What should you look for when buying a new-build property in Madeira?

A new-build is not automatically a good investment, which is why I check five things.

Location: the island is small, but the price per square metre varies significantly between areas. Even within the same area, altitude above sea level, accessibility and the surrounding environment matter.

Developer: I look at who is building the project, which developments they have already completed and how those properties later perform on the resale market.

Purchase stage: buying at an early stage can allow you to lock in the price — typically 20% is paid when signing the CPCV and 80% when the keys are handed over, with no mandatory interim payments. If the market rises during construction, entering early can provide an advantage.

What is included in the price: in modern developments in Madeira, this most often includes parking, a storage room, a fitted kitchen and air conditioning, and sometimes a rooftop swimming pool and gym — plus the developer's warranty.

Liquidity: I always ask who this property could be sold to in 3–5 years.

A good investment means the right property, the right location, the right developer and the right price.

Viktoria Pavlovskaya — private real estate and investment expert in Madeira. Consultation is free, with no obligation.