Estate Agents: Below we present contact details on estate agents operating in the Western Algarve. A number of the major international agencies are now operating in the area creating competition for the indigenous and independent agencies that previously had the field to themselves.

Property Types: Almost all forms of property are available, from holiday villas and apartments through to spa and golf resort residences, old farmhouses (quintas) for restoration, town houses and flats, timeshares and existing businesses. Prices have shot-up over the last four years but still represent reasonable value in comparison to some other areas of Europe.

Property Development: In the future we intend to include some information on property developers and new resort developments in West Algarve. Whilst this area of the Algarve has generally avoided the high-rise apartments and tower blocks that characterise much coastal development in Spain, it is clear that some resorts have grown, and are growing, very rapidly indeed, and not always in a good way. Of particular concern to us is the current spate of development in Praia da Luz, Burgau and on the previously untouched West Coast. We are not against progress; we understand that the Algarve must grow in order to continue to flourish. We simply hope that this region, which we love dearly, will not succumb to the concrete jungle and that development will remain controlled and sensitive to its environs. We shall see...

Property Maintenance and Management: The full range of villa and apartment maintenance and management services are available from local providers. The details we provide on this page are only a selection of all the companies that exist to clean, renovate, extend and improve your property, so asking around and getting people's recommendations is always useful.