Real Estate
Can Americans Get a Mortgage in Portugal in 2026?
Non-resident buyers can still finance in Portugal, just not the way they would at home. Here is what Americans and other expats can actually borrow in 2026.
Steve Marqué
13/08/2026
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Legislation
Portugal’s 6% VAT on New Builds: Who Actually Qualifies
Portugal cut VAT on new-build and renovation contracts from 23% to 6% in 2026, but only for primary homes under EUR 660,982. See who qualifies in the Algarve.
Steve Marqué
10/08/2026
Portugal Know-How
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 Marqué
06/08/2026
Legislation
Portugal’s New Rental Rules: What Landlords Gain in 2026
Portugal’s rental reform, approved 9 July 2026: the 2% rent cap goes, deposits are uncapped, and arrears bite at two months. What Algarve landlords gain.
Steve Marqué
03/08/2026
Market Reports
Portugal House Prices: How Long Can the Rise Last?
S&P now forecasts Portugal at +10% for 2026, the highest in Europe, while sales keep falling. What that divergence really means if you are buying in Lagos.
Steve Marqué
31/07/2026
Lifestyle
Healthcare in the Western Algarve: How Far, How Much
What healthcare do you actually get in the Western Algarve? The real distances from Lagos, Luz, Burgau and Sagres, and what private cover honestly costs.
Steve Marqué
28/07/2026
Lifestyle
Burgau vs Salema vs Sagres: Which Village Fits You?
Burgau, Salema or Sagres? An honest, on-the-ground comparison of three Western Algarve villages and the type of buyer each one really suits, from a Lagos agent.
Steve Marqué
24/07/2026
Selling & Investment
Can Airbnb Pay Off Your Algarve Retirement Home?
A French couple asked if Airbnb income could pay off their Algarve retirement flat. Here is the honest 2026 maths on short-let yields, AL rules and costs.
Steve Marqué
09/07/2026
Market Reports
Is Now a Good Time to Buy in the Algarve, or Wait?
Thinking of buying in the Algarve but scared of overpaying? Here is what Lagos prices, tight supply and 2026 mortgage rates mean for expat buyers deciding now.
Steve Marqué
03/07/2026
Portugal Know-How
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 Marqué
29/06/2026
Market Reports
What $1 Million Buys in the Algarve vs US Cities
One million dollars buys around 150 square metres in Lagos, but just 37 in Manhattan. Here is what that gap means for American buyers eyeing the Algarve in 2026.
Steve Marqué
24/06/2026
Portugal Know-How
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.
Steve Marqué
22/06/2026
Legislation
Portugal’s New 7.5% IMT: What It Means for Lagos Buyers
Portugal’s new 7.5% IMT for non-resident buyers: what it costs in Lagos, the three legal ways out, the disputed start date, and what it means if you sell.
Steve Marqué
18/06/2026
Portugal Know-How
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.
Steve Marqué
12/06/2026
Lifestyle
Lagos vs Carvoeiro: Best Town for Retired Expats?
Lagos or Carvoeiro for a retired couple in 2026? I compare the two Western Algarve favourites on price, pace, healthcare and beaches to help you choose well.
Steve Marqué
08/06/2026
Market Reports
International Buyers Now Drive 28% of Portugal’s Market
Bank of Portugal data: international buyers took 28% of Portuguese homes in 2025 and the Algarve captured 42% of non-resident investment. My read from Lagos.
Steve Marqué
04/06/2026
Legislation
Renovating in the Algarve Just Got a Lot Less Painful
Portugal’s new Construction Code took effect on 1 June 2026. Here is what it changes if you are buying a renovation project or plot in the Western Algarve.
Steve Marqué
01/06/2026
Legislation
Buying in Portugal Just Got Pricier for Non-Residents
On 21 May 2026 buying property in Portugal got pricier for non-residents. What it actually costs an American on a €1M villa in Lagos, plus the refund route.
Steve Marqué
21/05/2026
Legislation
Portugal’s 100% Mortgage for Under-35 Expats: Act Fast
Portugal’s state-backed 100% mortgage isn’t only for Portuguese nationals. Under-35 residents qualify too, but the Bank of Portugal is preparing to tighten.
Steve Marqué
19/05/2026
Market Reports
Smarter Buyers, Stale Listings: Algarve Pricing in 2026
Transactions in Portugal are down 9.4% in Q1 2026, but prices still rose 18% YoY. In Lagos and the Western Algarve, the homes that sit are the ones priced for last year’s market.
Steve Marqué
14/05/2026
Legislation
Can You Still Get an AL Licence in Lagos? May 2026 Update
Lagos hasn’t published its AL regulation yet. Here’s what’s actually true under DL 76/2024, what the “tourist zone” rumour misses, and where things stand for investor buyers in May 2026.
Steve Marqué
07/05/2026