Licensed · AMI 27242 · BoP 0008706Lisbon office · Linda-a-Velha, OeirasIndependent · Portuguese capital, decisions in Lisbon
Buyer Advisory
Someone on your side of the table.
In Portugal, the seller's agent is paid by the seller and works for the seller. The buyer is, in most transactions, alone. We do the opposite. We represent the buyer — search, due diligence, negotiation, paperwork — all the way through.
In most Portuguese transactions, the only licensed mediator in the room represents the seller. They negotiate price down for their client, qualify you as a buyer, hand you the CPCV when they're ready to close. You are, structurally, alone. That's not how it works in the UK, the US, or much of Northern Europe — but it is how it works here.
A buyer's advisor changes the equation. We work for you. We sit in the meetings. We read the documents. We push back. We bring a licensed second pair of eyes to one of the largest decisions of your life.
The process
How buyer advisory works at Terrae.
A clear five-step engagement. No surprises, no hidden fees, no auto-renewal.
01
Brief
An hour of conversation. We listen — to your life, not just your budget. Location, family, work, schools, taxes, timeline.
02
Search
We bring you properties that fit, including off-market ones. We rule out what doesn't, and explain why.
03
Due diligence
Title, planning, energy class, condominium charges, structural reports, urban plan compatibility. Before the offer, not after.
04
Negotiation
We negotiate price, conditions, deposit, deadlines. Always written. Always reviewed by counsel before signing the CPCV.
05
Closing
From CPCV to deed, including IMT and Stamp Duty payment, notary, registration. We attend the signing with you.
Portuguese terms explained
The vocabulary of a Portuguese real estate deal.
A short glossary of the words you'll meet along the way.
CPCV
Promissory contract
The binding pre-contract. Buyer pays a deposit (typically 10–20%). Withdrawing without cause means losing the deposit; the seller withdrawing means returning double.
Escritura
Deed of purchase
The formal transfer of ownership, signed before a notary. The remainder of the price is paid here. Property registration follows.
IMT
Property transfer tax
One-off tax on the purchase, on a progressive scale (typically 0–8% depending on price and use). Paid before the deed.
IS
Stamp duty
A flat 0.8% on the purchase price. Paid before the deed.
IMI
Annual property tax
Recurring tax on Portuguese property, ranging from 0.3% to 0.45% of the rateable value (VPT) per year.
NIF
Tax ID number
You'll need a Portuguese tax number to sign anything binding. We can guide you through obtaining one if you don't have it yet.
Who we work with
This service is built for you if…
→
You're moving to Portugal
Relocating from the UK, US, Northern Europe or elsewhere. You need someone local who reads what you sign, in English.
→
You're already here
Already living in Lisbon, Cascais, Oeiras, Algarve. Time to stop renting. Time to buy properly, with proper representation.
→
You're investing from abroad
Property as part of a relocation plan or a non-habitual residency / Golden Visa pathway. We focus on the property side; we'll refer you to the right tax and immigration advisors for the rest.
Honesty about fees
Buyer advisory is not free. And it shouldn't be.
A buyer advisor that costs you nothing is, by definition, paid by someone else. We don't work that way. Our fees are agreed in writing in the first meeting, before any commitment, and they reflect the work involved and the value at stake. The structure is transparent and you'll know exactly what you're paying for, when, and to whom.
We don't publish fee tables online. Every brief is different and every brief deserves a real conversation, not a price tag. Book a first call — it's free, no obligation.
Who will represent you
The consultants on your side of the table.
Real names, real emails, real accountability. These are the people you will meet.
Senior real estate consultant
Maria Goreti
Twenty years selling things that were not homes before she came to real estate. Treats every purchase as the life change it usually is.
