What type of property should you buy?

Guide to the property type which is right for you

27 October 2017, 12:57

Portugal offers many different types of properties compared with Britain. Before you start looking, you should be very clear on the following:

Why are you buying? (holiday home, investment, somewhere to retire…)
How will you spend your time there? (relaxing, having family come to visit, doing sports…)
Are you going to rent out the property to cover the costs?
New build or a second-hand property? Surrounded by natives or among fellow Brits?
Which is more important for you: budget, location, property type or nearby facilities?

Types of Portuguese properties

Villas: Popular in the Algarve region, they are located in the outskirts or in small private estates. Villas often come with a swimming pool and patio or garden area, and can be anything from grand, luxurious constructions to more humble houses.

Houses: While they don’t come with the land that a villa does, houses in Portuguese towns are spacious inside. What’s more, less land means it needs less of your time to care for, and with the added bonus of having shops and restaurants close by.

Apartments: Also within the comfort of a town, but less expensive than a full-blown house, there are plenty of Portuguese apartments built specifically as holiday homes. These properties generally come with shared facilities like swimming pools and tennis courts, all paid for by the community fund. On the other hand, there may be a lot of other people living in the neighbourhood, so R&R may be harder to come by.

Country houses: Possibly the most economical of all properties in Portugal, a country house can let you live the dream of having a cottage with land aplenty in the open countryside. However, there may be some that need renovating, such as farms or old stables, so be prepared to pay to add in electric wiring, running water etc.

Whatever you’re looking for, shop around and think carefully before you buy. You’re sure to find the perfect property for you!