The purchase process

Buying a property is one of the most exciting and important processes you may go through. Our job is to make sure it works in every way — financially, practically and emotionally.

We understand that when purchasing property abroad you need to know you have a trustworthy, reliable and proactive team working on your behalf. We know buying abroad is different from buying at home, because as well as making it our day job, we have all been through the process personally.

Experts at every step

Unlike traditional agencies, we have split the role of a salesperson into three defined positions: property advisors, property listers and property consultants. At each stage you are working with someone who does that stage all day.

Our property advisors are the first of the team you will meet. They speak to every client who enquires, answer your questions and put you in touch with the right specialists — mortgage brokers, currency exchange, lawyers, interior designers, builders, architects, tax advisors. All of our staff live and work in Portugal.

Before you set foot in Portugal, your advisor will spend time establishing exactly what you want from your search. We work at whatever speed suits you — whether that is two weeks, two months or two years.

Working behind the scenes

During your time with an advisor we will have built your property wish list together. No agency can claim to have the best property for every client — we certainly don't — which is where our property listers come in. They take your wish list and scour the area for other suitable options, drawing on years of contacts across the region.

Listers also make sure everything about a property is above board before it is ever advertised. Your lawyer will carry out formal due diligence later, but anything we list, on or off market, has already been checked and is ready to buy.

Come and see us

Some clients are happy to buy over the phone, but we always recommend a trip — or several — to view property, get to know the area and meet us face to face. Two consecutive days is usually the sweet spot.

Your wish list is passed to your property consultant before you arrive, so their time with you is spent viewing rather than establishing. You will see the options you picked out, the options we found for you, and some of our favourite corners of the region along the way.

Reserving your property

1. 01

   Reservation fee

   Once we have negotiated the right price, you place a €6,000 reservation fee into your lawyer's client account. It is non-binding and 100% refundable, but it shows the vendor your intent. The property comes off the market — no further viewings or offers.

2. 02

   Due diligence

   Your lawyer investigates the property and reports back, in both English and Portuguese. If you are not happy at this stage, the reservation fee is refunded and we start looking again.

3. 03

   Promissory contract

   The Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda is legally binding, and is normally drawn up within 14 days of the reservation fee clearing. It identifies both parties, the property, the agreed price, the deposit, and the date for the final deed.

4. 04

   Deposit

   On signing, the buyer normally pays 30% of the purchase price, less the reservation fee already paid.

5. 05

   The deed

   The escritura is signed before a notary, usually one or two months later. Legal ownership transfers, the balance is paid, and the keys are handed over.

Before the deed

In preparation for the promissory contract, your lawyer will also obtain a Portuguese tax number and open a Portuguese bank account for you. If you cannot travel back to sign, you can grant power of attorney — easily arranged at a notary's office, and recommended if you would rather not fly back for the bureaucracy.

A property is sold in the condition it is in at completion, not when you first viewed it. Before signing, you or your lawyer should check the property has not been damaged and carry out a final inventory to confirm the vendor has left everything included in the price.

Completion day

The deed is signed at the notary's office. Before signing, the notary checks that every condition in the contract has been fulfilled, then reads the deed aloud. Both vendor and buyer sign to indicate they have understood and accept the terms. If you do not speak Portuguese, bring an interpreter — or let your lawyer act under power of attorney.

The balance is paid by banker's draft or transfer. Afterwards, request several notarised copies for your records: the original is stored at the notary's office and a certified copy is registered at the land registry. The purchase is registered with the tax office, and your lawyer transfers all utilities into your name from the day of completion.

The keys are handed over — and you are the owner of your property in the sun.