Rachel Newcombe,  Thursday, 12 September 2013

 


For a while, it was a country people avoided, but now they’re flocking back – not only to visit, but to buy property and live in Croatia. It’s an increasingly popular destination for UK buyers wanting to move abroad, but what’s so good about the country and what do you need to know if you’re interested in buying property?

Croatia has over 1000 miles of spectacular coastline, with numerous secluded coves backing onto gorgeous blue sea. There are thousands of islands, many uninhabited, and equally stunning inland areas, with traditional fairytale-style castles and ancient walled cities. It’s a magical and in many ways unspoilt country, with geographical variations, such as mountainous areas and plains, as well as appealing coastal regions.

The climate in northern Croatia is typical of other continental areas, whereas the central and Adriatic coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate. During the spring and autumn, the temperature is generally mild along the coast, but during the winter it can get cold and snowy inland and in the northern areas. The culture of Croatia shines through everywhere, both in the everyday lives of the people, their historic cities and traditional customs.

As seems to be the case with property hot spot areas, many celebrities have discovered the delights of Croatia and are choosing to buy property in the country. But despite its appeal to celebrities with ready cash, it’s an equally popular location for the general public too, with many British nationals opting for Croatia as their choice for an ideal country to live in. This is especially so since Croatia will join the EU in 2013, as interest in property has noticeably increased and people are snapping up homes in their droves. In fact, it’s likely that it could prove to be a very good country to have bought property in once the EU membership is finalised.

Popular areas and prices

According to Croatia Property Services, some of the areas most popular with foreign buyers include Istria in the north west, which has at times been part of Italy and is often referred to as “the new Tuscany,” islands such as Cres, Krk, Brac and Hvar, the central Dalmation coast and the southern areas around Dubrovnik. Istria has seen a definite rise in house prices over the last few years, even though it doesn’t quite have the buzzing air of Dubrovnik, and Croatia Property Services say there’s still, “plenty of room for appreciation.”

Areas in the south near Dubrovnik are considered very fashionable and prices there are already a lot higher than other parts of the country. It’s been helped by the fact that British Airways offers flights direct to Dubrovnik, which has considerably opened up the ease of access. There are also good flights these days to Istria, so it’s a good option if you fancy buying property in the north west.

Martin Westby, who runs Croatia Holiday and Home, an independent company helping people buy property in Croatia, says it’s hard to pigeonhole prices, as they’re constantly changing. However, as a rough guide he says Euros 50,000-60,000 would buy you a one bed apartment, a larger ruin or a plot of land, Euros 70,000-90,000 would buy a basic stone house in need of refurbishment or a larger plot of land, and Euros 100,000-120,000 would probably be enough to acquire a larger stone house in need of refurbishment or a two to three bedroom apartment.

For those with more to spend, Euros 160,000-220,000 would buy a restored large house or a luxury apartment and Euros 250,000-350,000 would allow you to purchase a large house or apartment with land and located close to the sea. At the higher end of budgets, Euros 400,000-750,000 could buy very large luxury properties, close to the sea, major airports and popular tourist areas. And if you really want to splash out on the ultimate property and have in excess of Euros750,000 to spend, you could even acquire a castle or ex-palace.

Being aware of pitfalls

When foreigners first started snapping up property in Croatia, there were a few problems due to the immaturity of the market. A shortage of experienced estate agents meant sellers were suggesting unrealistic prices for properties and trying to sell houses that weren’t necessarily there’s to sell, so some problems did arise.

For example, there were horror stories of some foreigners buying properties that appeared to have been legitimately for sale, then families who had fled the conflicts returned to the country to discover it was their homes that had been sold. Not surprisingly, they demanded them back and legal difficulties ensued. However, things have improved in the country and, as long as you choose a reputable and established estate agent, issues such as these shouldn’t occur.

If you’re purchasing a beach house, it’s worth bearing in mind that, by law, the general public will have access to the land surrounding the house to at least 6m above the waterline. Needless to say this hasn’t gone down too well with some foreign buyers, especially celebrities, who’ve rather objected to the infringement of their privacy.

Buying issues

Due to potential language issues, it can help to use a specialised company when searching for property – there are several good UK firms who can help with finding homes in Croatia.

Once you’ve found a property you want to purchase, there are various procedures to go through and, again, it can come in handy if you’re with an English-speaking company who can help you through the various processes.

Deciding to change your life and move abroad can be a big adjustment to make, but as long as you go about it with due care and consideration and don’t leap madly into the first property you find, it could prove to be the perfect move. With Croatia scoring highly as one of the top ‘must-have’ property locations, you could do well by moving here.