According to real estate consultancy Athena Advisers Donald Trump's victory in the last elections could be a big boost for Portugal and, in general, Europe “will once again be seen as a stronghold for those looking for a new start abroad”.

Athena Advisers, compared Google Analytics data in the pre- and post-election week, and there was an increase of more than 26% in traffic to its Golden Visa landing page on the real estate consultancy's global website.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Athena Advisers;

Likewise, in an analysis of Google Trends, the consultancy found that the terms "Portugal Property" and "Portugal Golden Visa" are registering the highest number of searches in the United States in the last 5 years. These terms reached their peak popularity between November 3 and 9.

In the opinion of the real estate consultancy, “the exponential demand for houses for rent indicates that Americans want a quick solution to leave the country and, once in Portugal, they try to analyse the dynamics of the city and the real estate market itself before starting to purchase a property”.

"The attraction to Portugal already existed, the result of the last elections only accentuated it” highlights Niamh Erbek, Sales Director at Athena Advisers, who at the time of the elections was on a roadshow in New York. “Our clients look at Portugal as a unique investment opportunity with an additional layer of attractiveness - stable governance, cultural richness and an attractive lifestyle.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Athena Advisers;

“On my visit to the USA, I saw that more and more investors are attracted by the advantages of the Golden Visa, not just as a financial asset, but as a gateway to stability and quality of life”.

The power of politics

“Politics is one of the most frequently cited reasons for the recent wave of American migration to Portugal that we have seen at Athena Advisers”, comments David Moura-George, director of the real estate consultancy in Portugal. “And although Portugal and Europe are not exempt from their own political and social issues, with access to housing on the order of the day, the moderation of divisive rhetoric makes North Americans feel like our country is a refuge, where they can count on a stable environment, a well-ranked public health system around the world, and private healthcare costs that are much lower than American equivalents, as well as international schools of excellence”, highlights David Moura-George. “On the other hand, despite the global and widespread rise in prices, the cost of living in Portugal continues to be attractive, especially if we compare it with large cities in the USA that many Americans are leaving behind.”, he concludes.