Key Investor Benefits

• Stable, Low Risk property investment location
• Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun listed Portugal as on of their “Best Places to Make Money”
• Year round climate
• Wide sandy beaches
• Excellent golf facilities
• Portugal is the worlds No.1 Golf destination with over 1 million rounds of Golf played a year
• Strict planning laws ensure a limited number of new build properties keeping the demand and prices high
• Portuguese tourism bringing in 12.8m people in 2006, therefore it is an ideal location for buy to let investors
• New Motor racing circuit which opened in 2008 bringing more tourists to the area

Why Invest in the Algarve

Portugal is a stable, low-risk, property investment location. There are many types of properties in various locations across ever-popular Portugal that no doubt will provide pleasure and profit for years to come. In fact, Channel 4’s popular property show, A Place in the Sun, listed Portugal as one of their “Best Places to Make Money” indicating a substantial return on investment.

The year round climate, wide sandy beaches and excellent golf facilities ensure solid rental returns for investors from holidaymakers throughout the year. Travel and tourism as a whole contribute over 30.6bn Euros to Portugal’s economy, while strict planning laws continue to limit the supply of quality new-build property. This ensures a winning property investment combination keeping demand and prices high.

Algarve Area Information

Lagos

Lagos, a mere 80km from the district capital Faro, a city which is centuries old with seafaring tradition dating back to 15th century, rich in its history being the department port of the great navigators, before they set out in voyages of discovery. Much of the ancient walls with history are still untouched, including an ancient Fortress which still stands guard over the harbour entrance. Lagos has grown to be a youthful town with a delightful charm of its own. The ancient maze of cobbled streets co-exists happily with the likes of the elegant new marina, vast amounts of restaurants and bars, pavement cafes and shops.

Over and above the many water sports that can be practiced along the western Algarve, many other activities are available in Lagos including parachuting, micro lighting, bike tours, horseback riding, dolphin viewing and much more.

Portimao

Rapidly gaining popularity, Portimão is the new Western Europe destination for luxury travelers, with its beach resorts, combined with undiscovered nature, fishing ports, commercial centers and tourist attractions. A cosmopolitan city presenting a variety of beautiful golden beaches, crystal clear blue sea, framed by nature cliffs and rocks luring into fantasy and paradise.

The city is an international tourist destination to fun and excitement, modern luxuries embraced by astounding natural settings.

Portimão is ideally situated for exploring the Algarve, a region truly unique in its diversity. It is also one of the most populous cities in the Algarve are the other being Faro. It traces its origins back to a small trading port of the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians.

Portimão hosts great sporting events. In the summer, the Mundialito de Futebol de Praia of Beach Football, the Rally Lisbon-Dakar goes through this city, you can also Surf and Kitesurf.

In the hills near Portimão the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve has been built (it was finished in October 2008), a race and test circuit officially recognised for the highest categories both for cars and motorcycles. Superbike and A1 Grand Prix races and F1 tests are scheduled.

Portmao has a rich heritage of historical monuments, and eternal natural beauty of the Ria de Alvor.

Portugal Facts at a Glance

Full Country Name: The Portuguese Republic
Area: 92,090 sq km
Population: 10.6 million (2008)
Capital City: Lisbon (population: around 2.1 million)
People: 95% Portuguese, approx 5% ethnic minorities
Language(s): Portuguese
Religion(s): Predominantly Roman Catholic (over 90%), others Protestant, Muslim and Jewish
Currency: euro (EUR)
Major political parties: Socialist Party or PS (Leader: Jose Socrates), Social Democratic Party or PSD (Leader: Manuela Ferreira Leite), Popular Party or CDS/PP (Paulo Portas), Portuguese Communist Party or PCP (Leader: Jerónimo de Sousa), Leftwing Block or BE (Leader: Francisco Louçã), (rotational leadership); The Greens or PEV (coalition with the Communist Party)
Political system: Parliamentary democracy/semi-presidential system; Parliament 230 seats: (PS 121; PSD 75; PCP/Greens 14; CDS/PP 12; BE 8.
Head of State: President Cavaco Silva
Prime Minister: José Sόcrates
Foreign Minister: Luis Amado
Membership of international groups/organisations: European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), United Nations (UN), Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE), Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).

DID YOU KNOW?
The first circumnavigation of the globe was led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.

The UK’s alliance with Portugal is older than any other and began with a Treaty in 1373

Portugal is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Peninsular Wars, when the French army was expelled with the help of British troops led by the Duke of Wellington

The Portuguese language is spoken by over 200 million people throughout the world

Portugal will celebrate in 2010 the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Republican regime, when Monarchy was overthrown

Basic Economic Facts

GDP: €166 billion (2008)
GDP per head: 75% of EU 27 (2008)
( €15.3k; in ppp: €18.9k in 2007)
Annual growth: 0% (2008)
Inflation: 2.6% (2008)
Unemployment: 7.6% (2008)
Major industries: Automotive components, tourism, textiles, footwear, wood products, metalworking, oil refining, chemicals, wine, pulp and paper.
Major trading partners: EU (especially Spain, Germany, France, & the UK), the US, Brazil and increasingly Angola.

Source: www.fco.gov.uk