Portugal is a modern, democratic, and legal European state located in the southwestern part of Europe. It occupies approximately 15% of the Iberian Peninsula, with the remaining part belonging to Spain, the only country that shares a land border with Portugal.
Portugal is a member of the Schengen Area. The country is administratively divided into 18 districts, and the capital of the Portuguese Republic is Lisbon. The permanent population of the country is 10,500,000 people.
Portugal’s Economy
The key economic sectors in Portugal include:
- Light and food industries
- Agriculture (viticulture, fruit growing, olive plantations)
- Livestock farming
- Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy
- Chemical and petrochemical industries
- Construction sector
Portugal is home to several thousand construction companies, which build new, modern, high-quality residential and commercial properties every year. This helps meet the growing demand for real estate from both local residents and expats.
Tourism and Immigration in Portugal
Each year, more than 10,000,000 tourists visit Portugal, almost equal to the country’s total population. Additionally, Portugal welcomes:
- Businesspeople from Europe and other countries
- Students from local universities (University of Porto, University of Lisbon, NOVA University Lisbon, University of Coimbra, University of Aveiro, University of Minho, Catholic University, and others)
- Qualified expats working in local companies
- Migrants who relocate to Portugal individually or with their families to improve their living conditions
Portugal’s Real Estate Market
Portugal has a well-developed real estate market, driven not only by domestic demand but also by strong interest from foreign investors.
Residence Permits in Portugal Through Real Estate Investment
About 50% of all Portuguese residence permits issued through the investment program were granted to Chinese investors. Other top countries include:
- China – 5,000 residence permits issued
- Brazil – 1,040 residence permits issued
- Turkey – 470 residence permits issued
- South Africa – 420 residence permits issued
- Russia – 410 residence permits issued
Most Popular Regions for Investment Properties
The majority of investment properties purchased by foreign investors are located in Lisbon. There is a high demand for luxury real estate in Portugal, particularly among buyers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States.
The most popular cities for luxury real estate acquisitions include:
- Lisbon
- Faro
- Setúbal
- Porto
- Madeira
- Braga
Mortgage Lending in Portugal
Approximately 160,000 real estate transactions take place in Portugal each year. The country has a well-established mortgage lending system, but the conditions differ for local citizens and foreign buyers:
- Portuguese citizens can obtain a mortgage covering 85% of the property’s value
- Foreign buyers can secure a mortgage covering 60% of the property’s value
Reviews of Portuguese Developers
Our website features reviews of Portuguese real estate developers, written by property buyers. Reading these reviews will help you form an objective opinion about their reliability, construction quality, adherence to deadlines, work conditions, and finishing standards.
To make a choice when buying real estate in Portugal, you can check out the rating of real estate agencies. And if you are interested in a specific location, check out the projects of real estate developers in Lisbon.