House seekers in Lisbon broadening their search locations
In the bustling real estate market of Portugal, the second quarter of 2025 has seen a surge in demand for homes, particularly in the peripheral municipalities. While the exact top 50 list is yet to be officially released, historical trends and available data provide valuable insights into the most sought-after locations.
Traditionally popular areas include the economic powerhouses of Lisbon and Porto, as well as the sun-drenched Algarve region. Municipalities such as Cascais, Sintra, and Loures in the Lisbon area, Porto itself, and Faro in the Algarve remain in high demand due to their economic and lifestyle appeal.
The districts with the most representation in the list of sought-after municipalities are expected to be the Lisbon District, known for its economic and cultural significance, the Porto District, a major urban center with strong educational and economic institutions, and the Faro District (Algarve), popular for tourism and retirement homes.
However, the search results do not provide specific data on municipal sales. What we do know is that the majority of sales in Portugal are concentrated in Continental Portugal, with the North, Greater Lisbon, and Center regions being particularly active.
One factor contributing to the rise of the western coast in the top 50 most sought-after municipalities is the increasing trend of teleworking, which allows people to live in more affordable areas while maintaining their jobs in urban centers. This trend is expected to continue, driving demand for homes in peripheral municipalities such as Leiria, Vila Real de Santo António, Portimão, Tavira, and Albufeira.
The district of Leiria, located less than two hours from Lisbon, has seven municipalities among the most sought-after for home purchases: Caldas da Rainha, Peniche, Marinha Grande, Leiria, Pombal, Alcobaça, and Óbidos. These municipalities offer more affordable housing prices compared to Lisbon and Setúbal.
Interestingly, the municipality of Porto itself does not feature in the top 50 most sought-after municipalities for home purchases, ranking 59th. This could be due to the city's high median house price, which exceeds 400,000 euros in the four Algarve municipalities mentioned above.
In conclusion, while the exact top 50 list is not yet available, the trend of searching for homes for sale in the peripheral municipalities of Lisbon, Porto, and Faro is expected to continue due to their more affordable housing prices and other factors such as teleworking and proximity to the capital. The district of Leiria, with its affordable housing prices, is expected to maintain its strong presence in the list. The recent data from idealista indicates that this trend will continue to gain relevance and scope in the first half of 2025, with the municipalities in Greater Lisbon leading the list of the 50 most sought-after municipalities for home purchases in Portugal.
- The Algarve region, known for its sun-drenched atmosphere, is traditionally popular among home buyers in Portugal.
- Faro, which is part of the Faro District (Algarve), is a sought-after location due to its appeal in terms of both economy and lifestyle.
- Participation in the list of sought-after municipalities is also expected from districts like the Lisbon District and the Porto District, both renowned for their economic and cultural significance.
- Data suggests a rising trend of people buying homes in peripheral municipalities like Leiria, Vila Real de Santo António, Portimão, Tavira, and Albufeira, thanks to their more affordable housing prices.
