Luxury Property Specialists

Buying real estate in the Algarve with Full Time Property

Our Approach

With more than 25 years of experience across luxury real estate, elite sport, business and international investment, Full Time Property provides a highly personal and discreet property service for clients buying in the Algarve.

We regularly advise high-profile individuals, professional sportspeople, business leaders and international clients who value trusted advice, discretion and access to opportunities beyond the mainstream market.

Through our extensive network of private contacts, owners and trusted professional partners, we can identify exceptional properties – including carefully selected off-market opportunities.

Why clients buy with
Full Time Property

Discreet and personal service
Access to private/off-market opportunities
25 years of international experience
Extensive local trusted network
One dedicated point of contact
Negotiation and transaction management

With over 25 years of luxury real estate expertise, our experienced team helps you buy or sell property in the Algarve, Portugal.

Danny Stones

Managing Director - Full Time Property

Our 10-step guide to buying as an individual

Portugal offers a secure and well-regulated property market, making the purchasing process clear and efficient for both domestic and international buyers. With the right professional guidance, transactions can often be completed within two to six weeks. Below is an overview of the key steps involved and what you can expect throughout the process.

1. Understanding Your Requirements

Every property search begins with understanding exactly what you are looking for. Our team takes the time to understand your lifestyle, preferred location, property requirements, budget and long-term objectives.

 

Whether you are searching for a permanent residence, holiday home, investment property or a combination of these, we use this insight to create a tailored search strategy focused on finding the right opportunities for you.

2. Sourcing the Right Properties

With your requirements clearly established, we draw on our extensive local network and knowledge of the Algarve property market to identify suitable opportunities.

 

Alongside properties available on the open market, our private contacts and trusted partners provide access to exclusive and off-market opportunities that may not be publicly advertised. We carefully select properties that genuinely match your brief, saving you time and ensuring your search remains focused.

3. Private Viewings

Once suitable properties have been identified, we arrange private viewings around your schedule, providing a discreet and personalised experience throughout.

 

Our team will accompany you during viewings, providing local insight and practical guidance on each property and its surroundings. Where appropriate, we can also arrange additional visits, introductions to relevant specialists and further information to help you make a confident decision.

4. Negotiation and Offer

When you have found the right property, we will advise you on the appropriate offer and negotiate directly with the seller or their representative on your behalf.

 

Our knowledge of the local market, together with our understanding of your objectives, allows us to negotiate carefully and professionally while protecting your interests. Once terms have been agreed, we will guide you through the next stage of the purchasing process.

5. Letter of Intent

Once you have found the perfect property and your offer has been accepted, Full Time Property will guide you through the next steps with complete discretion and care. We will prepare the Letter of Intent (LOI), outlining the principal terms of the purchase, coordinating directly with the legal representatives acting for both buyer and seller.

 

Your lawyer will then review all property documentation and carry out a comprehensive due diligence process, ensuring every legal and administrative aspect has been thoroughly verified. Where applicable, an inventory of fixtures, fittings and agreed contents will also be prepared to form part of the purchase documentation.

6. Promissory Contract

Following successful completion of the legal checks, your lawyer will prepare the Promissory Contract (“Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda” or CPCV). This legally binding agreement confirms the agreed terms of the sale, providing both parties with confidence and security before the transaction proceeds to completion.

 

Throughout this stage, Full Time Property remains on hand to liaise with all parties, ensuring the process progresses smoothly and efficiently.

7. Deposit Payment

Once the Promissory Contract has been signed, a deposit of typically 10% of the agreed purchase price is transferred. This is usually managed securely through your lawyer’s client account, providing peace of mind and ensuring the transaction is handled in accordance with Portuguese legal practice.

8. Final Deed

The purchase is completed with the signing of the Final Deed (“Escritura”) before a Portuguese notary on the agreed completion date. This is the moment legal ownership of the property is formally transferred to you.

 

Should you be unable to attend in person, your appointed legal representative can complete the transaction on your behalf under a valid Power of Attorney, allowing the purchase to proceed seamlessly wherever you are in the world.

9. Transaction Completion

Following the transfer of the remaining balance of the purchase price, together with any applicable taxes and completion costs, the acquisition is legally finalised. At this stage, you become the official owner of your new property in Portugal.

 

Our team will continue to oversee the final stages of the process, ensuring every detail has been completed correctly and efficiently.

10. Land Registry

After completion, your lawyer will register your ownership with the Portuguese Land Registry (“Registo Predial”), ensuring your legal title is formally recorded.

 

They will also typically arrange the transfer of utility accounts and assist with any remaining administrative formalities, allowing you to settle into your new home effortlessly.

 

From your initial enquiry through to completion and beyond, Full Time Property is committed to making your property purchase as seamless, transparent and enjoyable as possible.

Tips for buyers

A successful property purchase in Portugal begins with the right preparation and professional support. Working with an experienced Portuguese property lawyer, maintaining accurate documentation and understanding all associated costs will ensure a smooth transaction.

Full Time Property works closely with trusted partners to guide clients through each stage of the process. By preparing documentation in advance and understanding the steps involved, buyers can approach their purchase with confidence and peace of mind.

Our 10-step guide to buying as a corporate structure

Some properties in Portugal are owned through a corporate structure rather than by an individual seller. In these cases, the purchase process differs slightly, as the transaction involves the transfer of company ownership instead of a standard property sale. Full Time Property will oversee the entire process, working with the relevant legal and financial professionals to ensure the transaction is managed smoothly and efficiently. Below is an overview of the key stages involved and what you can expect at each step of the process.

1. Understanding Your Requirements

Every purchase begins with understanding your objectives and the most appropriate structure for your acquisition. We take the time to understand your preferred location, property requirements, budget and intended use, together with any specific corporate or investment considerations.

 

This allows us to tailor the search and ensure that any corporate-owned property opportunities presented are aligned with your requirements.

2. Sourcing the Right Properties

We draw on our extensive local network, private contacts and knowledge of the Algarve market to identify suitable opportunities.

 

Where appropriate, this includes properties held through corporate structures and carefully selected off-market opportunities. We focus on finding properties that meet your requirements while ensuring you have a clear understanding of the ownership structure from the outset.

3. Private Viewings

Once suitable opportunities have been identified, we arrange private viewings around your schedule.

 

Our team will accompany you throughout, providing local knowledge and practical guidance on the property, its location and the wider opportunity. We can also arrange further visits and introductions to relevant specialists where required.

4. Negotiation and Offer

When you have identified the right property, we will advise on the appropriate offer and negotiate directly with the seller or their representative on your behalf.

 

Where the property is held within a corporate structure, the offer will relate to the proposed acquisition of the company and its underlying assets. We will ensure the agreed commercial terms are clearly understood before the transaction progresses to the legal and corporate due diligence stage.

5. Legal and Corporate Due Diligence

Once the offer has been agreed, your appointed lawyer will undertake comprehensive due diligence on both the property and the company that owns it.

 

This includes reviewing the company’s ownership, corporate records, liabilities, financial obligations, warranties, legal standing and any ongoing or historic legal matters, alongside the standard legal checks relating to the property itself.

 

Full Time Property will coordinate with all relevant parties throughout this stage, helping to ensure the process progresses efficiently.

6. Due Diligence Review

Once the legal and corporate investigations have been completed, your lawyer will review the findings with you and confirm that the relevant checks have been satisfactorily addressed.

 

Any outstanding queries, liabilities, warranties or conditions will be identified and resolved before the transaction moves to the contractual stage. This provides clarity and confidence before you commit to the acquisition.

7. Share Purchase Agreement

Your lawyer will prepare the Share Purchase Agreement, setting out the agreed terms of the transaction, the respective obligations of the buyer and seller and any conditions that must be satisfied before completion.

 

Once the agreement has been reviewed and approved, it is signed by both parties, formally securing the agreed terms of the transaction.

8. Deposit and Jurisdiction

Following execution of the Share Purchase Agreement, the agreed deposit – typically 10% of the purchase price – is paid to the seller through the appropriate lawyer’s client account.

 

The share transfer will take place under the jurisdiction of the company’s registered domicile. Depending on the circumstances, it may also be completed under Portuguese law or another relevant jurisdiction connected to the parties. Your legal advisers will ensure that the transfer complies with all applicable legal requirements.

9. Completion and Purchase Price Transfer

Once all conditions outlined in the Share Purchase Agreement have been fulfilled, completion can take place.

 

The remaining balance of the purchase price is transferred to the seller, usually through the respective lawyers’ client accounts. At this point, the agreed corporate transaction is completed and responsibility for the company passes to the buyer.

10. Share Ownership Transfer

Following completion, the company’s management will formally register the transfer of shares from the seller to the buyer.

 

This final administrative step confirms the buyer as the new legal owner of the company and, consequently, the property held within it. The process is typically straightforward and can often be completed in English.

 

From your initial enquiry through to completion and beyond, Full Time Property remains your dedicated point of contact, coordinating with trusted legal and financial professionals to make the acquisition as seamless, transparent and discreet as possible.

Understanding KYC

KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures are a mandatory requirement in Portugal to prevent fraud, money laundering and financial crime. Buyers must provide proof of identity, confirmation of the source of funds, and disclosure of any Politically Exposed Person (PEP) status relating to themselves or family members.

Full cooperation with banks, lawyers and property professionals is required to complete the necessary compliance documentation. Full Time Property works alongside trusted partners to ensure this process is handled smoothly, efficiently and discreetly.

Personalised Service

Find your dream home in the Algarve with independent advice and guidance from Full Time Property.

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LOCAL

multilingual support

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PRIVATE

property viewings

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ONE

key contact throughout

Costs to consider

When purchasing a property in Portugal, buyers should consider additional costs including legal fees, IMT (Property Transfer Tax), Stamp Duty, notary and registration fees. These costs vary depending on the property type, purchase price and transaction structure.

Full Time Property works with trusted legal and financial partners to help clients understand these requirements, providing clear guidance and ensuring the purchase process is managed smoothly from start to finish.

General enquiries

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    If you prefer to keep your details confidential please contact Danny Stones, our Managing Director on

    +44 (0) 7710 723 699