A holiday home is a purchase the whole family can enjoy, but ensuring you choose a property that will bring income year-round requires a great deal of thought. There are a number of factors to take into account when looking to increase the chance of making a good return on a holiday home.

Accessibility is one of the most crucial elements to consider when buying a holiday home. The chosen destination needs to accommodate short breaks such as weekend getaways so that you get as much out of your investment as possible. Faro Airport is situated just 20 minutes from Quinta do Lago, and is accessible from most UK airports and key European cities, including Madrid, Frankfurt and Paris, in fewer than three hours.

Areas with good brand awareness also perform well as destinations for a holiday home. Potential tenants return to these areas as they know what to expect in terms of travel, safety, weather and quality local amenities. This is why traditional holiday home locations such as the Algarve are unlikely to have empty rental periods.

Winning winters
Another key consideration is seasonal consistency. While properties are likely to be popular during peak season, particularly the school holidays, it’s important that their appeal is maintained outside the high season. By offering access to leisure facilities such as golf or wellness services all year round, properties can tap into visitors looking for a quick escape from work or the poor weather in other European destinations. As such, the winter season can be just as lucrative as the summer.

This is undoubtedly one of the key reasons for the success of Quinta do Lago. In addition to the 300 days of sunshine the Algarve enjoys each year, the resort boasts an abundance of leisure facilities, including three award-winning golf courses, the Paul McGinley Golf Academy, world-class restaurants and a newly launched multi-sports hub. The resort also boasts 18 hectares of wildlife in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, which provides a number of nature trails to explore in the milder seasons.

Return on investment
However, if you’re buying within a lifestyle resort with copious facilities, it’s also important to ensure that the resort sees consistent investment over its lifespan. This is imperative as, if the resort in which your property sits begins to look dated or unkempt, this will have a direct impact on the value of your property.

Choosing a location that has limited land to build on will ensure the property will always be worth a premium

At Quinta do Lago, we are consistently looking for new ways to keep the resort refreshed; the number of new projects and initiatives we have launched in recent years is testament to this. We have recently completed a €50m investment project: this was geared towards accommodating our evolving buyer demographic, which now includes more young families with children than ever before.

A perfect example of this is Reserva, the resort’s most innovative project yet. The landmark development is nestled within one of the last untouched corners of Quinta do Lago and will boast a unique collection of 26 apartments, each with its own private pool. The new residences have been designed to meet the exacting specifications of today’s modern family, offering maximum space while encouraging outdoor activities. The properties sit upon the edge of the stunning Ria Formosa Lake, offering an abundance of nature trails, along with unforgettable sunsets.

Offering a great opportunity for families to socialise, the properties at Reserva are paired with a new residents’ club. This private members club will offer residents a 24-hour reception with concierge and security services, children’s play facilities, a heated outdoor pool, a tennis court and a small food and beverage outlet. The beach, golf courses and a range of dining options are also all within reach.

Considering the distance between your chosen destination and vital amenities and facilities is another good way of ensuring consistent demand from tenants. Golfe Leste 1, one of our recently launched villas at Quinta do Lago, is perfectly located: despite the five-bedroom villa’s vast square footage, which spans three floors and includes a home cinema, wine cellar, gym and home spa, the property is situated at the heart of Quinta do Lago.

The central location means all of the resort’s facilities are within walking distance, including the golf club, tennis centre, driving range, cafe, bank and supermarket.

Appreciating value
Security is also hugely important when buying a second home. Due to the ‘lock up and leave’ nature of a holiday home, you need to feel confident that the property has been built with security in mind.

More established areas such as Portugal and Spain offer reliable infrastructure to accommodate the highest quality security systems, and so holiday homes in these regions see consistent demand. Quinta do Lago also has a dedicated security monitoring company, which includes licence plate recognition and CCTV throughout the resort.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you need to ensure your financial investment is secure by choosing a location that offers longevity. Established resorts such as Quinta do Lago, which has a 45-year investment heritage, are much safer options than newer, less well-established options that buyers do not yet know and trust. Choosing a location that has limited land on which to build also ensures the property will always be worth a premium through capital appreciation.

The launch of our latest villa in the San Lorenzo North region of Quinta do Lago offers a great option for those looking to purchase a lucrative investment opportunity in an area of high demand. Many of the plots within Quinta do Lago were purchased and built upon many years ago, but this unique part of the resort still has available space.

Local architect João Cabrita designed the luxury villa, which will incorporate contemporary design throughout while retaining details from the more traditional Quinta do Lago homes. Staged over three floors, no expense has been spared; the new villa will boast light and modern living areas along with five bedroom suites and an array of lifestyle facilities including a gym, home spa, games room, bar and cinema. Residents can enjoy al fresco dining spaces, relaxing lounge areas, a large heated pool and a stunning roof terrace offering exceptional views across the San Lorenzo golf course and the Ria Formosa.

Since the resort’s conception, the value of the land and property at Quinta do Lago has continued to appreciate. This is due not only to high buyer demand, but also consistent renovation at the resort. Not only have the resort’s infrastructure and facilities been radically improved, the range of year-round activities available to guests and residents has made Quinta do Lago a truly unique luxury lifestyle
resort for all seasons.