A tale of two sisters who created the Algarve’s largest luxury estate agency – QP Savills
Alison Buechner, Co-Owner and Director of QP Savills with her sister Kerstin, says she is proud to have built up a small estate agency in the Algarve to become the region’s largest luxury realtor.
The sisters, both Americans by birth, admit to never having lived there, although they do hold US passports, and like to think of themselves as “Global citizens” having lived all over the world.
“We came here to spend a year 27 years ago and here we still are,” she says adding: “I can honestly say that I wouldn’t know where I would rather live, and feel immensely privileged to live in Portugal”.
Alison gave an inspiring and informative talk to the American Club of Lisbon at the prestigious Grémio Literário on Wednesday evening to a room packed with members and guests.
Alison says that she and her sister are very proud of what they have built up from a very small company into what today is the biggest real estate agency in the Algarve.
QP has been associated with Savills for 30 years. Savills is the largest real estate group in the world with 700 offices worldwide, employing 40,000. “It’s a real privilege to be one of their leading associates globally, and has given us a worldwide network through our association with Savills,” she reflects.
Alison says QP Savills has done lots of sales (Around €2Bn since it was founded) and now has three offices, with its headquarters in Quinta do Lago, one in Vale do Lobo, and a third in Loulé, with plans to open a fourth office soon. (so watch this space)
QP Savills has an 80% market share in the Algarve’s Golden Triangle and 40 specialised agents from all around the world.
“I’d like to think we have some of the most unique properties on our portfolio; all at the very top end of the market with teams for investments and new homes.
UK largest market but US gaining ground
Alison says that Portugal and the Algarve has traditionally been very well known by Northern Europeans, particularly the British. Until around a decade ago the UK market represented around 80% of its clients.
However, that figure has dropped down to around 45%, not because of a fall in demand, but because a greater diversity of nationalities have been relocating to Portugal, including Irish (18%), Dutch (6%), German (6%), South African (2%), Swiss (2%) and others (8%).
Nevertheless, you might be surprised to learn that the third largest nationality buying properties through QP Savills are Portuguese.(13%)
“When I first came here, Portugal was still quite undiscovered, but today we’re world players” she said, remarking that in 1Q of 2025, 58% of buyers came from the United States.
“They know Lisbon and Porto, but are starting to discover the Algarve, although they don’t yet constitute a very big part of our market”, Alison reflects.
And of course, as of this Saturday (May 17), United Airlines are going to be flying from New York to Faro, reflecting the growing interest of US citizens in the region. “We’re really hoping that we can help Americans find luxury properties in the Algarve”, she concludes.
