From Offer to
Escritura, the Real
Timeline.

Once you’ve identified the right property, I’ll guide you through making an offer and negotiating the terms with the seller.

An offer is about more than the purchase price. Depending on the transaction, the proposed timing, deposit and other conditions may also form part of the discussion.

Once the main terms are agreed, the purchase can move into the legal and contractual stages.

Before committing to the purchase, the appropriate legal checks should be carried out on the property and its documentation.

Our legal team can guide you through this part of the process, working alongside your own lawyer where appropriate. The purpose is to identify any issues that need to be understood or resolved before you proceed.

The Contrato-Promessa de Compra e Venda (CPCV) sets out the agreed terms of the purchase and the pathway to the final deed. It typically covers the purchase price, deposit, completion arrangements and other agreed conditions.

A deposit of around 10% of the purchase price is common and is usually non-refundable, subject to the terms of the contract. Your lawyer should review the CPCV and explain its implications before you sign.

The period between signing the CPCV and completing the purchase allows the remaining legal, financial and practical arrangements to be put in place.

The length of this period depends on the transaction. A purchase involving mortgage finance, for example, may follow a different timetable from a purchase without financing.

During this stage, the legal teams will work towards completion and confirm what is required from you before the final deed.

Before completion, the applicable purchase taxes must be dealt with, including IMT and Stamp Duty.

The amounts depend on the property and the buyer’s circumstances. Your legal or tax adviser can confirm the amounts due and ensure the necessary payments and documentation are in place.

The Escritura is the final deed that completes the property purchase.

At completion, the remaining purchase funds are settled, the deed is signed and ownership of the property transfers to the buyer.

Once completion has taken place, the keys can be handed over and the property is officially yours.

There isn’t one fixed timeline for every property purchase in Portugal. The time between an accepted offer and completion depends on the circumstances of the transaction, the documentation, the parties involved and whether financing is required.

Rather than relying on an arbitrary number of weeks, I prefer to give buyers a realistic indication of timing once the property and circumstances of the purchase are known.