Buying a house in the Algarve

Are you interested in buying a house in the Algarve? Here is what it takes for you as a foreigner to become a homeowner in Portugal.

Are you thinking of buying a house in the Algarve? Investing in a property in one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the world is not at all a bad investment.

The Algarve is a dream destination for many people around the world thanks to the beautiful beaches and warm weather all year round. What’s more, there are plenty of low-cost airlines to the Faro International Airport making this city easy to access. Because the Algarve is a popular holiday destination, there are plenty of reasons why you should buy property here, whether for commercial or personal reasons.

So how do you buy a house in the Algarve as a foreigner? Is buying a house in the Algarve a worthy investment especially for ex-pats?

These are a few of the questions that this post seeks to answer. You will also get insight into the real estate industry in Portugal and ultimately you should be able to make a sound investment decision. Let’s get right in!

Why should I think about buying a house in the Algarve?

The real estate industry in Portugal is booming and the Algarve is right at the centre of it all. The past couple of years have seen an increase in the volume of real estate transactions in the country and foreign investors are taking advantage. Here are reasons why you should seriously consider investing in the real estate in the Algarve!

The Algarve is a European summer paradise

Boasting more than 300 days of sunshine all year round and over 100 miles of beautiful coastline, the Algarve is indeed among the best mother nature has to offer to the world. 

Buying a house in the Algarve

But that is not all, other than the scenic beaches and pristine blue ocean, the Algarve has plenty of landscape and wildlife waiting to be discovered. 

It, therefore, makes perfect sense why this historic city is a popular holiday destination and tourists flock in droves every summer. 

The Algarve has plenty to offer and the opportunity of owning a home in this region in Portugal should not pass you by. 

Think about the convenience when you are on holiday. It gets even better if you are looking to retire in Portugal, living in the Algarve might be the best decision you have made so far!

Portugal offers benefits for foreign investors

Three-quarters of the population living in Portugal own their homes. 

While this may seem like a huge ask for ex-pats, the government of Portugal has several incentives that are meant to encourage foreign investors to pitch their tents in Portugal. 

Foreigners looking to invest in real estate in Portugal stand to benefit from the many tax benefits in Portugal. 

Depending on where you choose to invest and the nature of your investment, you might be eligible for the Golden Visa program. 

While this might not be possible in the Algarve, as an investor in the country, you will still be privy to the Non-Habitual Tax fund that offers decade-long generous tax incentives for foreign real estate investors.

The real estate market is booming

The real estate market in Portugal has continuously been on the rise thanks to the improving economic conditions of the country. 

The prices of real estate properties have been on a steady rise since 2014 and are not showing signs of slowing down thanks to the increase in demand. 

What this means for you as an investor is that the future prospect of selling or renting out the property is great since the property will only increase in value.

There is a powerful ex-pat community all over the Algarve

It goes without saying that the Algarve is the most popular destination not only in Portugal but also in Europe.  Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that plenty of ex-pats, both tourists and retirees choose to settle here. 

The Algarve covers an area just shy of 5000 square kilometres. This relatively small piece of real estate is home to over 400,000 residents where 10% are ex-pats. 

The number will only increase as the Algarve is becoming more popular among travel communities around the world. 

What does this mean as far as buying a house in the Algarve is concerned? Well, as an ex-pat, it will be easier for you to integrate into the community if you live among other people who have been in the same spot before you. 

Can a foreigner buy land in the Algarve?

Of course, foreigners who are interested in purchasing land here in the Algarve are more than welcome to do so. 

One unique quality about Portugal is that the government is putting deliberate measures in the way of incentives to make sure foreigners are motivated to purchase property in Portugal. 

Programs like the Golden Visa, Non-Habitual tax fund, and the opportunity to get a five years residency permit are just but a few of the plenty of incentives foreign investors can take advantage of.

Step by Step process to invest in real estate in the Algarve

Right from the jump, it is worth mentioning that despite Portugal being quite accommodating to foreign investors, the public service system is quite bureaucratic. 

Visit the property for sale in the Algarve before purchasing it

In this regard, we have dug deep into the process of investing in real estate so that you don’t have to. Here are what you need before becoming a homeowner in the Algarve.

Research and Choose your investment

The process of investing in the real estate industry starts by first identifying your objective for the investment. 

There are plenty of properties each valued differently and also located at different places across the city.

Ask yourself, what is my budget? What areas within the city will I get the best deals from my budget? Am I looking to rent out the house or live there with my family? 

These are some of the questions that will allow you to make a sound investment decision. Do your due diligence, don’t rush into purchasing any property thrown your way.

Prepare the paperwork

Again, buy now you should know that any public service in Portugal has its own fair share of paperwork. 

While you don’t require to be a resident of Portugal to purchase property in the country, you will need to have some Portuguese paperwork signed to make the process valid. 

First and foremost, you will need to have the Portuguese Tax Identification number NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal). Schedule a visit to any government financial office to get this number. 

You will also need to show an identification document that is valid in Portugal, for instance, a passport. 

Lastly, you will also be required to show proof of your source of income from your home country.

Visit the property in the Algarve

Once you have identified a few properties that you might be interested in, it is time to pay a visit to Portugal and have a look at the properties. 

While you can have someone assess the properties on your behalf, for personal satisfaction, it is recommended that you confirm the property’s validity and also look at the condition it is in. 

Get to meet the former owner, and build a rapport with them, you might have further room for negotiations.

Get your document settled in Portugal

This is the final bit of significant paperwork you should handle before the process of buying a house in the Algarve is complete. This series of paperwork is done purposely to gather the documentation of the particular property that you intend to purchase. 

Housing Technical File (Ficha Técnica de Habitação): This is a document highlighting all the technical documentation of the property you want to purchase. 

The license of Use (Licença de Utilização): You can request this document from the local town hall. Its purpose is to check whether the property is approved for the purpose of the initial building permission. 

Building book (Caderneta Predial): It is a unique identification document of that particular property that is issued by the tax authority. This document also shows previous tax compliance.

Certificate of Land Registry (Certidão do Registo Predial): This document is issued at the local land registry offices and is used to show who owns a particular property. 

Transfer the payment and sign the deed

Today, it is easier to send money to Portugal even when you are away from the Eurozone. There are plenty of reliable companies that promised safe and secure money transfers without having to deal with the tedious bank processes. 

Can foreigners buy a property in the Algarve Portugal?

A good example of a reliable company is Spartan FX, KipperTree's official currency partner. Do your due diligence on the best time to make a money transfer that will involve converting your money to Euros. 

Also, only make payments once the contract is signed and you have confirmed that the payment method is legitimate. 

Once everything is set and done, it is time to transfer the ownership of the property to your name. Welcome to the Algarve!

How much does it cost to buy property in the Algarve region?

It is important to mention that property in the Algarve is valued differently depending on the specific city. 

Here is a breakdown of property prices in different city centres in the Algarve, this should give you a rough idea of how prices are valued.

City Average Price per m²

Albufeira 2,724 €    Faro city 2,219 €    Lagos 3,057 €    Loulé 3,185 €    Portimão 2,257 €

(Based on Idealista)

How much is rent in the Algarve region?

On average, rent in the Algarve region is cheaper than in other bigger cities in Portugal for instance, Lisbon or Porto. 

However, within the Algarve region, different cities have different rates when it comes to house rents. Here is a breakdown of the average rent prices in the major cities within the Algarve.

City Average rent per m²    Albufeira 9.6 €    Faro city 8.8 €    Lagos 10.6 €    Loulé 11.8 €    Portimão 8.9 €

(Based on Idealista)

Can I apply for a Portugal Golden Visa to invest in a property in the Algarve?

Unfortunately, effected at the beginning of the year 2022, it is no longer possible to qualify for the Golden visa program through the investment in real estate in the coastal or metropolitan cities, for example, the Algarve, Lisbon among others. 

This decision was made deliberately to encourage foreign investment in other low-density regions in Portugal. 

The real estate industry in Portugal is promising, you should not be limited to the major towns only, other regions still have so much to offer as far as real estate is concerned.

Is making a real estate investment in the Algarve region worth it?

Investing in the real estate industry in Portugal is a good venture. Today there is more demand for housing than the supply can handle. 

Real estate market in the Algarve

The Algarve is a tourist hub and rental returns get at their highest during the holiday season which makes rental property investment in the Algarve a sound financial decision.

It is also worth mentioning that the decision as to whether you should invest or not remains with you. It is only through thorough research and due diligence that you will be in a position to make the right decision.

When are you buying a house in the Algarve?

Since Portugal is slowly getting its footing after the economic crisis, the real estate market is also breaking new ground. 

The demand for housing outweighs the available supply which means that there is no better time to take your stake in this industry than right now. 

So are you ready to move to Portugal and possibly buy a house in the Algarve? We would love to help you out realize this dream. 

Contact us at Viv Europe, our professionals are more than happy to walk with you through the process.

Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree.

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