Getting A Mortgage For Property In Portugal
Just about all of the Portuguese banks will lend to non-residents of Portugal now what differs is the products they provide. You might also find the interest rate you'll be paying is higher than what you would pay if you borrowed in Portugal, where interest rates are very competitive. Virtually all mortgages are principal plus interest loans, though banks offer both fixed and variable rate mortgages.
We speak Portuguese and are very aligned with the local banks and other stakeholders and know the mortgage process inside and out. If a mortgage is denominated in a currency other than your home currency, there is a risk that changes in the exchange rate may increase the equivalent value of the debt in terms of your home currency.
Alternatively, fixed rates are available at 4.1% for up to 5 years based on loan to value ratios of up to 70%. Whether you are looking to own a home or a Vila Sol apartments for sale business in the sun, the mortgage requirements in Portugal are similar to the process in France or Spain - and the property prices can be competitive.
Despite much economic uncertainty in recent years, not to mention an unstable housing market, all the major Portuguese lenders continue to provide mortgages to suitable individuals, including overseas nationals, purchasing property in Portugal. The amount of housing loans that were granted this year is the highest since the beginning of the financial crisis.
Like any mortgage application, it can be a very time-consuming and laborious process, so it's crucial that you provide all the most up-to-date documents at once to avoid delaying the process. This is a tricky type of mortgage to commit to as with all the financial uncertainty at present the interest rates could fluctuate quite dramatically.
Because residency can be triggered by being in Portugal for more than 183 days in a given calendar year, or by owning a property which the government considers a ‘habitual' residence, those seeking to invest in residential real estate in Portugal may wish to seek the advice of Portuguese tax expert for proper tax planning.
This is only offered for construction mortgages in Portugal and, where offered, it is only for 1 or 2 years at the start of the term. By taking steps to arrange your mortgage at the start you will have a better idea of how much you can spend on your Spanish or Portuguese property and can work out the likely future financial implications of your purchase.
Another large international bank is Barclays, they are based in the UK but if you want to get a mortgage to buy a holiday home in France, an investment property in Italy, a retirement home in Spain or even a golf retreat in Portugal they are one of the best lenders to speak to. If you aren't based in the UK or even France, Spain, Portugal or Italy it doesn't matter as the majority of your research and application process can be done online with most international mortgage lenders, there is then just a requirement to prove earnings, status and identity which can often be done with the certification of various documentation.
Laid out in its simplest terms, they'll use an outgoings-to-income calculation to figure this out, which means your total monthly income, subtracted the monthly outgoings (including the new mortgage payment). They have access to international lenders who offer funding for home purchase loans and re-mortgage financing.