Updated: April 15, 2025
Blink and you may miss it. Portugal’s property market is dynamic, with the very best properties often being snapped up quickly. While having a clear understanding of the property market is essential for a successful purchase, timing and precision can be crucial for you to avoid missing out on securing your ideal property.
Express Property Sales in Portugal
The best properties in Portugal can go fast and knowing when to make an offer can be tricky.
To put some data behind this statement, in December 2024, around 8 percent of the homes advertised for sale on the Idealista property portal were shown for less than a week, with 20 percent of the properties being sold within one week and one month, and 31 percent being snapped up between one and three months.
When it comes to express sales– residential properties that are sold in under a week – Faro leads the way, with 46 percent of homes sold within this short time period. This is followed by Porto (11 percent), Leiria (9 percent), Coimbra (9 percent), Setúbal (9 percent), Viana do Castelo (9 percent), Ponta Delgada (8 percent), and Aveiro (8 percent).
Lisbon was slightly lower, under the national average, and standing at 5 percent. Braga was also below the national average (7 percent), as were Santarém (7 percent) and Funchal (6 percent).
At the district and island level, the market dynamic is a little different, with the districts with the highest percentage of express sales in December being Faro, Bragança, and Guarda, each standing at 11 percent.
Other districts are:
- Braga: 10 percent
- Porto: 9 percent:
- Setúbal: 8 percent
- Castelo Branco: 8 percent
- Coimbra: 7 percent
- Lisbon: 7 percent
- Aveiro: 7 percent
- Viana do Castelo: 6 percent
- Leiria: 6 percent
- Madeira: 5 percent
Portugal’s property market is in a constant state of change and being able to track the market and keep up to speed with the best properties on the market requires experience, skill, and attention to detail.
How to Navigate Portugal’s Fast-Moving Market
The fact that many properties are not staying on the market long means that even small delays can lead to missing out on the property that you have your heart set on. Portugal also has experienced continued increased demand in properties in recent years, with demand outpacing supply in many major cities and hotspot locations. As a result of this, buyers can often feel overwhelmed by the speed at which properties can disappear from the market.
Buying property in Portugal can feel like a delicate balancing act, knowing when to express interest in a property and avoid missing out, while also taking into consideration other opportunities that may arise. To avoid this uphill struggle and to ultimately score your dream property, how can you successfully manoeuvre the property market?
This is where seeking help on the ground is essential. A buyer’s agent will have a wealth of experience, combining local expertise with full market access and an acute understanding of when to act and how best to negotiate to secure the property that you are interested in.
Here’s how they can make a difference to your property buying journey in Portugal:
- Expert navigation in a fast-moving market: A buyer’s agent will be able to monitor new and existing listings and quickly identify properties that align with your requirements and budget.
- Strategic decision-making: Knowing when to act is just one piece of the puzzle. Having access to the latest technologies and data to make strategic decisions is essential. Buyer’s agents will use advanced tech, such as metasearch tools to monitor and track all real estate stock listings, including trade and history, time on the market, analytical comparisons, price fluctuations, and market analysis reports.
- Skilled negotiation: Buyer’s agents will assess the true value of a property to ensure you make a fair offer and avoid overpaying and assist you with the negotiation stage. Local experience is essential to ensure you get your ideal property at the right price.
- Comprehensive market insights: Buyer’s agents will provide tips about which neighborhoods have investment potential, upcoming developments that could influence property prices, and share insights on market shifts, making sure you make informed decisions. In short, they will be your balancing act, ensuring that you don’t rush into a purchase that you may not have thought through, while ensuring you don’t miss out on the best deals.
In a competitive property market like Portugal’s, seeking out the expertise of professionals who understand what’s happening on the ground can make all the difference. They’ll work alongside you to streamline the buying process, ultimately ensuring you secure the home of your dreams at the best price possible.
Goldcrest: How We Can Help You
Goldcrest is a buyer’s agent that is based in Lisbon. We provide expert, impartial advice on real estate investments and how to buy property in Portugal. From scouting out the perfect property through to property acquisition, we have you covered throughout the process.
If you are looking to purchase property in Portugal, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of skilled experts is available to solve all your real estate doubts, helping you with the property search and offering insightful expertise and strategic advice.
Why choose Goldcrest?
- Local knowledge: With offices located across Portugal, our presence nationwide allows us to assist you personally across the country.
- Independent service: As an independent buying agent, we do not represent any development or project. Our service is entirely tailored toward each individual client, providing you with everything you need to secure the perfect property at the best possible price. As an impartial advisor on the market, we work solely on behalf of our client and provide a service tailored to your needs and requirements.
- Streamlined process: Our real estate agents speak English and Portuguese, and our service is completely focused on providing you with a hassle-free buying experience, saving you time.
- Experienced team: Our expert real estate team has a vast local knowledge of the Portuguese property market. We have cutting-edge technology and metasearch tools at your disposal to provide full market coverage, ensuring the best investment choices and negotiated prices.
- Network of partners: We have a close network of partners, including lawyers, property management services, builders, architects, designers, and landscape gardeners, again saving you time and hassle by providing you with trusted experts in their field of work.
