Portugal property prices in 2026: prices rise while sales fall

The latest INE figures: prices and sales in Q2

INE released these results on 22 September 2026. They cover April to June, rather than sales completed in September.

The House Price Index rose 16.5% compared with Q2 2025, following annual growth of 17.8% in the previous quarter. There were 40,142 home sales, down 6.4% year on year. Prices increased 3.6% compared with the preceding quarter.

Price growth slowed; prices did not fall. The annual change in the number of transactions also should not be mistaken for a month-to-month change.

What this means if you want to sell property in Portugal

Taken together, the figures show that rising prices can coexist with fewer completed sales. They do not establish that every home takes longer to sell or that every owner must accept a lower offer.

A national index is neither a price per square metre nor a valuation of your home. Location, condition, floor area, paperwork and competing listings may matter more to a buyer than the national headline.

Do not add 16.5% to an old asking price. Even a sensible valuation from a year ago needs to be checked against current evidence in the local market.

Ask an estate agent to explain the proposed asking price

Ask for the suggested price range and the comparable properties behind it. Keep advertised prices separate from completed sale prices: an advert records what the owner hopes to receive, not what a buyer has agreed to pay.

If reliable completed-sale evidence is unavailable, that limitation should be explicit. Compare similar locations, property types, sizes and conditions, and check that the floor areas being compared use the same measurement basis.

• Which homes compete directly with mine, and why?
• Which differences justify a higher or lower asking price?
• Could missing documents or property features discourage buyers?
• When will we review the price, and what evidence would justify changing it?

Use the first weeks as evidence

Few advert views, enquiries without viewings and viewings without offers are different problems. Ask for a simple record of active listings, genuine enquiries, completed viewings and the reasons buyers give for not proceeding.

If visibility is low, check publication, category and presentation first. If many people view the advert but few enquire, compare the price and information with competing homes. If viewings bring no offers, look for recurring objections about condition, location, running costs or sale terms.

A price reduction may be appropriate, but it should address the problem identified. Cutting the price does not answer a missing floor-plan question. Equally, better photographs may not compensate for a price well above comparable alternatives.

Compare the buyer’s conditions as well as the offer

Consider the proposed timetable, financing conditions and unresolved questions alongside the amount offered. An intention to arrange a mortgage is not the same as final approval from the lender.

Prepare the documents early and identify outstanding steps before agreeing dates. Where the sale depends on finance or another condition, obtain legal advice on the wording of the agreement. National price statistics do not remove the risks of an individual transaction.

Online estate agent or full service: which support do you need?

Choosing an estate agency in Portugal means comparing the work included, who hosts viewings, how offers reach you and when payment becomes due. The commission percentage alone does not describe the service.

An online estate agent may suit an owner who can supply photographs and handle the agreed in-person work. If you live abroad or need someone to organise photography and host viewings, compare a service that includes those tasks.

IMOJA Online Sale costs €499 including VAT for one property and 90 days from first publication. You supply photographs and host viewings; IMOJA prepares and publishes the listing, handles enquiries and passes on offers within the agreed scope. The fee pays for the service and remains payable if no sale completes. It does not guarantee a buyer or a completion date.

A practical plan before your home goes on the market

Start with what you can check and control. National news provides context; your sale plan should reflect the property, your availability and buyers in its local market.

• Gather the documents and resolve inconsistencies before advertising.
• Compare local alternatives and record the evidence behind the asking price.
• Choose the estate-agency service and confirm tasks, costs and conditions in writing.
• Prepare accurate photographs and enough information for a buyer to decide on a viewing.
• Agree how feedback will be collected and when the strategy will be reviewed.

Should you wait for prices to rise further?

These figures cannot predict the next quarter or identify the best selling date for your property. Waiting involves maintenance costs, finance costs where applicable and the possibility that market conditions change.

Compare your required proceeds with the cost of keeping the property and an evidence-based sale price. If you also plan to buy, consider both transactions together. Those circumstances provide a stronger basis for a decision than a headline percentage.