Banco de Portugal points to a shortfall of around 300,000 homes
The governor of Banco de Portugal estimates that the country is short of around 300,000 homes and considers it urgent to increase its response capacity.
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Articles
House in Granada uses thermal mass and residual materials to address extreme temperatures
Designed by Jesús Torres García, the house combines thermal mass and residual materials in a thick building envelope conceived in response to the local temperature range.
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Living in Montijo with Lisbon close by
The relationship between Montijo and Lisbon is only one aspect of location. Services, routes and neighbourhood life also shape everyday routines.
© Garça Real / Bento & Matos, Lda.
Eight buildings and a shared way of life
The scale of Garça Real is defined by the relationship between eight buildings, 90 apartments and spaces intended for shared use.
© Garça Real / Bento & Matos, Lda.
Homes open to indoor and outdoor living
The experience of a home depends less on the layout label than on the relationship between rooms, circulation, light and outdoor space.
© Garça Real / Bento & Matos, Lda.
Housing moved out of reach three times faster than wages
The gap between housing prices and incomes has widened again. The problem is no longer limited to the price per square metre: it involves the initial deposit, mortgage payments, location and time.
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Using AI for planning applications is not the same as letting AI decide
Artificial intelligence can help check documents, cross-reference rules and organise applications. Any time saving will only be credible if there are consistent data, transparent criteria and human decision-making.
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Without a land register, there can be no land policy
Inventorying assets and locating properties does not automatically create available land. It does, however, provide the basis for deciding what can be transferred, rehabilitated, protected or developed.
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More capacity, fewer buildings
Construction employs more people and receives more financing, but these signs of activity have yet to translate into equivalent growth in supply. In the second quarter of 2026, both building permits and completions declined.
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Costs did not fall: they merely grew more slowly
In July, new housing construction costs rose by 6.8% year on year. Labour costs increased by 7.3% and materials by 6.3%, maintaining pressure on budgets, contracts and final prices.
© MATTERS / Ama Grupo Imobiliário®
Rising house values meet the limit of household income
Advertised house prices rose by 7.5% in August. In July, the median bank valuation reached 2,240 euros per square metre and the average mortgage payment increased to 414 euros.
© MATTERS / Ama Grupo Imobiliário®
Housing credit: a new safety margin
Banco de Portugal lowered the recommended limit for financial effort and simplified maximum loan terms. The change makes real purchasing capacity even more decisive.
© MATTERS / Fotocomposição
Record-high prices, a more selective market
The median asking price reached a new high in July. At the same time, more prudent lending widens the gap between asking prices and purchasing capacity.
© MATTERS / Fotocomposição
The housing shortage is also an execution problem
Portugal is building below the level the sector estimates is needed. Between land and a completed home lie decisions, permits, financing, productive capacity and time.
Imagem criada para MATTERS.
The data confirms market pressure
Recent changes in supply and demand reinforce the importance of location and residential product fit.
© Paul Kozlowski
Scarcity of supply in key locations
In the most sought-after locations, qualified supply remains insufficient to keep pace with demand.
© MATTERS / Fotocomposição
What this means for residential development
In a more demanding market, security, privacy and urban integration become part of the value proposition.
© MATTERS / Fotocomposição
Full responsibility and a single vision
Integration brings together information, decisions and responsibilities from the land through to handover.
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The value created by integration
Coordination between development, construction and sales brings decision-making and execution closer together.
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A single point of contact throughout the process
Integration simplifies the relationship with the buyer without eliminating specialist expertise.
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Apartment or house: the choice begins with use
The distinction between an apartment and a house becomes meaningful when considered alongside mobility, privacy, maintenance and future use.
© MATTERS / Fotocomposição
The right size: space, light and materials
A home should be assessed beyond its advertised size and number of rooms, taking account of proportion, circulation, storage, natural light and material quality.
© MATTERS / Fotocomposição
The address continues beyond the front door
A viewing should include the neighbourhood, access and the condition of the property, because the everyday quality of a home also depends on its surroundings.
© MATTERS / Fotocomposição