Before you buy
Jemma and Alice from Fine & Country provided an excelent service, communications were key and they provided a stress free environment in what is a difficult time. Thank you and well done
Charlene Regan and Alice Madden at Fine & Country have been absolutely outstanding from start to finish. Charlene found us the right buyer in just three weeks and achieved an offer well over the asking price, which speaks volumes about her skill, judgement and understanding of the market. The marketing was also superb. The photos, video, drone footage and brochure produced by the Fine & Country team presented our home beautifully and really helped show it at its best. Once we accepted the offer, Alice was exceptional in keeping everything moving smoothly and swiftly. She liaised with both sets of solicitors, kept communication flowing between us and our buyer, anticipated potential issues and helped resolve anything that came up along the way. The whole experience felt professional, proactive and well managed throughout. We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Charlene, Alice and the Fine & Country team to anyone looking to sell their home.
Review for Fine & Country Cardiff – Deeply Unprofessional and Untrustworthy I strongly advise anyone considering buying a property through Fine & Country Cardiff to think twice. We dealt with Gemma, and the experience has been nothing short of appalling. From the beginning, the team were overly pushy and dismissive of our concerns. But once the sale was completed, their attitude turned outright negligent. Despite purchasing a high-value property marketed as a “smart home,” no one had the courtesy to hand over the keys in person. Instead, we were told they were “in the mailbox” and that was the end of their involvement. Upon arrival, we found the garage door was broken and unopenable. An engineer has since confirmed it must be completely replaced at a cost of £2,000. The bathroom sliding door is stuck, meaning steam from the shower floods into the room. And most critically, the entire smart home system is inaccessible. We were given login details linked to an email address that is not ours. After 10 days of calls, emails, and speaking to the U.S.-based provider, we still cannot even turn on the lights. Fine & Country Cardiff have made no effort to assist. No follow-up, no explanation, and certainly no responsibility taken. Their behaviour has been unprofessional, and completely lacking in basic courtesy. I rarely leave reviews, but this situation has caused serious stress and inconvenience. Avoid this agency at all costs. They disappear the moment the payment clears and leave you to deal with all the problems they never disclosed.
Quentin, after a careful discussion and exchange of ideas, understood exactly what we were looking. He then sent us examples of a range of properties from which we were able to refine our own definitions of exactly what we were looking for and what our budget would allow. A true professional in real estate and a pleasure to deal with.
Quentin has an excellent approach, great communication, expert knowledge, warm and empathetic whilst going through our property search with us. We cannot thank you enough and would highly recommend you to anyone starting their property search in Portugal. Kindest. Victoria
We recently sold our house with Fine & Country, using Jemma as our agent, and couldn't be more pleased with the experience. Jemma was professional & knowledgeable. She made the entire process feel seamless and stress-free, always keeping us updated and providing expert advice every step of the way. Our house sold quickly, and with the companies extensive advertising reach, we were able to complete the sale within just five months of listing.
I found Quentin an excellent communicator when my wife and I were researching properties in his area. We had chats via zoom calls and he had properties to view when we arrived from UK. Good service, humorous and professional.
I had the pleasure of partnering with Quentin during a visit in Portugal. Quentin was a true partner, coordinating the whole trip, taking into account every detail and aspect of the trip, accessible the whole time and very understanding. He was very present and attentive to my needs and expectations. I can only highly recommend Quentin.
We had limited experience with Quentin - because he is in Portugal and we are in Canada. We can say that Quentin is completely professional. He answered emails same day and always provided information we asked for. He took the time to do his job well and we will continue our dealings with him.
Efficient, proactive, ready to help, pleasant relationship, large inventory
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Lisbon's seven hills run from the pombaline Baixa up through Chiado and Príncipe Real to the belle-époque mansions of Avenida da Liberdade. Fine Luxury Property advises international buyers on apartments, townhouses and restoration-grade palacetes across the capital's prime parishes, from historic cores to new-build riverside developments. Active inventory in Lisbon ranges from €600,000 Chiado one-bedroom apartments through €15M+ Avenida da Liberdade and Lapa palacetes.
Renovated three-to-four bedroom apartments in Chiado, Príncipe Real and Avenida da Liberdade, typically €1.5-€4 million, many with original stone staircases, azulejo panels and private terraces.
New-build and pombaline-conversion penthouses with Tagus views in Baixa, Cais do Sodré and Santos, combining protected facades with contemporary duplex layouts and private rooftop pools.
Four-to-five storey townhouses and palacetes in Lapa, Estrela and Príncipe Real, from restored 18th-century family homes to embassy-grade buildings with courtyards and staff quarters.
Detached villas in the northern axis of Alvalade, Lumiar and Restelo, typically with gardens of 400-1,200 m², well suited to families relocating with children under the international-school catchments.
Fine Luxury Property operates as a boutique real estate agency dedicated to Lisbon's prime parishes, combining three decades of combined local experience with a multilingual team working fluently in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish, serving the substantial French, Brazilian and British expatriate communities that now shape the city. We handle AMI-regulated brokerage, NIF registration, IMT settlement and coordination with independent Portuguese lawyers end-to-end.
Lisbon's UNESCO-eligible pombaline, gothic and manueline buildings are strictly limited in number and protected by Câmara Municipal heritage rules, creating structural scarcity in the prime parishes of Santa Maria Maior, Misericórdia and Santo António.
Prime Lisbon has appreciated roughly 6-9% annually since 2015, with Chiado and Príncipe Real now trading at €8,000-€13,000 per square metre, still a 30-40% discount to prime Madrid, Paris or Milan despite comparable lifestyle.
Humberto Delgado Airport offers direct flights to 120+ destinations, including a five-hour daily link to the US East Coast, making Lisbon one of the most connected second-home cities in Europe for both Atlantic-facing and intra-EU travel.
Carlucci American International School, St Julian's, Lycée Français Charles Lepierre, Deutsche Schule and three IB-curriculum campuses serve the rapidly expanding expatriate base, a critical driver for family-relocation demand in Alvalade, Restelo and Lumiar.
Lisbon's prime stock ranges from pombaline Baixa to new-build Parque das Nações, each with different heritage rules, IMI bands and rental-licence realities. We start every engagement with a parish-level briefing so the buyer chooses the correct micro-market for their use case.
We organise a Portuguese tax number (NIF), a local bank account and, where the client cannot attend completion in person, a certified power of attorney granted to a Lisbon-based lawyer, typically all inside two weeks.
After offer acceptance, a reservation agreement holds the property while lawyers verify the Caderneta Predial, Certidão Permanente, energy certificate (A to F), condominium minutes and any heritage restrictions applicable in parishes like Misericórdia or Santa Maria Maior.
The promissory contract is signed before a notary or lawyer, with a 10-20% deposit transferred via Portuguese bank. Completion is scheduled 30-90 days later, typically subject to mortgage approval or full clearance of title queries.
On final deed day the notary confirms proof of IMT payment (sliding 0-7.5% on urban properties) and stamp duty (0.8%), the purchase price transfers, and the Registo Predial records ownership the same day. Keys transfer immediately.
Heritage rules and a finite stock of pombaline and 19th-century buildings cap new supply in central parishes. Fewer than 400 transactions a year happen across Chiado, Misericórdia and Santo António combined, keeping liquidity tight and pricing firm.
Beyond second-home buyers, Lisbon is now a primary-residence destination for French, American, British and Brazilian families relocating under D7, D8 or IFICI visas, underwriting long-term demand irrespective of short-let licence volatility.
Existing licensed short-let properties trade at a premium because central Lisbon parishes, including Santa Maria Maior and Misericórdia, have restricted new AL registrations since 2018, making licensed units genuinely scarce.
Parque das Nações, Alvalade and Campo Grande continue to attract corporate HQs, Web Summit infrastructure and university expansion, delivering stable long-let demand at rental yields 100-150 bps above central heritage parishes.
A renovated three-bedroom apartment in Chiado or Príncipe Real typically costs €1.8-€3.5 million, or €8,500-€13,000 per square metre. Avenida da Liberdade penthouses reach €14,500 per square metre. Lapa and Estrela townhouses trade between €6,500 and €10,500 per square metre depending on garden, lift and parking. Parque das Nações new-build apartments are more accessible at €5,500-€8,500 per square metre, while family villas in Restelo, Alvalade and Lumiar run €4,500-€7,000 per square metre.
For heritage and lifestyle, Príncipe Real and Chiado remain the top targets, combining concept stores, galleries and restored 19th-century apartments. Avenida da Liberdade suits buyers wanting embassy-grade apartments on Lisbon's Champs-Élysées. Lapa and Estrela attract families wanting townhouses near Lycée Français. Restelo, Alvalade and Lumiar are northern family districts near international schools. Parque das Nações, Marvila and Alcântara deliver modern riverside apartments at better per-square-metre entry points.
Non-residents face no ownership restrictions. The process needs a Portuguese NIF (tax number), a Portuguese bank account and an independent advogado. After offer acceptance, the buyer signs a reservation agreement, then a promissory contract (CPCV) with a 10-20% deposit, then the final deed (escritura) before a notary 30-90 days later. Our Lisbon team regularly completes transactions for French, British, American, Swiss and Brazilian clients, coordinating with bilingual lawyers and tax advisors throughout.
Total closing costs run about 7-9% of the purchase price. IMT transfer tax is charged on a sliding 0-7.5% scale, with second homes and properties above €1 million incurring higher effective rates. Stamp duty adds 0.8%. Notary and registry fees add roughly 1-2%. Annual municipal IMI in Lisbon is 0.3% of the rateable value. Legal fees typically run 1% plus VAT for full conveyancing by an independent Portuguese advogado.
Possibly, but licensing is now tight. Central parishes, including Santa Maria Maior, Misericórdia and much of Santo António, have been classed as contention zones since 2018, suspending new Alojamento Local registrations. Existing licensed properties can be transferred on sale, which is why licensed AL units trade at a premium. Long-let rentals remain fully allowed across all parishes and typically deliver 3.5-4.5% gross yield on prime apartments. We flag AL licence status on every listing we introduce.
Yes, and your lawyer should be independent of the agent. A licensed Portuguese advogado runs full title and planning due diligence on the Caderneta Predial, Certidão Permanente, condominium minutes, energy certificate and any heritage overlays applicable in parishes like Misericórdia. They also review the promissory and final contracts and liaise with the notary. Legal fees run roughly 1% of purchase price plus 23% VAT. Fine Luxury Property works with English-, French- and Portuguese-speaking law firms across Lisbon.
Long-let prime apartments in Chiado, Príncipe Real and Avenida da Liberdade deliver roughly 3.5-4.5% gross yield. Alojamento Local short-lets in licensed Alfama, Bairro Alto and Baixa buildings can reach 5-7% gross after platform fees, though operating costs are higher. Parque das Nações and Alvalade long-lets run 4-5% given lower per-square-metre entry prices and strong corporate-tenant demand. Net yields sit roughly 80-150 bps below gross once IMI, management and vacancies are modelled.
Humberto Delgado Airport sits inside the city limits, roughly 7 km from Avenida da Liberdade, 9 km from Chiado and 12 km from Belém. Driving time is 15-25 minutes outside peak hours. The red metro line connects the airport directly to Alameda and Oriente stations, and a taxi to most central parishes costs €12-€18. This tight footprint is a major differentiator against Madrid, Barcelona and Paris for second-home buyers making 30-40 trips a year.
Serving international clients in Lisbon. Expertise in historic preservation, new developments, and investment properties across all neighborhoods.
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