Although the process of buying a property in Portugal is well-regulated, there are a number of things you need to be aware of when making your plans.

The dimensions of a property are often given in square feet/metres in Portugal - when comparing properties, make sure you check whether this includes outside areas such as patios or not.

Even if you are not planning to live in Portugal, you will need a Portuguese tax code and a correspondence address in Portugal - although this can just be a solicitor or estate agent's office. You can get a tax code from the local tax office in the area where you are buying and you will automatically be given one if you open a Portuguese bank account - which may be necessary for a Portuguese mortgage.

Be aware of the differences between urban and rural (Rustica) properties. Additional documentation (known as Caderneta Rustica) is required for rural properties, providing a more detailed description of the exact scope of the property (some areas of Portugal are still very rural).


Glossary of Key X Terms

Caderneta Perdial - Property Tax Document

Caderneta Rustica - Tax document providing an exact description of a property - rustic properties only

Certidao de Teor - Property Registration Document

Contrato Promessa de Compra e Verda - Preliminary contract of sale

Conservatoria do Registo Predial Notario - Land Registry

Escritura de Compra e Venda - Final deed of sale

IMOPPI - organisation to which all licensed Portuguese estate agents belong. Operates a professional code of conduct

Instituto dos Mercados de Obras Públicas e Particulares e do Imobiliário -see IMOPPI

IMT - Property Transfer Tax, payable at or before completion of sale

Imposto Municipal Sobre Transmissao Onerosa de Imoveis - see IMT

Licenca de Utilizacao - Usage License for a property

Mediador Autorizado - Licensed real estate agent

Notario - Notary Public - a solicitor responsible for conducting the sale of property

Numero Fiscal de Contribuinte - Portuguese tax code needed to purchase a property

Procurcao Publica - Power of Attorney - this can be issued by a Notario and allows an appointed representative to act for you in the purchase of a property

Registo - Property registration document

Rustica - A designation applied to properties in very rural areas.

Read On

• Introduction

• Buying A Property In Portugal - 5 Easy Steps

• Should I Get A UK or Portuguese Mortgage?

• Getting A Mortgage In Portugal

• Other Things To Consider Before Buying In Portugal

• Glossary of Key X Terms

Buying Overseas Property and Mortgages