Country club development north of Lisbon

Sunday Business Post - Property Section - April 1 2007

Located at the Obidos lagoon, Quintas de Obidos is a country club development north of Lisbon on Portugal’s Silver Coast, which is on the market with prices starting from €600,000 for 1.3 acre plots and from €1.4 million for finished five-bedroom villas.

The development, which is aimed at the higher level of the market, has its own helipad, a country club with spa and swimming pools, and has an equestrian centre designed by leading Irish show jumper Jessica Kurten.

Prices for complete properties at Quintas de Obidos, which include the land, five-bedroom villa, outdoor pool and all landscaping, range from €1.4 million to €1.8 million.

The scheme comprises 79 five-bedroom villas, each standing on at least an acre of eco-friendly gardens with olive trees and biological lakes.

Buyers can choose from one of 16 traditional Portuguese architectural designs. Eight of the 79 plots have already been purchased by Portuguese and international investors.

Quintas de Obidos is a five-minute walk from the beaches and estuary of the Obidos lagoon.

The ancient walled town of Obidos, with its distinctive white houses trimmed with touches of blue and ochre, dates back beyond the 13th century.

Portugal’s Silver Coast region, Costa da Prata, is situated 40 minutes north of Lisbon airport, and stretches from Torres Vedras to Caldas da Rainha.

A new motorway from Lisbon has improved access to the region, which will soon be home to two five-star hotels.

According to the developer, Silver Coast property prices are about 30 per cent lower than equivalent properties in the Algarve, and the area had seen property price appreciation of about 40 per cent in the last three years.

The fully-equipped equestrian centre is expected to draw strong interest to Quintas de Obidos.Kurten, who is a high-profile showjumper, is heavily involved with the project as an ambassador and consultant.

Keeping a horse at livery here will cost about half the equivalent rate in Ireland, and Kurten plans to bring other professionals to Quintas de Obidos for training and schooling.

Golf is also expected to be a major attraction for the development, which is surrounded by the Praia d’El Rey and Bom Successo golf courses.

The Praia d’El Rey is rated the number one course in Portugal by Golf World magazine.

The Estoril, Quinta daMarinha/ Oitavos and Penha Longa courses are also within a 45 minute drive of Obidos.