Portugal

Portugal is around the size of Scotland with twice the population and has tremendous variety both geographically and in its ways of life and traditions. Along the coast around Lisbon, and on the well-developed Algarve in the south, there are highly sophisticated resorts, while the vibrant capital Lisbon has enough going on to please most city devotees. But in its rural areas this is still a conspicuously underdeveloped country, and there are plenty of opportunities to experience smaller towns and countryside regions that have changed little in the past century.

Portugal has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts, wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. Littered with UNESCO World Heritage sites and graced by one of Europe's most relaxed and attractive capitals, it also remains refreshingly affordable.

Savoring life slowly is a Portuguese passion, and much of the best is humble traditional folk festivals; simple, honest food drowning in olive oil; music that pulls at the heart strings, recalling past love and glories; and markets overflowing with fish, fruit and flowers.

The coast is virtually continuous beach, and apart from the Algarve and a few pockets around Lisbon and Porto, resorts remain low-key and thoroughly Portuguese, with great stretches of deserted sands between them. Perhaps the loveliest are along the northern Costa Verde, around Viana do Castelo, or, for isolation, the wild beaches of southern Alentejo.

Peak tourist season is roughly from mid-June to September, except in the Algarve where it really only quietens down in the dead of winter. Carnaval and Easter are two holidays celebrated with gusto all over the country and are worth going out of your way for.

The southern shores of the Algarve have long been a favorite destination for property investors and tourists alike. In particular British property buyers have been attracted to the Portuguese market with over 45,000 now owned by UK investors. With it's inception into the EU in 1986, the country is seen as a safe bet with it’s stable economy and well established tourist market.

The Portuguese property market offers a very diverse range of investment opportunities, from luxury golf resort villas in the Algarve region, to small rustic rural properties along the Green Coast. New road and infrastructure links north towards Lisbon and the Silver Coast are helping to open up new property markets.

The most popular area of Portugal is the Algarve, with its sandy beaches, high sunshine index and wealth of property choices. The area is famous for it's magnificent golf courses, with some of the most well known located between Lagos and Tavira. These are within easy commute from Faro airport and have been a magnet for discerning golfers for more than 3 decades.

Most investors in Portuguese property consider their properties to be a medium to long term proposition, with many choosing investments that they themselves can use on holidays and weekend getaways. Growth rates have been steady, and with Portugal's reputation as a poplar tourist and retirement destination, the market shows no signs of slowing with more and more foreigners being attracted to the sunny warm weather of this wonderful region.

Golf properties continue to be in very high demand, with extensive international exposure in recent years driving the market up and taking prices with it. Investors should look for areas with high demand and year-round appeal. Rental yields are generally strong in most areas, and annual capital appreciation rates remain strong.

The emerging markets of the northern regions can offer a more affordable choice for beginner investors, and will continue to increase in popularity as the area grows.