Real Estate & Environmental News in Portugal from Propertyshowrooms.com

Property investors should consider community-focussed properties

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Property investors should consider investing in property that has a community spirit.

According to leading overseas property expert Giles Gale, people are less taken by properties in isolated complexes and those investing in property in Spain or Italy should consider houses and flats that are more integrated into the local way of life.

Mr Gale told the Daily Telegraph that the more people than ever before who live or holiday abroad have a grasp of the local language and expect properties that are not housed in "English ghettos".

He cites the example of a major, integrated golf-resort housing tract in Portugal, which has performed well during the recent economic turmoil.

"Prices on the resort have barely fallen as a consequence, with villas costing from £750,000, unlike the secondary golf resorts in the Algarve. Prices have fallen there by 30 per cent," he told the news provider.

According to Shelter Offshore, demand for holiday homes in France is consistently strong, but investors have to hunt for bargains.

Silver coast attractions hailed

Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Portugal's Silver Coast has many property investment opportunities to go with its golfing and other attractions, it has been stated.

In a feature on the region, the Manchester Evening News said that it is now a "serious rival" to the Algarve.

The paper noted that the property possibilities include developments such as the 1,000 townhouses and apartments around the Bom Successo golf course, which include some with grassed roofs.

Other local attractions listed include the watersports, the many historic buildings and the proximity of Lisbon, which can be reached in a day trip.

The roofs on the buildings may be just one green element of homes in which people can invest in Portugal.

Renewable energy is becoming an increasingly prominent way for the country to generate electricity, with this including the world's first multi-unit wave farm, the Pelamis project at Agucadoura.

Portugal goes green with electric car deal

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Portuguese authorities have again emphasised their commitment to eco-friendly policies by revealing plans to set up a network of zero-emission cars in the country.

Portugal will become the first European nation to be supplied with electric cars after signing a deal with French automaker Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan, it emerged last week.

The country has also stated that one-fifth of its public fleet will be zero-emission vehicles, starting in 2011.

By the end of that year, 1,300 charging stations for electric cars are expected to have been built in Portugal, with prime minister Jose Socrates pledging that motorists will be offered tax incentives to encourage the use of zero-emission vehicles.

Portugal is hoping to use its status as "a world leader in environmental action" to attract more environmentally-conscious visitors, the national tourism board stated recently.

Visit our off-plan property Portugal page.