Portugal’s Zillow: Best websites for house hunting in Portugal

by | Aug 22, 2020 | Portugal Know-How

PORTUGAL'S BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITES

Portugal lacks an online platform with a nationwide database of homes for sale and for rent that also offers an estimate of the property’s value. But fear not, Portugal has several widely used real estate websites that can give a good feel of what homes are available at your budget even before you arrive.

Portugal doesn’t have a Zillow or its equivalent. Instead, it has several real estate websites where realtors and private users alike list properties to sell or rent. These include Idealista, Imovirtual and OLX. Bigger agencies such as Remax also have their own nationwide websites.

Having lived in several countries around the world, I know how searching for the right home is the first priority when you’re planning your move. Navigating Portugal’s real estate websites takes a bit of know-how. This post covers the 5 best websites to start you off, while highlighting their pros and cons.

Portugal’s best real estate websites to start your search

Idealista.pt: The pros and cons

Idealista has enjoyed a rise in popularity in the last couple of years and is fast becoming Portugal’s go-to real estate website. It has an equivalent for Spain – where it originated – as well as for Italy.

Idealista Pros

  • Clickable map: If you are moving to a large Portuguese city with many neighbourhoods such as Lisbon, and you’re not sure what the different areas are called, Idealista features a handy responsive map feature. (As you gain familiarity with the names of region’s parishes, neighbourhoods and “bairros”, you can apply this new knowledge to other websites that don’t feature a map.)

Idealista Cons

  • Truncated listing descriptions: The vast majority of the listings in Idealista appear in the other Portugal real estate websites such as Imovirtual where they were originally posted. Because of this, you will sometimes see property descriptions that appear truncated because the listings were compiled from other sites.
  • Limited filters: Idealista lacks a filtering function that lets you search for private seller listings. (In Portugal, property owners can easily place a for sale or for rent ad in any of the platforms.)
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Imovirtual: The pros and cons

Imovirtual is owned by OLX Group, which also manages Portugals biggest second-hand marketplace (OLX.pt). Imovirtual lists all types of properties for sale, including warehouses and garages. The renting section is similarly comprehensive and includes rooms for rent.

Imovirtual pros

  • Private seller filters: In Imovirtual you can apply several filters to your search, namely the handy listings by private owners mentioned above. (Check the “only private offers” box under the More Filters menu).
  • Keyword filters: Another way you can filter your search is by writing a keyword in the “Part of description” in the More Filters menu. (For example, if you are looking for homes with guaranteed fast internet you can type in “fibra optica”, ie, fiber-optic internet).

Imovirtual cons

  • Lacks automatic translation: Imovirtual does not automatically translate listings to English (unlike Idealista), even after you select the English option on the menu bar. You will need to copy and paste each listing into Google Translate, which can be laborious.
  • Slow navigation: Moving from each listing back to the list page can soon become annoyingly slow. This is because it takes you to the top of the list and you have to find your place again.

OLX.pt: The pros and cons

OLX is Portugal’s largest online second-hand marketplace and functions as Portugal’s answer to Ebay. It lists homes for sale and rent, as well as cars, pre-loved furniture, clothes, etc. It even includes jobs wanted and job offers listings.

OLX.pt pros

  • It’s favoured by private sellers: Because OLX is widely used to sell second-hand goods, users are more familiar with it than with other sites. This means that you are more likely to find real estate listings by private owners in OLX that don’t appear in any of the other websites. (Select “Particulares” in the filters page.)

OLX.pt cons

  • Lacks menu in English and automatic translation: This can take some getting used to because you need to first figure out what each menu category means.
  • Listing descriptions are often minimal: Because OLX is widely used by private sellers, it’s not uncommon to see listings with descriptions that looks more like a text message you’d send an acquaintance. The photos can also leave a lot to be desired.

Remax and Other Large Agency Websites: The pros and cons

The name Remax is probably already familiar to you as they have real estate agencies seemingly the world over. In Portugal they have a nationwide website that lists all the properties they represent from north to south. Another name you might recognise is ERA, which also lists a vast number of properties on its nationwide website for Portugal.

Large agency websites: The pros

  • Exclusive properties: Both Remax and ERA agents will tell you that some of their listings are exclusive – ie, you won’t find them in other websites. (This is hard to believe given that you see Remax and ERA listings all over Imovirtual and the other real estate websites, but still…)
  • Helpful agents that speak English: Speaking English is the case with most real estate agents in Portugal, as is being helpful, especially if they believe you are a ‘qualified buyer’, ie, willing and able. Because the agency’s portfolio is extensive, once they start showing you properties, you’ll be busy for days.

Large agency websites: The cons

  • Inconsistent quality in listings: Not all Remax or ERA agencies and agents up and down Portugal are created equal. They are franchises, even though they can all post their listings in the parent website. This means you will find listings that are professionally presented mixed in with others that make you want to run the other way.
  • Eager agents: This can seem like a good thing, especially if they offer to show you all available properties at your budget. But that’s the thing: you need to keep in mind that real estate agents in Portugal represent the vendor and not you, the buyer. Plus, they will only show you properties represented by their agency, or by agencies that will split the commission.

You need to keep in mind that real estate agents in Portugal represent the vendor and not you, the buyer. Plus, they will only show you properties represented by their agency, or by agencies that will split the commission.

Websites Aimed at Foreign Buyers: The pros and cons

These are the websites that will first turn up when you type in ‘properties for sale in Portugal’ in Google. UK-run or US-run websites such as propertyguides.com, aplaceinthesun.com, rightmove.co.uk and portugalproperty.com are specifically targeted at english-speaking retirees and expats who are looking to buy a property in Portugal.

Websites Aimed at Foreign Buyers: The pros

  • Well presented listings in English: The listings in these websites are designed to appeal to those who appreciate appealing photos and clear descriptions. You could easily while away hours just browsing and dreaming.
  • Helpful blogs: Most of these websites offer blog articles with just the kind of information a foreign buyer would be seeking. If you resist their inevitable up-sales to their incidental services, they’re well-worth perusing.

Websites Aimed at Foreign Buyers: The cons

  • Higher priced listings: Their listings are often shared with local real estate agents so that prices might have to cover close to double commissions. Also, they count on you not minding paying a bit more in exchange for the start-to-finish support they often offer.
  • Eager agents: As with Remax’s and other local agents, they will only show you their own listings, or listings they can arrange for split commissions.

Now that you have started browsing these websites, you probably have a few questions. I hope the ones I answer below are helpful.

Related Questions

  • What is a T1? T1 means a one-bedroom apartment or villa in real estate listings in Portugal. T0 is a studio and T2 is a two-bedroom, and so on. A T1 apartment typically has a bedroom, a living-room, a kitchen and a bathroom. +1 is added if there’s also an interior room or attic space that can be used as a bedroom.
  • What is the advantage of buying from a private seller in Portugal? The advantage of buying a property in Portugal from a private owner has to do with price. The motivation behind placing your own for sale ad as a private owner has to do with saving on the realtor’s fee. Because of this, private owners are more likely to price their properties below market value.
  • How long do properties typically stay on the market in Portugal? It’s common to find properties for sale in Portugal for 3-6 months. This was the case even in pre-pandemic times when prices were rising. Vendors and their realtors price properties above market value (10-20%) and prefer to wait for the highest offer rather than settling quicker but for less. For “days on the market” and other Portugal real estate market indicators, consult this Idealista page.

Looking for moving boxes? Read our article on where to find moving boxes in Portugal.

 

 

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