• Visa-free access to Schengen Zone countries granted to Emiratis
• Struggling Euro makes Portuguese property prices tempting
• Algarve property prices tipped by RICS/Ci to grow by 3% this year

No-one can truly predict what the future holds, but for those in the international property sector it is certainly possible to make informed projections based on their experience of the market  and their knowledge of key influencing factors.

In Portugal, Founding Director of boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, Chris White, has been engaging in a spot of well-informed crystal ball gazing in order to see what may be in store for the country’s property market, particularly in the holiday paradise hotspot of the Algarve. He comments,

“It’s important to anticipate upcoming trends and changes in the market when you work in the property sector, so that you can be sure that you have the right properties in the right areas on your books. Things like the introduction of the golden visa scheme can have a marked impact on the market and if your stock consists entirely of one bedroom apartments inland, when a surge of Chinese buyers are looking for high end properties on the coast, then you’re going to miss out.”

Portugal’s property market has certainly benefited from Chinese investment, with the latest RICS/Ci market report noting 14 consecutive months of rising agreed sale numbers. The Algarve in particular has shown strong growth and is tipped to achieve growth of 3% in the year ahead, against a national average of 2%.

But keeping an eye on this kind of market data is just the tip of the iceberg, points out Chris White.

“Stats on the performance of the prices and agreed sale numbers are really useful, but they have to be combined with an understanding of the local market. That means having a feel for the confidence that exists locally and being ahead of the game in terms of planned improvements to infrastructures. A new supermarket or glitzy hotel, for example, can push prices up by making an area more attractive, while new roads or rail connections can do so by making it more accessible.

“Then there are general factors to consider that affect the whole of a region, such as more flight routes being added to the local airport. Finally there are the country-wide considerations. In Portugal right now that means the extension of visa-free access to visitors from the United Arab Emirates.”

With current exchange rates tempting many investors to look closely at European second homes overseas, the granting of visa-free access to Emiratis wishing to visit the Schengen zone might just be the icing on the cake that opens up the Portuguese market to buyers from the UAE.

“It’s a market that you would be remiss to ignore,” concludes Chris. “We’re lining up a few ultra luxury, characterful properties with pools, ready to see what the future holds.”

Keeping abreast of future market developments, backed by excellent customer service, is certainly a model that is proving successful for Ideal Homes Portugal. So much so, in fact, that the company has just been awarded the Rightmove Mystery Shopper Award, beating more than 100 other Portuguese real estate providers.

For further details call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com.

• Ideal Homes Portugal partners with Abbeygate to ensure home insurance is not forgotten
• Portugal prices set to rise 2% in coming year (RICS)
• Free home insurance for next 10 Ideal Homes Portugal customers (Abbeygate)

Insurance tops the list of items forgotten by those buying second homes overseas, boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, has revealed. Founding Director Chris White explains,

“Buying a property overseas is a wonderful venture, but is also a process with a lot to remember. Dealing with a foreign country’s paperwork can seem daunting and there are exchange rates and language barriers to throw into the mix as well. It’s an exciting process, but our experience has shown that buyers often forget things that they would undertake as standard in the UK. Purchasing insurance is top of that list.”

Ideal Homes Portugal is keen to make the purchase process as smooth as possible and so has a team of experts on hand to ensure that home buyers have all they need, from guided inspection trips to English-speaking solicitors.

Now, the company has announced a new partnership with Abbeygate Insurance, designed to ensure that buyers have easy access to a respected local insurance company able to provide everything from buildings insurance to holiday home cover.

Peter Sheppard, Director of Abbeygate, comments,

“We are delighted to be working with Ideal Homes Portugal in order that their clients can benefit from our fantastic insurance services and competitive rates. Abbeygate provides peace of mind to those purchasing property in Portugal and we specialize in helping customers from overseas. We have English speaking staff and a newly opened office in Boliqueime in the Algarve.”

To celebrate the partnership, Abbeygate is offering free insurance for one year to the next ten Ideal Homes Portugal customers.

Ideal Homes Portugal offers properties across the length and breadth of the Algarve. They include everything from holiday villas in the popular resort of Monte Gordo in the east, with its huge, golden beach and plentiful restaurants, to commercial opportunities like this lovely ‘home and income’ tourism business in the western town of Aljezur, with its historic hilltop fort. The agency also lists a select number of properties from other popular areas of Portugal, such as the ancient capital city of Lisbon.

The Portuguese property market is enjoying a sustained comeback, with new buyer enquiries increasing every month since August 2013, according to the latest RICS/Ci market report. Prices are projected to rise by 2% over the year ahead, leading many buyers to look at the holiday paradise of the Algarve for their dream second home.

“Portugal is a wonderful place to own property, whether for holidays or as a more permanent residence,” remarks Chris White. “It’s got everything you could wish for – glorious weather, a low cost of living, fabulous beaches and a whole host of cultural and historic attractions. Just remember not to be so wowed by the area that you forget to buy your home insurance!”

For further details call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com.

• Portugal property prices up 1.81% in the year to March 2015 (INE)
• Lisbon buy-to-let market ‘experiencing strong demand’ (Ideal Homes Portugal)
• Yields of up to 6.41% on Lisbon apartments (Global Property Guide)

Lisbon is a city of many faces. Known as A Cidade das Sete Colinas (The City of Seven Hills), Rainha do Mar (Queen of the Sea) and A Cidade da Tolerância (The City of Tolerance), it is an intriguing destination that combines an old-world charm with a sleek modern offering. From the chic shopping streets of the Chiado to the vibrant nightlife of the Bairro Alto, it is a city with delights hidden around every corner.

Lisbon’s history as a port is an important part of the city’s heritage and still offers a bustling trade today, with cruise ships, pleasure boats and goods vessels docking in the Queen of the Sea’s harbour from all over the world. At present, the dockside is humming with boats participating in the Volvo Ocean Race, ready for the In-Port Race on 6 June 2015, with the leg to Lorient starting the following day.

As well as sailing enthusiasts and tourists, Lisbon is increasingly on the radar of buy-to-let property investors, as Chris White, founding director of boutique estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, reveals,

“Lisbon has long been overlooked for its potential as a rental property investment destination, but the combination of price reductions, heightened demand and competitive yields has led to a surge in investment in the city, particularly among those looking for long-term buy-to-let investments. Investors are looking for modern apartment properties that are perfect for professional tenants. The market is all about the added extras right now, with upscale buy-to-let properties experiencing strong demand.”

White cites the example of the Ávila 81 apartments, on Avenida Duque d’Ávila. Located in an upmarket borough of the city, just steps from the Saldanha and the Jardim do Arco do Cego, the high end apartments are close to transport links and schools, as well as a host of retail outlets, restaurants and other amenities. A typical four bedroom contemporary apartment in the development offers a host of attractive modern essentials, including a home automation system, under-floor heating in the bathrooms, HVAC system chiller, whirlpools, mirror defrosters, LED lighting, natural stone in the kitchens and bathrooms and a high gloss kitchen complete with AEG appliances. Security doors and intrusion alarms also come as standard and all for under €1 million – prices start at €986,250 for a four bedroom property (and at €560,000 for a two bed).

Many buyers see now as the perfect time to look at Lisbon’s property market. After years of falling prices, values finally began to increase again in 2014 and have risen by 1.81% in the year to March 2015 according to data from Statistics Portugal (INE), with an average current price of €1,011 per square metre. At the same time as prices are rising, the number of properties being built is falling. The Global Property Guide reports,

“Dwelling completions continue to plunge in 2014, with completions down by 54% y-o-y to 9,429 units.”

With fewer properties on the market as a result, one can reasonably expect that heightened demand will serve to push prices up further. At the same time, the Global Property Guide is reporting “moderate to good yields on Lisbon apartments, ranging up to 6.41%.”

The lowered prices and potential for healthy returns are drawing in property investors from around the globe. According to a market report from Jones Lang LaSalle, foreign investment in Portugal’s property market rose from 45% in 2012 to a staggering 70% in 2013. Portugal’s tax benefits to foreign buyers are the icing on the cake: the Non-Habitual Residents scheme and the Golden Residence Permit make it an attractive investment destination for buyers both inside and outside of Europe.

For further details call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com.

• IMF forecast for Portugal revised upward from 1.2% to 1.6% in 2015
• OECD projects growth of nearly 2% in GDP in 2016
• Ideal Homes Portugal reports bargain properties still available to those who know where to look

As embarrassing moments go, having to approach the rest of the world cap in hand for a bailout for your country is pretty much up there with the worst of them. Portugal was one of several countries to have to do so during the financial crisis that swept across much of the world from 2007/08 onwards, but today things are looking rather different in the Iberian country, as local housing expert Chris White, founding director of boutique estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, reveals,

“Obviously Portugal has gone through some tough times, but the country has worked hard to put the bailout money to good use and has turned its fortunes around over the past four to five years. It has been a struggle at times, with austerity measures impacting deeply on the people’s psyche as well as their pockets, but the results of that effort are now beginning to become clear.”

Certainly the International Monetary Fund (IMF) seems to agree. It has just improved its forecast for Portugal’s economy from 1.2% in 2015 and 1.3% in 2016 to 1.6% and 1.5% respectively. Portugal’s minister of state and finance, Maria Luis Albuquerque, is also feeling positive, reporting recently on the improvement to the country’s prospects over the past year and the success of the bailout,

“When we look at the core of the program and the objectives that the program had, we can say it has been successful.”

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is being even more bullish in its forecasts for Portugal’s growing economy, projecting gross domestic product growth of “close to 2% in 2016.”

The numbers look good, but what does all this mean to the average working family in Portugal?

“Unemployment is still fairly high,” continues Chris White of Ideal Homes Portugal, “but the huge spike in employment that the summer season brings – particularly in regions like the Algarve – should mean it ends the year lower than it started. Certainly in terms of the housing market we can feel the quiet new confidence that the country is emanating. Property transactions are on the up and though buyers are more cautious than they used to be the market is definitely reviving nicely.”

Demand from overseas buyers is supporting the newly flourishing market, with British and Irish buyers keen to pick up their piece of Portugal before prices go up much further. Already, many of the bargains that have typified the market over the past couple of years have been snapped up, though there are still some excellent deals to be made if you know where to look. A one bedroom apartment in Vilamoura, complete with communal pool and gardens, for example, can be picked up for just €90,000.

Of course, Portugal has much more to offer than just budget apartments and bargains can still be found on more expensive properties. In the ‘golden triangle,’ close to Vale do Lobo, a luxurious five bedroom villa with pool can be bought for just €785,000 – a €115,000 reduction on the original asking price.

“Prices are on the up,” confirms Chris White. “You can tell that the toughest economic times are beginning to fade out of sight in Portugal’s rear view mirror and the overseas input into the property market is helping to generate a new confidence here. It’s definitely good to be looking back on the bailout rather than living through it!”

For further details call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com.

• Portugal tempting property entrepreneurs towards a life in the sunshine (Ideal Homes Portugal)
• Algarve property enquiries up 467% in 3 years (Rightmove Overseas)
• From glamping to hostel management, the Algarve is the place to be (Ideal Homes Portugal)

Many property entrepreneurs are comfortable with managing their portfolios from home. For others, though, the pull of the warmth and friendliness of areas like Portugal’s Algarve has tempted them to take a more hands-on approach to property entrepreneurship.

“A lot of people want to pursue their property dream in person, not from their armchair,” comments Mark Satchell of Rightmove Overseas, “And the Algarve is certainly one place that is tempting more and more buyers to make the move and see how they fare. It’s a great place for families, well connected to the UK and the scenery is simply stunning. Add to that the fantastic weather and the low cost of living and it’s a really tempting combination.”

Data from Rightmove Overseas has shown that enquiries about property in the Algarve have increased more than fivefold since 2012. In March 2012, there were some 42,211 enquiries. By March 2015, the figure had risen to 239,270.

“Increasingly, we are finding that buyers are looking at the Algarve as a potential property business location,” comments Chris White, founding director of boutique estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal. “Demand from tourists for rental properties across the Algarve is strong and there are some excellent ready-made business opportunities available, particularly for those who want to live on-site.”

For first-time property entrepreneurs, a luxury villa with an on-site annex is a great way to test the water. The owners can live in the annex and manage the villa as a rental business while learning the tricks of the trade. When they have the confidence to scale up a notch, the Algarve presents some excellent opportunities for a B&B business, such as this impressive villa with pool in Santa Barbara de Nexe.

Rural tourism is also attracting keen interest in Portugal right now and those who prefer the peace and space of the Algarve’s countryside can opt for a rural estate with flexible business potential. Portuguese farmhouse properties often enjoy annexes or workers’ cottages in addition to the main house, as well as workable land packed with fruit trees and grape vines. From glamping to gourmet breaks where guests get to harvest their own delightfully fresh produce, farmhouse properties offer a really exciting opportunity to those with vision.

Of course, life in the country isn’t for everyone. Those who prefer an urban vibe might like to set their sights on an ambitious project – a 23 bed hostel in the central Algarve. With permission already in place to remodel it as a tourist residence, this is an exciting opportunity for buyers looking to bring a magnificent new hostel to this popular part of Portugal.

“There’s definitely a sense here in Portugal that the economic hard times are behind us,” concludes Ideal Homes Portugal’s Chris White. “It’s a new dawn for the property market and many business buyers are opting to pick up the perfect property now, while prices are low and they can bag a real bargain.”

For further details call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com.

• 16^th century convent attracts buyers in eastern Algarve
• €4 million lakeside village ripe for development
• Restored windmill tempts buyers to set their sights on the stars

Portugal is known for its wealth of accommodation, with modern apartments and villas clustered around some of the best beaches in Europe along the southern Algarve coast. But not everyone is looking for a two bedroom apartment with shared pool, or a three/four bed villa with a few orange trees. These days, a new breed of buyer is looking for something seriously unusual, as Chris White, founding director of boutique estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, explains,

“While buyers of apartments and villas are still the bread and butter of Portugal’s property market, we’ve noticed a growing trend in the Algarve for properties that have unusual features, or an exciting backstory – homes that break the mould so far as a ‘normal’ second home is concerned.”

The Ideal Homes Portugal team has come across some fascinating examples over the past few years. In the pretty, cobbled streets of the eastern Algarve town of Tavira, the Convento da Bernardas is a restored 16^th century convent that has been tastefully developed into a number of uniquely designed apartments. Original features abound, like the stunning exterior façade, while new additions like the two saltwater swimming pools add to the building’s charms. In a nod to contemporary living, each apartment has its own entrance and private car parking space, while optical fibre systems, television and internet cabling has been installed throughout the building.

Beyond the urban delights of Tavira, up in the hills of the central Algarve, a restored windmill with two miller’s cottages is another of the unusual properties that has delighted the Ideal Homes Portugal team. On the market for €159,000, the windmill still features the wheel mechanism and the grinding millstone, which has been turned into a table. Solar panels and generators provide electricity to this fascinating home, which is ripe for development as a tourism venture. The unique nature of the property means that the right buyer has the potential to turn it into anything from a yoga retreat to a star gazing haven.

Perhaps the most exciting of the Algarve’s unusual offerings is the centuries-old Funcho Village. A truly unique business/investment opportunity, the lakeside village has stood empty since 1974, when the overthrowing of the Dictator Salazar meant that youngsters suddenly had the freedom to opt for a life beyond working the land. They abandoned the rural life in pursuit of the bright lights of the cities.

Now, the local authority of Silves is keen for Funcho Village to be transformed into an attractive rural tourism destination, with the national government having given permission for the creation of a hotel, log cabins, restaurants, water sports facilities, a dry ski slope and an observatory. The village is on the market for €4 million.

While an entire village in need of redevelopment isn’t what every buyer is seeking, the Algarve also offers some delightful villas with unusual aspects, such as the seven bedroom luxury home in Sao Clemente that includes a ‘magic garden.’ Designed to capture the imagination and hearts of the property’s owners, the garden features several varied living zones in a layout that promotes serenity and peace of mind. Those whose minds are already serene can simply enjoy the property’s tennis court, heated pool, large terraces and hot tub.

“We are seeing more and more of homes for sale with unusual features,” concludes Ideal Homes Portugal’s Chris White. “Buyers want a home that is special and unique to them – ‘one size fits all’ has definitely had its day!”

For further details call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com.