Quinta do Lago Property
Area Guide
Located deep in the heart of the Algarve, and only twenty minutes west of Portugal’s Faro Airport, is the specialist golf resort of Quinta do Lago. Quinta do Lago golf property for sale is especially popular with British and Irish nationals due to the resort’s outstanding natural beauty and distinctive community feel, with villas centred around community pools, and private ‘residents only’ areas.
The resort has an air of exclusivity and class, catering for the truly discerning resident or visitor looking for Quinta do Lago golf property for sale. Almost every conceivable need or whim has been anticipated, and the many facilities have been built only to the highest specifications, with a great emphasis on eco-tourism and blending the resort into the breathtaking scenery. These sporting and leisure facilities, natural landscapes and habitats, and long days of endless sun make Quinta do Lago golf property for sale truly a little piece of Paradise.
Quinta do Lago golf property for sale can be found within one of the Algarve’s largest golfing destinations, and its courses are rated among the top 25 in Europe. The resort has hosted several Portuguese Opens and continues to be the venue for many national and international tournaments. All the courses have top-quality driving ranges, putting greens and a golf academy, along with exceptional clubhouses with large terraces overlooking the picturesque landscapes.
Of course, the main draw of Quinta do Lago golf property for sale are the golf courses themselves. Currently there are two full courses, Quinta do Lago North and South, with a third in development. The North Course is an 18-hole anti-clockwise loop with a variety of demanding challenges, while the South course offers a mix of individual holes, all requiring different skills and offering an exciting game for all levels of expertise.
Quinta do Lago is not just a haven for golfers, but also for the rare species of flora and fauna that inhabit the area. Quinta do Lago golf property for sale makes an excellent base from which to explore the two nature trails near the resort, leading through woodland, by freshwater lakes, and around salt marshes teeming with birdlife. Also on these trails can be seen Roman salting tanks, bearing testament to the long history of the area.
Quinta do Lago golf property for sale is surrounded by the Ria Formosa Natural Park established as an area of outstanding natural beauty and a protected habitat since 1987. The Park is a refuge for rare species of birds, many of which nest in the salt marshes. The importance of this 18,000 ha area means that the ecological balance is strongly considered on the resort of Quinta do Lago, and exceptionally low density (8%) building policies are employed, along with great effort to blend buildings into the landscape. Quinta do Lago golf property for sale can be found nestled within woodland clearings, overlooking the great green expanses of the golf courses, or within sight of the gently lapping lakeshore. No Quinta do Lago golf property for sale is over two storeys high, giving the whole resort a feel of a traditional, but luxurious, village.
Quinta do Lago golf property for sale is located in a complex that offers not just phenomenal golfing facilities, but also a wide range of other activities and pastimes. Of course, with such an array of birdlife in close proximity to any Quinta do Lago golf property for sale, simply watching the birds swimming in the sparkling waters or flying in the endless blue skies is always a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, especially in the purpose built bird observatory. Located just outside the resort, but still easily accessible, the Riding Centre allows the wider landscape to be explored on horseback, whether through the tranquil forests or galloping along the two-mile long stretch of sandy beach. The dedicated watersports centre located on the beach offers a huge array of marine activities, ranging from sailing to jet-skiing, and the tennis academy offers professional coaching or a game on one of the three floodlit courts. Of course, with the phenomenal weather of the Algarve, there are also numerous solo ways to keep fit, from swimming in the warm seas or walking the nature trails, to jogging along the sun-drenched coast. The Health Club, located centrally to Quinta do Lago golf property for sale, offers relaxing and sports massages to soothe any aching muscles after trying the numerous sports, as well as the services of personal trainers, reflexology, aromatherapy and shiatsu. The Health Centre also offers a babysitting service for parents. Nearby, the Monte da Quinta Club offers more personal health and beauty services, including professional waxing and personal grooming.
The ethos of the resort with Quinta do Lago golf property for sale is of luxury and pampering, and therefore it will come as no surprise that there are several exceptional restaurants on, or near, the complex. These include the Casa do Lago, which offers breathtaking views over the lakes of the Ria Formosa Park and specialises in fresh seafood, the Restaurant Gigi located on the seafront, and the Casa Velha, which specialises in the very best of French cuisine. For a true taste of Portugal, VP’s Restaurant offers an upmarket twist on traditional Portuguese fare, or the clubhouse offers a huge range of international cuisine in quiet and relaxed surroundings overlooking the courses.
Quinta do Lago golf property for sale is also located near numerous top-class shops and boutiques, many of which sell only the very best designer labels. The shopping centre can be found at the entrance to the resort and caters directly for the tastes of those with Quinta do Lago golf property for sale. Nightclubs, restaurants and galleries can also be found within this shopping condominium, and the nearby Bougainvillea Plaza caters for more basic daily needs, with supermarkets, banks and newsagents.
Quinta do Lago golf property for sale is found on a very exclusive resort, with many of its spectacular villas already having been bought by the rich and famous. Several premiership footballers own Quinta do Lago golf property for sale, and sporting heroes such as Ayrton Senna, who has one of the main streets named after him, have also owned properties. This high demand and truly luxurious facilities have increased the prices of Quinta do Lago golf property for sale in recent years, making it now, not only one of the most fashionable areas in Portugal, but also one of the most expensive. As such, the security patrols and fire prevention systems are second to none, and maintenance of the properties on the resort is at the high standard that would be expected. Bargains can sometimes still be found, but these are generally snapped up quickly, and so hesitation is advised against when buying delightful Quinta do Lago golf property for sale.
Buying a Property in Portugal
1. Signing a Letter of Intent
On finding a property you wish to purchase, your agent will draw up a 'Letter of Intent, this will be signed by both parties, vendor and buyer. Copies of this will be given to the legal representatives of both parties and will be used in preparing the Promissory Contract. Included in this letter will be the price, what is included in the sale, furnishings etc. and any conditions of the sale plus the dates for both exchange and completion.
2. Exchange of Promissary Contract (Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda)
The buyers lawyers are responsible for drawing up the promissory contract (Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda) and as part of the process they will have carried out the legal searches and made sure that there are no charges, e.g. utilities, property tax etc. against the property. The contract will contain details of both parties and include clear title of ownership, when payments are due to be made, the completion date and an inventory, if required. The Promissory Contract is legally binding and will generally be signed by both parties and witnessed by a notary/lawyer. The contract will include penalty clauses in case either party does not fulfill the terms of the contract. A 10%, non-refundable deposit is required at this point, this will be paid to the vendor, through the lawyer's client account. Once the contract has been signed, if the vendor pulls out of the contract, they will be obliged to pay back double the deposit to the purchaser. If the purchaser pulls out, they will lose their deposit.
3. On Completion
The amount of time between signing the Promissary Contract and Completion will vary and will have been agreed in the contract. Before Completion your lawyer will need to arrange with a fiscal representative for you to obtain a Portuguese Fiscal Number. The official Deed of Transfer of ownership (the Escritura) will be signed by you (or someone representing you with your Power of Attorney), this is signed at the Notary and they will retain the document. The Deed will be read aloud by the Notary before all participants sign it. Your lawyer will need to check to ensure that you understand what is being said if you do not understand Portugese. The Escritura, once it has been signed, will officially give you ownership of the property, but will still need to be registered in your name on the Land Registry (Registo Predial) by your lawyer. Your lawyer should obtain a copy of this for your records. Once you have completed, the new utility contracts can be transferred into your name by your lawyer.