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Alvor is situated on the estuary of the River Alvor, close to Portimão.
Whether you are planning to live and work in the Algarve, retire or invest, the region has something for all.
Alvor is well placed in central Algarve, being close to an International School, Faro airport, public and private hospitals, and also a motorway network connecting the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and Spain. There are various supermarkets close by catering to all tastes and diets plus local markets offering fresh, local products.
Whilst infrastructure is important, so too is lifestyle and in the Algarve, you can enjoy whatever pace of life you prefer. The region offers year-round cultural events, an international racetrack, major golfing tournaments and much more for visitors and residents alike. With many of the Algarve’s beaches winning the Blue Flag the coast is an important asset for residents and a major tourist attraction.
Alvor has a year-round international community living in the town and in its environs. For those enjoying sports there are tennis clubs and various golf courses close by plus diving centres, cycling routes, dance groups, various gyms and centres to enjoy yoga, tai chi etc. The municipal pool is by the entrance to the boardwalk along which birdwatchers will enjoy the opportunity to view migratory birds in the lagoon and sand dunes. There are also various walking trails to enjoy all along the Algarve. For those who prefer less energetic activities there are local choirs, amateur dramatic groups, bands and much more to keep you busy.
Most faiths are represented in the region offering the opportunity to worship locally.
Restaurants and bars
There is a wide selection of bars, restaurants and cafés, all within easy walking distance of the centre of Alvor, offering a choice of different cuisines.
To download a guide to the Algarve’s wine, click here
For a Cataplana recipe book click here
For traditional Portuguese recipes download here
Shopping
There are plenty of shops in the town for your everyday needs and various supermarkets close by. With shopping malls, both to the east, in Portimão and Algarve Shopping in Guia (near Albufeira) shoppers will be able to find their favourite stores close by. With plenty of seats in the sun, restaurants and cafés and a multi-screen cinema located in Algarve Shopping, the late-night shopping means you can work or relax throughout the day.
Events
Throughout the year there are many fairs, festivals and shows, too many to list however, for up-to-date information on current events click here
History
Alvor was originally settled in the 5th century by the Carthaginians and used as a commercial port. This was continued throughout the Roman era and may well have been a place where Roman coins were minted.
The ruins of Abicada, a Roman villa, can still be visited, although they are a little overgrown due to the State only owning part of the site, the rest being privately owned.
The fort, with only a couple of walls now standing, was rebuilt in the early 14th century and defended the town for 500 years being destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.
Due to King João II dying in the town, Alvor became well known throughout Portugal. The king was originally buried in the parish church however his remains were moved to Batalha in the north of Portugal where his tomb can now be seen.
The parish church, Igreja do Divino Salvador, was built in the early 16th century, having a Manueline-style door. In the 18th century the church was rebuilt in Rococo style with some of its fine vaulting and other features dating back to the 16th century.
Towards the end of the 15th century, Alvor was the centre of the Portuguese Jewish community.
If you are feeling in need of an active history lesson, an interesting trail to follow in the Algarve is the Umayyad Route, the path which the Arabs travelled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe starting in the 8th century through to the 13th.
For more information on the area click here
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algarvehomesales.com is a family-owned and run business selling and letting property in the Algarve since 2003.
Our team of experienced and mature professionals have all lived and worked in Portugal for many years and have the knowledge needed to help you purchase, or sell, your property here.
We expertly guide you through the entire buying and selling process offering a dedicated service from Aljezur covering all the way across to Albufeira – the western Algarve.
So, enlist the help of a friendly, reliable and experienced team. Browse through our website and contact us, we are here to ensure that everything goes smoothly.
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A mature professional team
As a licensed, family-owned and -operated real estate agent we have been successfully selling properties in the Algarve since 2003. We are a team of mature professionals who have years of collective experience in selling properties in Portugal. Our aim is to deliver honesty, clarity and attention to detail to ensure the successful sale of your property. Nobody is better qualified than us to value and achieve the best possible price for your property, within a timescale to suits your needs.
Marketing
We are able to find the right buyer for your property thanks to a combination of approaches. Our state-of-the-art technology matches suitable buyers to your home and as soon as the property is listed we proactively phone, text and email suitable potential buyers. Our website is up to date, easy to use and provides buyers with a comprehensive presentation of your home. It is available on standard computers, laptops, tablets and mobile telephones ensuring that potential buyers can stay in touch with us wherever they are. We also promote our properties through a network of other property portals in a number of countries with a proven track record of delivering motivated buyers.
Our weekly newsletter is circulated to a large database of thousands of registered buyers and consistently generates new enquiries for our properties. We also advertise with local and international property media and we promote our property portfolio at trade shows focused on the Portuguese market.
The process
When you make contact with us we will arrange to visit your property to conduct a free market appraisal. At the same time we will also ask you to prepare a copy of the documentation required in order to prepare the contract. The list of required documents includes;
- Photographic identification for all vendors of the property, usually a passport
- Fiscal number
- Energy certificate
- Caderneta predial – this document confirms the rateable value of the property amongst other things
- Certidão de teor – this is the land registry document showing that the owner has good title and that there are no outstanding debts on the property. It also gives the legal description of the property
- Licença de utilização – the habitation licence for properties built after 1951 or a certificate that the property was in existence prior to 1951
- Escritura anterior – the last Escritura, for properties that had a previous owner
- Ficha técnica – this document gives technical details of the construction of the property for all properties completed after March 30, 2004
- Floor plans if available
- A full inventory of what is being included in the sale
- Building licence – necessary for any building project
When the paperwork has been verified and the contract is agreed and signed by both parties, we will then proceed to market your property to registered buyers using our state-of-the art, in-house technology platform and will implement our marketing plan.
Results-driven and consistently successful, we are confident you will find us easy to work with to achieve the swift sale of your Algarve home.
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At algarvehomesales we understand that buying a property in Portugal is not something that you do every day and because of this we have built a team of mature professionals to help you during this process. Our experienced team have been helping our customers to find and buy their home in Portugal since 2003. Each member of the team brings something different to the buying process and we believe you will find them a pleasure to work with during and beyond.
The buying process
The buying system in Portugal is a two-stage process which is well organised and usually works very efficiently. The first stage, from an offer being accepted to the drawing up of a promissory contract, takes between 7 and 28 days, depending on whether you, as purchaser, need to finalise your mortgage arrangements.
The second stage, from promissory contract to the signing of the final deed (escritura), can take as little as 10 days, but is normally 30 – 60 days. This timing can be shorter or longer but in general these guidelines work for most parties. We can recommend experienced and reliable local professionals to work with you through the conveyancing process including mortgage brokers, lawyers, currency transfer companies and surveyors.
If you are planning to finance your purchase in Portugal it is advisable to arrange finance and to have an initial meeting with a lawyer even before you have finalised your choice of property.
The lawyer will advise you of all of the costs involved in your purchase so that you are fully informed, from the start, as to the complete funding requirement. The lawyer also acts on your behalf to ensure that the process is completed in accordance with the statues.
The purchase process
When your offer is accepted by the vendor, we will send you written confirmation that your offer has been agreed. At that time, you will need to formally instruct your lawyer and do the following:
- appoint a power of attorney, generally your lawyer, to act on your behalf if you are not going to be present during the process and for the signing of the contracts. If you are going to come in person to sign all of the documents, then this step is not necessary.
- obtain a Portuguese fiscal number. Your lawyer will do this. You will need to provide a certified copy of your ID or passport.
- arrange for a survey on the property.
- agree dates with the vendor for the promissory contract and signing of the final deed.
A deposit, usually 10%, is payable upon signature of the promissory contract. If you default after signing this contract you forfeit your deposit. If the vendor defaults for any reason you are entitled to a full refund of your deposit plus compensation which is usually equal to the value of the deposit.
Immediately before the final deed is signed, you will be asked to pay the IMT (stamp duty). This is calculated according to a set scale and also depends on whether the property will be a permanent or holiday home.
Once the final deed has been signed, the lawyer will register the sale and also the change of ownership at the local land registry. This records all relevant information and is official confirmation of legal ownership.
Our role is to liaise with all parties throughout the process, to ensure the flow of necessary information and to keep both vendor and purchaser informed of progress.
We are always available in person, on the telephone or by email, to answer your questions throughout the process thus smoothing the way for a successful transaction.
Immediately before the final Escritura, you will be asked to pay the IMT (Stamp Duty). This is calculated according to a set scale, and also depends on whether the property will be a permanent or holiday home.
Once the Escritura has been signed, the lawyer will register the sale and change of ownership at the local Land Registry. This records all relevant information and is official confirmation of legal ownership.
Our role is to liaise with all parties throughout the process, to ensure the flow of necessary information, and to keep both vendor and purchaser informed of progress.
We are always available in person, on the telephone or by email to answer your questions throughout the process, smoothing the way for a successful transaction.
Aftersales
Congratulations – you now own your home in Portugal. If you are planning on living full-time in the property we will already have spoken to you about moving in and will attend the final deed where the keys will be handed over. If you are planning on using your property for your own holidays and/or perhaps for holiday rentals, then our sister company algarveholidaylets.com can provide you with a comprehensive management and lettings service.
For more details, please visit www.algarveholidaylets.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Why sell with us?
- Mature and experienced team
- Successfully selling properties since 2003
- Weekly newsletter circulated to a large database of prospective buyers
- Proactive marketing, both national and international, including partnerships with leading real estate agencies e.g. Winkworth in the UK, listings on international and national property portals along with online and traditional advertising
- Sophisticated technology platform enabling a fast response to buyer enquiries and synchronisation of property listings with online portals
Submit a valuation opposite or call us on +351 282 356 952