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A Useful Guide to Apartment Hunting in Lisbon

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In Lisbon, it is best to schedule your search for the best short-term rentals in Lisbon for certain parts of the year. It is a seasonal activity because social factors have an impact on the availability of certain properties.

For example, there may be plenty of openings in the summer. However, competition will be a little stiff because you will be hunting alongside students going back to school and tourists hoping to spend some time in the city. If you cannot postpone your apartment hunting, make sure you follow the market with a sharp eye during this time of year.

The winter months are usually the best time to start looking for a place to stay. This is because the city is quieter, and many leases end around the New Year. As a result, you have more options and less competition. This could also translate to more affordable prices, as homeowners and landlords are more willing to negotiate.

Starting With Listings

Lisbon has plenty of furnished and unfurnished apartments you can choose from. It is strongly recommended that you try looking into furnished apartments in the city first, because these properties will have all the amenities you need to live comfortably. In addition, many rentals include the utility bills when calculating monthly rent.

If you want to push through with renting unfurnished apartments, you will be responsible for setting up all your utilities and buying your furniture.

Making Your Offer

Now that you know where you want to stay, you need to submit your offer. If you are from the United States, you may be used to signing on rental apartments immediately. However, this is not the case in Portugal. Prepare for listing agents to draw out the process, allowing for as many different visitations as possible. There have been instances where landlords decide to increase an apartment’s asking price based solely on the number of viewing inquiries made in the past few days.

Expatriates may go through double the stress when apartment hunting because landlords are likely to favour a Portuguese national. This could be out of a desire to help their own people and the familiarity of local renters. To gain a competitive edge, prepare an initial offer with a hefty guarantee. You could try offering to pay for three or four months’ worth of rent in advance. Landlords also favour potential tenants who want a longer contract.

Choosing Your Ideal Neighbourhood

Here are some of the most prominent neighbourhoods in Lisbon:

Alfama

This is the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon. Alfama has tons of picturesque places around the area and some of the best views of the city. It is home to plenty of elderly people who have lived in the neighbourhood for decades. Young professionals and families have also settled down here.

Alfama is located on a hilltop, which means that you will need to prepare for plenty of walking up steep streets. This is not an ideal neighbourhood for car owners because the roads are so narrow.

Baixa

Baixa is a neighbourhood with one of the highest footfall rates in the city. It is located in the heart of Lisbon, with plenty of eighteenth-century architecture and allure to keep you coming back for more. For people who need to commute, transportation is not a problem. There are plenty of tram spots, metro stations, and buses around the area.

If you want to stay in a vibrant neighbourhood where you can see plenty of tourists and youths alike, then Baixa is where you should start looking for a place to stay.

Cascais

In the past, Cascais was a fishermen’s village. Today, it is a coastal town where many people choose to live because of the breath-taking bays, golden beaches, and proximity to luxury hotels. This is only a thirty-minute commute away from the Lisbon city proper. It has plenty of seafood markets, local shops, and local restaurants for people who want a uniquely Portuguese experience.

One thing to keep in mind is that Cascais is one of the more expensive neighbourhoods. Adjust your budget accordingly.

Principe Real

Here’s a hip and trendy neighbourhood with something to offer for everybody. Principe Real is one of the most in-demand areas in Lisbon. If you want to rent an apartment here, then you need to have a sharp eye out for changes in the market.

Principe Real has plenty of nineteenth-century buildings and a variety of green spaces scattered around the area. It has a strong multicultural community, which shows in the diversity of restaurants and shops.

Sintra

Sintra is only a 30-minute train ride away from Lisbon. Its mountainside is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and this neighbourhood has plenty of natural scenic spots for those who want to be closer to the environment.

Sintra does not have as many tourists as Cascais and it is also slightly more affordable.

Understanding the Purpose of a Golden Visa

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It is not every day that you come across a visa that opens up the borders of an entire continent, but this is exactly what the Golden Visa does. It was introduced by the Portuguese government back in 2012 to attract wealthy investors from outside Europe and it has worked surprisingly well.

This blog post will help you understand more about how these visas work, so if you are thinking about applying for one then read on!

What Is A Golden Visa?

A Golden Visa is a visa that provides residency in exchange for investing at least $500,000 USD into the property in the country where it was issued. The amount varies by country and depends on how much money they want to attract from international investors.

For example, Hungary requires an investment of €250k or equivalent currency while Portugal only needs €50k euros or equivalent currency for a Mercan Golden Visa. In some countries, there are no set requirements for what you can invest but most require just one non-refundable purchase of real estate with either a value greater than €300,000 euros or above 500 square meters.

Some countries allow investments such as government bonds which have different rules about how long your investment must be held before getting citizenship; usually three to five years.

Benefits

The Golden Visa offers many benefits such as:

  • Citizenship within one year after obtaining residency status
  • Freedom from visa restrictions when traveling within Europe under Schengen Area membership
  • Access to international education programs offered by many European countries including kindergarten through university-level studies with fewer tuition fees charged for EU students enrolled in higher education institutions
  • The ability to live in a diverse society with different cultures and languages

The program is an excellent opportunity for people who want to invest in real estate, have access to European citizenship, or wish to study abroad without worrying about visa restrictions under EU membership.

Why People Want To Get One

There are many reasons why someone may want to get a Golden Visa, The two main ones for people in the United States for instance are that they have enough money saved up so that they can invest at least €500,000 into the property and live there on an annual basis, or they have a relative who lives in one of these countries.

The first reason is that if you haven’t lived in Europe before then it’s difficult to qualify for residency through any other means than getting married to a European citizen and even more difficult if your family doesn’t already live inside of EU borders.

The latter reason would be used by those who wish to take care of elderly relatives outside of their home country by hosting them over while also being able to travel back and forth.

How To Apply For One

Obtaining a golden visa is not as easy as it might seem. Countries are starting to adopt more stringent requirements; Portugal requires that the applicant has invested at least 500,000 Euros in Portugal or 250,000 Euros into an approved business project.

The country also now demands proof of health insurance coverage by applicants who do not already have residency status there.

These stricter regulations may be due to recent cases where fraudsters were uncovered using fake documents and/or contacts with Portugal government representatives in order to make such investments on behalf of others without their knowledge.

To get one you’ll need proof that your wealth is legitimate; documents such as bank statements, pension plans, shares certificates, deeds of property, etc., along with evidence that you have access to sufficient funds while living abroad, such as a monthly income statement from a non-working spouse.

The Types

In order to apply for a golden visa, it is important to be aware that there are many different types and each comes with its own requirements and benefits.

The Immigrant Investor Visa

Requires applicants to have either €500 000 into real estate in their new country or at least €250 000 invested locally (in government bonds, stocks, or shares). This visa is for those who want to improve their quality of life in return for an investment.

The Retirement Visa

Requires applicants to be at least 55 years old and have €400 000 invested into government bonds, or shares. They can also invest €350 000 into real estate anywhere on the Portuguese coast; this option comes with a requirement that they maintain ownership of the property during their stay (and it must remain free from any mortgages). This type of visa is good if you are looking towards retirement and wish to live close to the ocean.

The Business Investor Visa

Requires applicants to have either £200 000 into business in their new country OR £250 000 invested locally (in government bonds, stocks, or shares). This visa is for those who want to set up a business and live in Portugal.

The Ph.D. Student Visa

Requires applicants to be studying, researching, or teaching at an accredited Portuguese university. This type of visa will enable you to study without any tuition fees

The Innovator’s Visa

Has not yet been released but it is expected that the requirements will include either £200 000 into research projects or £250 000 invested locally (in government bonds, stocks, or shares).

The Entrepreneur Visa

This one is also coming soon! The entrepreneurial visa offers residence permits with minimum investments of €50k in new companies registered outside Portugal. Applicants must have control over all company decisions. The Portuguese government has been very generous in that it does not require applicants to leave Portugal for at least five years and, if they do decide to live elsewhere during this time period, they will still be able to maintain their visa status by providing proof of regular visits back home

The individual investor Visa

Requires applicants have €100k invested locally (in government bonds, stocks, or shares). This is the easiest option because there are no other conditions attached to it but you should note that with all types of visas there may be restrictions on employment opportunities depending on where your investment lies. For example, an immigrant investor cannot work as a doctor while applying for residency nor can he/she take up any jobs related to Portuguese immigration.

The Immigrant Investor Visa

Requires applicants to have either €500 000 into real estate in their new country or at least €250 000 invested locally (in government bonds, stocks, or shares). This visa is for those who want to improve their quality of life in return for investing in the local country’s economy.

A Golden Visa is an opportunity to live in another country without having to go through the same visa process as everyone else. Whether you’re looking for more exotic and exciting places to visit, or if you just don’t feel at home where you currently reside – there are many reasons why someone may desire this type of immigration status.

DRBF 20th Annual International Conference

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On June 30, DRBF’s 20th Annual International Conference was held in Lisbon, Portugal. Advisory Excellence Member, Giovanni Di Folco, was a speaker at the event. Giovanni is the President of Techno Engineering & Associates, which is a key player in the industry.

The DRBF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the avoidance and resolution of disputes worldwide using the unique and proven Dispute Board method.

Mr Giovanni Di Folco speaking at the prestigious 2021 event.

Mr Giovanni Di Folco speaking at the prestigious 2021 event.

The DRBF was incorporated in Wisconsin, United States in 1996 by a small group of visionaries who saw the need for a better way of dispute resolution on construction projects. The DRBF was born to bring an alternative method of dispute resolution through the innovative use of Dispute Boards to projects worldwide.

This process has rapidly grown across the globe and spawned various other alternative dispute resolution methods, with the emphasis on dispute avoidance.

Event details:

  • 30 June: Q&A about DBs –  Mr Giovanni Di Folco, together with Mr. Sean Gibbs, Mr. Ignacio Palacios, and Mrs. Giorgiana Tecuci; 
  • 1 July: Effective Project Delivery: DBs and Quantum Assessment – Mr Giovanni Di Folco together with Mrs. Marianne Ramey and Mrs. Patricia Sulser;
  • 2 July: Dispute Board Seminar for Public Entities – Mr Giovanni Di Folco together with Mr. Leo Grutters and Mr. João Mora.

If you would like to find out more information, please visit the Techno Engineering & Associates website.