Idealista Finds One in Eight Homes Are Sold in Less Than Seven Days
Buying a home in Funchal remains difficult for many families, but the market is moving fast. According to new data from the real estate platform idealista, around 13% of homes advertised for sale in September 2025 were sold in under seven days. Falling inflation and interest rates, together with easier access to housing loans and government incentives for young buyers - such as property transfer tax exemptions (IMT) and public guarantees - have helped to speed up transactions.
Across the country, 21% of homes were sold within one week to one month, while 26% took between one and three months. The remaining 41% stayed on the market for longer, with some homes taking more than a year to sell. Idealista’s report highlights that factors like price, location and property features strongly affect how fast listings disappear.
Funchal Above the National Average
In Funchal, the capital of Madeira, 13% of homes listed in September left the market within a week, placing it among the fastest-moving markets in the country. Only Faro (21%), Évora (15%) and Santarém (14%) recorded higher shares among Portugal’s major cities.
Other cities where rapid transactions were common include Aveiro and Coimbra (both 12%), slightly above the national average. At the slower end, Lisbon and Porto recorded just 6% and 10%, respectively.
Regarding districts and islands, the market behaves slightly differently. Porto tops the list, with 15% of homes sold in less than seven days, followed by Madeira Island (14%) and Faro (12%).
Madeira Island Reaches 14%, Surpassing Most Districts and Islands in Portugal
When the data are analyzed by districts and islands, Madeira ranks second nationally, with 14% of all properties sold in under a week, just behind Porto (15%) and ahead of Faro (12%). The figures show that the island’s real estate sector continues to attract both local buyers and mainland investors.
Districts like Aveiro (11%), São Miguel in the Azores (10%), and Lisbon (9%) followed, while Beja, Bragança and Guarda had the lowest percentages at 5%. These variations suggest regional differences in supply, affordability and buyer demand.
Shorter Sales Times Reflect Strong Demand and Limited Supply Across Madeira
The relatively quick sales in Madeira appear linked to a combination of reduced housing supply and continued demand from both residents and newcomers. While national programs to support young buyers and the decline in interest rates have helped more people enter the market, the limited number of available homes in Madeira continues to pressure prices.
Source: Idealista
Care for a share?
Comments