At first glance, the dream of having a personal villa in Portugal with a year-round warm climate might seem complex to many, but for many, it is actually within reach, according to Sandra Alliksaar, Sales Manager at Silves Hills, who has gone through the entire purchasing process herself.
“The Algarve is the sunniest region in Portugal and is also known in Southern Europe as the area with the most sunny days annually. In winter, the weather is pleasantly warm, and daytime temperatures often hover around 20°C. At the same time, the proximity to the ocean keeps summer temperatures moderate,” describes Alliksaar, listing other reasons that made the purchase decision easy: beautiful beaches and endless hiking trails in the mountainous nature, ideal for year-round active vacations, while also right next door is Silves, a historic town that was once the region’s capital and is comparable in size to Haapsalu.
Sandra Alliksaar has repeatedly gone through the entire villa purchase process with her clients and is ready to share that knowledge with others. “For Estonians, the Silves Hills project is made especially easy by the experienced and well-known Estonian developer behind it – most things can be done in Estonian, and the entire process, including financing, legal aspects, construction process, etc., is organized comprehensively for the client,” emphasizes Alliksaar, adding that the first step is the easiest – a thorough overview of the entire project and purchase process can be obtained at the Invego office in Tallinn.
The second step, according to her, is finding the right home – there are three types of villas to choose from, designed by top Portuguese architects, taking into account both the region’s climate and modern sustainable building solutions. “Concrete structures provide the necessary thermal inertia during hot summer days, while grass roofs not only add a natural touch to the buildings but also offer efficient insulation, reducing rooftop heat buildup and blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Smart energy recovery systems allow for utilizing residual cooling energy from the rooms,” explains Alliksaar, adding that each villa comes with a heated pool and floor-to-ceiling windows that open up the living space to the entire outdoor area.
At this stage, particularly in the process of choosing a home and signing a reservation agreement, it is recommended to plan a small trip to Portugal, as seeing it for yourself is always the best option. “Beautiful nature views, a walk on the oceanfront beach, and dinner in a family-run restaurant in a historic town – of course, you have to experience this yourself, and many clients have happily done this with us,” suggests Alliksaar, adding that she now has plenty of recommendations to share.
The third step is financing. The villas at Silves Hills start at approximately half a million euros, but the process is made significantly easier by the favorable attitude of Portuguese banks, as only 20% equity is required, with interest rates below 1% + 3-month Euribor, and the villa itself serves as collateral. “Real estate in the Algarve, especially high-quality new developments, is a liquid asset, and investments from European Union citizens are highly welcomed by banks. As a developer, our collaboration on planning this project has been going on for almost five years, and we have received a very warm reception as a strong developer with a clear vision. The project is seen positively because it supports the Portuguese economy, tourism, and the development of the region with A-class energy-efficient homes that harmoniously integrate with the surrounding environment,” says Alliksaar.
The first villas will be completed next year
The entire Silves Hills area is designed to blend into the mountainous nature and is placed in such a way as to offer maximum privacy to residents. The villas are designed and built for year-round use, with both cooling and heating systems, which is not typical in Southern European real estate developments. The villa community combines an international community, a harmonious living environment, modern amenities, and closeness to nature. In addition to the thoughtfully and intelligently designed villas, there will be a clubhouse for residents with a restaurant, bar, gym, tennis and padel courts, coworking space, and several other leisure facilities.
Silves Hills will offer full management services for those who wish to rent out their villa while they are away. “There will certainly be those who move here permanently, but for many, it will be a place to spend part of the year. The full management service makes it easy to rent out your home for short-term stays while you are away,” introduces Alliksaar, who is also confident that due to the area’s popularity, property values will increase over time.
Invego is one of the leading real estate developers in Estonia with over ten years of experience, with a portfolio of around 30 development projects in three countries – Estonia, Latvia and Portugal. In recent years, over 1,300 homes and more than 50,000 m2 of commercial space have been developed in Tallinn and its surrounding areas. Major developments in Estonia include the recently completed Tiskreoja and Tabasalu Kodu projects, as well as the ongoing Luccaranna, Uus-Järveküla, and Keila Pargikodude residential areas. In the Latvian capital, the company is developing the Vitolu Park, Parka Kvartals, and Skanstes Rezidences residential areas, and a row house residential area, Vide Adaži, is under construction near Riga. In southern Portugal, Invego is developing a 65-hectare villa complex, Silves Hills.
