Portugal Know-How

Praca Luis de Camoes in Lagos old town, Algarve, with jacaranda trees in bloom over the calcada pavement

How to Buy Property in Lagos as a Foreigner: The 2026 Process, Costs and Paperwork

A step by step guide to buying property in Lagos and the Western Algarve as a foreign buyer in 2026: the NIF, the promissory contract, the flat 7.5 percent non-resident IMT, financing and the deed.

Steve Marque talking with a couple of buyers during a viewing of a sea-view home in the Western Algarve, for a guide to choosing an estate agent in Lagos

How to Choose an Estate Agent in Lagos, Portugal (and What a Buyer’s Agent Actually Does)

Most agents you meet in Lagos work for the seller. How to check an agency's AMI licence, vet the person, and know when you need a buyer's agent.

An older whitewashed Portuguese villa with green shutters next to a modern white flat-roofed new build with a pool on a quiet street in Lagos, Algarve

New Build or Resale in the Algarve: Which Should You Buy?

A new build in the Algarve costs 20% to 35% more than a comparable resale. Here is what that premium actually buys you, and when it is worth paying.

Terrace of a Lagos apartment in the Western Algarve looking over terracotta rooftops to the marina and the Atlantic

Should You Rent or Buy in Lagos, Portugal in 2026?

Renting a two-bed in Lagos costs 54,000 EUR over three years. Buying at 500,000 EUR costs 45,000 EUR you never get back. The 2026 numbers, side by side.

Steve Marque gesturing toward a townhouse as an expat couple hold the keys on a cobbled street in Lagos, Western Algarve

Anyone Can Be an Estate Agent in Portugal (Yes, Really)

In Portugal, individual estate agents need no licence or exam. Here is why that matters when you are buying in the Algarve, and how to choose well.

Steve Marque, expat estate agent, sitting on a terrace overlooking the Lagos coastline in the Western Algarve

Why an Expat Agent Helps You Buy or Sell in the Algarve

I moved to the Algarve from Brussels eight years ago. Here is why working with an expat agent who has lived the process helps you buy or sell with less stress.

Cross-laminated timber villa structure under construction on a hillside above Praia da Luz, Western Algarve, with the Atlantic in the distance

Build a Villa in the Algarve in One Year With CLT

Three years to approve one Lagos build. With the new Simplex and CLT timber, you can now go from bare plot to a finished Algarve villa in about a year.

Smiling couple sitting at a round marble table outside a cafe on a sunny cobblestone street with blue window shutters and potted flowers.

Your First 90 Days in Lagos: A New Resident’s Checklist

Moving to Lagos? Here is the practical 90-day checklist new residents actually need - NIF, AIMA, utilities, healthcare, driving licence, and more.

Healthcare in Portugal for Expats: Navigating Public vs Private Systems in the Algarve

Let’s be honest. Planning a move to a new country is exhausting. You’ve finally wrapped your head around the immigration paperwork, you’ve sorted your D7 Visa or Golden Visa, and you’re aggressively researching buying property in Lagos Algarve. But right around the time you start looking at houses, a midnight panic sets in: What happens if I get sick? I get it. It’s the number one worry I hear...

The Sunny Steve 4-Phase Framework for Selling with Serenity in the Algarve

In the competitive Lagos and Western Algarve market, a simple listing won't cut it. For expat sellers, our goal isn't just a sale. It's a strategic outcome that delivers the serenity you moved here for. We manage the entire lifecycle through four distinct, data-driven phases: Phase 1: 💰 The Price & Polish Foundation This preparation phase determines the entire sales trajectory. Get it...