We are Imobiliaria in Portugal, that is to say a registered real estate agent and we have recently discovered that Portugal is expanding, which is handy considering the amount of people who seem to want to move here from the north of Europe and beyond, Indeed many Portuguese nationals are also returning from such places as Mozambique and South Africa also a fair number of Brazilians are making the move here.
But how is Portugal getting bigger, are the borders with Spain shifting, volcanic activity tectonic movement or is there some other-worldly explanation for these phenomena. Before you pack your bags and head for the new land grab with your covered wagons let me explain.
For a long period of time perhaps centuries certainly many decades people have been lying to the government, perhaps in retaliation for the usual tissue of lies we all have to put up with from politicians not that I am in anyway cynical.
The reason for these dalliances with the truth is tax the smaller your land the less tax you pay so people have been reporting there plots as significantly smaller than they really are.
But now that the influx of people from the north of Europe is accelerating this is changing, in the north we have long been highly regulated in our land and property transactions but some of the councils here still don’t have property boundaries marked clearly on a map they still rely on bits of paint on a stone or if your lucky you may have a concrete post or two.
With the insistence of more and more people on topographical surveys the land mass of rural Portugal seems to be increasing exponentially without a single stretch mark earthquake or crack.So if you are searching for property”>property in Portugal take care of the amount of land you are buying more is not necessarily better it can simply mean more maintenance more money more aggravation.

I want to know if its a good idea to move to Portugal from South Africa. Iv had enough of this counrty!

How long is the trip by train between Coimbra and Lisbon, Portugal?

i am doing a project on Portugal and i need to list some push factors of why leave from there.

Villapac have a range of furniture package Portugal designed to make the move to your new home in Portugal easy and stress free. Regardless of whether you’re moving or using your villa as a holiday home we can provide you with everything you need from curtains to wardrobes.

Moving home or setting up a holiday home can be a stressful task, so it makes sense to use the easiest, most hassle free method to do this. When using Villapac all you need to do is select the furniture you wish to purchase for your furniture package Portugal and we will do the rest.

We provide furniture packages for homes in Portugal as well as many other locations. We will provide you with everything you need to decorate your home so you can sit back and relax while we do the rest.

Years ago the residents of Portugal favoured furniture that was dark and heavy. However, today the trend is contemporary, fashionable and modern. Locals now want modern styles which are classy and not cheap. Depending on the flooring and colouring in the home the majority of people select an oak or wenge (modern dark) wood for their furnishings. The dark modern is a good compromise as it does not date so will be worth investing in. Our Malaga collection is perfect for this trend as it consists of dark brown leather sofas and dark, solid wood furnishings.

Lighter, more traditional furniture is very popular amongst locals. You will have plenty to choose from with our collection as all our styles are modern and contemporary, each with a little twist. Our Nevada collection is simple yet sophisticated, creating a light, airy room which is a trend many of the Portuguese residents favour. Our Marbella collection is absolutely perfect if you are aiming to fit in with local residents when purchasing a furniture package Portugal. With elegant and stylish furnishings we proudly present Marbella as our premier home package.

It looks as if a simple and modern decor is going to remain popular in Portugal for a long time as they are in line with the rest of Europe regarding current furniture trends. Traditional, old-style Portuguese furniture is not very common these days and not many places supply it. However, some of the older residents favour this style and you may as well. If this is the case you can talk to one of our advisors who can mix furniture from various collections to help you create the perfect traditional Portuguese home with your furniture package Portugal.

To make your moving experience even easier for you, you can either pay for your furniture package Portugal in GBP or Euros and all delivery and installation is free of charge. If you would like more information about our furniture packages or would like a brochure, you can find all the required details on the contact us page.

This is not really news because this has been going on for some years now.
Why do we write about it then? Growing interest in the Alentejo will eventually push prices up in the housing market, and for you, interested in the Alentejo we thought this might be of interest.
On the 9th of august The Independent (co.uk) published an article in their homes and property section: ¨In search of the peaceful Portugal¨ This article is not only about the Alentejo region but all other rural areas. We quote Ben West, who wrote the article:
Published: 09 August 2006

Curiously, most British buyers of Portuguese property focus on the crowded, golf course-strewn Algarve, known for being home to some of Europe’s most expensive coastal property.

Yet head into rural areas away from the coastal new-builds and older homes materialise in and around charming, attractive old Portuguese villages at a fraction of the cost. Finding them can take a bit longer as there are very few agents geared to English-speaking buyers, but it is well worth the effort.

And about the Alentejo:
Moving southwards, the countryside of the Alentejo, Portugal’s largest and most laid-back province, is another under-developed area rich in inexpensive properties. Approximately an hour’s drive east of Lisbon, the region’s well-preserved historic capital, Evora, proclaimed by Unesco as a “world heritage area”, boasts splendid architecture.

The extensive rolling plains are broken up by fields of sunflowers, oak, cork and olive plantations, occasional traditional farms and pleasant villages. Attractive towns include well-preserved Estremoz, Avis and Arraiolos, which all sport their own castles. The Alentejo region is known for its traditional handicrafts, excellent cheeses and superb wines. Walking, cycling, water sports, fishing and horse riding are all popular.

It is a bit strange that West does not mention the unspoiled Alentejo coast of 160km. Tourism here is developing rapidly but it is a protected area, no building allowed on the coastline. So this area will remain as beautiful as it is.

The rich cultural heritage of Portugal and in this area in specific makes it even more interesting to invest in property here. There is more to offer than just the seaside and beautiful scenery. Places as Evora, (on Unesco world heritage list) and Beja are worthwhile a visit to discover their ancient history. Places as Setubal, Sesimbra and Sines are old fishermans villages with all its charmes and of course good places to eat fresh fish. Almograve and Vila Nova de Milfontes are the best-known beach villages of this area, but there are many more lovely beaches and trendy beach bars/ restaurants that serve good food.

More inland you will find the wine quintas, a visit there and of course some wine tasting is a lovely introduction in the world of Portuguese wines. Many of them are prize-winning wines, Esperao being one of the most famous ones. Portugal has many wonderful Pousadas, hotels partially owned by the State, located in old castles, monasteries and other historical places.

Discovering this part of Portugal you might stay in one of these luxurious hotels or choose from the cheaper ones. There are plenty. Of course you will find hotels or B &Bs owned by foreigners who started a new life in Portugal and with that life a new business. This number is still increasing and welcomed by the Portuguese.

There are many reasons to invest in properties here; one of them is of course the price difference with the rest of Europe. Whether you are looking just for land, a villa, an apartment near the sea or a house in the countryside for sale, we can find what you are looking for and guide you all the way.

Now might just be the right time to invest in the Alentejo.

What time of the year is the cheapest to go to Portugal?

Attaining planning permission (project) can be a time consuming affair in Portugal and it is not unusual for this process to take up to a year or more to be passed. Anyone who writes to the contrarary has usually not experienced the process themselves and possibly has a financial interest in making the process appear more speedy than it is.

Once you have selected the architect you wish to use and have an idea of the design of building you wish to build, the process should be relatively straightforward.

Whereas planning permission in the United Kingdom usually takes six weeks to process, in Portugal the procedure is much, much longer. In Portugal a project, or planning permission, once submitted in full to the Council, could take from six months to one year to pass.

The first stage of planning is called the Project de Arquitectura (Architectural Project) is a comprehensive brief including architectural drawings, topographical survey and  list of materials to be used. This is submitted to the Câmara first for approval.

The second stage of any planning procedure in Portugal is the Projecto de Especialiada (Specialities Project). This part of the project covers the engineering required to complete the build, information on septic waste removal, water and so on and is usually compiled in conjunction with an engineer.

Once both the Projecto de Arquitectura and Projecto de Especialiada have been approved by the council you can with your builder pick up the Licenca de Obras (License of Work) from the Câmara.

Only when the building work is completed can the architect and engineer sign off the project and a habitation license be issued by the local council.

In some cases where alterations have been made during the build additional plans must be submitted to identify the changes. Minor changes are accepted – moving an internal door for example. However more major changes will most likely result in more plans and structural drawings having to be submitted to the council.

They had built in Portugal and went through what seemed like a long drawn out process and this scared us a little so we chose to purchase an existing house rather than build as we didn’t want to go through the nightmare of a long drawn out process.

Fate however had a different idea on what we would eventually purchase after we visited a beautiful piece of land without a single building on it, we had immediately fallen in love with it.

Our guide at the time a Mr Bert Snijder of Alentejo Home Real Estate offered us assurance that they could assist us with the building process and after weighing the pro’s and con’s over and over we decided to purchase it.

Bert was in total control he took care of all the paperwork and even assisted in finding an architect and a builder and we found the contracts were executed smoothly and without fuss despite the fact that we could not speak a word of portuguese, he of course spoke it fluently.

With each visit to Portugal we saw our dream come true bit by bit, being pleasantly surprised with the progress made time after time.

We found out that our builder worked very efficiently and we were (and still are) very satisfied with him. Alentejo Home kept us informed with pictures and reports so we had nothing to worry about in Holland.

The house was finished within the time span planned. The final result was even better then we could have dreamed.

would we advise anyone to build in Portugal..? The fact that we bought our second piece of land two weeks ago, says it all! On this land we will be building a few apartments for rent. We’re building again with assistance of Alentejo Home of course.

A tip for aspirant buyers/builders: stick to the rules! Many people still think that in Portugal everything is permitted.

Those days are long past; Portugal is a EU member and has, like all other countries, building rules. Keep in mind that the paperwork can be a hassle and take a lot of time.

So just what is involved in building a house in Portugal..? there is quite a lot to be considered and the following is a check list we compiled of the services Mr Snijder and his company Alentejo Home real Estate offered to us.

Translation..If you don’t speak Portuguese you’ll definitely need this. Checking the properties paperwork..They ensured it was all correct. Assistance with the Notary…They accompanied us to his office Registration of the property..They provided the legal assistance Architect/Contractors..they found us reliable companies Mortgages..They offered professional Mortgage services. explanations..the ensured we fully understood what we were required to do and what was happening throughout the building process.

If your considering building then you need to find a company that can provide a complete service, one that will take the time to fully explain things to you one that is thorough when it comes to Checking paperwork of properties means checking important matters like mortgages or other debts still remaining on the property, how many owners there are etc. Building assistance to us means: You don’t have to come to Portugal to follow the building progress, change building plans or check on building progress and furnish you with detailed reports and photo’s or let you know when your presence is required.

Our final advice is to do as we did look up Mr Snijder and his company Alentejo Home Real Estate it will save you a lot of time and worry.

Officially known as the Portuguese Republic, Portugal is situated along the peninsula of Iberia. It is found in the southwestern part of Europe. Compared to the other countries within the continent, Portugal is among the warmest. The country has a Mediterranean climate and the temperature of the coastal areas can reach 40?C during the summer.  Summer and spring in the country are generally sunny and warm, while the autumn and winter can be windy and rainy.

Because of the wonderful weather along the coasts of Portugal, especially during summers, its waterfront properties are highly sought after. Property by the beach is in high demand. Both buyers and investors seek real estate in the country because of the obvious benefits the country provides. The main advantage of a coastal property is its warm climate all-year round.

If you opt for a renovated property, you should be able to buy at an affordable price. If you are buying waterfront real estate for investment purposes, you are guaranteed good profits because of the high demand for those coastal properties.

Property sales in Central Portugal have been good for several years. As with other countries worldwide, buyers have to follow specific steps during the process of buying real estate. The first thing you need to do is to execute the preliminary sale contract which is drawn up by a notary. This agreement legally sets the conditions for the sale. During the execution and signing of the binding contract, the property buyer is called to settle the transacted deposit. This means that you have to have a deposit amount before the preliminary contract is prepared for signing.

Central Portugal property sales usually require a deposit amount of between 10 and 12 percent of the total purchase price. When the seller of the Portuguese  property decides to stop the sales process, the deposit paid will be forfeited. There are instances however where the buyer is entitled to stop the signing of the contract and not forego the return of his deposit. This is true especially if the property seller is not able to provide a clear and free title to the buyer. If this is the case, the purchaser has the right to cancel the contract. If he or she has already settled the payment of the deposit, he or she can get it back.

If you want to buy a property in Portugal, you are required to acquire a “Fiscal Number” from the local tax office. This is a requirement for foreign as well as local buyers. The application for a Fiscal Number during property sales in Central Portugal is fairly simple. You do not have to go through much hassle. All you have to do is fill out a form and submit it to the tax office.

Three or four weeks after the execution of the initial contract, the deed and the final contract are signed. This is when legal possession of the Portuguese property is transferred to the buyer. The last step for property sales in Central Portugal is settlement of the tax which is imposed on the transaction. The buyer should also register the deed within the Office of Land Registry.