in person, before finding a place that met their needs.

After some time, it was decided that they would find a fixer-upper in order to get more space for less mocney. Because they had only intended to stay for two years, a dream home wasn’t number one on their list of priorities. Although some people would argue they certainly are living a dream. 

Read: 8-Year-Old Living In A Shed With His Family Invests Mom’s Last $12 To Change Family’s Fortune

A Home with History. 

They found an apartment in one of the oldest buildings, still intact, in the city of Lisbon. The building is called the Convento dos Inglesinhos and is also home to a church with converted cloisters, and several gardens. The 400-year-old home is a 2 bedroom, 1300 sq ft apartment that overlooks a courtyard and olive trees. They purchased the apartment for $533,554. They took out a $600,000 loan on their home in Washington D.C. packed about 6 bags total and began their new adventure in Portugal. 

Living in Portugal. 

They used the money from the loan on the house to pay off the new apartment and rented out their U.S. home to help supplement their lives in Portugal. So far, they have invested around $200,000 in renovations, installing new floors, cabinets, and closets. In 1755, Portugal suffered major devastation due to an Earthquake. Although there were a number of damaged structures, the Convento dos Inglesinhos is still standing and has since undergone a few renovations.

The family notes that the common areas of the building are covered with blue and white tile dating more than 100 years old and credit the building’s resilience to the fact that in some places the walls are around 4 feet thick. They describe their space as “loft-like” with a living room that they use for sharing meals together and taking online classes over a cup of coffee. Currently, their living expenses equate to around $780 per month. They share a bathroom with a washer and dryer, with daughter Evie. However, their bedrooms are at opposite ends of the hall, giving everyone plenty of space and privacy. 

When questioned about why he packed up his family to come to Portugal he essentially stated that if something brings you joy in life, you should see that through. Some of life’s greatest adventures come when we take a chance on something that feels scary or uncertain.

Keep Reading: I’m 66 Years Old and I Live in my Daughter’s Backyard.