Mortgage pre-approved? Make sure your deposit is protected.
The bank says your profile looks acceptable. The agent wants the CPCV signed. The seller wants the deposit. But final approval, valuation, FINE, deadlines, seller documents and the refund wording in CPCV may still decide whether your deposit is protected. A Portuguese lawyer connects the CPCV, bank approval, valuation, FINE and completion timeline before you commit.
- Mortgage Purchase Risk Memo
Why this matters
Bank approval and buyer protection are not the same thing. The bank protects its lending position. The CPCV defines your obligations toward the seller.
Those two processes must work together. A buyer can have an encouraging bank email, simulation, initial FINE or completed valuation and still not have a final mortgage ready for completion.
What we check
The CPCV and the bank process, connected
- 01
What level of bank approval do you actually have?
We distinguish between simulation, initial FINE, preliminary assessment, conditional approval, property valuation, final approval, approved FINE and draft credit agreement.
- 02
Does the CPCV contain a real financing condition?
We check whether the purchase depends on financing, the minimum amount required, approval deadline, what counts as refusal, what evidence is needed, what happens to the deposit, whether low valuation is covered and whether seller-document delays extend the deadline.
- 03
What happens if the bank refuses the loan?
We check whether the buyer can terminate, whether the deposit is returned, whether refusal must be final, what formal evidence is required and whether the buyer must try another lender.
- 04
What happens if the valuation is too low?
We check whether the buyer can cover the difference, whether CPCV protects against a valuation shortfall, whether minimum valuation is stated, whether deposit is returned and whether the buyer must proceed using more personal funds.
- 05
Are the deadlines realistic?
We compare CPCV signing, deposit, seller documents, valuation, final approval, approved FINE, reflection period, insurance, mortgage documents and escritura.
- 06
Must the seller cooperate with the bank?
We check whether the CPCV requires the seller to provide necessary documents within a usable deadline.
- 07
What happens if the seller has a mortgage?
We check how the seller’s creditor bank is repaid, how cancellation happens and whether the buyer receives the property free of seller-side burdens.
- 08
Are the approved bank terms understood?
Where available, we review approved FINE and draft credit agreement from the transaction perspective.
- 09
Is a power of attorney needed?
If the buyer will not attend completion, we check whether the planned POA must cover both purchase and mortgage acts.
What you receive
You receive a written Mortgage Purchase Risk Memo with:
- clear conclusion
- CPCV financing-clause comments
- bank-document summary
- valuation and cash-gap comments
- timeline map
- missing-document checklist
- recommended next step
How it works
From bank email to a protected deposit
- 01Send the CPCV, property link, FINE, bank approval, valuation, draft credit agreement, seller documents requested by the bank and planned escritura date.
- 02We confirm the scope.
- 03A Portuguese lawyer reviews the legal and bank timelines.
- 04You receive the memo.
- 05You correct the contract, wait for approval, ask for more time, request documents, negotiate amendments or proceed.
Price and scope
Mortgage Purchase Legal Review — from €600
Included
- one buyer or buyer couple
- one property
- one lender
- review of mortgage-related CPCV provisions
- one latest or approved FINE
- one draft credit agreement where available
- one valuation summary/report
- financing timeline review
- cash-gap review using provided figures
- written memo
- recommended CPCV protections
- completion checklist
Not included by default
- mortgage brokerage
- lender comparison
- negotiation of interest rate or spread
- financial planning
- guarantee of bank approval
- mortgage application preparation
- full CPCV Review unrelated to financing
- property-title due diligence
- technical inspection
- tax planning
- communication with bank or seller
- attendance at escritura or registration after completion
Expanded scope applies for several lenders, properties, buyers or guarantors, corporate buyer, off-plan, staged payments, seller mortgage with split payment, complex guarantees, several credit agreements, full CPCV review, seller negotiation, urgent review or full completion coordination.
When another service is better
- Use CPCV Review for complete contract review.
- Use Full Buyer Representation for wider purchase coordination.
- Use Power of Attorney Review for remote signing.
- Use Final Deed & Completion Review near completion.
A bank can approve the mortgage and still move more slowly than your CPCV. A low valuation can increase the cash you need. A weak financing clause can leave the deposit exposed.
Mortgage Purchase Legal Review — from €600.