People thinking about a holiday property often start with their own country: it is close, known, familiar. Then some begin to look abroad. Which choice is better? It depends on what you are looking for. Here we compare the main factors honestly, even when the result favours staying at home.
The strengths of a property in your home country
- Proximity: you can reach it by car or in a few hours, and check on it whenever you like.
- Language and habits: contracts, surveyors and suppliers speak your language.
- Familiar rules: you know, at least in part, the paperwork and the professionals to turn to.
- A market you know: you have more tools to judge whether a price is fair.
These are real advantages and should not be underestimated.
The strengths of a property abroad (on Boa Vista)
- More affordable prices: on Boa Vista you can find properties from €50,000, and a suite at The View starts from €90,000.
- A longer season: Boa Vista enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year; many seaside resorts have a season concentrated in the summer months.
- Growing tourism: Cape Verde went from 1,177,467 tourists in 2024 to 1,248,052 in 2025 (source: INE Cabo Verde).
- Diversification: part of your assets moves outside your home property market.
- A currency pegged to the euro: the Cape Verdean escudo has a fixed exchange rate with the euro (see escudo and euro).
The comparison, point by point
Entry price
In the most sought-after seaside resorts, the choice can be limited on a modest budget. On Boa Vista, with similar sums, you will more often find furnished properties close to the sea. For concrete examples, read how much a home on Boa Vista costs.
Seasonality
A holiday property lives on periods of occupancy. A destination with a favourable climate for most of the year offers, in principle, more opportunities. It is not a guarantee of results: location and management count.
Management
At home you can manage on your own with relative ease, if you live nearby. Abroad, remote management is more complex, unless you entrust it to professionals. This is precisely the need the Apart-Hotel format meets: management entrusted to the operator and personal use for 4 weeks a year at The View. The differences are set out in the comparison between an apartment and an Apart-Hotel.
Rules and tax
At home you know the system; abroad you also need to understand the local rules, as well as your obligations in your country of residence. This is the point that calls for the most caution: tax and legal matters should be checked with a professional. You will find a practical overview in the guide costs and taxes for buying a home in Cape Verde on Boavista2000.com.
Personal use
A home in your own country is convenient for a weekend. A home on Boa Vista is designed for longer holidays, perhaps in the months when it is cold where you live.
Who each choice suits best
Your home country is better if you want to go often for short stays, if you prefer to manage everything yourself and if you feel uneasy with different rules and a different language.
Abroad is worth considering if you have a modest budget, want to diversify, are looking for sunshine in winter too and prefer a format with professional management.
Many of our clients already own a home in their own country and choose Boa Vista precisely to add a different kind of property, not to replace it.
How to reduce the drawbacks of buying abroad
- Choose a partner that has been on the spot for a long time: our group has been working on Boa Vista for over 25 years.
- Consider projects that have already been completed: the White Hotel is up and running, with 69 suites sold.
- Visit the island before deciding, with an exploratory trip.
- Read the guide on the risks of investing in Cape Verde.
If you would like to compare your idea of a home in your own country with an option on Boa Vista, book a consultation: we will tell you frankly which choice seems more in line with your goals.
Frequently asked questions
Is a holiday property abroad riskier than one at home?
It has different risks: distance, local rules, management. They can be reduced by choosing a reliable partner and a suitable management format, and by having the legal and tax aspects checked by a professional.
Is it worth selling my seaside home to buy on Boa Vista?
Not necessarily. Many clients add a property on Boa Vista to the one they already own at home. It is a personal choice to weigh up calmly.
Do I have to manage the lettings myself abroad?
With a traditional apartment, yes, or you need to appoint someone. With a suite in an Apart-Hotel such as The View, management is entrusted to hospitality professionals.
Are taxes on a property abroad lower?
It is not possible to give a general answer: it depends on your situation in your country of residence and on the local rules. Tax matters should be checked with a professional.
Would you like to talk it through with a person?
Book a video call or message us on WhatsApp: we will answer your questions about Boa Vista and The View.
