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An abandoned, roofless stone house in Portugal overgrown with vegetation under a blue sky

Buying a Ruin to Rebuild Will Not Shelter Your Home-Sale Gains From IRS, the Tax Authority Rules

The Tax and Customs Authority has ruled that buying a property classified as a ruin does not count as reinvestment for the IRS capital-gains exemption, because a ruin cannot be a permanent home at the moment of purchase. Here is what the rule requires — and how to avoid the trap.

The Portugal Brief 06 Jul 2026

A cluster of traditional Portuguese townhouses in Porto with terracotta-tiled roofs and painted and granite facades under a grey sky

Paying the IMI Municipal Property Tax in Portugal in 2026 — A Practical Guide to Taxable Property Values, the 0.3%–0.45% Municipal Rates, the May–August–November Instalments, the Low-Income and Own-Home Exemptions and the AIMI Surcharge

If you own property in Portugal, the annual IMI municipal tax arrives every year without you filing a thing. A practical 2026 guide to how it is calculated on your property's taxable value, the 0.3%–0.45% municipal rates, the May–August–November instalments, who is exempt, and the AIMI surcharge on

The Portugal Brief 05 Jul 2026

A view over the terracotta rooftops of Lisbon's Alfama district at sunset, with the Sao Vicente de Fora monastery on the skyline

Portugal Tops the EU for House-Price Growth at 17.8% in the First Quarter, With Only Finland's Market Falling

Eurostat says Portuguese house prices rose 17.8% year on year in the first quarter of 2026 — the steepest climb in the EU and more than three times the bloc's 5.1% average. Prices also rose 3.8% on the quarter, the second-fastest, as only Finland saw values fall over the year.

The Portugal Brief 03 Jul 2026

A Porto street showing a mix of old townhouses and newly built residential apartment buildings under a blue sky

Portugal's 6% Construction VAT Takes Effect on July 1, Capping Eligible Homes at €660,982 and Giving Non-Resident Buyers a Recoverable 7.5% Transfer-Tax Rate

From 1 July, Decreto-Lei 97/2026 cuts VAT on building or renovating a home to 6% from 23% — capped at a €660,982 sale price or €2,300 rent. Non-residents get a recoverable 7.5% transfer tax, self-builders can reclaim the difference, and moving out in year one triggers a 10% IMT surcharge.

The Portugal Brief 02 Jul 2026

A modern luxury villa with a glass balcony and infinity pool under a blue sky, illustrating Portugal's ultra-prime property market

American Buyers Now Lead Portugal's Luxury Property Market as Cascais Overtakes Lisbon for Ultra-Prime Homes

North Americans are now the biggest buyers of Portugal's most expensive homes, and Cascais has overtaken Lisbon for ultra-prime listings, with more than 50 properties on the market at a median €13.5 million.

The Portugal Brief 30 Jun 2026

Lisbon's Alfama rooftops at golden hour with the Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora, illustrating Portuguese homes and energy certificates

The Certificado Energético in Portugal in 2026 - A Practical Guide to the SCE, the Qualified Expert, the A+ to F Energy Scale, the Costs, and When You Legally Need One to Sell or Rent

You cannot legally advertise, sell or let a home in Portugal without a certificado energético. A practical guide to the SCE, the ADENE-registered Qualified Expert, the A+ to F scale, the cost and validity, and exactly when the law requires one.

The Portugal Brief 29 Jun 2026

Lisbon rooftops above the Tagus River, illustrating Portugal's residential property tax base

Portugal's Top-Up Property Tax (AIMI) Passes 100,000 Payers for the First Time as Individual Owners Jump 22%

More than 101,000 taxpayers were billed for Portugal's wealth-property surcharge in its latest cycle — the first time the count has cleared 100,000, driven by a 22% jump in individual owners as rising home values pull more people over the €600,000 threshold.

The Portugal Brief 29 Jun 2026

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