Portugal, the beautiful country with beautiful beaches and the beautiful surroundings. Anyone who has visited the country before has certainly dreamed about a second home or holiday home in the interior with a beautiful view of the Portuguese nature.
Are you also going to emigrate to Portugal?
You have probably already chosen to emigrate to Portugal to buy a house there. When you move to Portugal you have to pay attention that everything goes in the right way so that you don't run into problems later.
Find houses in Portugal
Nowadays you can scour the internet when looking for houses in Portugal. Many people who are looking for a villa or holiday home on the beach in the Algarve, for example, often do it this way.
Dutch people who are already more familiar with the Portuguese and the country also often look at homes offered by private individuals.
There are also many project developers who put villas or modern apartments online with a beautiful swimming pool located on a beautiful beach, but you often have to pay attention to the exact plans for new construction of the developers. Real estate is always something that you have to pay close attention to abroad. There are also banks that offer houses for sale on websites. What the Dutch also really like is to arrange everything through an estate agent. That way they don't have to do a lot and they are assisted throughout the entire process.
Which way is best?
How you ultimately go about finding a home doesn't matter. All methods have their own advantages and disadvantages and can ensure a successful purchase. Buying in Portugal just takes a bit more energy.
Law of subrogation
In Portugal, foreigners should pay close attention to the law of subrogation. This law gives debts to a property instead of to the borrower. If you are not careful, you may suddenly be responsible for someone else's debts. These can be unpaid taxes, personal debts or, for example, a mortgage.
The cadastral registration
When you buy a property in Portugal it is very important that you check the cadastral registration and owner. If you do not check this? This can cause you a lot of problems as you have just read under the heading 'law of subrogation'.
Certificate of truth
Fortunately, this is very easy to find out and a lawyer can check all the debts that are attached to the property. This is done by checking the 'certidāo de teor' or the land registry. This also includes checking energy bills and taxes. Of course, this is all done before you sign the purchase contract.
A Portuguese lawyer
It is wise to immediately engage a good Portuguese lawyer upon arrival in Portugal who is aware of all the laws and regulations regarding real estate.
Division of ownership
Another pitfall in Portugal is the division of ownership. This happens less often with real estate in a city or with new construction, but often with large houses in the countryside. This is because of the Portuguese culture. Houses in Portugal are often passed on to family and therefore, for example, cousins, aunts or grandchildren all have a share in the estate. Now, it is the case that many Portuguese have traditionally moved abroad, so it can also happen that there may be a cousin in Brazil, for example, who does not want to sell the house, which will delay your purchase.
Delays in purchasing your dream home
Fortunately, this can also be checked by the lawyer and you can be provided with the necessary advice. Do you want to buy a house quickly and without any delay? Then you better look for another house.
Pay attention to title deeds
A lawyer should also pay close attention to the title deeds. Sometimes a property consists of small plots. In some cases these plots are subdivided. This can make it difficult to know exactly what you are buying, because someone told 'Piet' 20 years ago that his land reached the stone by the water and someone else told 'Jan' 15 years later that his land reached the fence. These kinds of small plots can cause a lot of problems later.
Again, the lawyer can figure all this out, so make sure you have this done in a timely manner.
Watch your money
The purchase process is regulated differently in all countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, the deposit is paid to a lawyer, while in France you pay this to the estate agent or notary. However, the estate agent in France has insurance. In Portugal, however, estate agents and some lawyers do not offer financial guarantees. If, during your search for a beautiful apartment by the sea, the estate agency suddenly goes bankrupt? Then you will lose your deposit. Therefore, always make sure that your money is held in a separate account and not in the account of the agency.
One final pitfall
Many people visit Portugal during the high season, but if you want to live there all year round it will be different. Big cities like Lisbon are fun all year round to escape from everyday life and enjoy the surroundings while the Algarve will be completely empty in the winter. Therefore always look carefully at the location and region and also visit these places in the low season so that you know what life will be like there all year round.
Finally..
As you have read, there are many things to consider when buying real estate in Portugal. This is actually important everywhere, but due to certain laws it is even more important in Portugal. Make sure you are well prepared and hire a good Portuguese lawyer so that he can assist you during the entire process.
