Portugal’s housing market continues to attract strong buyer interest. According to Imovirtual, demand for residential property purchases in Portugal increased by 150.4% year-on-year between February and April 2026. This figure refers to user search activity on the housing market, rather than the number of completed transactions.

💡 Growth remained strong throughout all three months. March was the most active month, accounting for 38.4% of quarterly demand, with annual growth reaching 173.5%. In February, demand rose by 162.6%, while in April it increased by 113%. This shows that buyer interest did not spike temporarily, but remained high throughout the entire period under review.

Key figures for February to April 2026:

• overall growth in demand for home purchases: +150.4% year-on-year;
• March: +173.5% year-on-year;
• February: +162.6%;
• April: +113%.

The largest urban markets continue to account for the biggest share of demand. Lisbon represents 23.2% of searches, while Porto accounts for 21%. At the same time, the Porto district recorded one of the strongest increases, with the number of searches rising by 170.8% year-on-year.

🏘️ At the municipal level, Vila Nova de Gaia remains the leader, accounting for 5.37% of nationwide demand. It is followed by Lisbon with 4.97% and Sintra with 4.28%. The city of Porto stands out with the strongest growth among major municipalities, with searches increasing by 214.6% year-on-year.

Additional data shows that buyer interest is shifting beyond the traditional core markets toward a wider range of locations. Among municipalities outside the largest cities, Mafra, Valongo, Guimarães, Matosinhos, and Cascais stand out. Demand increased by 234.7% in Mafra, 192.5% in Valongo, and 191.9% in Guimarães.

What this dynamic shows:

• buyers are searching more actively beyond Lisbon and Porto;
• demand is expanding toward suburbs and cities offering a better balance between price and quality of life;
• the market is becoming more competitive, which means buyers need to make decisions faster;
• rising search demand is putting additional pressure on liquid properties in popular areas.

According to Imovirtual, the average home price also continued to rise. Over the year, it increased by 3.2%, from EUR 291,750 to EUR 301,014. In Vila Nova de Gaia, the average price rose particularly sharply, from EUR 439,569 to EUR 651,654, which represents an increase of 48.2%.

💼 The 150.4% figure shows that demand in Portugal remains broad, even after the Golden Visa reform and against the backdrop of high housing prices. Interest is supported by both domestic buyers and foreigners who see Portugal as a destination for living, relocation, long-term rental investment, or capital preservation through European real estate.

🔎 You can find current property options in Portugal for investment or living on our website.