Buying a property in Portugal

Hi on Armona you only own your house the navy owns the land & you are restricted in what you can do, when we first started to look at properties we looked on the island of Armona in the eastern algarve as we had had good holidays there but the cons outweighed the pros as you will never own the land the navy if so wished could take the land back whenever they pleased & that was a risk we were not prepared to take its a lovely island, where we live now we own lock stock & barrel house & land. Do your research.

Hi, in central Portugal Freehold is a lot more common. Best of luck in your search.

Hi UKMark
I also forgot to mention when you do start to view houses make sure you ask the right questions the main 1 being is everything that is for sale LEGAL we have walked away from properties which looked perfect for what we were after only to find when we asked if it was all legal we were told no only parts where. Also when you do find the 1 get your solicitor to make sure that there are no unpaid finances on the property as once you have signed for the house any unpaid finances are your responsibility same as any illegal parts of the property can then become even more stressful &a big headache to try to sort out.
We wish you all the luck in the world & hope you do find your dream home just please do your research & ask the right questions.

Thankyou! Great advice

Your welcome

Hi Mark,

Please see this link:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 54#5132262
(Post #2)

It may help with your questions.

HI Mark,
Sent you a PM with some informations

Regards,
DSilva

Jean Denise wrote:

Hi UKMark
I also forgot to mention when you do start to view houses make sure you ask the right questions the main 1 being is everything that is for sale LEGAL we have walked away from properties which looked perfect for what we were after only to find when we asked if it was all legal we were told no only parts where. Also when you do find the 1 get your solicitor to make sure that there are no unpaid finances on the property as once you have signed for the house any unpaid finances are your responsibility same as any illegal parts of the property can then become even more stressful &a big headache to try to sort out.
We wish you all the luck in the world & hope you do find your dream home just please do your research & ask the right questions.

A buyer is not responsible for tax debts unless it is registered against the title deeds of the property. The comment on illegal additions - this is a real problem as often extensions and additions are made and not registered with the local municipality.

Based on personnel experience we had a good solicitor but even they missed out on non paid finances & we had to pay 4yrs back payments from 2014/2018 we bought our house in 2018 when we questioned it we were told we had to pay as the house was now ours as was the debt.

Jean Denise wrote:

Based on personnel experience we had a good solicitor but even they missed out on non paid finances & we had to pay 4yrs back payments from 2014/2018 we bought our house in 2018 when we questioned it we were told we had to pay as the house was now ours as was the debt.

Technically the tax authority can go back 2 years (not four), but has to raise the debt in your name. Your lawyer should have advised you a bit better better- but often times the cost of fighting these issues probably exceed the debts. Some supreme court judgments on this

You can find both types of properties in Portugal but

Normally the properties in Portugal are freehold.

Exceptions are some coastal areas, some areas near large government infrastructures and co-op properties, that are leasehold. Other exceptions perhaps but cannot think of any right now.

Regards