We have deliberately left estate agents off this list. Finding the house is the easy half, and everyone has an opinion on it. This is the other half: the professionals who stand between you and an expensive mistake once you have found the place, from the lawyer who checks the paperwork to the surveyor who checks the walls. The order below roughly follows the purchase itself. A lawyer first (we list three, in Lagos, Vilamoura and Faro, so pick by geography), then tax and fiscal representation, currency for the transfer itself, insurance from day one, a building diagnostics firm if the house is older than its photos, and finally the people who bring your life over. All of them work with foreign buyers as their bread and butter.
Portuguese and UK-qualified lawyer in Lagos handling property, wills, contracts, residency and civil law for foreign clients.
Why we picked it
Algarve-born, qualified in both Portugal and the UK, working from Lagos on property, wills, contracts and residency for foreign clients. The west-coast pick.
Boutique real estate and urban planning law firm in Vilamoura, handling property law, Golden Visa, residency visas and litigation for local and foreign clients.
Why we picked it
A boutique Vilamoura firm built around real estate and urban planning law, acting for buyers, investors and developers, Golden Visa included. The central pick.
Faro law firm (est. 2007) covering conveyancing, tax, corporate law, estate planning and residency processes.
Why we picked it
Founded 2007 in Faro by two Algarve-born partners; conveyancing, tax, estate planning and residency under one roof. The eastern pick.
English-speaking fiscal representation and tax accounting firm in Loulé, serving Portugal since 2001.
Why we picked it
English-speaking fiscal representation and property tax out of Loulé, serving residents and non-residents since 2001. You will need an NIF before you need anything else.
Expert currency solutions for the Algarve expat community. Whether you are purchasing a villa, managing international business interests, or transferring a…
Why we picked it
Currency exchange built for property transactions, where a bad bank rate on a house-sized transfer can quietly cost thousands.
@abw
Straightforward financial planning for life in Portugal or Spain, without the jargon.
Why we picked it
Cross-border financial planning without the jargon, for families whose life and money now stretch across more than one country.
Expat insurance specialist based in Boliqueime, near Loulé, with over 30 years' experience arranging motor, home, health, travel and business cover.
Why we picked it
Expat insurance specialists in Boliqueime with over 30 years arranging home, motor, health and business cover in Portugal.
Building pathology specialists in the Algarve: water and structural diagnostics, property valuations and plumbing repairs, 3,000+ diagnoses since 2010.
Why we picked it
Building pathology specialists with more than 3,000 diagnostics since 2010: the people who tell you about the damp before the deeds are signed.
A family-run international removals and storage operator with more than 30 years in the trade, weekly scheduled services between the UK, Portugal and Spain…
Why we picked it
Family-run international removals with 30+ years in the trade, weekly scheduled UK-Portugal services and customs handling built in.
