Press Release Summary: People in Britain are used to talk of a north-south divide, which has been historically rooted in differences of economics, subculture, accent and, to a varying extent at different times, electoral geography. Housing, of course, has been part of the equation too.
Press Release Body: People in Britain are used to talk of a north-south divide, which has been historically rooted in differences of economics, subculture, accent and, to a varying extent at different times, electoral geography. Housing, of course, has been part of the equation too.
Not that Britain is alone in this respect, although perhaps the divisions of northern and southern Italy, east and west Germany and the Flemish and Woolloon parts of Belgium have a much more historic distinction, more in the manner of England and Scotland.
In the case of Portugal, it is perhaps a different sort of divide that exists between the north and south, at least in property terms. The south means mainly the Algarve, with its popular beach resorts, hot weather and plenty of apartments to match its tourist honeypot status. The north, by contrast, is somewhat quieter and offers a rather different prospect.
To take some examples, Easier Property reported this week on the launch of Palacio da Quinta, a complex which combines a six-star hotel with some highly upmarket apartments. Not for the Algarve, it seems, the high-rise and low quality developments that many believe have blighted the Costas. Easier describes the development as \"truly palatial\", with the residents of the 80 apartments and penthouses able to enjoy \"17 acres of lush sub-tropical gardens\".
Of course, not all the Algarve Portugal property is pitched at this level, which with the prices starting at £800,000 is just as well. But the area, Easier notes, has the appeal one might expect from a region with 300 days of sunshine and championship golf courses to go with the sun, sand and surf.
While investors in the Algarve may find themselves going for rather less expensive apartments to deal with the large-scale mainstream tourist market, the quieter north may offer a niche market for those who want to avoid the crowds.
The interior of the north has been growing as a location for British buyers lately, reports the Times, with the market mainly being characterised by second-home buying in locations within easy reach of the city of Porto such as Minho and Douro. The newspaper does not describe this as an accidental occurrence, for here are the vineyards from which Port is produced.
Labelled by the paper as \"Portugal for grown-ups\", it is further characterised as being \"many miles from the pastel-coloured villas and golf courses of the Algarve and the cosmopolitan glitz of Lisbon.\" In short, it offers something different, an attractive rural location which is described by one investor, Liverpudlian Liam Donnelly as \"beautiful, cheaper and less developed\".
So for those looking to invest in property in Portugal, it is clear that some very different markets, suiting different tastes, have developed. All of which indicates that those buying investment property there need to be sure which markets they are looking to aim at, not least if buying to let.
In today\'s world Property investment is an excellent investment option especially investment in UK
2012
