Investing In Portugal – The Low Down
by Tem Pearson on 2007-09-22Portugal has rarely been out of the top three in the Channel 4 programme, A Place in the Sun, rankings as the place to invest.
This makes Portugal very popular with investors of all types who have a range of different budgets and requirements. Over the last five years, property prices have risen by at least 10 percent per annum and this is set to continue for many years to come.
As a general rule, the east of Portugal is slightly cheaper than the west, by approximately 30 percent, although property prices are still around the £60,000 mark. For a real bargain, analysts believe that the Silver Coast or the Lisbon coastal area offers the best value for money and is considered as the real Portugal.
This region is not as highly developed in terms of tourism and infrastructure and, as such, the prices are still relatively low in comparison to other parts of Portugal.
Portugal is generally renowned for its superb beaches and well maintained golf courses, although there are some real bargains to be found in the rugged mountains and rural villages that make up most of inland Portugal.
Although Portugal is often considered by some people to resemble certain parts of Spain, it has been an independent country for over 800 years and the inhabitants have their own language and cultural differences.
Despite the fact that Portugal is a very small country, it contains a number of hugely varied regions with some extremely rural villages that have been seemingly untouched by modern life and other modern tourist resorts less than a hundred miles away.
A classic example of the boom that has hit Portugal can be seen by tracking the history of Vilamoura, which is now considered to be the biggest marina in Portugal.
This region was turned around by a business tycoon called Jordan who decided less than two decades ago to invest and is now one of the most popular tourist resorts in the country. Today it boasts a fabulous range of hotels, spas and even an equestrian centre complete with polo pitch!
Investors should realise that the most popular parts of Portugal do not always offer the cheapest possible investment. The latest development, called the Victoria Residence, is attached to a golf club.
This luxurious development offers a range of two and three bedroom apartments starting at around £273,500. New build apartments are generally incredibly well built in Portugal and build quality is likely to be up to the same sort of standard that would be expected of a property in the UK.
For those who want a cheaper investment with greater long-term growth prospects, the rural villages may seem like a better option, with prices starting at around £10,000.
Portugal has everything to offer the potential investor. From luxurious apartments with all the mod cons and trappings that those in search of luxury require to derelict properties in need of renovation for rock bottom prices, there is something that will suit every type of investor.
One thing that is certain is the tourist market in Portugal is going from strength to strength, offering those in search of investment property the potential to invest in a secure market, with the chance of obtaining good capital growth.
There is a reason that Portugal is regularly recognised as the place to buy and its wealth of opportunity is most certainly it.
About The Author: Providing essential information on buying property abroad, Tem Pearson is dedicated to offering all the necessary information for people looking to buy property in different countries. Visit www.buying-property-abroad.info for all the best info.