Buying a house in Portugal
Part 1 of 3: Our personal story, how we bought a house and turned it into an AL (Local Accommodation / Alojamento Local).
For quite some time, we had been looking for an interesting property in the area that we could rent out to tourists. Property prices in Portugal are rising sharply. We wanted a house that would not be too far from our current home and that would also be attractive for holiday rentals. In the end, it became Tomar—will you read along?
The viewings and the house we eventually chose
In the months leading up to this, we had already done about four to five viewings. One house was too expensive, another too large, and some properties were simply too old or required too much renovation. We kept looking, hoping that the right house would eventually come our way.
That moment came on Wednesday, October 29.
We went to view a house in Tomar, right next to the city center. We arrived a bit early so we could first take a quiet look around the neighborhood. The street itself required a bit of imagination: there was a lot of renovation and upgrading going on, so you really had to look past the current situation to see the potential. When the real estate agent arrived, we went inside to view the house. We were actually sold quite quickly!
Making an offer
The location was perfect for rentals: centrally situated, attractive for tourists, and close to all amenities. In addition, the house had recently been renovated. A new kitchen had been installed, and the doors and windows had also been replaced, including double glazing. This meant we would not need to start with major renovations right away. The property also features a large (and unique) inner courtyard for this location.
This felt different from the previous viewings. This felt right.
The next morning, Thursday October 30, we submitted an offer via WhatsApp to the real estate agent. We offered just below the asking price, and then the waiting began. We knew that another viewing was scheduled for 3:00 PM that same day, so the tension was definitely building.
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The negotiation
Around 6:00 PM, we had a video call with the real estate agent. Our initial offer had not been accepted. She was honest about the direction we needed to consider if we were serious about securing the property: the seller was not willing to move away from the asking price. We took a moment to let that sink in.
Half an hour later, we made a decision. If we truly wanted this house, we had to act decisively. We submitted an increased and final offer: just below the asking price, but including all furniture.
Once again, we had to wait. Half an hour later, she called back…
Want to know how our adventure continued? Read part 2 soon!
Curious about the house and all the photos? Click the button below!
