Tailor-made solutions for the good life in Portugal

We specialise in real estate, construction and relocation services in our four business units - MOVE, RENT, BUY, BUILD.

MOVE

...to Portugal with the help of our team of relocation experts

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RENT

...your first Portugal pad from our portfolio of design apartments, or find it with our assisted market search

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BUY

...a unique property using our in-depth real estate knowledge and experience

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BUILD

...your dream home with our development and construction team

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Our love for Portugal is strong. But coming from Germany and the UK, and establishing multiple businesses here, the opaque and inefficient property markets, lacklustre professional services, and substandard contractors have tested that love to the limit.

We started the business in 2021 as a relocations consultancy, and quickly grew it into a real estate focussed operation. Driven by the founders’ core competencies in development, hospitality and finance we built specialist teams to solve problems and execute projects efficiently.

LandingPad represents our desire to make our hard-won expertise and understanding available so that you can enjoy the amazing lifestyle and cultural vitality right from the start.

Read PortugalNews' interview with LandingPad's co-founders Alastair and Chris here

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Alastair Cunningham

Alastair Cunningham

Founder

Born and raised in London during the city’s golden years, in his early career Alastair mixed professional poker with tech investing and property development, before moving to Portugal in 2017 as an early Brexit refugee. After founding design-led development firm FAW Partners, he met Chris playing tennis at his hotel and immediately the two were joking about running a business together - and before long LandingPad was born. Now Alastair balances design meetings and site visits with surf sessions and the occasional pastel de nata, embodying the lifestyle he helps his clients discover.

Chris Kraus

Chris Kraus

Founder

Chris moved to Portugal in 2015, drawn by opportunities in hospitality and real estate, as well as the unbeatable quality of life and surf. He is the founder and managing director of the hospitality venture OUTPOST, and a founding partner of the boutique hotel Casa Mãe in Lagos. With a background in philosophy from Berlin and a Master’s in Economics and Management from the University of Zurich, Chris spent nearly a decade as an investment banker in London before embracing Portugal’s sunny shores.

Paulo Bartolomeu

Paulo Bartolomeu

Group COO

Paulo is the force behind LandingPad’s operations, coordinating the multifaceted activities of LandingPad’s various business units, and overseeing the day-to-day financial management of the firm. Born in Portugal but raised in Germany, he blends local insight with German-educated precision. A seasoned project manager with experience in the services and automotive industries, Paulo is passionate about optimising complex processes to simplify both colleagues and clients’ lives. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, often with a fine wine in hand, soaking up the sun by the beach he always dreamed of returning to.

Vera Teles

Vera Teles

Head of Projects and Construction

Vera leads LandingPad’s Projects and Construction team where she combines no-nonsense pragmatism with uncompromising quality and efficiency standards . Born and raised in Lisbon, her adventurous spirit took her to Rio de Janeiro where she earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture, and later to Miami, where she built a career managing projects ranging from luxury residences to iconic high-rises. Now back in Lisbon, Vera thrives on running LandingPad's team of expert technicians and project managers, while still finding time to savour lunch in the city’s many new restaurants, washed down with a glass of world-class wine.

Mary Kuffel

Mary Kuffel

Head of Brokerage

Mary is a California native who swapped one sunny coastline for another, making Lisbon her home in 2018. With a background in Business Management, and inspired by Portugal’s charming architecture, she transitioned smoothly from advising investors in VC/PE funds to pursuing her passion for negotiating and overseeing residential real estate sales. As Head of Brokerage, Mary spends her days touring properties across the country, liaising with the other unit heads about exciting build and development opportunities, and working closely with clients to find their dream homes. Think Selling Sunset—but with tennis shoes and a down-to-earth vibe.

Ricardo Vilan e Melo

Ricardo Vilan e Melo

Project Director

Ricardo brings extensive international experience to his role as Project Director, where he oversees all operations for our BUILD team. He began his career as a designer in an architectural firm before transitioning into project management, where he has successfully overseen projects across Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Portugal. With expertise in design, licensing, planning, and construction management, he has managed ventures of up to 70,000m² GCA, including complex residential and retail developments. Outside of work, Ricardo is a mountain biking enthusiast who loves spending time with family and friends, bringing a balanced approach to his professional life.

Caetana Coutinho

Caetana Coutinho

Head of Rent

Caetana leads our RENT department, overseeing our portfolio of medium and long term furnished apartments - our ‘PADs’. Born and raised in Estoril, she brings a unique mix of city sophistication and countryside charm, even having ridden a horse to school as a child. As the eldest of four siblings, she honed her leadership and organisational skills early, earning the nickname "the multitasking engineer" among her peers. Outside of work, Caetana is a sports enthusiast, passionate about golf and padel. Now a mother of two, she cherishes family time and living just five minutes from the ocean.

António Esteves

António Esteves

Project Manager

As a Project Manager, Antonio oversees a range of BUILD projects from concept to completion, ensuring every detail aligns with the client's vision. With 9 years of experience as an architect, he has brought countless designs to life, blending creative planning with technical execution. Passionate about watching buildings evolve from sketches into lasting structures, Antonio brings a meticulous approach to each project. In his free time, he enjoys discovering architectural marvels on weekend city walks, drawing inspiration from the structures around him.

Joaquim Quintella

Joaquim Quintella

Project Manager

As a Project Manager at LandingPad, Joaquim ensures the smooth delivery of each project from start to finish. With a background in architecture and over 10 years of experience, he shifted to construction in 2021, combining his design expertise with a passion for creative solutions and client relationships. Having always lived in the rural areas near Lisbon, Joaquim brings an authentic perspective to his work. In his spare time, he enjoys painting watercolours and carpentry, not to mention carving artisan knife handles.

Joana Rebelo de Andrade

Joana Rebelo de Andrade

Executive Operations Assistant

Originally from Belém, Joana brings a wealth of experience in consulting, marketing, and operations to her role at LandingPad. She’s spent time working in London and has a background in trade marketing for a cosmetics brand. She has also led ‘innovative strategies’ in the FMCG sector for an olive oil brand. At LandingPad, Joana leverages her strategic acumen to streamline operations and enhance processes in our dynamic environment. Outside of work, she is a dedicated mother to two young daughters, a role she finds both her most rewarding and challenging.

LandingPad Ecosystem

LandingPad Ecosystem

Our Network of Professionals

We built a network of professionals who we’ve been working with over the last years and know we can trust. The LandingPad project is our way of sharing access to our Ecosystem with new residents in Portugal. We want you to benefit from our past mistakes and provide you with a soft landing.