Financing A Property Purchase In Portugal

There are various financial options available when considering an investment in Portuguese property. Below are some of the main strategies used by investors today.

Property purchase in Portugal could be funded by personal cash resources but, as most investors prefer, mortgage or equity release schemes are widely available.

Mortgages

As part of a modern finance system running in accordance with EU regulations, banks in Portugal offer a wide range of well developed banking services. Foreigners can obtain mortgages from Portuguese banks to fund between 60 and 80% of the property price, with a minimum loan value set at 20,000 GBP. The amount of funding will vary according to your financial background and the bank involved. Both repayment and interest only mortgages are widely available with fixed and variable rate options.

Banks will not normally take into account rental income when calculating an applicant’s level of borrowing.

Off-Plan Financing

Some developers of off-plan developments operate installment plans over a period of years, while charges applicable vary according to developer. Many investors find these are highly competitive and beneficial, but it is always advisable to shop around for all types of mortgage or other finance arrangements to best suit your needs, before making your final decision.

As always, before making a commitment, it is recommended that you discuss your investment strategy with a lawyer, a reputable property agent with experience in the area and even a financial advisor.

Equity Release

If you own property in any country and would like to borrow against this in an equity release plan, you can look for an independent financial advisor to assist you in raising the necessary finance. For homeowners aged in their mid-50s or older, a cash lump sum, a regular income, or both can be generated by using an equity release scheme based on the property value. Equity release schemes can be very helpful to raise funds to finance a mortgage for a property investment in Portugal.

Alternative Finance

In this day and age, not everyone falls into a category and some investors need to raise finance using other options. For this reason, there are other borrowing facilities available to investors of Portuguese property.