Buying Property in Portugal: Simple and Safe

One of the most important steps when buying a property in Portugal is choosing the right real estate agency. While some companies have hundreds of properties across the country, Our Home Portugal focuses on the regions we know
deeply: Lisbon and the Algarve. This specialization allows us to offer a truly differentiated service to our customers.
When buying a property in Portugal, much of the legal process is conducted by the buyer's lawyer. Although it is not mandatory to hire a lawyer, it is highly recommended.
The first step is to contact a trusted real estate agency. It will be necessary to check that all your documentation is up to date and that you have the financial resources to invest.

Buying a property in Portugal is transparent and usually follows three main phases:

🧭 The 3-Step Buying Process

1️⃣ Booking
After finding the ideal property and agreeing on the value with the seller, the first step is to make the reservation. This demonstrates your commitment to the purchase and temporarily removes the property from the market, avoiding other proposals.
It is common to pay a booking fee of between €6,000 and €20,000, and the lawyer will have between 15 and 30 days to review all the documentation on the property. At this stage, a simple two-page contract is signed, formalizing the intention to buy.

2️⃣ Promissory Contract
Once the analysis of the documents is completed, the lawyer prepares a report and asks the seller for the promissory contract of purchase and sale, which includes all the relevant details of the transaction. The buyer can propose adjustments to the contract based on legal guidance.
With both parties in agreement, the buyer makes a down payment, usually between 10% and 60% of the total amount. At this point, the contract becomes legally binding. According to Portuguese law, if the seller withdraws from the deal, he must refund twice the amount received as a penalty, a strong protection for the buyer.

3️⃣ Scripture
The final step consists of signing the public deed. If the property is new (in plan), the lawyer verifies that all licenses are in order and that there are no associated debts. After this confirmation, the buyer makes the final payment and the property is registered in his name and legally becomes the owner.
In some situations, if the buyer already has the necessary resources, it is possible to skip the promissory contract phase and go directly to the deed. However, this is uncommon, with about 90% of purchases including the promissory contract stage.

🛡️ Buying a property in Portugal is a safe and clear process. With Our Home Portugal, you will have full support at every step of your journey.