Stabilisation

Various factors, including the impact of inflation on purchasing power and increased mortgage interest rates, have contributed to a slowdown of the upward trend in house prices witnessed in Portugal over recent years.

These are likely to have contributed to the stabilisation of property prices seen in May in many places across Portugal, with overall figures closely aligning with those reported in April. According to this report, as of the end of May, the average cost of property across Portugal rests at €2512 per square metre (m2).


Up and down

Among the nine district capitals in Portugal that saw a rise in property prices, the greatest increases occurred in Viana do Castelo (9%), followed by Vila Real (6.6%), Faro (4.1%), and Coimbra (2.8%).

Prices remained stable in Lisbon (0.3%), Ponta Delgada (0.1%), Porto (0.1%) and Castelo Branco (-0.3%), with a slight decrease in average house prices being noted in Portalegre (-2%), Santarém (1.8%), Braga (-1.4%), Aveiro (-1.3%), Guarda (-0.7%) and Beja (-0.7%).

It is important to note, however, looking at a year-on-year comparison, property prices in Portugal have seen an increase of 6.5%.


Lisbon and Porto

To no surprise, Lisbon remains at the top of the list, with property costing an average of €5301/m2. The capital was followed by Porto (€3390/m2), Funchal (€2917/m2), and Faro (€2796/m2). Aveiro, Setúbal, and Évora also were high in the ranking, being listed as some of the most expensive cities to purchase property in Portugal.

On the flipside, Portalegre (€705/m2), Guarda (€795/m2), Castelo Branco (€828/m2), Bragança (€891/m2), and Beja (€949/m2) came through as the most economical cities in Portugal, with the lowest average house prices in the country.

In terms of regions, the biggest increases in property prices were seen in Viana do Castelo (4.1%), Porto Santo Island (3.9%) and Coimbra (3.8%). The regions of Porto (0.4%), Lisbon (0%), and São Miguel Island (-0.1%) saw prices stabilise. Pico Island (-2%), Braga (-1.1%), Terceira Island (-0.9%), Aveiro (-0.9%), and Vila Real (-0.6%) saw a drop in average property prices.

Whilst rising inflation and mortgage rates, alongside changes in housing laws, have impacted the rise in the cost of housing to a certain point, the demand for property, especially in urban hubs and tourist hotspots, still outweighs the current supply. The level of demand from both domestic and international buyers is likely to continue to grow.