When you are planning to build your own home in Portugal, you need to be aware of the documents and procedures that you need to undertake. The following will help you understand what documents you will need for construction permits to build your own home in Portugal.
There may be some cases where an application for construction permits is not required, such as when building with temporary materials or when reconstructing existing buildings.
1. Find the right location
Portugal is a small country and it may be more difficult to find a suitable location than you imagine. if you are thinking to be building your own home in Portugal you may already have a nice region in mind that you like most. But don’t overlook the hidden jems Portugal has to offer.
There are some regions that are more affordable than others, some are actually not far from the beach and mountains.
2. Apply for a planning permission
This is absolutely mandatory and will save you from potential problems later on. But don’t worry there is offices out there who are specialized in helping you in this process, such as an architectural office. Hiring an architect in Portugal is not as expensive as you might think. Depending on the size of your project it can cost you as little as 10 € per square metre.
3. Find and hire an architect
It might seem like an unnecessary expense, but it will make your life much easier in the long run by ensuring that everything gets done correctly, within budget and on time. Also, the architect in Portugal can design your home in a way that will actually save you money, in the end you probably pay the same that you would have without an architect.
4. Consider buying land
If you are only looking to build a home for yourself in Portugal, then make sure you look in the area that is right for you and have everything nearby that you will need. Also, it is important to check if the land is suitable for construction. If you buy a land in Portugal that is located in an estate make sure to check the estate rules – sometimes there are rules regarding colours of the house or windows or the roof needs to have a certain colour and angle… etc.
5. Speak to a solicitor
Better safe than sorry. Getting legal advice will help you to understand the procedure involved and be aware of potential pitfalls.
Conclusion: Building Your Own Home in Portugal
With these few simple steps you can be building your own home in Portugal and invest in the healthy and growing housing market of sunny Portugal.
Property investment can be a secure source of income, depending on the neighborhood and city you choose. One of the most interesting and successful areas for property investors are university towns. Not only is there high demand for rental properties, but you can also rely on stable rental prices and even see an increase in the value of your property. Here are seven benefits to investing in a property near a university.
1. High Demand And Many Prospective Tenants
By purchasing a property near a university, you will not have to worry about ensuring a steady rental demand. With universities attracting thousands of new students each year, there is usually an increase in the local population, which also increases the demand for accommodation. As such, there will always be a large pool of prospective tenants waiting to move in, even leading to a waiting list.
2. Reliable And Constant Rent Payments
Many landlords fear renting a property to students. This is mainly based upon a misconception that students’ rental payments are always late or missed altogether. Yet, in reality, much student accommodation is actually paid for by students’ parents. The result is often timely and reliable rental payments.
3. Stable Rental Prices
One of the biggest benefits of purchasing a property near a university is that the rent prices tend to remain largely stable and constant. Providing that the university stays in business, there will be a demand for accommodation from students.
“Typically, rent prices in university areas tend to remain stable or even grow. As such, you’ll be able to charge a consistent rental price and perhaps even become cash flow positive,” says Joanna Lockman, a real estate blogger at Boomessays and Essayroo.
4. Reduced Vacancy Time
As with all rental properties, there will inevitably be tenant turnover. Yet, whilst this turnover may be higher than usual with students, the upside is that you’re unlikely to face long vacancy periods. Each new academic year will bring a fresh set of students, all requiring accommodation. This will ensure that you are able collect consistent and reliable rent from your property.
5. Attractive And Vibrant Areas
Areas with universities and students have a tendency to attract larger numbers of local amenities. With young and energetic students, keen to explore the local night life, you’ll often find many of the most highly sought-after bars and recreational facilities located around universities.
From restaurants and bistros, to gyms, shops and entertainment venues, the area around a university campus tends to be more vibrant and livelier. Not only is this more appealing to students looking for accommodation, but it also makes the area more attractive to other types of residents, thereby helping to increase the value of, and interest in, your property.
6. Attract The Wider Workforce, As Well As Students
Despite being located near a university, students are not the only types of tenants you can expect to attract. There may be a wider workforce who also require accommodation, including university staff, such as professors or support staff. People who work in the local area, including in the hospitality sector, in retail or nearby offices, will also be attracted to a property situated nearby.
7. Increased Property Value
It’s common for the value of properties located near universities to increase over time. In part, this is driven by a limited inventory of properties surrounding university campuses, thereby increasing the demand and value of existing properties.
“As universities become more ingrained in the local economy, there tends to be an increase in businesses starting up in the area, which in turn attracts more people to the area,” explains Michael Williams, a writer at Liahelp and State Of Writing. “Additionally, many people stay on in the city after completing their degrees. The result of this self-sustaining economic cycle is increased property value.”
Conclusion
There are many benefits to buying a property near a university, including secure and consistent rental payments, a large and constant pool of interested tenants, increased property value and reduced vacancy times. Although there are some potential disadvantages, such as property damage, higher tenant turnover and low interest during summer months, these can be compensated for with forward planning and higher security deposits. You’ll soon find that your property is a worthwhile investment and a reliable source of income.
Lauren Groff is an experienced real estate writer at Academized and UK Writings. She is passionate about helping her readers to better understand the world of real estate and the options available to them. Lauren is also a successful editor at OX Essays. When not writing, Lauren enjoys spending time reading and exploring different cities and neighborhoods.
Houses are expensive. Especially in densely populated urban areas. But there are some houses on the market that only cost a few thousand dollars.
Where can you find those dirt-cheap houses? One place we found for example is Bulgaria where you can get affordable houses, even some that are close to the beach.
Example: Cheap Houses in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country in the Balkans, Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north and the Republic of Macedonia to the east. The country has a population of 7,6 million people and is one of the oldest countries in Europe.
Bulgaria offers beauty and history for all types of travellers willing to explore it. It is very affordable as well. For instance, a meal in a restaurant will cost you around 2 euros maximum, while accommodation will cost you anything from 10 euros per night for an apartment up to 50 euros per night for a hotel room with 4 stars. Bulgaria also has some remarkable festivals that are worth checking out – like the folk festival “Kukeri” during which participants dress up as masked characters with colourful outfits and dance around bonfires!
– There are plenty of opportunities for owning businesses
– Land prices are very low
4 Factors Affecting the Cost of a House
The cost of a house can vary in four main ways.
1) Location: the cost of a house will depend on where it is located. For example, a house right at the beach will cost you more than one in the middle of nowhere.
2) Size: the size of the property will also affect the price. For example, properties with a bigger backyard or more rooms might be more expensive than other homes with less space to offer.
3) Age: this factor is closely related to size and features but it also includes things like how old are the pipes? Or how new are the appliances? This is important because older homes might need lots of repairs and upgrades.
4) Amenities: another thing that affects housing prices is what kind of amenities, such as a pool or a gym, come with the property.
3 Ways to Make Your Home More Affordable
There are many simple ways to make your home more affordable. Here are 3 of them:
– Consider downsizing
– Look for a mortgage with a lower interest rate
– Consider walking away from your mortgage
– Consider to move to the Countryside
Downsizing is the most common way to make your home more affordable. The truth is that the size and space of your home can have an impact on its value. You could also look for a mortgage with a lower interest rate, which would help decrease the amount of money you spend each month. Lastly, it may be time to consider walking away from your mortgage if you have reached the end of what you can afford or if you are struggling to come up with additional funds.
Conclusion
Don’t look for a house that is bigger than you actually need it. Know what you can comfortably afford and then be flexible about the location as well as be ready to do some repair works yourself. Like that you will find cheap houses in no time.
Bio
Our Property under 20k team are the founders of www.all-real-estate.com and www.listproperty4free.com with the goal to search the cheapest real estate in the world and make it easy for others to find. The team is made up of landlords, real estate investors, architects and builders from several different countries. We just love to have a good strong cup of coffee while we write our experiences in this blog.
Moving to the country from the city has tons of benefits from more space, cheaper living expenses, and fresher air. Many people enjoy the peace and quiet that country living can give them while others enjoy being able to see the stars at night.
However, before you pack your bags and change your entire lifestyle, there are some things you need to know. Here’s what you should know about moving to the country.
It’s Quiet… Really Quiet
If you’re used to the hustle and bustle of the city, the quiet of the country may cause you some discomfort at first. If you’ve lived in an apartment, you know that city life can be noisy no matter what time of day or night it is. The country offers you quiet all day long so that you can enjoy simpler things. However, if you’re someone who enjoys the city noise (and many folks do), you might not be prepared for just how quiet things can get in the country.
Your Income Will Change
A job in the city pays more than a job in the country. Before you start stomping your feet, though, remember that your cost of living will also change. Your New York City rent for your 350 square foot apartment with no bedroom costs more than your mortgage payment will, depending on where you move.
While the same job will pay less in the city, your lifestyle won’t have to change much because you’ll still be able to buy your favorite things on Amazon with all of the money you’ll be saving with a mortgage in the country.
There Are Fewer Job Opportunities
Moving your home is easy, but finding a job is difficult no matter where you live. This is especially true when you move to the country. While a city has tons of jobs available, the country may not, which means you’ll have to drive longer to get to work once you find a job.
You’ll Be Driving Every Single Day
Speaking of driving, you’ll have to do it when you move to the country. There is no corner shop that you can walk to. Depending on where you move, the nearest grocery store might be 30 miles away. If you’ve lived in the city your whole life or you’ve let your license expire, it’s time to start practicing how to drive again because a car is an absolute necessity in the country.
Utilities Might Not Always Be Available or Reliable
Moving to the country means that you’ll have fewer choices when it comes to utilities like electricity and water. Your electricity might not even be reliable.
While you might not always have access to the internet, you’ll always have access to tons of land and a beautiful night sky to look at, along with peace and quiet, so you can finally catch up on that book you’ve been reading for the last five years.
Weather Will Affect You
Many people have experienced a bad storm that took out their electricity for a few hours, but in the country, you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature. If you get heavy rain or snowfall, it might be hours or even days before the road is cleared. Roads will not be plowed as quickly as they are in cities because there are fewer cars driving on them in the country.
If you know of an impending storm, you may need to travel to the local store to pick up provisions like food, water, and other essentials.
You Might Feel Isolated
People who like to be alone love the country because they have fewer (if any) neighbors, and people are less likely to visit them the farther away they are. If you’re someone who enjoys nightlife and spending time with people, the country might not be for you. Of course, no matter where you live, there might be a city or even a town nearby where you can meet people and spend your time when you’re not relaxing under the night sky.
You’ll See More Wildlife
When was the last time you saw grass? If you live in a city, you likely rarely see everything nature has to offer. When you move to the country, you’ll get to rekindle your affair with nature again with tons of plants and wildlife.
Make sure you do your research about the countryside you want to move to before you purchase a house. You’ll need to know what types of animals live in the area so that you can stay safe. For example, you might not want to purchase a cabin in the woods where you know there are bears.
If you’re afraid of snakes, you might always why away from living in Tennessee, known for its large snake population.
It’s important that you respect nature because you’re in its territory now. Treat your environment well so that you can see plants and animals thrive.
Take Out Options Are Limited
If you’re like most city-dwellers, you either don’t have a kitchen or don’t use it. Take-out is fast and means you won’t have to wash the dishes. In the country, however, you might be miles away from the nearest restaurant, and they likely won’t deliver to you if you live too far out. If that’s the case, it’s time to learn how to cook and buy some pots and pans to do so.
Your Neighbors Won’t Have the Same Personalities
As we mentioned, you might have very few neighbors. However, you’ll want to form a good relationship with the neighbors that you do have. People who live in the country do so by choice. They likely enjoy the peace and quiet, unlike your neighbors in the city who used to scream and bang doors at 4 AM.
Treat these neighbors differently than you would your city neighbors and try to be respectful. Don’t play your music too loud or throw parties late at night.
You Might Realize You Hate the City
After you’ve spent some time in the country, you might realize that you never actually enjoyed city life but instead tolerated it because everything you needed was a block or two away. Country life allows you to slow down and focus on the things that really matter, no longer worrying about being stuck in traffic before a big business meeting. Enjoy each and every minute you have in the quiet country.
Matt Casadona
Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. He is currently a contributing editor for 365 Business Tips. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys the San Diego life, traveling and music.
You may be surprised to learn that you don’t need to be rich in order to buy a house. In fact, there are many ways you can save money and still get a house under 100k.
Houses are a big investment and one that should not be taken lightly. That is why it is important to find the perfect house for you, in the best location and for a price that fits your budget.
Average house prices
According to the survey, the average amount people are spending on a house now is around $400,000. So, it would take a lot of research and work to find a house that’s cheaper than 100k.
There are many ways you can get a house for close to 100k or even less than that. It just takes some time and work on your end.
Find the best value for your money
It’s not always easy to find cheap homes in the marketplace. There are many aspects that affect the value of a home. The general rule of thumb, however, is to buy close to the city centre if you want better value.
Some people say that it might be easier to find a cheap home by looking at area listings, or by looking at other more affordable areas outside of the city centre. However, this might not be possible for everyone who wants to live in an urban setting.
Be more creative in your search
So, what should you do? Get creative with your search and don’t limit yourself too much by just looking at one area when there are so many others out there for you to explore!
Saving up for a down payment is the first big step in achieving this goal. You can save the down payment by living with your parents or by renting an apartment in an inexpensive location and then saving up more money over time.
A lot of people want to purchase a home but they don’t have the money. It’s not uncommon for people to spend their life savings on a house – which is why many people end up living in their parents’ basement. That’s actually not a bad idea if it helps you to save up for your own home at the same time.
There are certainly ways to get houses for 100k or less if you have patience and know where to look.
Be more specific in your search
Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases that you will ever make. That said, if you are looking for a cheap home, it’s best to be more specific in your online search and don’t just rely on general words like ‘cheap home’ or ‘good deal’.
Be flexible when it comes to DIY
If you are up for DIY, you can get a fixer-upper home at a lower price. All you need is to take some time off and do the renovation work yourself. Not only will it make your home look better, but it will also help in saving money on labour costs.
Fixer Upper Homes: Fixer-upper homes are properties that have not been renovated or updated for a long time. Even if the property doesn’t have any major structural damage, they may need new paint and flooring, as well as other cosmetic improvements.
Investors are starting to pay attention to the potential in fixer-upper homes. With a low purchase price and a lower mortgage, it is easier than ever to buy a fixer-upper house.
The process of fixing up a home can be very rewarding; you have the opportunity to make your house uniquely yours. It also has the potential to be profitable, too. Fixing up your home can increase its value by hundreds of thousands of dollars if you do it right!
Conclusion
Now, you’ve seen the best ways to buy a house for 100k or less. So, what are you waiting for? Start scrolling and find your dream home today!
Bio
Our Property under 20k team are the founders of www.propertyunder20k.com and www.listproperty4free.com with the goal to search the cheapest real estate in the world and make it easy for others to find. The team is made up of landlords, real estate investors, architects and builders from several different countries. We just love to have a good strong cup of coffee while we write our experiences in this blog.
