How we work
Your independent buyer's agent in Lisbon.
End-to-end support through every stage of buying property in Lisbon — from your first questions to the keys in your hand. Free for buyers. We work for you, not the seller.
The problem
Every other agent in Lisbon is working for the seller.
In Portugal, property agents are appointed by and paid by sellers. Their job is to achieve the highest possible price for their client — which is not you. Showing you round a property, answering your questions and being friendly does not mean they are representing your interests. It means they are doing their job.
Add the complexity of buying in a foreign market — a language you may not speak, a legal system you do not know, a pricing landscape with no transparent comparables — and the information asymmetry becomes significant.
A buyer's agent changes that equation. We work exclusively for buyers. We are paid by the seller's side, so there is no cost to you — but our loyalty is entirely to you.
| Selling agent | Lisbon Property | |
|---|---|---|
| Works for | The seller | You |
| Goal | Highest price for seller | Best deal for you |
| Property access | Their listings only | Full market + off-market |
| Attends viewings | To sell you the property | To evaluate it honestly |
| Negotiates | For the seller | For you |
| Cost to buyer | €0 | €0 |
The process
9 steps from first call to keys in hand
Every client goes through the same structured process — because the steps matter, and skipping any of them creates risk.
- 01
Free Discovery Call
We start with an honest conversation about your goals, budget, timeline and situation. No pitch, no pressure — just clarity on whether we can genuinely help and whether we are the right fit for each other. If we are not, we will tell you.
Most buyers come to us with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. By the end of the call, you will know exactly what the buying process involves, what your budget can realistically achieve in Lisbon, and what the next steps look like.
- 02
Legal & Admin Setup
We connect you with a trusted, independent lawyer and help you get your NIF (Portuguese tax number), open a bank account and set up a shared transaction tracker so you always know where things stand.
Your lawyer is critical — and we mean truly independent, not one who moonlights for developers or has relationships with selling agents. We make introductions only to lawyers we trust completely. We also set up a shared document that tracks every step of your transaction in real time.
- 03
Finance & Mortgage Preparation
We help you understand your financing options before any viewings begin — whether that is a Portuguese mortgage, financing from your home country, or cash. You should know what you can buy before you start looking.
Non-resident buyers in Portugal can access mortgages at up to 70% LTV from several major banks. We can introduce you to mortgage brokers who specialise in this market and who will give you a realistic picture of what you can borrow and on what terms. We never advise on the mortgage itself — that is for your broker — but we make sure you go into viewings with a clear financial position.
- 04
Neighbourhood & Property Search
We run a focused search across the open market and our off-market network, filtered to your criteria. You only see properties that are genuinely relevant — not everything that is listed.
We work across nine central Lisbon neighbourhoods where we have deep knowledge and established relationships. We know which buildings have structural issues, which streets are noisy, and which sellers are motivated. Off-market access — properties not listed publicly — is a real advantage in a market where the best apartments often change hands before they are advertised.
- 05
Property Visits
We arrange and attend every viewing with you, giving you our honest assessment of each property — condition, realistic value, potential issues and whether it matches what you told us you were looking for.
We are not there to sell you on a property. We are there to help you evaluate it clearly. That means pointing out the damp patch behind the furniture, explaining why the price is optimistic, or telling you that the building's maintenance record is a concern. An honest no from us saves you far more than a yes ever could.
- 06
Offer & Negotiation
When you find the right property, we advise on the right price based on comparable sales and our knowledge of the market, then handle the negotiation directly with the seller or their agent on your behalf.
Good negotiation in the Lisbon market is not aggressive — it is informed. Knowing what comparable properties have actually sold for (not asking price, but transaction price) gives us a principled basis for offers that sellers take seriously. We have negotiated significant savings for buyers who would otherwise have paid asking price or above.
- 07
Due Diligence & Contracts
We work alongside your lawyer to ensure thorough due diligence — title, planning, tax status, building condition — before the CPCV (promissory contract) is signed.
The CPCV is legally binding the moment it is signed and your deposit is at risk if you pull out without legal justification. This means due diligence must happen before signing, not after. We coordinate with your lawyer to make sure every check is completed in the right sequence and that you fully understand what you are signing.
- 08
Final Deed & Handover
We accompany you to the notary for the escritura signing and key handover, making sure everything is in order on the day.
We attend every escritura. We know the notaries, we know what to check, and we are there to make sure the day goes smoothly. If you cannot attend in person, we work with your lawyer to arrange a power of attorney so the transaction can complete without you needing to be in Portugal.
- 09
Settling In & Ongoing Support
After the keys are in your hand, we stay involved — utilities, local registrations, renovation contacts, property management introductions and anything else you need to settle in.
Most buyer's agents disappear once the deal closes. We do not. We have built relationships with reliable tradespeople, interior designers, property managers and local services across Lisbon that we are happy to share. Getting the keys is the beginning, not the end.
What you get
Everything included. No extras.
Our service covers every stage of your purchase from start to finish. There are no bolt-ons, no upgrade tiers and no additional charges for attending the escritura or helping you after completion.
- Full property search across listed and off-market properties
- Attendance at every viewing with honest assessment
- Market-informed price analysis before any offer
- Negotiation directly with the seller or selling agent
- Coordination with your lawyer throughout due diligence
- Attendance at the escritura (or power of attorney support)
- Introductions to independent lawyers, mortgage brokers and other professionals
- Post-completion support: utilities, tradespeople, property management
What it costs you
€0
Our fee is paid by the seller's side — split from the selling agent's commission. This is standard practice in Portugal. You receive full, independent representation at no cost to you.
Book a free call Full buying cost breakdown →Common questions
Things buyers ask us
- How can the service be free for buyers?
- In Portugal, the selling agent charges a commission (typically 3–5% + VAT) paid by the seller. When a buyer's agent brings the buyer, the selling agent splits that commission. We receive our fee from that split — the seller pays it, not you. There is no additional cost to buyers.
- What if I want to buy a property that doesn't have a selling agent?
- Private sales (directly from owner to buyer) are common in Lisbon. In these cases, we agree a straightforward fee structure with the seller as part of the negotiation. This is disclosed to you upfront and the net cost to the buyer is still zero.
- Do I need to be in Lisbon to start working with you?
- No. We work with buyers who are searching from abroad and can do a lot of the groundwork remotely — research, market analysis, initial shortlists and virtual viewings. When you are ready to visit, we arrange an intensive viewing programme to make the most of your time in the city.
- What areas do you cover?
- We focus on central Lisbon's established residential neighbourhoods: Chiado, Príncipe Real, Estrela, Graça, Campo de Ourique, Alcântara, Avenidas Novas, Mouraria and Alvalade. We do not work outside central Lisbon — depth of knowledge matters more than breadth of coverage.
- How long does the buying process typically take?
- From first call to keys in hand, most transactions take 3–6 months. Finding the right property can take 2–8 weeks depending on how clearly defined your criteria are and how competitive the market is. From accepted offer to completion is typically 2–3 months.
- Do you work with buyers who want investment properties as well as those buying to live?
- Yes, though we approach them differently. For owner-occupiers, lifestyle and personal fit matter as much as value. For investors, we focus on yield potential, asset quality and capital growth. We work with both — what matters is understanding which type of buyer you are and matching the search accordingly.
Ready to start your search?
Book a free, no-obligation discovery call. We will answer your questions, walk you through the process and tell you honestly whether we can help.
Book a free call