Traditional Property for Sale in Portugal

If you think about it, the mass media hype about negative pricing adjustments in the world’s top property markets has mainly missed out Portugal. You may think that this is because Spain’s market crashes make for a far more exciting story, or the fact that London’s high-end real estate landscape is altering is more interesting perhaps – but actually, the reason why Portugal has avoided making the sensationalist headlines about falling prices and unhappy home owners is because its market remains far more stable and well adjusted.

Of course, that’s not to say that the property market is over-flowing with buyers or that there is more affordability globally speaking for properties in Portugal! But Portugal’s has remained a much more stable and realistic property market over the last decade of record gains in other parts of the world. Taking the over blown Algarve out of the equation for a minute, the appeal of Portugal has been far less attractive to the get rich quick investors, rather it is a nation that more strongly appeals to lifestyle buyers and long-term investors.

If you fall into either of these categories you may be interested to learn that there is still very strong demand for traditional property for sale in Portugal, and that it is a nation that can fuel this desire with stunning homes for sale all across the country at relatively reasonable cost.

Apart from on the Algarve where golf courses and sophisticated communities have forced prices up to dizzying heights, the rest of Portugal has enjoyed modest, healthy and sustainable growth in property price terms over the past decade. This means that the market remains robust, it is unlikely to crash like pockets of over-priced Spain, and at the same time, it is home to some fabulous ‘bargains’ in relative terms. There are traditional properties for sale in Portugal if you venture off the beaten track, these homes are often as attractive as rural fincas in Spain or ruined farmhouses in Tuscany, but they are for sale at half the price!

When one thinks of buying property in Portugal one immediately and almost only ever thinks of the Algarve – but move away from this over priced region and further from the airport and you will find some stunning bargains. One developer has finally realised that Brits in particular want authentic, traditional homes in Portugal, where they can feel at one with the nation, its history and culture. This developer has taken on an entire ruined village and is slowly but surely restoring each of the 52 abandoned homes to their former glory. As the restoration work continues, mod cons and sophisticated lifestyle luxuries are added – yet without taking away from the authentic feel of the houses!

The village is called Póvoa Dão, it’s located in the wine growing region of Dão with the nearest city being Viseu; it’s accessible via Porto’s international airport, which is an hour’s drive away, and to get to the rural and rustic village you have to navigate narrow roads and wind your way through stunning countryside to get to it. The site of the village dates back 700 years, and local stone and timber has been used in the reconstruction of each stone cottage on this incredibly stunning development.

Properties for sale within the development start from just EUR 165,000 – and if you want the best of all worlds, there’s even an international golf course within a short driving distance! For others who want the challenge of restoring their own traditional property in Portugal, try the Monchique Hills for example – recently highlighted in an article in the Telegraph about getting off the beaten track when seeking authentic property for sale in Portugal. The Algarve’s sophistication is within reach, but if you head for the hills you escape the high prices and may well find a bargain home for sale upon which you can put your own individual stamp!

The good thing about Portugal is that it is a long way off running out of rural properties for sale requiring restoration! Unlike in parts of Italy, Spain and France where the Brits in particular have bought out the market, Portugal is a nation still lesser explored when it comes to going off the beaten track. Therefore, if you’re not put off by the thought of learning Portuguese and you want a traditional yet affordable home in a country where the cost of living is low, the standard of living is high and the climate is far more attractive than in the UK for example, head for Portugal and explore!