It was a good year for the overseas property market in 2014, as interest increased for purchasing a property outside a client’s home country for the purpose of a holiday/retirement home, possible immediate investment by rental return or future growth.

This was mainly led by better economic news in some of the countries where potential buyers were situated (UK, Germany and Scandinavia) and the continuation of low interest rates.

The Portuguese property market records 12 months of growth, with outlook for 2015 equally positive. “If you’re looking to buy property in Portugal, now is the time.”

Bold words indeed from Chris White, Founding Director of boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, but the figures certainly add weight to his claim.

As the nights draw in and those early morning starts seem ever colder, the idea of sitting outside and soaking up the sun may seem like a distant dream, but the perfect outdoor terrace is actually a lot closer than you might think.

According to Eurostat, the pursuit of winter sun expanded over the 2013/14 season, with 15.4 million more nights spent in hotels and similar establishments within the European Union, an increase of 2.9% on the previous year. The 2014/15 season looks to be a good one too thus far, with the Airports Council International reporting an increase of 5.6% in passenger traffic at EU airports in October.

Guia is a small town, a friendly town and a well situated town. Right in the middle of the Algarve, Guia is a short drive from Albufeira’s beaches and hustle and bustle – yet far enough away to be a quiet traditional village. Famous for its Piri Piri chicken, the village has many restaurants serving this and other local dishes.

Guia area is also great for shopping: the Algarve Shopping mall as well as the retail park next door, plus Leroy Merlin and Max Mat for your DIY and Makro cash and carry.

Every year in December Land & Houses Algarve reflects on the past year and provides an outlook for the property market in the year ahead, 2015. Twelve months ago we predicted that trading conditions for real estate would improve which proved to be an accurate assumption. The increase in transaction volume which started in 2013 continued in 2014 at even a higher pace.

To read the whole article, please CLICK HERE.

Portugal has long been a top holiday hotspot for those seeking beautiful beaches, challenging walking breaks or just plentiful sunshine. The low cost of living makes Portugal a popular destination for family holidays, while the balmy climate attracts everyone from young couples to those enjoying their golden years.

Now, the Airmiles Value Tracker from Totally Money has revealed that Portugal’s Algarve is one of the top five best value golfing destinations in the world. The Algarve boasts an impressive number of golf courses, which range in quality and formality in order to provide something for both the amateur golfer and the wannabe pro.

afpop, Portugal’s largest foreign residents’ Association, was invited to Westminster recently by the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP), to be part of the launch meeting of its initiative aimed at protecting potential property buyers from the UK.
At a meeting in the House of Commons, which was sponsored by David Amess MP, the AIPP began the process of requesting the creation of an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), which would address consumer protection issues in the foreign property sales industry.

Portugal, like every popular coastal tourist destination, finds its beaches packed with visitors from May to September. While the vast expanses of sand at beaches like Praia da Rocha have plenty of room for everyone, certain cove beaches, such as Praia Dona Ana at Lagos, can feel rather too crowded during the peak of the summer. During those times, many locals slip quietly away and head instead for some of Portugal’s most beautiful – and most tucked away – beaches.