More homes: the critical link between the public and private spheres.

Habitat Invest, founded over twenty years ago by Filipe Soares Franco, former president of the Sporting club, and Luis Correia de Barros, has been successfully operating in Portugal and continues to grow. Currently, the company is developing 12 real estate projects, which include 537 residential units. "We are the most successful developer, having completed the highest number of projects and handed over the most properties," says Luis Correia de Barros, founder and CEO of Habitat Invest, in an interview with iDealista/news. He also emphasizes the importance of "closer synergy between the public and private sectors with the common goal of increasing the supply of residential properties."

“To achieve this synergy, both sides must be willing to collaborate and find mutually beneficial solutions. The government should create a favorable environment for new housing construction by simplifying legislation and speeding up the licensing process.

The interview also addresses the issue of the high tax burden in Portugal's real estate sector, which, according to Luis Correia de Barros, is "completely disproportionate" and hinders the construction of housing for Portuguese families. "The construction tax should be reduced from 23% to 6%, or at least to 11%, as is practiced in neighboring Spain," he suggests.

The interview discusses other aspects as well, including the instability in the real estate market due to political and geopolitical uncertainty, the high demand for housing in Portugal, and the role of the government and private sector in increasing the supply of residential properties.

It also discusses the current projects of Habitat Invest, which include various market segments, from middle class to premium class, as well as planned investments for the future.

Habitat Invest also supports the idea of greater synergy between the public and private sectors to increase the supply of residential real estate. The company is also considering the introduction of a cooperative business model to enhance the availability of affordable housing. It has already invested approximately 800 million euros in Portugal and plans to invest another 300 million euros over the next three years.