Where to Buy?
Your starting point, before you prepare the task of house hunting should, without doubt, be a District search. Portugal has a very, very diverse range of landscapes and climates. It’s vitally important that, if you have the choice, you take your time and make an informed decision on what type of climate you ideally want. Reselling property is a costly process in Portugal and the very last thing you want to do is make a mistake. Ask yourself, do you really want 40+ degrees of heat in the summer or, on the flip side, do you want -5 degrees in the winter? Take a look at the 20 different Districts on our home page and discover the very different sides to Portugal, its islands and what unique treasures they each have to offer. To discover them in greater depth and to learn about the culture of the area, read the blogs to help you decide. Portugal is a small country with just over 10 million inhabitants, based within a great infrastructure and one that is a great place to invest in property.
So, just what is it that you are trying to achieve? Is it a move with work? Are you retiring? Do you have ambitions of running a business in Portugal or are you just looking for a new way of life? Maybe a pool, maybe the beach or golf courses? These factors will ultimately determine where you should buy your home in Portugal. You may of course just be looking for a holiday home or investment? Whatever your dream, you must start by looking at the districts of Portugal or indeed the islands of Madeira or the Azores.
What to Buy?
A vast range of varying types of properties are readily available in Portugal. Farms, mansion houses, city apartments, vineyards, old stone ruins, commercial premises, beach homes and villas with pools. Whatever takes your fancy you'll find it here in Portugal. Your budget obviously determines what you'll be able to purchase, but with ruins starting from as little 5000 euros, the one thing you can be sure of is there will be something for even the smallest of budgets.
How to Buy?
There are numerous, unofficial sites giving advice, we recommend only using the official guide from the Portuguese Government, as this is constantly being updated as legislation changes. Living in Portugal.
Always ensure that your agent, if you are using one, or any property portal taking a commission for buying or selling your home has a valid AMI number. An AMI number is the government required licence for all real estate agents taking a commission for a property sale. You can check their AMI licence number at IMPIC to ensure they are valid. However, please bear in mind that it is usually the company that holds the licence number and not the individual employee. If you see a property portal, that wants commission based upon the sale of your property operating without an AMI number or indeed one that is not registered in Portugal, you should probably avoid it at all costs, it's highly likely to be in breach of current Portuguese real estate legislation.
To check a companies NIPC / NIF number Click here.
What to consider when buying?
Cost.
Taxes.
Legal Fees.
Surveyors Fees.
Time frames.
Potential problems.
Necessary documents.
How the process works.
The language barrier.
