You found a site — what to do next

1. Confirm what can be built

Before the price discussion goes anywhere, establish what the municipal master plan allows on that specific plot: use, buildable area, height, setbacks and any overlay such as heritage, coastal, agricultural reserve or ecological reserve.

• Request the land registry and tax records and confirm they describe the same property.
• Check the plan classification and every overlay affecting the plot.
• Ask whether a prior information request has already been filed and what it returned.

2. Model it before you negotiate

A quick feasibility model tells you the maximum land price the scheme supports. Negotiating without it means negotiating against the seller's number instead of your own.

• Run the feasibility check for the region and scheme type.
• Build the cost plan, including licensing fees and finance.
• Estimate the timeline to permit, since carrying cost is a function of months.

3. Secure the site correctly

In Portugal the promissory contract (CPCV) is where the deal is actually decided. Conditions precedent on planning, a realistic deadline and a clear remedy structure matter far more than the deposit percentage.

• Make the purchase conditional on the planning outcome you need, with a defined deadline.
• Confirm the property is free of charges, tenants and pending proceedings.
• Agree how the deposit is held and what happens if the condition fails.

4. Get the documents reviewed

Send the registry extracts, the plan information and the draft promissory contract for review before signature. It is the cheapest point in the whole project at which to change the outcome.