Buying a home in Portugal: from viewing to escritura
A practical route through budgeting, due diligence, the CPCV, taxes, finance and the final deed.
Buyers and relocating households4 sections
Read complete guideMake a better property decision
Practical Portugal guides built around the questions buyers, renters and property professionals actually face.
PRACTICAL PORTUGAL GUIDES
6 guidesAdvice you can actually use
Renting in Portugal without avoidable surprises
How to verify an advert, understand the contract, document the handover and keep a clear tenancy record.
Tenants and relocating households4 sections
Read complete guideChoosing an area in Portugal for family life
Compare schools, everyday journeys, healthcare, space, noise and support networks before choosing a postcode.
Families planning a move4 sections
Read complete guideWhere daily life can work without a car
A practical method for testing rail, metro, bus, walking and the last mile before choosing a home.
Commuters, retirees and one-car households4 sections
Read complete guideA practical landlord guide for Portugal
Prepare the property, advertise clearly, screen consistently, document the tenancy and maintain a reliable record.
Private landlords and property managers4 sections
Read complete guideBuying a new-build or off-plan home
How to examine the developer, approvals, specification, payment stages, completion risk and handover.
New-build and off-plan buyers4 sections
Read complete guideCOMPLETE AREA GUIDES
Read before you choose a location
Eleven practical guides covering every area currently offered in CasaCerta, with the questions, trade-offs and official local sources worth checking.
AreaBest forCar realityFamily fitKnow the trade-offGuide
PenelaRural space, village life and renovation potentialA car is strongly recommended outside Penela townPotentially good when school and work journeys are confirmedMore space and quiet, but fewer services and thinner transportRead guide LisboaUrban careers, culture and car-light livingOften workable without a car near strong transportGood in the right micro-area; space and school routes varyConvenience and choice come with price, noise and smaller homesRead guide PortoCompact city life, culture and northern businessGood without a car in well-connected districtsGood, but hills, schools and home size need testingCharacter and access vary sharply by street and elevationRead guide CascaisCoastal living, international households and Lisbon accessGood on the rail line; mixed inlandStrong when school and traffic routes workPremium pricing and busy cross-concelho journeysRead guide OeirasLisbon access, employment hubs and family servicesGood near coastal rail; mixed around business parksStrong when school and commute geography alignThe last mile can turn a short distance into a car journeyRead guide MatosinhosCoast, Porto access and contemporary apartmentsGood near Metro; more useful in outer areasGood with the right school and commute positionWind, port activity and premium coastal stock vary by micro-areaRead guide BragaFamilies, universities and northern employmentGood in the centre; useful outside itStrong when school and parish location alignOuter space can create cross-city drivingRead guide LagosCoast, international community and outdoor livingPossible centrally; useful for wider Algarve lifeGood when year-round services and schools fitSummer demand, traffic and short-let pressureRead guide TaviraEastern Algarve character and a slower coastal lifePossible near town and rail; useful outsideGood when school and year-round service needs fitHeat, seasonality and varied village connectivityRead guide Silver CoastSpace, beaches, small cities and a quieter paceUsually recommended outside central townsGood when school and work journeys are localThe region is broad; connectivity varies greatlyRead guide ÉvoraHistoric city life, university and Alentejo accessManageable centrally; useful for the wider regionGood when heat, school and work routes are plannedHot summers and rural distances require preparationRead guide BUYING CHECKLIST
Before you make an offer
Open the complete buying guide →- Test the location.Walk the school, commute and grocery journey at realistic times.
- Check the legal file.Ownership, licence, plans, energy certificate, condominium and debts.
- Model the full cost.Deposit, IMT, stamp duty, registration, legal work, insurance and repairs.
- Protect the reservation.Do not transfer money until identity, authority and written terms are clear.