Palmares Ocean Living & Golf Resort in Lagos is reporting a 250% jump in leads from the US and Canada between 2019 and 2020.
US citizens are leading the charge, representing nearly 30% of sales at Palmares, says Kronos Homes which owns and operates the resort.
It adds that leads from the US rose by 321% from 2019 to 2020, as Americans increasingly seek out Portuguese holiday homes.
“Interest from the US and Canada has ramped up significantly over the past 12-15 months. Despite the complications that have arisen as a result of the pandemic, leads from across the Atlantic are continuing to rise as 2021 unfolds,” said Alda Filipe, Sales & Marketing Director for Kronos Homes.
Meanwhile, Canadian leads at Palmares grew by 125% between 2019 and 2020.
For Canadian residents Ann and Kevin Hudson, who bought a home at Kronos Homes’ nearby Amendoeira Golf Resort in 2020, it was the Algarve’s “combination of sunshine, outstanding golf facilities and warm, welcoming people” that made them want to buy there.
“The transition and move were very smooth, and easy. We have properties in Canada and in Florida; we follow the sun to the golf,” they said.
According to Kronos Homes, Ann and Kevin originally visited the Algarve 40 years ago. After retiring in early 2020, they headed back on the advice of friends who had already bought property there and found themselves delighted by the “lovely beaches, restaurants, and shopping. It’s perfect for retirees or a holiday home,” they said.
Portugal is already home to some 6,600 American expats and 882 Canadian nationals, says Kronos, with the number expected to increase as “remote working becomes more and more embedded in our way of life”.
Meanwhile, the ‘Return to Travel’ Study published by HomeToGo also revealed that 92% of US respondents intended to visit an international destination the same or more frequently after receiving the Covid vaccine.
