In Portugal property varies from the resort type of apartment, studio, flat or villa, to the rustic farmhouse with its own land or the fabulously appointed villa overlooking the Atlantic, and there is always something there for everyone, be it for full time occupation or as a weekend and holiday retreat.
Finding Portugal property
The easiest way to find property nowadays is by using the internet so if your looking to come to Portugal property can be located before you arrive to save time and trouble looking locally. It is also much easier to actually carry out the transaction with a minimum of delay nowadays, and many people are following the ex-pats example and moving to Portugal for some or all of the year.
In many parts of Portugal property can still be bought very cheaply, and with the increasing use of the internet for many people, allowing work from home, rather than from an office, an lot of people have taken this opportunity to move from their home country and live in Portugal all year round. Portugal as a place to retire to has attracted many people, not only for the more favourable weather but also for the unhurried way of life and the beauty of the countryside and coasts.
The beautiful Portuguese Republic is located to the west of the Iberian Peninsula. Bordering only Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal has miles of unspoilt coastline coupled with a unique culture and a rich history.
Portugal, meaning ‘beautiful port’, consists of the mainland and two archipelagos in the Atlantic; the Azores and the Madeira Islands. Its extensive coastline, numerous ports and geographic location has long made the country synonymous with seafaring. Many of the greatest explorers were born in Portugal, and, throughout their lives, they extended the limits of the known world and conquered the peoples they found. The Portuguese Empire once stretched from Brazil to the Indies, with Portuguese the most widely spoken language in the world. Now these great seafarers are commemorated with the famous Belem Tower, built in 1514 to mark the spot where famous ships were anchored between voyages. Today Portugal’s beaches and ports are transformed, offering relaxation, beachside bars and seafood restaurants. The long sandy beaches of the Algarve are world renowned, but all along the vast coastline there are opportunities to enjoy a whole host of water sports, from windsurfing to sailing, and scuba diving to swimming. These can all be enjoyed in crystal clear waters with a beautiful summer climate, with summer highs of up to 35°C., all of which may be enjoyed from one of our superb portugal properties for sale.
Inland, the empty landscapes of Portugal are filled with olive groves, vineyards, and fruit trees. Sleepy villages dot the hillsides, and beyond are vast national parks, filled with thick forests and an abundance of wildlife. The main river in Portugal is the Tagus, which splits the country in two. To the north are snow-capped mountains, punctuated with lush meadows and fields, while to the south are the gently rolling plains where locals tend their herds. The whole of Portugal has a sleepy, timeless charm where it is impossible not feel the relaxing pull of nature itself. To the north of Portugal lies the national park of Penada-Geres. Here eagles can be seen soaring high above mountain peaks with well-marked trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. The park is dotted with rivers and lakes suitable for swimming amongst breathtaking scenery, as well as facilities to hire canoes and other river craft. We have many properties in Portugal, both coastal and inland, from small townhouses to the largest villas and farmhouses with gardens, orchards and land. View our wide selection of Portugal property below.
Culture in Portugal
Due to the extensive historical trade routes from Portugal, the Portuguese culture is diverse. The country has both witnessed and embraced the constant flow of civilisations to its shores, taking the best of each and amalgamating them into its own, unique, culture. From the Romans to the Chinese, these many civilisations have left their artistic and architectural mark on the country. As would be expected, Portuguese cuisine is also extremely diverse, embracing many worldwide influences. Freshly caught seafoods are especially popular with the locals, with cod dishes a speciality. The Roman’s associated Portugal with the god Bacchus, who ruled over wines and feasting, and it is no surprise to learn that Portugal has long been exporting fine wines. These wines have recently won several international prizes and, of course, the nearby island is famed for Madeira wine.
Having fun in Portugal
Festivals play a major role in the Portuguese summers, with almost every town and village having regular saint’s day festivals that are likely pre-Christian in origin. Common to many of these festivals is água-pé, a low alcohol wine, traditional bread with sardines, dancing, music, fireworks, and much revelry.
As well as these traditional festivals and carnivals, Portugal has many historic attractions and things to do. As well as the huge variety of water sports on the coast, there are many other sporting facilities available. There are several excellent golf courses, and Portugal even hosts the annual ‘Algarve Open’. There are also motor-sport facilities near Lisbon, and many other competitions including cycling, athletics, and basketball, to name but a few. The first love of Portugal has, however, always been football, with many facilities to see local leagues and international games.
Portugal's history
Throughout Portugal there are many beautiful architectural monuments, influenced by a variety of nations and historical periods. The 10th century castle of Guimaraes is now a national symbol, also known as the ‘Cradle of Portugal’. The great mix of Portugal’s architectural styles is best seen in the Palace of Pena at Sintra, which beautifully combines gothic, Islamic, and renaissance styles. Engineering achievements can also be seen, for example in the Vasco de Gama Bridge near Lisbon, which at 17.2km long is one of the longest in the world. What better way to enjoy the delightful Portuguese way of life than to invest in your own property in Portugal.
The Duoro valley is one of Portugal’s most beautiful regions, with panoramas stretching from the city of Porto all the way to the Spanish border. Here vineyards fill the valleys and the hillsides, lazily basking in the warmth of the sun, interrupted only by the occasional appearance of a traditional white manor house. The River Douro winds its way through the region, offering the chance to soak up the atmosphere of the region while drifting along the river. The Algarve has long been popular for its beaches and climate, particularly with the British, whilst there is a large choice of property in quiet villages an in the countryside.
In contrast, Lagos, on the south coast of the Algarve is a bustling tourist destination with long sandy beaches and a whole host of facilities including water sports, cycle hire, cruises and horse-riding, to name but a few. Also noteworthy is the Museu Municipal with a vast display of historic curios.
Portugal's capital
Lisbon itself is perhaps one of the best examples of Portugal’s cultural diversity. Tree lined avenues are lined with beautiful pastel coloured Art Nouveau buildings, punctuated with street cafes on the mosaic pavements. The river running through the city gives the whole town a sleepy feel, and offers brilliant views over the horizon of the town, punctuated with tall church towers and coloured domes. In the waters of the coast bottle nosed dolphins swim freely, and boat trips to see them are popular with tourists and locals alike. The glorious Museu Calouste Gulbenkian is Portugal’s finest museum, displaying many artefacts from both the country’s distant and recent past. Scroll down to view over 800 properties in Portugal; we market the full range from small plots to attractive farmhouses, modern new-build houses, golf villas and apartments, frontline apartments and villas and townhouses in cosy Portuguese villages.
The town of Sintra is a 19th century royal resort with exotic palaces, fairytale castles, and tropical vegetation. The whole town has a unique beauty and a romantic chivalrous atmosphere. Likewise the city of Porto has many interesting sites and buildings, but these are even more historic, some dating from the earliest settlements in the location, over 1,000 years ago. Porto also hosts an interesting and unique festival to St. Anthony. Locals carry giant plastic hammers throughout the festival, bestowing good luck on their neighbours by tapping them on the head before sharing the traditional feast and dancing long into the night. Further evidence for Portugal’s long history can be found in the Coa Valley, where the prehistoric art dates from 22,000 to 10,000 BC.
The islands of Portugal are volcanic, having formed on the Mid-Atlantic ridge. Portugal’s highest point is an ancient volcano, Mount Pico, which rises to 2,351 metres above Pico Island. The rich soils of these islands have made them a haven for flora and fauna and coupled with the beautiful coastline typical of Portugal; the Portuguese islands are unmissable.
Travelling to Portugal
For a lot of people visiting Portugal property is cheaper than at home and indeed than similar Mediterranean properties in other countries, whilst travel is very much easier too, particularly with local airports all over Europe greatly increasing their traffic. It is now very possible to travel from your local airport to one of the provincial airports in Portugal with the minimum of fuss, making long weekends increasingly possible for many western europeans.
The beaches of the Algarve are famous, be they large or small, whilst the countryside inland varies enormously from the lush northern and mountainous north to the dryer southern areas where the rolling plains dotted with villages and farmhouses seem to live a timeless existence.
1. Signing a Letter of Intent
On finding a property you wish to purchase, your agent will draw up a 'Letter of Intent, this will be signed by both parties, vendor and buyer. Copies of this will be given to the legal representatives of both parties and will be used in preparing the Promissory Contract. Included in this letter will be the price, what is included in the sale, furnishings etc. and any conditions of the sale plus the dates for both exchange and completion.
2. Exchange of Promissary Contract (Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda)
The buyers lawyers are responsible for drawing up the promissory contract (Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda) and as part of the process they will have carried out the legal searches and made sure that there are no charges, e.g. utilities, property tax etc. against the property. The contract will contain details of both parties and include clear title of ownership, when payments are due to be made, the completion date and an inventory, if required. The Promissory Contract is legally binding and will generally be signed by both parties and witnessed by a notary/lawyer. The contract will include penalty clauses in case either party does not fulfill the terms of the contract. A 10%, non-refundable deposit is required at this point, this will be paid to the vendor, through the lawyer's client account. Once the contract has been signed, if the vendor pulls out of the contract, they will be obliged to pay back double the deposit to the purchaser. If the purchaser pulls out, they will lose their deposit.
3. On Completion
The amount of time between signing the Promissary Contract and Completion will vary and will have been agreed in the contract. Before Completion your lawyer will need to arrange with a fiscal representative for you to obtain a Portuguese Fiscal Number. The official Deed of Transfer of ownership (the Escritura) will be signed by you (or someone representing you with your Power of Attorney), this is signed at the Notary and they will retain the document. The Deed will be read aloud by the Notary before all participants sign it. Your lawyer will need to check to ensure that you understand what is being said if you do not understand Portugese. The Escritura, once it has been signed, will officially give you ownership of the property, but will still need to be registered in your name on the Land Registry (Registo Predial) by your lawyer. Your lawyer should obtain a copy of this for your records. Once you have completed, the new utility contracts can be transferred into your name by your lawyer.
IMPORTANT - Disclaimer :
All information provided is believed to be current and provided free of charge. No liability can be accepted for the reliability of the information and statements made as this is obtained from 3rd parties. We always recommend you take legal advice from a fully qualified Lawyer or Notary before buying a property overseas.
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