According to PortugalBuyingGuide.com and Smart Currency Exchange the Portugal property market is on the way up. It’s a really exciting time for the Portugal property market, and a good time to be buying in the Algarve in particular, with some great opportunities for investment.
There are a number of new developments in progress and a move towards a re-sale market, following the already-built new developments selling quickly. August and October are traditionally busy months for Portugal property buyers, and there is a very positive feeling of the market coming back.
The latest Quarterly Index figures from the Overseas Guides Company support evidence of a growing market, showing that Portugal has been experiencing a surge of interest from overseas property buyers. The Index measures interest in destinations across the world from the enquiries they receive from people purchasing property overseas. Portugal experienced a 60% increase in interest in the second quarter of 2014, a staggering 69% increase against the same quarter in 2013.
Reflecting this desirable market, Portugal Buying Guide, part of the Overseas Guides Company, and Smart Currency Exchange have joined forces to open a new, one-stop-shop for anyone looking to buy property in Portugal, officially launching the new premises in Vilamoura on the Algarve on 23 September. The Algarve is widely regarded as one of the top ten places to live in the world, and Portugal offers real quality of life - the team at Smart Currency and Portugal Buying Guide are working with many people to achieve just that.
“All the good things you hear about Portugal are true!” says Portugal Country Manager, Marina Pasquill. “The food is great, we have over 300 days of sun per year; there are beautiful, white sandy beaches and amazing sights to enjoy, the list goes on…Portugal is coming to the fore more and more as a lifestyle destination. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, only recently becoming more widely publicised as a key place to visit, and, of course, to live.”
A new life in Portugal
Marina moved to Portugal herself four years ago for a better quality of life for her and her family, and has never looked back.
“The team at Portugal Buying Guide and Smart Currency aren’t just selling the dream to people - we’re living it already and can help others do the same. I can tell our clients what life is really like here, 365 days a year. We also aren’t just paying lip service to the daunting process of moving or buying abroad - we’ve been there, done that, got the T-Shirt.
We can also provide hands-on advice on everyday life, answering questions like how the weather is in December (answer, not bad at all - winter doesn’t stick around for long!), which type of supermarkets to go to, how the postal service works, healthcare, managing your money. We are living real life in Portugal every day, and have learned from our own mistakes, so can share this with our clients - something I know I would have appreciated when I first made the move here.
“Sharing the knowledge of own experiences helps our clients save time and energy, making things quicker, simpler, and safer for their Portugal move or purchase.”
A warm welcome
Attending the launch of the new offices were a number of other property and financial experts, who both Portugal Buying Guide and Smart Currency Exchange work with to help people realise their dream of moving to Portugal. These include real estate agents, law firms, banks, and other local businesses, all working together to make life easier for would-be Portugal homeowners. They all agree that the new joint venture is a valuable offering for Vilamoura and the Algarve, with an inviting atmosphere for customers and partners alike.
This reflects the friendliness of the Portuguese people and the welcoming atmosphere in the Algarve, which is a big attraction for expats and those buying holiday homes.
“The people in Portugal are so welcoming and helpful - we really want to reflect that in our offering to Portugal homebuyers,” continues Marina.
“We also pride ourselves on providing the highest level of service to anyone we meet through Portugal Buying Guide and Smart Currency. This is of the utmost importance to us, and not just because we are likely to bump into people again, as it’s a close-knit, friendly community.”
New offices in Vilamoura
“These new offices in the heart of the Algarve will allow us to help would-be buyers while they are here viewing properties, or even here on holiday or initial reconnaissance trips”, adds Laura Richards, Portugal Buying Guide’s country specialist based at their London Resource Centre.
Having offices on the ground as well as our UK-based Resource Centre means we have a better feel for what our clients’ experiences are in Portugal, and can assist at every stage of the property buying process, from putting them in touch with trusted agents for viewings, to independent lawyers to guide them through the purchase, to providing currency expertise from the team at Smart Currency Exchange.”
Indeed, Portugal Buying Guide and Smart Currency Exchange go together hand-in-hand, helping save would-be property buyers in Portugal time and money, as well as helping them to stay safe throughout what can often be a stressful process.
Happy customers
Laura recounts some recent feedback from a Portugal Buying Guide customer looking to move to Portugal, who made their first transfers with Smart Currency - making a considerable saving:
“I tested out Smart Currency and must say found them very helpful and friendly. It was only a small transfer but not knowing them, wanted to test out their claims first.
To compare, I tried the same process with my bank - they wanted a £20, fee plus an unfavourable exchange rate of £144, plus a handling fee of £5. I then went back to Smart Currency and was given exchange of £146 and only a £5 fee for the small transfer. That saved me over £30 on a minor sum, so if that had been a substantial amount, the saving would have been noticeably bigger. I’m more than happy for you to share this experience with others.”
Marina and Laura are looking forward to helping many more people on their journey to a new life in Portugal from both the new offices and the other end of the phone.
Portugal Buying Guide and Smart Currency’s new offices are located at Avenida Cerro da villa, Edificio Vilamarina, Loja 58, 8125- 403, Vilamoura.
E: marina@overseasguidescompany.com
T: +35 1 932 277 565
