In recent years, Portugal has been the scene of exponential growth in the real estate market, driven by several factors, from economic recovery to accessibility to bank credit. In 2022, the sector recorded a significant increase of 37% in the volume of transactions, further reinforcing its importance in the Portuguese economy.

However, according to Insight View data, the property buying and selling sector presents a high risk for 32% of Portuguese companies, while 57% face a risk considered medium and only 11% enjoy a low-risk situation. Despite these challenges, the business sector is dominated by micro-enterprises, representing around 94% of the total, while small companies make up around 6%, and medium and large companies represent less than 1%.

Regarding the age of the companies, it appears that the majority are relatively recent, with 17% established in the last year, 30% in the last two to five years, and 20% in the last six to ten years. Companies with 11 to 15 years old represent 9%, while those with 16 to 25 years old make up 15% of the total. Companies over 25 years old represent only 9% of the analysed universe.

When it comes to geographic distribution, Lisbon continues to be the epicentre of the sector, with 39% of companies based in the region, followed by Porto with 19%, Braga with 8%, Faro with 6%, and Setúbal with 5%. The remaining regions of the country represent 23% of companies. It is important to note that, in terms of credit risk, Faro appears as the most vulnerable district, with 36% of companies facing a high or maximum risk of default, followed by Lisbon (34%), Setúbal (33%), Braga (32%), and Porto (31%). Companies located in other regions only have a 17% risk of default.

An analysis of financial indicators reveals a 2.4% increase in assets and a 2.5% reduction in liabilities for property buying and selling companies in Portugal, indicating more efficient management of resources. Corporate debt also decreased, from 62.44% to 59.41%, which reflects a reduction in financial risk. Furthermore, the reduction in the average collection period from 34 to 28 days, and the average payment period from 68 to 54 days, highlights greater efficiency in cash flow management.