Living by the sea is the dream of many Portuguese and foreigners. Enjoying the salt water, the sand, the sunsets and the calm that the sea brings is what drives many families to buy a house on the beach. In Portugal, the demand for houses by the sea has intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic, not least because living with more space and in harmony with nature has become more valuable. And this trend has led to a drop in the supply of houses for sale in most of the country's coastal municipalities - in 50 of the 54 municipalities analyzed. But where is the greatest demand for beach houses concentrated? And where are house prices lowest? And the highest?
The climate, the proximity to the sea and the views that beach houses offer have always attracted Portuguese and foreigners to buy homes on the Portuguese coast. “Portugal has always been an extremely attractive country for those looking to live by the sea, offering an extensive stretch of coastline with something for everyone and every budget,” explains Alfredo Valente, CEO of iad Portugal.
Being able to wake up and feel the sea breeze and be in touch with nature took on a new relevance during the Covid-19 pandemic, when families found themselves confined to their homes for several weeks. In the first phase of the crisis, demand for beach houses fell, as in all markets. But it quickly returned - very much leveraged by teleworking (total or hybrid) - and this market is now at levels even higher than pre-pandemic, analyzes Alfredo Valente.
This is confirmed by other real estate experts contacted: “Demand for beach houses has increased in recent years and the pandemic has boosted demand for this type of housing even more,” reveals Patrícia Clímaco, CEO of Castelhana Real Estate. And there are a few reasons behind this increase in demand for beach houses in Portugal. “Being confined to apartments with no outdoor spaces has created a need for greater comfort at home, with more space, balconies and gardens, and greater proximity to nature,” points out Patrícia Barão, Head of Residential at JLL Portugal, who also stresses that “teleworking has also changed the factors that lead someone to choose a more central, urban location in favor of a quieter location or one with a higher quality of life.”
What's more, today "the entire Portuguese coastline is internationally recognized as having some of the most attractive beaches in Europe. This attractiveness, combined with the climate, hospitality, safety, good access, the ever-increasing quality and diversity of the offer, as well as trends towards remote working and nomadism, has boosted demand for this type of housing," adds Patrícia Clímaco.
Buying a house on the beach: municipalities with the lowest prices:
The area with the lowest prices for buying a house on the beach is the coastal strip in the central zone, with the municipalities of Figueira da Foz, Marinha Grande and Cantanhede standing out. It should be noted that despite the notorious increase in value of real estate in Figueira da Foz, it is still one of the regions with the lowest purchase prices.
“There are offers for all projects and all budgets,” says Alfredo Valente, from iad Portugal. He adds that “it's still possible to buy a plot of land for a few tens of thousands of euros or a small apartment to renovate on a traditional beach for affordable prices”.
Source: idealista