Buying Process
Buying property is one of the greatest investments you will ever make. Before you part with your hard earned money, ensure that you have done all the necessary research.
Make sure you use a properly qualified and registered Estate Agent (ensure that they are licensed and have an AMI number).
The Staff at RUSTIC PROPERTIES, License Nº 7286, have been in the Real Estate Industry since 2002 and will keep you informed of all matters relating to the buying process including all the necessary fees, taxes, bank mortgages and legal issues.
Once you have selected the property you wish to purchase, compared prices and your offer has been accepted, verbally, insist on being given the updated documents and reviewing them with your lawyer. It is advisable to have a lawyer check the property documentation. Most lawyers speak English.In Portugal, lawyers must be registered with the Portuguese Law Society. You can check their registration number on-line: www.oa.pt.
A preliminary contract (Contrato Promessa Compra e Venda) lays out the terms of the sale, including the completion date. At this time, usually a 10% deposit is paid. Should you withdraw from the purchase you lose the 10% deposit. Should the seller withdraw, he/she must pay you twice the value of your deposit. Make sure that anything you have verbally agreed with the seller during your negotiations is in writing when you sign the promissory contract of purchase and sale.
Properties in Portugal are generally sold with a Freehold Title.
Property Documents
Land Registration Certificate (Known as the Certidão de Teor)
This certificate has a full description of the property´s registered legal history and will reflect any registered mortgages, servitudes. The certificate is obtained at the Local land Registry Offices(Conservatória do Registo Predial) and is normally issued with a validity date.
Fiscal Certificate (Known as the Caderneta Predial)
This document identifies the property not only by a unique fiscal tax number, but also reflects the description of the property (size, areas, the number of rooms, floors and history). Furthermore, it identifies the owner and displays his/her Fiscal Tax number.
Utility Licence (Known as the Licença de Utilização)
This Licence is proof that the property has been aproved for the purposes of which it is being used for - ex. residential use or comercial use.
Title Deed (Known as the Escritura)
When all conditions as set out in the original Promissory Contract have been met with, the Final Deed is drawn up and signed by both parties at a Public Notary Office. This is effectively the final Contract. It is at this time that the final payment is usually paid. This is after the Notary Public Officer has witnessed the act and has ascertained and verified all the legal aspects of the entire transaction, including ascertaining the payment of the applicable purchase tax (IMT) and that all parties are in agreement with all the terms and conditions of the transaction. The Original Escritura is then held by the Public Notary Office and a copy registered at the Public Records Office. The purchaser obtains a certified copy of the Escritura when applying for the connection of all respective service facilities at the local Municipal Offices.
Property Registration (Registo)
Registration is done with the Land Registry Offices (Conservatório do Registo Predial) in the area in which the property in question is located as well as at the local Tax Revenue Offices (Repartição de Finanças). There will be purchase costs payable upon registration which will include registration costs, stamp duty, notary fees and other sundry costs.
Purchase Costs, Transfer Tax (Known as IMT)
Since January 2004, transfer tax is now known as IMT ("Imposto Municipal sobre transmissões onerosas") and is calculated on the highest of the two taxable values (either on the newly predetermined taxable value or on the purchase price value.):
-Residential (villas and apartments) 0-6%
-Agricultural land - rustic property 5%
-Urban, construction land or commercial 6,5%
-Only when purchaser is domiciled in a tax haven territory known as off-shore - 15%
Stamp Duty (Imposto de Selo): This is 0.8% of the purchase price.
Notary fees: When the Notarial profession was privatised, Notary fees changed substantially and now depend on the office where the Escritura is signed. The Title of Deed (Escritura Pública de Compra e Venda) has to be drawn up; signed by both parties in front of a public notary and lodged at the local Land Registry (Conservatoria do Registo Predial), with copies issued to the involved parties.
STAMP DUTY - 0.8% Calculated on the purchase price of your residential property/real estate.
ANNUAL MUNICIPAL TAX ON PROPERTY REAL ESTATE- IMI TAX
Since January 2004 annual taxes on property are now called IMI (Imposto municipal sobre imoveis) and is calculated on a market related evaluation by the municipality where the property is located.
-Rustic and Agricultural land - 0.8%
-Urban (houses, construction, land) - 0.4% to 0.8%
-New property registered after 13/11/2003 - 0.2 to 0.5%
Example: New property with a value of €125 000 will be subject to an annual tax of €437.50 p.a.
Residential property valued up to €225 000 may be exempted for 3 - 6 years.
Property owners of older properties can contest the new valuation and demand a re-valuation and if necessary, impose legal action.Buying property is one of the greatest investments you will ever make. Before you part with your hard earned money, ensure that you have done all the necessary research.
Make sure you use a properly qualified and registered Estate Agent (ensure that they are licensed and have an AMI number).
The Staff at RUSTIC PROPERTIES, License Nº 7286, have been in the Real Estate Industry since 2002 and will keep you informed of all matters relating to the buying process including all the necessary fees, taxes, bank mortgages and legal issues.
Once you have selected the property you wish to purchase, compared prices and your offer has been accepted, verbally, insist on being given the updated documents and reviewing them with your lawyer. It is advisable to have a lawyer check the property documentation. Most lawyers speak English.In Portugal, lawyers must be registered with the Portuguese Law Society. You can check their registration number on-line: www.oa.pt.
A preliminary contract (Contrato Promessa Compra e Venda) lays out the terms of the sale, including the completion date. At this time, usually a 10% deposit is paid. Should you withdraw from the purchase you lose the 10% deposit. Should the seller withdraw, he/she must pay you twice the value of your deposit. Make sure that anything you have verbally agreed with the seller during your negotiations is in writing when you sign the promissory contract of purchase and sale.
Properties in Portugal are generally sold with a Freehold Title.
Property Documents
Land Registration Certificate (Known as the Certidão de Teor)
This certificate has a full description of the property´s registered legal history and will reflect any registered mortgages, servitudes. The certificate is obtained at the Local land Registry Offices(Conservatória do Registo Predial) and is normally issued with a validity date.
Fiscal Certificate (Known as the Caderneta Predial)
This document identifies the property not only by a unique fiscal tax number, but also reflects the description of the property (size, areas, the number of rooms, floors and history). Furthermore, it identifies the owner and displays his/her Fiscal Tax number.
Utility Licence (Known as the Licença de Utilização)
This Licence is proof that the property has been aproved for the purposes of which it is being used for - ex. residential use or comercial use.
Title Deed (Known as the Escritura)
When all conditions as set out in the original Promissory Contract have been met with, the Final Deed is drawn up and signed by both parties at a Public Notary Office. This is effectively the final Contract. It is at this time that the final payment is usually paid. This is after the Notary Public Officer has witnessed the act and has ascertained and verified all the legal aspects of the entire transaction, including ascertaining the payment of the applicable purchase tax (IMT) and that all parties are in agreement with all the terms and conditions of the transaction. The Original Escritura is then held by the Public Notary Office and a copy registered at the Public Records Office. The purchaser obtains a certified copy of the Escritura when applying for the connection of all respective service facilities at the local Municipal Offices.
Property Registration (Registo)
Registration is done with the Land Registry Offices (Conservatório do Registo Predial) in the area in which the property in question is located as well as at the local Tax Revenue Offices (Repartição de Finanças). There will be purchase costs payable upon registration which will include registration costs, stamp duty, notary fees and other sundry costs.
Purchase Costs, Transfer Tax (Known as IMT)
Since January 2004, transfer tax is now known as IMT ("Imposto Municipal sobre transmissões onerosas") and is calculated on the highest of the two taxable values (either on the newly predetermined taxable value or on the purchase price value.):
-Residential (villas and apartments) 0-6%
-Agricultural land - rustic property 5%
-Urban, construction land or commercial 6,5%
-Only when purchaser is domiciled in a tax haven territory known as off-shore - 15%
Stamp Duty (Imposto de Selo): This is 0.8% of the purchase price.
Notary fees: When the Notarial profession was privatised, Notary fees changed substantially and now depend on the office where the Escritura is signed. The Title of Deed (Escritura Pública de Compra e Venda) has to be drawn up; signed by both parties in front of a public notary and lodged at the local Land Registry (Conservatoria do Registo Predial), with copies issued to the involved parties.
STAMP DUTY - 0.8% Calculated on the purchase price of your residential property/real estate.
ANNUAL MUNICIPAL TAX ON PROPERTY REAL ESTATE- IMI TAX
Since January 2004 annual taxes on property are now called IMI (Imposto municipal sobre imoveis) and is calculated on a market related evaluation by the municipality where the property is located.
-Rustic and Agricultural land - 0.8%
-Urban (houses, construction, land) - 0.4% to 0.8%
-New property registered after 13/11/2003 - 0.2 to 0.5%
Example: New property with a value of €125 000 will be subject to an annual tax of €437.50 p.a.
Residential property valued up to €225 000 may be exempted for 3 - 6 years.
Property owners of older properties can contest the new valuation and demand a re-valuation and if necessary, impose legal action.