Buying a home: how much will they actually lend?
I simulate your mortgage across several banks, explain the effort rate, spread and APR in plain language, and support you from first simulation to deed signing.
The three numbers
that decide it all.
Before comparing banks, understand the vocabulary. Three concepts that most bank communication carefully avoids explaining well.
How much of your income goes to instalments
Since 1 August 2026 the Bank of Portugal recommends that total monthly instalments stay under 45% of the household's net income. Each bank may go above that on a small share of its contracts, and many stop short of it. Everything you already pay counts.
The margin charged by the bank
Added to Euribor, it defines the final interest rate. A 0.5% difference in spread can mean thousands of euros over 30 years.
The total cost, year by year
Includes interest, fees and associated insurance. It's the most reliable number to compare proposals across banks, not just the monthly instalment.
Three distinct moments
in home lending.
First home
I support young people and families buying their first home: I review the state-backed youth guarantee up to age 35, check whether financing up to 100% is possible and work out the deposit your case needs.
See process →Review your current mortgage
Had a mortgage for 3+ years? Your contracted spread may be 0.5–1% above what's now offered. I analyse and present renegotiation or transfer scenarios.
See process →Switching banks
If your bank won't renegotiate, others will gladly take your mortgage with better terms. I handle the entire transfer paperwork.
See process →From simulation
to deed signing.
Initial simulation
I analyse income, available savings and active loans to know what is realistic in your case.
Documents
I gather pay slips, IRS, credit responsibility map. No unnecessary bureaucracy.
Bank comparison
Concrete side-by-side proposals: spread, APR, monthly instalment.
Property valuation
I coordinate everything with the bank and the appraisal expert.
Deed signing
I am with you until the contract is signed: the deed at the notary, with everything reviewed.
What you will
need to gather.
For a serious, realistic simulation we need to gather a few documents. None of them is urgent. We put them together at the pace of your case.
- 01 Citizen card or passport, both sides
- 02 Last three pay slips
- 03 Latest tax return and settlement note
- 04 Credit responsibility map from the Bank of Portugal
- 05 Bank statements for the last three months
- 06 If it applies: land registry record or property details
Questions about
mortgages in Portugal.
How much can I borrow to buy a home?
It depends on your household's net income, the loans you already carry and the debt-service ratio the bank accepts. Since 1 August 2026, under the Bank of Portugal’s Macroprudential Recommendation no. 1/2026, the recommended maximum is 45%, and each institution may exceed it on only a small share of the contracts it writes. In practice several banks work below that. In an initial simulation I give you a realistic estimate in a few minutes, based on your actual numbers.
What changes with the youth mortgage with state guarantee?
Allows financing up to 100% of the property value for young people up to 35 meeting certain conditions (income, maximum home value, first-time buyer). The State guarantees the portion exceeding the bank's normal financing. Not all banks join the same way. It is worth comparing.
Difference between fixed, variable and mixed rates?
Variable rate follows Euribor and can rise or fall. Fixed stays constant for an agreed period (5, 10 years). Mixed combines an initial fixed period with variable rate after. The choice depends on your risk profile, loan term and Euribor expectations.
Is it worth renegotiating my mortgage in 2026?
If you contracted your mortgage more than 3 years ago with spread above 1.3%, very likely yes. I analyse your current contract, run concrete numbers and present scenarios: renegotiating with your bank or transferring. No cost to you for this analysis.
How long does mortgage approval take?
Submission to bank pre-approval: usually 5-10 business days. Pre-approval to deed signing: another 4-8 weeks, depending on property valuation, seller documents and notary availability.
What can I do if my bank refuses to renegotiate?
Nothing dramatic. If your bank won't improve terms, others will be interested in receiving a mortgage with regular payment history. I handle the entire transfer process.
The property comes from an inheritance or a divorce. Does that change anything?
It does, and it is where most applications stall. An unfinished estate, an ex-spouse still on the deed or an heir who is a minor bring documents and deadlines that no simulator accounts for, and that a bank counter rarely flags in advance. I handle these cases regularly: I check first what is missing at the land registry and the tax office, I say straight away what has to be settled before anything moves, and I work alongside your solicitor when that is needed. It is always worth talking before you sign the promissory contract.
I work abroad. Can I still buy a home in Portugal?
Yes, and it is one of the cases I handle most. Banks accept income declared outside Portugal, but each one asks for different proof and some finance a lower share of the property value. The country, the type of contract and how long you have been employed all count. I run the process remotely, by video call and with documents by email, and you only need to be here for the deed. Having a Portuguese tax number and a tax representative already in place moves things along.
No form to fill in now.
Get a serious, realistic simulation in 24 hours.
Just the essentials. Pedro will contact you within 24 business hours with an initial review of your case.
- Simulation with partner banks
- Debt-to-income ratio analysed for your case
- Compared spread scenarios
- First estimate of monthly instalment
Request a quick call-back
Three fields, one click. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your reference.