Portugal on track for biggest property price rise in Europe

Strong national and international demand for property coupled with a housing shortage have put Portugal on track for a forecast 9.5 percent rise in property prices this year

The Portuguese real estate market should “remain dynamic over the next few years!

Source: The Portugal News Online  NEWS · 06-09-2018 09:39:00 ·

Strong demand for property in Portugal

Strong national and international demand for property coupled with a housing shortage have put Portugal on track for a forecast 9.5 percent rise in property prices this year, which means Portugal, along with Ireland, will be the European country with the sharpest increase in real estate prices, among the 10 countries analysed by the US financial rating agency S&P.

Portugal on track for biggest property price rise in Europe

This forecast, according to a piece by business and economy site Economia Online, is made in the ‘Europe’s Housing Market’ report published on Monday by S&P.

In the report, the agency analyses real estate price developments in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

S&P predicts only in the UK will prices remain unchanged this year, with increases in all other cases; up until 2021, Portugal will remain among the countries with the highest increases.

As a result of strong demand, both domestic and international, and supply shortages, prices are expected to increase by 9.5 percent this year, slowing down to seven percent in 2019, six percent in 2020 and 5 percent in 2021. This, after last year, having already increased by 10.5 percent, and another 7.7 percent in 2016.

The Portuguese property market “remains affordable”

Nonetheless, S&P believes that the Portuguese market “remains affordable”, with “a price-earnings ratio still seven percent below the long-term average”.

In any case, S&P points out, “limited supply coupled with strong domestic and external demand is fuelling house price inflation”.

Bolstering this demand is “robust economic growth, job creation and low interest rates” as well as falling unemployment and “special incentives” such as the granting of gold visas and the programme for non-residents.

In this context, the agency anticipates that Portugal’s economic growth will remain “solid” this year, despite a slowdown compared to 2017, pointing to an increase of 2.3 percent of GDP.

Thus, the Portuguese real estate market should “remain dynamic over the next few years, supported by job creation and increased incomes, as well as by external demand”, S&P concluded.

The gap between supply and demand is also expected to continue over the next few years. This is because the number of properties under construction is increasing, but still small, so it will likely not keep pace with the growth of demand.

Where is the cheapest place in Portugal to live on a pension?

Portugal has to be one of the most affordable countries in Europe in which to live.

Anywhere away from cities and industry. Small villages and towns that are a few hours drive from major cities will be the cheapest places to live.

Property prices and property taxes in small villages will be low and the cost of food if bought at the local markets low too. Buy what is in season. You may have to make a longer journey now and then to a larger town to stock up on certain items and fill your car up with cheaper gas at one of the supermarkets.Property for sale

Where?

Alentejo villages would be a good starting point, or any village in the North of Portugal, just stay away from the larger towns and cities. If you prefer a warmer climate in winter then the Algarve would be suitable but stay away from the coast and look inland, have a look at places like Alcoutim, Almodovar, Salir, Alte, Ourique, Sao Marcos da Serra, Alferce, Monchique, Marmelete, Aljezur, Rogil, all are within striking distance of larger towns and airports but are clear of industry and heavy tourism, check out this site MonchiquePortugal.info

Shops in MonchiqueStretch your Euros

If you are prepared to live sensibly, grow some of your own fruit and veg, have a few chickens, do without too many trappings you can make a pension go a long way. Much depends on where your pension comes from of course. The one thing that can be costly here are cars both new and used. If you have a fairly new and reliable left hand drive to bring with you then consider doing so and get it “matriculated” here. Portugal has to be one of the most affordable countries in Europe in which to live.

Read Nigel‘s answer to Where is the cheapest place in Portugal to live on a pension? on Quora

Portugal Property Market Report

Record year for Portuguese housing market on the cards

The current year is set to finish with more than 20 billion euros changing hands in real estate transactions across the country.

Record year for Portuguese housing market on the cards

 

The news of the continued growth in the Portuguese property market was revealed this week by the National Real Estate Agents’ Association (APEMIP).
The association said that with this projected growth, the property market will have expanded by 20 percent on last year’s figures.
APEMIP further forecast that this growth will continue for at least the coming two years. It said that the real estate market has received a decisive push through foreign investment, but said that continued growth is now also being supported by the domestic market, with investors cashing in on their bank deposits to invest in the buy-to-let market.
Meanwhile, new figures have show that the building industry has registered growth of over 40 percent.
According to the Pipeline Imobiliário Index, the number of building licences issued between the second quarter of 2016 and the second quarter of 2017 has climbed by 42.7 in mainland Portugal.
The issuing of licences to renovate or rebuild old homes performed particularly strongly, with an increase of just over 68 percent for the period in question.
Meanwhile, official figures out earlier this autumn indicated that the national housing price index has seen property prices rise by eight percent during the second quarter of the year when compared with the same period in 2016. House prices also rose on the first quarter of 2017, with the cost of housing up 3.2 percent.
Figures published by Portugal Statistics (INE) further revealed that new properties continued to report growth, while used properties, while still recording strong increases, slowed during the second quarter of the year.
The INE said that a total of just under 37,000 properties were sold between April and June, which is up 16.1 percent on 2016 and almost five percent above the number registered between January and March this year.
The total value of real estate sold during the second quarter was up 23.3 percent on last year, totaling 4.6 billion euros, of which 3.7 billion euros accounted for used homes.

If this does not tempt you, not sure what will! We invested in Portugal and have seen the value of our property in Monchique increase two fold in the last 12 years, what’s more it serves us as an escape from Canadian winters (snowbirding) and gives a great return on investment in the summer months because we rent it out. Have a look at our rental website and see what we have what our rates and availability are.