Mortgage lending
Residents, non-residents, foreign nationals or Portuguese living and working abroad. Every profile comes with different conditions, different lenders and different documentation requirements. We study your case, assess the options and think through the structure before approaching any financial institution — only then do we move forward.
Credit review
Most people have never looked at their debt as a whole the way they would assess an investment portfolio. We do — and there is frequently room to improve. Not just the rate. The entire structure.
Investment finance
Accumulated wealth creates options that a straightforward profile simply does not have. They are rarely obvious — and almost never found in a standard brochure. That is precisely where we come in.
Construction & self-build
Financing a construction project is not the same as financing a purchase. The pace is different, the documentation is different, and the bank needs to understand the project before it will fund it. We handle that translation.
Personal credit
When personal credit is the missing piece — we know when it fits.
FAQ
What exactly does a specialist mortgage and credit adviser do?
A specialist credit adviser always starts with the client. We analyse the full financial situation, structure the transaction before presenting it to any institution, and identify the best available conditions for that specific profile. Documentation, communication with lenders and coordination with all other parties sits on our side. The client has a single point of contact for a process that, without that, would be fragmented and time-consuming.
What is a tied mortgage broker?
A tied mortgage broker is an entity authorised by the Banco de Portugal that establishes formal agreements with financial institutions. In practice, this means we have direct access to the products and conditions of several banks — and we work in the client's best interest.
How is Meg Fin compensated?
We are compensated by the financial institutions we work with, not by our clients. This is how the credit intermediary model works in Portugal — and it is why our interests are aligned with the client's: we focus on finding the best solution for each case.
What is the advantage of arranging your credit through Meg Fin?
We have access to the products of several financial institutions and our sole objective is to find what makes sense for your case. Beyond that, we manage the entire process: from the initial assessment to completion, coordinating between all parties involved — lenders, lawyers, notaries and any other stakeholders. It is a process with a great deal of detail and coordination — and that is precisely what sits on our side.
Is Meg Fin independent from real estate agents?
Yes. Our only commercial relationship is with the financial institutions we work with. Some real estate agents offer in-house financing services — which creates a commercial relationship between the party selling and the party financing, with the potential to influence recommendations. Meg Fin has no such conflict: if a property raises any documentary or financial concerns that could be detrimental to the client, they will be the first to know.
Do I need to be a resident in Portugal to work with Meg Fin?
No. We work with residents, non-residents, foreign nationals and Portuguese living and working abroad. Tax and residency status has an impact on the financing conditions available — which is precisely why it is important to analyse each case individually rather than applying a generic solution.
Do I need to hold Portuguese or European citizenship?
No. We have experience working with clients from multiple nationalities and jurisdictions. Eligibility for credit in Portugal depends on several factors — financial profile, income, credit history — and not on nationality itself. The best approach is to speak with us to understand what applies to your specific case.
Can I get credit if my income is from abroad?
It depends. Foreign income is accepted by several institutions in Portugal, but the conditions and documentation required vary depending on the country, the type of income and the client's tax structure. This is one of those cases where prior analysis makes all the difference.
What if I have a corporate structure or dividend income?
This is a profile we know well. Clients who live off dividends, income from corporate structures or rental income follow a different analysis process from a salaried employee — and the documentation required is considerably more complex.
Should I contact Meg Fin before or after choosing a property?
Before. Ideally before you even begin viewing properties. Knowing exactly how much you can finance, under what conditions and with what impact on your financial situation completely changes the way you approach the market. It avoids disappointment, speeds up the decision when you find the right property — and puts you in a much stronger position when negotiating.
Does the debt-to-income ratio matter — and when should I be thinking about it?
The debt-to-income ratio is one of the main criteria banks use to assess the viability of a credit application. In simple terms, it is the proportion of monthly income committed to loan repayments. The problem is that many clients come to us after having taken out a car loan, a personal loan or other financing — which can compromise or entirely rule out the mortgage they are hoping for. This is why we insist: contact us before making any financial decisions that could affect your property plans.
How long does the process take?
It depends on the client's profile, the institution and the complexity of the transaction. As a general rule, from the initial assessment to credit approval, the process can take between two and six weeks. From there, the completion date is coordinated with all parties involved. More complex cases — non-residents, foreign income, corporate structures — may take longer.
What do I need to prepare?
It depends on the profile. For a salaried employee the typical documents include: identification documents, tax return, tax assessment notice, payslips, credit responsibility map, bank statements and property documentation. For a client with foreign income or a corporate structure the list is considerably different. We conduct a preliminary assessment at the start of the process and provide clear guidance on exactly what is required in each case — without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Does it make sense to review my current mortgage?
Often yes — and not only when market rates are lower. A mortgage can be poorly structured for reasons that have nothing to do with the rate: unsuitable products or term, associated insurance policies that can be optimised, or other financial products tied to the loan that no longer make sense for the client's current profile. Looking at credit as part of a broader financial structure — rather than as an isolated contract — is what allows us to find room for improvement where others do not look.
Can personal credit be used strategically?
In certain contexts, yes. Personal credit can be useful as a temporary instrument or to bridge a specific need within a more complex structure. Whether it is appropriate depends on the profile and the objective — it is something we assess on a case by case basis.
ANICA Member
National Association of Authorised Credit Intermediaries
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