Inheritance Planning for Foreign Families Owning Property in the Western Algarve in 2026
Foreign families who buy in Lagos and the wider western Algarve tend to think about succession only after the keys are handed over. A Portuguese title sits inside a different legal framework to the home in the UK, the Netherlands or the United States, and that framework decides what happens on death. Assumptions that English […]
The Gap Between Asking Price and Bank Valuation in Lagos in 2026
When buyers in Lagos move from offer to financing, a second valuation enters the picture. The bank’s appointed valuer produces its own figure, and that figure does not always sit comfortably alongside the agreed sale price. In many cases the two are close enough that the loan proceeds without adjustment, but in others the gap […]
Buying a Property With an Existing AL Licence in the Western Algarve What Actually Transfers
Many properties marketed in Lagos and the wider western Algarve already hold an Alojamento Local (AL) registration, which permits short-term tourist rental. For overseas buyers, this is often presented as an attractive feature, particularly where rental income is part of the purchase rationale. In practice, what transfers with the property is more nuanced than the […]
What an EPC Rating Actually Tells You About an Algarve Property in 2026
The Energy Performance Certificate, known in Portuguese as the Certificado Energético, is the document most buyers in the Algarve glance at without reading and most sellers underestimate the importance of. It has been mandatory at sale and at rental in Portugal for several years, and a property listing now cannot be advertised without the rating […]
The Habite-se Licence and Why It Matters Before You Complete on an Algarve Property in 2026
Most overseas buyers in Lagos and the wider western Algarve focus on the deal itself, the condition of the property, the price and the contract. The Habite-se, the document confirming a building is legally fit for habitation, tends to receive less attention. In our experience it is one of the more common reasons a purchase […]
The Difference Between a Notary and a Lawyer in a Portuguese Property Purchase in 2026
Most overseas buyers in Lagos and the wider western Algarve come from jurisdictions where a notary is either a marginal figure or does not exist as a separate profession. In Portugal, the notary is central to the property transaction and confusion about what the notary actually does, versus what a buyer’s lawyer does, can leave […]
NIF, AIMA Registration and Residency Basics for International Algarve Buyers in 2026
International buyers looking at property in the Algarve usually run into the same three administrative questions early on. Do I need a NIF? Do I need to register with AIMA? And do I need to be a resident to buy here? The short answers are yes, sometimes, and no, but the detail matters for anyone […]
How Walkable Are the Main Property Areas in Lagos
When buyers ask us what to look at first in Lagos, walkability is rarely the headline question. It comes up later, usually after a few viewings, when someone realises that the property they liked most needs a 10-minute drive for a loaf of bread. Lagos is not a single neighbourhood, and how walkable each part […]
Currency Strategy for UK and US Buyers Purchasing Algarve Property in 2026
The second approach removes uncertainty entirely but requires the margin upfront. The first balances cash flow against rate risk. The third only suits buyers comfortable absorbing whatever the market does between contract and completion. There is no objectively right approach, but the third is generally the highest risk for buyers whose total purchase is a […]
What to Check in a Portuguese CPCV Before Signing for an Algarve Property
The Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda, usually shortened to CPCV, is the promissory contract signed in Portugal after the offer is accepted and before the final deed of sale. It is the document that legally commits both buyer and seller to the transaction. The CPCV typically covers more ground than buyers expect, and the […]
