Architects and designers in Portugal have an inexplicable love for everything transparent
Conclusion. Beginning of the topic:
VIEW OF PORTUGAL: HOW TO MOVE
Lisbon is popular among businessmen: people come here not to live, but to do business. There are no large-scale projects aimed at participants of the immigration program in Lisbon; properties are selected individually.
There are many old dilapidated buildings in the capital, including in the very center. But there is no need to worry about them: locals say that often new, interesting apartments appear quite quickly on the site of almost completely destroyed buildings.
Old housing stock in Lisbon is rarely bought. Such housing is not prestigious, even in the historical center. Overall, the 'old town' leaves a mixed impression: on one hand, it has its own charm, narrow streets, historical buildings, on the other hand, everything is unkempt, and the crowd is mixed.
Often, contracts in these houses were concluded for a period of 10-20 years, with old prices still fixed – literally a few euros per month, so the people who live here are those for whom price is more important than conditions.
For 500 thousand euros, which need to be invested in real estate under the immigration program, it is difficult to buy something worthwhile in Lisbon. A good apartment in the center with two or three bedrooms can be purchased for 1 million euros.
Resorts are especially popular among investors, with Cascais standing out in their list – it is the Lisbon Riviera. Families with children come here, there are good schools, all necessary infrastructure, beaches, and convenient transport links to Lisbon. You can reach the capital in half an hour by car on a toll road, a little longer on a free road, but then you can enjoy wonderful views. Some residents of Cascais boast that they drive to work along the ocean every day.
Cascais, like Lisbon, is a unique market, but here villas and houses are in highest demand, apartments less so. The architectural style is chosen by the client; as a rule, homes here are built to order. Real estate prices in Cascais range from 1 million for the most modest house to 10 million euros for a quite decent residence with a large plot.
In other resort towns, entire complexes are typically built. These are mainly objects in close proximity to the ocean, with large territory and several types of real estate at once – apartments, villas, townhouses, and hotels.
There are many offers for investors in the Algarve. You can buy either an apartment or a villa. It is quite realistic to find real estate here for the minimum required 500 thousand euros under the program conditions. For example, an apartment of 130 sq. m (including garage and terrace) at one of the Algarve resorts can be bought for 570-590 thousand euros. This amount will include furniture, maintenance, and a lifestyle package – pools, spa and golf discounts.
A common offering in Portugal is apartments with guaranteed rental income. There are various conditions, but on average it looks like this: a contract is concluded with the developer's representatives, which guarantees 5-6% annual income from the apartment's value for 3-5 years. The developer handles finding clients and servicing them. Such an offer allows you to obtain a residence permit, have a holiday property, and earn from rent the rest of the time.
Russian clients rarely use such offers; they come to Portugal with the intention of living and spending a lot of time in the country. Therefore, our compatriots choose not the cheapest housing. Typically, transactions involving Russians are made for around 1 million euros.
The apartments have rather modest furnishings, as they are geared for rental. There may be identical sofas in all rooms, not the most expensive kitchen equipment. Villas, of course, are better furnished, as they are more often bought for personal occupancy. But you can also rent a villa; they are usually invested in to live in yourself.
During high season, the price for a night in a villa at a prestigious resort can be 1.8-2.5 thousand euros, while for an apartment you will have to pay 350-800 euros. Villas, even in large resort projects, are usually built individually: a standard solution is offered, into which any changes can be made. The style can be different, but Arab elements in architecture or modern style are especially popular.
Architects and designers in Portugal have an inexplicable love for everything transparent: and they are not limited to a modest window in the bathroom; all walls in the house can be completely glass, including in the toilet.
Developers try to offer buyers some entertainment, such as golf. In Portugal, there are many hotels and resorts with golf courses, which are considered among the best in the world.
Spas and pools no longer surprise anyone; they are considered a mandatory element in the Portuguese market. Now they are trying to offer clients something new. For example, in the province of Alentejo, famous for its wine, a project has appeared where, in addition to a house, you can buy a vineyard and engage in wine production. Prices for a house at this resort are below 500 thousand euros, as it is not on the sea. But to obtain a residence permit, you can additionally purchase furniture, appliances or land: they also participate in the program.
Overall, locals and newcomers choose the same regions – Algarve, Alentejo, Lisbon, Cascais. For now, the north of the country, where it often rains, is cheaper compared to offers in the central and southern parts. But probably, in the near future, real estate in the northern regions of the country will also start to become more expensive.
Ekaterina SAKHAROVA.
«Gazeta.ru»