A waterfront house is distinguished by its immediate proximity to the sea. It is found in many European countries, notably Portugal. So, are you planning to buy a waterfront home in this country? Here is everything you need to know about the subject.

Why buy a house in Portugal?

There are many reasons to buy a house in Portugal. Here are some of them:

Portugal is a great place to live and there is safety all around

Portugal offers a pleasant climate with long, hot days, especially in summer. In winter, although the days are sunny, they are pleasant and bearable.

In addition, it should be noted that Portugal is ranked third out of 153 countries in the list of the most peaceful countries. You can therefore guarantee yourself a certain security by buying a house in this country.

Attractive purchase prices

The attractiveness of the prices in Portugal is justified by the size of the surfaces. For example, you can find houses of 200 m2 with a minimum of 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Such houses are available from 125,000€. It is also possible to buy apartments of more than 100 m2 with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with enough equipment for 80 000 €.

It must be said that these prices are on average half the price of those in France. For an apartment in the city center in France, you will need about 5 647,70€ per m2 against 2 600,46€ in Portugal. Even better, this price is lowered outside the center. So it will cost you €1,680.46 compared to €3,788.474 in France.

👉 What you should know before buying a house in Portugal

The tax system is attractive

Portuguese taxation is very attractive for buyers. Among the most prominent measures, we could mention the exemption from wealth tax after 10 years. This method is only valid for private sector retirees. Also, there are no inheritance taxes on inheriting children and spouses.

It should also be noted that the Portuguese legislation protects buyers very well with limited purchase costs. In the case of a waterfront home sale in Portugal, for example, you will spend an average of 5-6% in fees, including lawyer’s fees, notary fees and taxes.

Is it still possible to find a waterfront home for sale in Portugal?

The sale of waterfront homes in Portugal is a specialized activity in which many real estate agencies specialize. You have the possibility of finding a house of this type, whatever the structure you are looking for. Here we propose some of them in some regions that might interest you.

▸ Sale of house 5 rooms 202 m2 feet in the water Tavira (TAVIR).

This is a villa located near Tavira and Altura. Built in 2007 on a plot of 350m2, it offers a beautiful view of the beach of Praia Verde, the Atlantic coast and the nearby countryside. This villa is also designed on 2 levels with the following features: a kitchen, living room dining room, halls, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, garage, outdoor terraces, barbecue patio and technical room.

▸ Sale house 6 rooms 517 m2 feet in the water Albufeira

This house consists of 5 rooms distributed as follows: a villa of 3 rooms and an independent guest annex of 2 rooms. Located in a quiet and landscaped area with a swimming pool and a carport, it gives you direct access to the beach.

The advantage of this house is that it is located 260m from the beach, 3.7km from the golf course, 7km from the store and 150m from the restaurants. Likewise, you will only have to walk 1.6km to the supermarkets and 6km to the city Albufeira.

▸ Sale of a waterfront house Arrifana, Algarve

In Arrifana, you can also find a 3-bedroom waterfront house that stands directly on the beach, that is, 0.01 km from the beach. It is a modern construction that gives you an incredible view of the bay of Figueiras. From each room, you can see the ocean, its meanders and the many tourists who come to relax in the fine and graceful sand.

In addition, it should be noted that the permanent demand increases the rate of sale of waterfront homes in Portugal.

Advantages of a waterfront home in Portugal

There are several advantages to buying a waterfront home in Portugal. Let’s discover some of them here:

Experience the sea

If you love the sea and want to experience it every day, having a waterfront home is the best solution to consider. With it, you will have a beautiful experience of the sea and you will spend pleasant moments of vacation with the family.

Use the sea for the interior design of the house

The sea can be part of the concept of living in a house with its feet in the water. Indeed, it can be used as an element of interior design. Homes of this type benefit from an interior that maximizes the view of the sea.

Feeling good about yourself

The proximity of the house to the sea guarantees you a peaceful sleep. This is because the sea breeze helps your body absorb oxygen. Also, the rays provide you with vitamin D, which is useful for strengthening your skin.

Disadvantages of a waterfront home in Portugal

Although waterfront homes in Portugal are becoming more popular, there are a few disadvantages.

The high price

Most waterfront homes in Portugal are sold at expensive prices. For example, you can find homes for €8,740,940, €6,700,000, €5,500,000 and €2,250,000. These prices can go up to €12,000,000.

The risk of damage

Houses with their feet in the water are exposed to enormous risks of damage. These can be related to the sea air or to climatic accidents.

The hurricane

Portugal knows very often a passage of storms and hurricanes. This was the case, for example, in 2018 when the National Civil Protection Authority (AFP) had to require people to distance themselves from coastal areas due to Hurricane Leslie (more details). Reports estimate that this storm manifested itself with record winds of 176 km/h with the balance of enormous damage.

Our advice for buying a house by the sea

Have you been offered the sale of a waterfront home in Portugal? We recommend that you seek the help of a Portuguese real estate consultant to guide you and a lawyer to authenticate the legal documents. Next, you will need a tax identification number. This should be obtained before signing the sales agreement in case you find the right waterfront home for you.

👉 Find our guide to real estate investment in Portugal.

What are the risks of buying on the waterfront?

Finalizing a waterfront home sale in Portugal is a great idea. However, there are some risks involved in this transaction. These risks usually arise when you are not accompanied by an expert. Indeed, on certain coasts there are risk zones that must be checked before any purchase.

Moreover, it is possible that some areas have a history of disasters, which does not guarantee you a peaceful life. The sea is also a risk. For this very reason, it is best to find a waterfront home located well away from the sea.

What are the most beautiful places on the Portuguese coastline?

The Portuguese coastline is full of many attractive places. Among others, we have:

• The Praia de Tavira;
• The beach of Comporta;
• Foz do Minho beach;
• The beach of Odeceixe;
• The beaches of Porto Côvo;
• The beaches of Marinha and Benagil;
• Peninsula of Troia;
• Nazaré beach;
• Figueira beach.

Beware of prices on the seaside

In the Algarve the seaside has become overly expensive, crowded in summer and very busy in winter. We simply advise against settling there because the prices are out of touch with reality. It’s a purchase for the heart, but not an investment for a good family.

The west towards Sagres is uninhabitable because of the wind, the center Portimao, Lagos, Faro is also very expensive and too crowded in summer. Victim of its own success.

In our opinion, the best waterfront real estate opportunities are to the east with Tavira and Olhao.

The best onshore offers are on the Atlantic coast

On the Atlantic coast, above Lisbon and up to Spain, even if it is windy, it is quite habitable and there are many opportunities. Much cheaper than in the Algarve.

In our opinion, it is preferable to live a little inland so as not to be subject to the vagaries of the weather. On the other hand it will be difficult to find houses with land, a garden is difficult to find in these conditions.

There are also cities that are much more expensive such as Cascais, Estoril and of course there is Lisbon and Porto which are by the sea.

Our advice is to visit in winter and summer to get a real idea of the lifestyle you could lead in a beach house in Portugal.