*Updated June 2018
Portugal is a very solid number three in our 10 Best Places to Buy Abroad in 2018 index. In fact, it’s had a very good year and has swung back in fashion - whether the vibrant weekend destination of Lisbon, the unspoilt Silver Coast or the island of Madeira.
That laid-back, affordable Portuguese lifestyle continues to draw British home hunters because it offers a less-developed alternative to the Spanish Costa del Sol. The cost of living in a real plus – outside Lisbon or five-star resorts it’s refreshingly affordable, whether you are buying a coffee or a menu do dia (menu of the day).
Full-time residents and retirees are heading to the Algarve, where prices are still down from the market peak – although prices are going up again in hot spots such as Lagos, on the western Algarve. The Algarve is also hugely popular for its golfing facilities for many months of the year or its lovely fishing villages on its western and eastern fringes.
Click below to download your free guide to buying a property in Portugal
The Portuguese government continues to attract overseas buyers with its “golden visa” scheme (for non-EU investors spending €500,000 or over) plus its Non-Habitual Tax Residency scheme (NHR) that offers European expats low or zero income tax rates.
In the past year, notable increases in demand have been seen in the eastern Algarve - Alcoutim is not far from the better-known Tavira) and also Pedrogao on the Silver Coast, but the central Algarve perennial favourites are always in our top five most searched-for locations: Albufeira, Vilamoura and Loule.
If you are interested in retiring to Portugal, there’s a useful in-depth guide to things you must consider - healthcare, pensions, residency, annual taxation and also wills and inheritance.