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.
Jemma from Fine and Country in Cardiff made our house buying and selling very smooth. She was professional and always approachable. We are so glad that we chose to sell our house with the estate agent that we were buying from, it made a very stressful process run much more smoothly as we just had one point of contact. Gill in sales progression was incredible at keeping us updated and chasing solicitors on our behalf. If we were ever to move again we would 100% chose Jemma from Fine and Country to sell our house for us!
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.
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From Lisbon's townhouses and Porto's apartments to Cascais villas, Algarve coastal homes and Comporta estates, Portugal offers distinct settings for international buyers. Fine Luxury Property helps clients compare properties, neighbourhoods and the practical buying process. Tax treatment and residence permission depend on personal circumstances and require separate checks; a property purchase does not establish IFICI eligibility or immigration rights.
Pombaline and belle-époque apartments in Lisbon and Porto, fully renovated three-bedroom residences typically trading between €900,000 and €3.5 million in prime parishes.
Contemporary and classical villas on the Estoril coast, Algarve's Golden Triangle and the Silver Coast, with pools, sea views and gated-community security from €1.5 million upwards.
Working quintas and herdades in the Alentejo, Douro and Ribatejo, from vineyard estates in the Douro valley to cork and olive farms south of the Tagus, often 20-200 hectares.
New-build and heritage conversion penthouses with Tagus or Atlantic frontage, private terraces and panoramic lifts, concentrated in Chiado, Príncipe Real, Foz do Douro and the Cascais marina.
Fine Luxury Property is an estate agency helping international buyers compare property in Lisbon, Cascais, Porto, the Algarve and Comporta. Our multilingual team coordinates property searches and the buying process alongside independent Portuguese lawyers and tax advisers. NIF registration, title checks, tax calculations and residency planning should be assessed for each buyer; owning a home does not grant a visa or IFICI eligibility.
Portugal's IFICI tax regime can offer a 20% rate on qualifying employment and professional income for ten years. Applicants must meet personal residence and activity requirements. Retirement or passive income alone does not establish eligibility, and a property purchase does not confer it.
Prime segments in Lisbon, Cascais and the Algarve's Golden Triangle have compounded at roughly 5-8% annually over the last decade, outperforming most of the eurozone while remaining priced below Paris, Barcelona or Milan on a per-square-metre basis.
Visa and residence applications require their own eligibility checks; property ownership alone does not supply residence rights. Buying a home does not qualify a new applicant for the Golden Visa, and IFICI is a separate personal tax regime rather than an immigration route.
Portugal has 1,800 km of Atlantic coastline, 300+ days of sun in the south, and ranks in the top seven of the Global Peace Index, a combination that underpins both year-round second-home demand and a growing permanent resident base.
Every buyer needs a Portuguese tax number (NIF). Our team organises this in 48-72 hours via a local fiscal representative, along with a Portuguese bank account for the eventual escrow and IMT payments.
A signed reservation agreement takes the property off the market while lawyers verify the Caderneta Predial, Certidão de Registo Predial, energy certificate and municipal licences, typically within 10-15 working days.
The promissory contract is signed with a 10-20% deposit. If the buyer defaults they forfeit the deposit; if the seller defaults they pay double. Completion normally follows 30-90 days later.
Before the deed, confirm IMT against the property's use and the buyer's tax status. The usual non-resident residential rate is 7.5%, subject to statutory exceptions; purchase stamp duty is 0.8%. Land and other property categories have different rules. Obtain an itemised tax, legal, registration and financing estimate.
The public deed is signed before a notary or on a private authenticated document basis. Registration at the Conservatória do Registo Predial follows the same day, and keys transfer immediately on funds release.
Buying property does not grant immigration permission. Non-EU buyers should assess the appropriate visa or residence route separately. IFICI is a personal tax regime for eligible new residents in qualifying activities, rather than a visa; an independent adviser should confirm whether it applies.
IFICI can offer eligible new Portuguese tax residents a 20% rate on qualifying employment and professional income for ten years. Eligibility depends on specified activities and other personal conditions; buying a Portuguese home does not qualify someone for the regime.
Portugal builds roughly 25,000 homes a year against demand from both locals and 100,000+ new residents annually, keeping prime-market absorption strong and new-build premiums elevated in Lisbon, Cascais and Porto.
Sterling, US-dollar and Swiss-franc holders have enjoyed intermittent 10-20% FX discounts over the last three years, layering a currency return on top of underlying capital appreciation.
Portugal combines universal public healthcare, high-ranked private clinics in Lisbon and Porto, bilingual international schools and direct flights to every major European capital from Lisbon and Porto.
Portugal's property register is fully digitised, title insurance is straightforward, and foreign buyers have identical ownership rights to citizens, making it one of the most transparent luxury markets in southern Europe.
Entry-level luxury in Portugal begins around €800,000 for a renovated two-bedroom apartment in central Lisbon or Porto. Prime city apartments typically trade at €7,500-€13,000 per square metre in Lisbon and €4,500-€8,500 in Porto. Coastal villas in Cascais, the Algarve Golden Triangle or Comporta range from €2 million to €15 million for a four-to-six bedroom residence with pool and sea views. Trophy estates on the Douro or along the Alentejo coast regularly exceed €20 million.
International buyers can purchase Portuguese property, but ownership and the right to live in Portugal are separate matters. A Portuguese tax number (NIF) is part of the buying preparation. Non-EU buyers should assess any visa or residence application against their own circumstances. IFICI is a tax regime for eligible new residents carrying out qualifying activities; it does not grant residence permission, and neither buying a home nor receiving passive income alone establishes eligibility.
No new applicant can qualify through a property purchase. Portugal closed the real-estate investment routes on 7 October 2023, with transitional rules for protected existing and pending cases. Buying a home and obtaining residence permission are separate processes. Non-EU buyers should check a suitable visa or residence route with an adviser; IFICI provides a tax incentive to eligible residents and is not a Golden Visa replacement or an immigration route.
Non-resident residential buyers generally pay 7.5% IMT plus 0.8% purchase stamp duty: 8.3% of the applicable taxable value in these two taxes before legal, registration or financing costs. IMT usually uses the higher of the price and taxable property value. Statutory exceptions cover recognised Portuguese tax residence, becoming resident within two years and qualifying residential letting; relief has conditions and deadlines. Land and special company cases have different rules. Obtain a written transaction-specific estimate rather than relying on a fixed total-cost percentage.
IFICI is a personal tax incentive for eligible new Portuguese tax residents who carry out specified qualifying activities. Its 20% rate concerns qualifying employment and professional income for ten years. Applicants generally must not have been Portuguese tax residents in the previous five years and must meet the relevant activity and registration conditions. Buying property does not confer eligibility; retirement or passive income alone does not establish it. IFICI is separate from any visa or residence application.
Porto and the Silver Coast remain the best pricing arbitrage inside Portugal's luxury market. Prime Porto runs roughly 35-45% below prime Lisbon per square metre, with comparable rental yields and a rising base of digital-nomad and European-expat demand. For coastal second homes, the eastern Algarve around Tavira and the Silver Coast around Óbidos are both priced below the established Quinta do Lago and Cascais benchmarks, while offering similar climate and beach access.
From offer acceptance to final deed, a standard transaction closes in 60-90 days. The reservation-and-due-diligence stage runs 10-15 working days. The promissory contract (CPCV) is typically signed two to four weeks after reservation, with a 10-20% deposit. The final deed (escritura) follows 30 to 90 days later, once the buyer has obtained a NIF, opened a Portuguese bank account and settled IMT and stamp duty. All-cash purchases routinely complete inside 45 days when both sides are organised.
Yes, both. Portugal has mandatory licensing for real estate agents through AMI, and a regulated brokerage offers access to multi-listing inventory, verified pricing and structured negotiation. An independent advogado, separate from the agent, conducts title and planning due diligence, reviews the promissory and final contracts, and handles communication with the notary. Fine Luxury Property routinely works alongside English-, French- and Portuguese-speaking lawyers across Lisbon, Cascais, Porto and the Algarve.
Serving international clients in Portugal. Expertise in historic preservation, new developments, and investment properties across all neighborhoods.
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