Select a City in Portugal

Ranking amongst the likes of France and Spain as top second-home destinations for the British, Portugal is rightly labelled a prime overseas property location. Boasting cloudless skies, fantastic golfing facilities, cheap flights and a low cost of living, Portugal has much to offer property purchasers seeking a strong real estate market with high rental potential.

Growth rates in Portuguese property have slowed over recent years in the popular hotspot regions but investors still consider Portuguese real estate to be a stable investment certainly for the medium to long term. Property purchasers seeking an alternative to France or Spain are finding Portugal property is lower in price, while bargains are to be picked up in the mini emerging markets of rural paradises north of Lisbon.

Due to its popularity as a tourist and retirement destination, the Portuguese property market is historically buoyant and conducive to long term profits.                                                                                                                                                                     Portugal's overwhelming success as a golfing haven is a major factor in the country's continued capital growth figures as golf properties continue to be highly sought after due to the fact that they are also located in areas of low density and outstanding beauty. In some key areas of the Algarve rental yields are known to reach up to 10% per annum while this year predictions for at least 10% per annum capital appreciation are not uncommon, provided the property is situated in a high demand hotspot location.

One of the beauties of Portuguese property lies in the diversity of opportunities available to suit all tastes and budgets: Property located in the popular golf resorts of the Algarve is now priced high, some at multi-million levels, while you'll find very little to buy for less than 100,000 GBP. As a general guide, a good standard two bedroom apartment will cost approximately 200,000 GBP. Lower prices can be found further north towards Lisbon and the Silver coast where an emerging property market is in progress due to a new motorway linking the area easily to Lisbon and the rest of the country.                                                                                                           Currently, Portugal is fourth on the list of popularity for UK overseas property buyers - with the Office of National Statistics estimating that Brits bought 5,100 homes there in 2004/5. The Portuguese government is committed to raising this number as it sees future growth as being of economic importance.

Mortgages are typically fairly easy to source in Portugal - and providers in the country pride themselves on their flexibility and the speed of service they are able to give.