What does custom build advisory in Madeira include?

Our custom build advisory covers land sourcing (on and off-market), PDM verification, full due diligence, architect introduction and brief, municipal permits coordination, contractor tender and analysis, construction oversight, and handover including utilities transfer. One mandate, one point of contact, from plot to licença de habitação.

What is PDM zoning in Madeira?

PDM (Plano Diretor Municipal) is the municipal master plan that classifies every land parcel in Madeira as buildable, agricultural, ecological reserve, or protected. Before any plot is acquired, we verify the PDM classification, the actual buildable footprint, permitted construction index, and any easements or restrictions that affect the project.

How much does it cost to build a house in Madeira?

Construction costs in Madeira vary significantly by site conditions, design complexity, and specification. Hillside or coastal plots require additional structural engineering. Beyond build cost, total project budget includes architectural fees, technical studies, licensing, site access and preparation, and utilities connection. We provide a realistic cost framework at the feasibility stage before any acquisition commitment.

Buyer-Side Advisory

Custom Build & Land in Madeira

Your land. Your home. Built without surprises.

Building in Madeira means the PDM, permits, and contractors in a system that is not your own. We coordinate the entire build on your side, from plot to the licença de habitação: land sourcing, buildability checks, architect coordination, permits, and on-site oversight.

Industrial crane on Madeira harbor dock with turquoise water and green cliffs

Land first then home

Land first.
Then home.

Madeira's most distinctive properties are not on Idealista. They are urban building plots in Funchal and the south coast, rural parcels with conversion potential, agricultural land, and ruins waiting to become something singular. Buying land and building from scratch is the only way to get exactly what you want, exactly where you want it.

Custom Build is our end-to-end advisory service for clients looking to acquire land and build. We source plots both on and off market, assess what is actually buildable against the PDM and licensing framework, and coordinate architects, engineers, and contractors through to completion. What drives the cost of building here is rarely the headline rate but the site itself, the terrain and access, the engineering a slope demands, materials shipped to the island, and the technical studies and licensing each project carries. One mandate, one point of contact, your interests as the guiding principle.

Buildable land analysis

You learn what a plot can become, and what the PDM allows, before you fall for the view.

Land acquisition strategy

You buy the right land on the right terms, sourced and negotiated on your side.

Custom construction advisory

Architect, contractor and oversight under one relationship, so the build runs without surprises.

Risk control

Title, permits and costs verified before any commitment, so nothing surfaces after you pay.

Before you buy

Land due diligence Madeira

Before any plot is bought we confirm what is actually buildable against the PDM, alongside access, utilities, easements, and clean title. No acquisition decision is made without it.

The same legal and technical risks that apply to existing property purchases, undisclosed charges, easements, irregular permits, and unclear title, apply in full to land acquisitions. Our guide to property legal risks for foreign buyers outlines what competent due diligence must surface before any commitment is made.

For buyers considering land acquisition alongside the purchase of an existing property, the full acquisition process is covered in our step-by-step guide to buying safely in Madeira.

How it works Eight steps from plot to keys.

A house that didn't exist eighteen months ago. Built to your brief. Licença de habitação in the drawer.

Land

Discovery call

A complimentary 30-minute conversation. Vision, location, budget envelope, timeline.

Plot search & shortlist

On-market and off-market parcels. Filtered for orientation, access, services, and buildability.

PDM & feasibility

We verify zoning (PDM), buildable footprint, height limits, and any environmental or heritage constraints before you commit.

Acquisition

Due diligence & purchase

Title, encumbrances, access rights, utility connections. CPCV and escritura reviewed before signature.

Design

Architect & design brief

We introduce architects from our partner network and translate your brief into a project that meets local code and your life.

Permits (licença)

Câmara Municipal submission, engineering specialities, and approval coordination through to the licença de construção.

Build

Contractor selection & oversight

Tender, comparative analysis, contract review, and ongoing site oversight against the agreed scope, budget, and timeline.

Handover & licença de habitação

Snag list, completion sign-off, occupancy licence, and utilities in your name.

What's included

Initial discovery call and written engagement brief
On-market and off-market land search, calibrated to your brief
PDM (zoning) verification, buildable footprint analysis, height and use restrictions
Full due diligence on the plot: title, encumbrances, access, utility availability, environmental and heritage constraints
Architect introduction and design brief translation, with our partner network
Coordination of municipal permits and engineering specialities through to the licença de construção
Contractor tender, comparative analysis, and contract review
Construction oversight: budget tracking, milestone reviews, site visits, and a single monthly report
Handover, snag list, licença de habitação coordination, and utilities transfer