There are not many people who can set up a new business and within a year already be expanding, but this is exactly what has happened in Portimão with the new Engel & Völkers real estate agency.


For many years Portimão has been looked over as a location for new businesses but now the city is seeing considerable investment, and new life is being breathed in to the cobbled streets and river front locations.


When you step in to Engel & Völkers in Portimão the dedication to preserving the rich history of the port city combined with a firm nod towards the future can be seen instantly, thanks to the feature floor which include a glass section where you can look in to see the carefully presevered remenents of the old city walls “It took one man three to four weeks, working with delicate brushes to reveal the city walls”, explained Milka Voigt Hoos, license partner in the company.

Now these walls are on display for everyone to see in the bright and modern offices along the river front area of the city, where celebrations to mark the first anniversary of the company were recently held.


It was the “enchanting” atmosphere of the Algarve that led managing partner Wilfrid Hoos and Milka Voigt Hoos to choose to set up a business in the region and for them both, it was love at first sight when they came to Portimão.


“This is the original Portugal,” said Milka who is originally from Brazil but moved here to open the company with Wilfrid.


“We are not just dealing with second home purchases in this area”, explained Wilfred, “We also have lots of purely residential properties and other unique commercial opportunities”.


At Engel & Völkers in Portimão, the team focuses on quality and exclusivity when it comes to the properties that they list, this does not mean that a property has to have a certain monetary value rather it has to be “something special”.


Since first opening the company the team has listed more than 200 properties, exceeding their initial expectations and as the number of listings grows, so too does the team with two new members of staff recently being hired and more expected to be needed in the very near future.


“We work in collaboration, rather than in competition as a company,” said Wilfred who explained that every member of their multinational team gets full training and also a fair share of their designated area in the Algarve.


While in the Portimão offices their focus is on the local area, being part of a worldwide network also helps to boost interest and to create new leads. The team works with offices across 33 countries in four continents to share contacts and leads and Engel & Völkers continues to invest in the future in Portugal.


“Our client’s reactions prove that choosing Portimão was the right decision for us. Everyone knows this location and we are already seeing lots more walk-ins coming into the office,” said Wilfred.


“Our focus is on linking people with real estate and on making every house a home, which is made easier by being able to work with great people”.


“It really does feel like a family here,” concluded Milka.