Moving to Portugal or Spain? Visas, Financing & Where to Buy — with Ricardo Sousa

On this episode of Mastering the Art of Success, host Debbi DiMaggio sits down with Ricardo Sousa, CEO of Century 21 Portugal & Spain (Iberia) and a driving force behind the launch of Corcoran in Portugal. With 6,000+ agents and 300+ offices across Iberia, Ricardo shares how mentorship, culture, and technology helped him scale from a single brokerage at age 25 to leading one of Europe’s most innovative real estate networks.

We dig into the real differences between Portugal and Spain’s real estate systems—from licensing and regulation to exclusive vs. open listings, cooperation without a traditional MLS, and why education is the #1 unlock for a young agent population. Ricardo also introduces Finance21, a fintech mortgage platform that connects to Portuguese banks via API for instant pre-approvals, transparent offers, and a smoother client journey.

Thinking about relocating to Portugal or Spain? Ricardo explains current visa pathways (post–Golden Visa changes), who’s moving, and the most in-demand regions: Lisbon, Porto, Comporta, Algarve, Madeira, Azores, Barcelona, Valencia, Marbella, Ibiza, Mallorca—plus why Portugal’s market skews boutique and sustainable while Spain spans broader price points.

You’ll also hear pandemic-era leadership lessons, how to get agents back into the office with purpose, and why relationships + culture still beat any tool.

Connect with Ricardo: Instagram & LinkedIn Connect with Debbi: DebbiDiMaggio | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast

Topics: Portugal & Spain property markets • Licensing & regulation • Exclusives vs. open listings • MLS alternatives • Mortgage financing & APIs • Visas & relocation • Market hotspots • Culture, mentorship & tech adoption