Buying Property in Portugal

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Buying Property in Portugal
Reading time: 9 minutes
Published: 3rd October 2019, 10:43am

A seaside garden with mild temperatures, unforgettable scenery, unique historical monuments, irresistible cuisine, safety and Portugal real estate opportunities are the country’s business card for foreigners. In fact, Portugal is the ideal setting for a full, happy life that many can only dream of. Whether for foreign investors looking for a good business, or for non-resident individuals looking for a home for sale in Portugal, here’s what you need to know before taking this step.

This guide includes the following topics:

 

Why investing in Portugal real estate is a good option?

How to buy a house in Portugal?

Challenges you might face when purchasing a house in Portugal.

  1. FAQ

 

Why investing in Portugal real estate is a good option?

Purchasing a property can make you eligible for Portuguese citizenship - know more about this topic on our Golden Visa Portugal page;

The cost of living in Portugal is one of the lowest in Europe;

It is an investment with high yield returns;

Eligible for great tax benefits through the Non-Habitual Resident scheme;

Public infrastructure such as healthcare and transportation are widely accessible;

Portugal is a safe place to live, with a very high quality of life, with pristine nature and golden beaches - see them here.

How to buy a house in Portugal?

 

1 | Choose your premium area

Choosing where to live in a place you don’t know anything about can be overwhelming, which is why you should check our Portugal Guide to help you start your research. Portugal has something for anyone looking for a new life - whether it is vibrant cities, or scenic small towns. Leave no stone unturned, and learn about how it is to live in each one of Portugal’s premium areas.

 

Buying Property in Portugal - Price per square meters in Portugal

2 | Talk to an expert

You can find a house through an online portal or through a real estate agency. Our team at Portugal Homes can provide you with a personalised consultation for buying a property in Portugal, as well as provide you with market reports, to help you make the best decision. Get in touch with us here.

3 | Get a mortgage loan

If you’re not rolling in it, you may need to look for a mortgage broker. Alternatively, if you wish, Portugal Homes liaises with three of the best portuguese banks, and can help you to, comfortably and conveniently, take care of opening an account and handling the respective process, so you don’t have to make travel efforts to the establishments.

In most cases, mortgages in Portugal run for 25 years, however if you’re a resident you can get up to 30 years.

For more information about mortgages, contact our Financial Advisor: steve@portugalhomes.com or mariana.vieira@portugalhomes.com
 

4 | Find your property

Although there are more flats available in built up areas and cities, you still have a wide choice of apartments, houses or commercial properties to build your ideal property in Portugal yourself. We can help you find the best property according to your requirements, here.

5 | Sign the Promissory Contract - Contrato de Promessa de Compra e Venda

Once you’ve decided what property you want to buy, you will sign a contract to close the purchase - the Promissory Contract (Contrato de Promessa de Compra e Venda). You will also be required to pay a deposit on this stage - usually 10% to 30% of the agreed purchase price -, this value being refundable if you can’t obtain a mortgage, or complete the transaction within the specified period in the contract.

6 | Sign the Final Deed - Escritura

This is the final stage of purchasing a property in Portugal. Here, the notary will read the contract aloud and the Final Deed (usually in Portuguese) is finally signed. At this stage, you must pay the remaining funds and have the utility contracts changed into your name. 

Challenges you might face when purchasing a house in Portugal

- Rising prices

After the economic downturn, the price of houses in Portugal rose 9.2% over the first quarter of the year. 
SourceSCMP.com

Solution: At Portugal Homes, we have an in-house data analyst who provides in-depth market reports on each of the investment properties, allowing the client to make the correct decision on their new investment and ensuring he will get a significant percentage of their return on investment (ROI).

- Hidden Costs

If you’re dreaming of glamour, you may want to take a step back. Portugal is coated in traditional buildings and historical architecture. Older homes are prone to an array of foundation and structural problems that can cost you plenty. 

Solution: Before purchasing this type of property, you should address our After Sales department to assist you with this matter, as the team will make sure to inspect your property before, during and after your purchase to report potential snags and get them solved before you move into.

- High Ownership

Portugal is one of the countries with the highest rate of ownership, where over 74% of the population are homeowners.
Sourceworldatlas.com

Opportunity: When the higher classes moved by the sea (Cascais, Estoril and Sintra), the heart of Lisbon was left to the lowest classes, especially to poor pensioners living on frozen rents. The buildings began to rot but in the past two decades there has been an effort to renovate the old historical center of the city. As the most elderly population dies, younger investors renovate the houses and discover the charm and the privilege of living in the focal point of the city.

Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Property in Portugal 

What kind of taxes do I have to pay?

Although you’re liable to fees as a buyer, these vary according to the circumstances. Fees and taxes include:

Stamp duty: Levied at a flat rate.

Property transfer tax - Imposto Municipal sobre Transmissões (IMT): This is calculated on a sliding scale depending on the cost of the home.

Notary and land registry fees.

If you’re buying a house in Portugal through the Golden visa programme, use our Calculator to estimate the property buying cost, the legal fees and government fees.

 

Buying property in Portugal


What are the requirements to buying a property in Portugal?

The purchasing process in Portugal isn’t that complex, and requires the following documents:

Passport/Citizen’s Card: For all legal and bank transactions such as signing the contract or applying for a mortgage.

Portuguese Tax number: to make any transaction and pay taxes. It’s also needed to open a bank account, apply for a mortgage or even install water and electric facilities in your property.

 

Bank account: to help you with transfers, paying bills and to avoid dealing with frequent changes in the exchange rate.



 

Buying Property in Portugal

About Portugal Homes
 

PortugalHomes.com specializes in investments through Real Estate and Golden Visa. We help buyers find the right property overseas, whether it be for Golden VisaNHR, Investment or simply a place in the sun. Our properties are selected with great thought in mind to give our clients the best opportunities. We offer the complete service from introducing them to the Legal RepresentativesCurrency ExchangeMortgage AdvisorsProperty ManagementRental and Furniture Packages along with making sure all our staff are trained to fully understand the buying process and taxes for every scenario. Portugal Homes provides the complete service to anyone looking to buy a new or resale property overseas for holiday use or as a short or long-term investment.

To find out more, please contact us:

 

  • Phone: +351 213 471 603

 

  • E-Mail: info@portugalhomes.com

 

 

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Buying Property in Portugal

Portugal Homes has very experienced and knowledgeable professionals working with some of the most established and reputable developers Portugal has to offer. Our vast experience allows us to guide you through the best investment choices.

Whether you want a holiday home or an investment property, we select the best units for your profile and take care of all the process from start to finish. Even after the sale! Our After Sales services assume the responsibility of furnishing your property at your taste, taking care of the property in your absence, managing the rentals if you wish to rent your property when you’re not in Portugal and so much more!

To learn more about the Portuguese Non-Habitual Resident Program and our After Sales services, please fill the form below.

Thanks to Andreia Leite for the comprehensive and timely updates on the construction progress of the new development we purchased!

Investor from the USA

Very helpful. Work with his heart. Mark is a very nice advisor. 

Investor from Morocco

Everything was perfect. I got all answers about my questions. 

Investor from Turkey

Ryan was an excellent real estate agent, he really steered me in the right direction based on what I said was important to me. Living in another country, I wasn't as familiar with the city as he is. Where I thought I wanted to live and what I truly wanted were not the same. He took the time to listen and figure out the best spot for me, and we are very happy with it - far more than we would have been elsewhere.

Investor from the USA

The overall experience was great from follow up to After Sales. I would like to give special thanks to Mr. Simon, Ms. Francisca and Ms. Mariana.

Investor from UAE

George Hobson is a pleasant young man, came across as knowledgeable, experienced, hardworking, honest & disciplined; I felt very comfortable in easily making my investment.

Investor from UAE