Quickstart in buying a house in Portugal

Are you looking to buy a place in Europe with lots of sunshine, low coast of living and right by the Atlantic sea? Then buying property in Portugal can is the right choice for you. In our amazing Algarve region with beautiful towns as Albufeira, Vilamoura, Loulé and Faro, The Algarve is the place to be!

But, before you start your property search, you need to make sure you have all the essential information about the property acquisition process in Portugal.

WESTMARK estate agency is there to provide youwith all the necessary information you will need. 

Portugal is a already a second home to many expats, and the influx of US and Canadian expats is growing quite heavily. The enchanting coast, friendly community, and unparalleled climate make Portugal an ideal destination to relocate to.

Many foreigners who choose to invest or buy property in Portugal are drawn to the Algarve. Albufeira is most famous for the year-round activity with many bars and restaurants opened all year. Vilamoura is renowned for luxury homes and villas, making it the most expensive area in the Algarve. In rural areas like Alcoutim or Monchique, you can find some cheaper opportunities. Remember that it’s never a bad idea to invest in the Algarve, as it has never failed to grow as a touristic and economic pillar in Portugal.

Types of Property in Portugal

All foreigners need to get used to the typical

• A Casa or a Moradia refers to a typical detached home.
  • A Casa Geminada refers to a semi-detached house.
  • Condomínios or condos refer to individual units (fractions) that share common areas, mostly apartments.
  • Quintas refer to classic rustic houses or farms.
  • Terreno means land.

Be carefull with land!

The construction regulations in Portugal are very strict and there are many protected areas. When someone is presenting a piece of land with a construction plan it is no proof that the land is a plot destined for urban development. Even when a plot is destined for urban construction, it can be very restricted when the surrounding plots are qualified as REN (RESERVE ECOLOGICAL) or RAN (RESERVE ARCHEOLOGICAL). Always consult WESTMARK estate agency before you move forward on a plot. info@westmark.eu

Apartment Terminology

Portugal has a weird qualification for apartment types and they are often referred to as a T0, T1 or T3 apartment. These numbers refer to the official number of bedroom that was approved by the city hall when they issued the construction license. 

In the old days this was important because the property tax was mainly based on the number of bedrooms. You can imagine that there have been some very creative developers who got permission to construct studio. Apartments (T0) of 200 square meter and added 2 more bedrooms as soon as the habitation license was issued.

This is something you need to be aware of, because when this is the case in your apartment it can have serious consequences for you in a later stage. The city hall can do a visual inspection, accompanied by the stamped floorplans from their archive, and discover that your property in reality does not look like what it should be at all. When that´s the case, they can withdraw licenses, not approve rental licenses etc. etc.

When you see an apartment advertised as a T1+1 or T2+1, you know for sure that the current layout has 1 extra bedroom that is not known by the city hall. Be careful with buying these apartments. When you have any doubts: call WESTMARK estate agency for our honest opinion and we will guide you through the process.