How to Buy Property in Portugal Without Flying Back 10 Times

This is the question I get asked more than any other: "Can I buy in Portugal without taking multiple flights?" And the honest answer is: yes, you can. But only if you have someone reliable on the ground doing the legwork you can't do from a sofa in Birmingham.

The traditional Portugal property buying experience for UK buyers goes something like this: find some properties online, fly out for a weekend of viewings, fall in love with one, fly home, spend weeks trying to coordinate from a distance, eventually fly back to sign the promissory contract, then fly out again for completion at the notary. If anything goes wrong in between — and something usually does — there's another flight.

I've watched buyers spend £3,000 to £5,000 in flights and hotels across the process. I've also watched them spend those thousands of pounds and still not feel confident they made the right decision, because they never had anyone independent reviewing the property on their behalf.

What you actually need to come to Portugal for

Let me be direct: realistically, there are two moments in a Portugal property purchase where your physical presence matters.

• One visit to see your shortlisted properties in person — ideally your top three or four, properly vetted and pre-assessed by me, not a list of twenty generated by an algorithm.

• Completion at the notary, if you want to be present. (Many buyers grant power of attorney to their solicitor, which eliminates this trip entirely.)

That's it. Everything else can be handled by me, your lawyer, your fiscal representative, and your bank — if those people are competent and working in your interest.

What I do before you arrive

Before a client sets foot on a plane, I've typically done the following:

• Personally visited each shortlisted property and done a preliminary structural and condition assessment

• Produced detailed video walkthroughs — not estate agent videos, which are made to sell. My videos are made to inform.

• Reviewed the property's legal documentation for obvious red flags

• Researched the local area: amenities, transport, schools if relevant, planned development

• Checked drone footage of the wider property and surroundings

By the time you arrive in Portugal, you're not going to twenty properties on a rushed weekend. You're visiting three or four that I've already assessed and that I believe are genuinely worth your time. That's a very different experience.

What happens when you're here

I pick you up from the airport. I drive you to every viewing. I'm with you at each property, pointing out what to look for, asking the questions estate agents won't ask, and giving you my honest read on whether it's right for you.

After your visit, I coordinate the survey, the legal review, and the next steps. You go home. I stay here and manage it.

One trip. Done properly. That's what the process should look like.

If you want to understand how this would work for your specific situation, book a free 30-minute call at jpfaustino.co.uk. We'll talk through where you are in the process, what you're looking for, and whether this approach makes sense for you.