Five hotspots for home-hunters in Portugal

What's not to love about sunny Portugal? The warm weather and white sand beaches make this one of the most popular countries for summer getaways and holiday homes.

Following the announcement of speedier entry for British passport holders, the number of home-buyer enquiries for Portugal rose by 25% in a week. UK citizens now have access to dedicated e-gates at four Portuguese airports - Lisbon, Porto, Faro in the Algarve and Funchal in Madeira.

Buyer enquiries for Portugal have also soared since April last year as confidence from British buyers looking for a home abroad grows.

Mario Mateus, UK Business Development Director of Portugal Sotheby's Realty, says more buyers are looking to work from home, and are looking for larger properties with wellness amenities, eco features and a high-tech infrastructure.

"Portugal offers the perfect conditions for the new work-life balance with over 250 days of sunshine each year, high-tech services, world class health services and a modern infrastructure," he says.

"In big cities, including Lisbon and Porto, the primary goal for British clients is investment and relocation, whereas in the Algarve it is to find a holiday home and for relocation."

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Top spots for home-hunters

The small island of Porto Santo, near Madeira, is the top hotspot, where searches more than tripled (267%) compared to last year. Porto Santo is a 90-minute flight from Lisbon on the warm south-western edge of Europe.

Searches have also risen - by 129% - in the picturesque village of Comporta in Alcácer. Comporta is a short ferry-ride from the bustling city of Setúbal and is about an hour Lisbon. This favourite beachfront location for the Portuguese has been attracting overseas buyers in recent years, too.

In Vila Real de Santo António, a traditional town on the Eastern Algarve close to the Spanish border, searches are up by 82% in a year.

David Rowat, Managing Director at OliveHomes.com, has also seen demand rise for stand-alone villas in resorts such as Vale Do Lobo, Quinta do Lago, Vila Sol and Vilamoura.

"We can see the Algarve remains extremely strong with increased interest in the outskirts of Lisbon (Setúbal) and Madeira. This was to be expected due to the changes in the Golden Visa, which now precludes investment in the centre of Lisbon. Madeira is a beautiful island which is becoming more in-focus due to the extra value gained compared to mainland
Portugal," he says.

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Location	Increase in searches April 22 vs April 21
1. Porto Santo	267%
2. Comporta	129%
3. Vila Real de Santo António	82%
4. Braga	81%
5. Setúbal	55%

The header image of Porto Santo for this article is provided courtesy of Unsplash

READ MORE:
Portugal welcomes British passport holders with fast-track e-gates
Post-Brexit holiday homes: can you stay longer than 90 days in the EU?