Portugal

Situated in the far west corner of Europe with a long coastline, Portugal with its population of 10.5 million people covers a land area of around 92,000 km2. It is the westernmost country of Europe and is bordered by Spain to the north and east and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.

Since joining the European Union in 1986, Portugal was in the group of the first 11 countries to embrace the euro in 1999 and noting an improvement in its economy, the IMF are stating a 1.5% projected percentage change in real GDP for 2007.

Portugal benefits from being one of the warmest European countries with yearly temperature averages at 13ºC (55º F) in the north and 18ºC (64ºF) in the south. It is an increasingly popular tourism destination with over 5 million visitors a year from around the globe with the most popular areas for holiday homes and investment in the Algarve and on the Silver Coast which enjoy a Mediterranean climate similar to southern Spain.

The Algarve

The Algarve is this southernmost region and is rich in history and culture with traditional houses, castles and Roman roads. A lush region full of mountains traversed with rich valleys and an impressive 155 kilometres of south-facing coastline. The Algarve is a popular destination for tourism, primarily because of its clean, warm water beaches, Mediterranean climate, safety and relatively low costs. The Algarve has been a very popular destination for tourism since the 1960´s and today has become a very popular destination for Europeans in general and is host to a large number of tourists throughout the year. The property market is well established but still with low prices compared to other locations in Europe.

The Silver Coast

The Silver Coast (Costa de Prata) is now less than an hours drive from Lisbon International airport along the new A8 motorway, linking the vibrant capital city of Portugal with historic Oporto in the North. Some of the country’s most impressive architecture, historical and religious sites can be found in this region, with near empty beaches mixing with quaint fishing villages. As there is also a proposed new international airport to be located at OTA this little known region is opening its doors to the outside world.

Golfer’s Paradise

Wherever one is looking to buy property in Portugal, one will not be far from a world-class golfing facility. The many hours of sunshine which allow one to play until late and the fabulous climate, make the region a golfing destination throughout the year.

Many property buyers and investors head to the Algarve. This is also visited by golfers from all over the world due to its abundance of high-class courses. However, Portugal’s unspoilt west coast, stretching from Lisbon to Fiqueira da Foz, Portugal’s Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) is a gem of largely undiscovered beauty and gets its name from the effect of the sun on the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

The stunning Silver Coast is a location very sought after for property hunters, as its Atlantic Ocean panorama, proximity to the fine sand beaches and year round good climate make this idyllic location very special indeed. As well as an area of protected and outstanding natural beauty with spectacular cliffs, pristine beaches and local towns and villages steeped in history, the Silver Coast has many championship Golf courses, including the Praie D’el Rey Golf & Beach Resort voted Best Golf Resort in Europe 2007.

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