US luxury real estate company The Agency, known for the Netflix series "Buying Beverly Hills", has arrived in Portugal and will hire 30 people, aiming to bring in 500 million euros in real estate in the first year.
Speaking in writing to Lusa, Ayres Neto, managing partner of the agency in Portugal, explained that "the Portuguese real estate market is very dynamic and has been growing exponentially in recent years. According to Neto, "Portugal is one of the preferred destinations for foreigners to live and invest, so when The Agency defined its expansion plan, Portugal was one of the first countries to emerge as a priority," he said, stressing that the luxury market has been growing nationally.
Ayres Neto highlighted that Portugal has good skills in the English language. It is also sought after "for its climate, safety, economic and social stability, gastronomy, cultural offerings and unparalleled nature," he said, also pointing to "public and private education, and a high quality public and private health system," as well as security.
In addition, he noted, "it offers a gateway to Europe, especially for citizens from other continents. The Agency is coming to Portugal "with ambitious goals" and counting on a "multicultural and multilingual team, with more than 12 different nationalities, speaking 13 different languages".
The company wants to extend its presence in Portugal
Ayres Neto also revealed that the objective for the first month of activity passes through "100 properties raised, in a total value of 200 million euros", and that the company will "initiate its way with a team of about 30 consultants". In Portugal, the real estate company's first office is located in Lisbon in Barata Salgueiro, in the vicinity of Avenida da Liberdade in the capital, as the group believes that the greater Lisbon area is its main market.
"However, Portugal is not only Lisbon and there are many regions with differentiated offers that are appealing to The Agency's clients. Therefore, at this moment, our company will already be represented both in the Algarve, and further north, with agents that know these geographical areas", highlighted Neto.
For the first year, he said, "expectations are enormous", with the objective of "surpassing 1,000 properties obtained, with an approximate value of 500 million euros and an invoicing objective of six to eight million euros".
In addition, also in the first year, the company wants to expand its presence in mainland Portugal, that is, "open more physical offices, the second is planned for Cascais and then, in 2024", The Agency wants to reach the Algarve and also Porto.
The Agency, founded by Mauricio Umansky, is currently present in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Holland, "either with its own offices or in a 'semi-franchise' regime", according to Ayres Neto.