With over 6,000 kilometres of coastline, 1,000 islands and year-round sunshine, it isn’t hard to see why Croatia has exploded in popularity as a holiday destination in the past five years. Add to this a competitive and multilingual workforce, an affordable lifestyle and a handful of international airports, and you can see why it’s fast becoming a popular place to purchase real estate too.
Croatia has only recently become a popular tourism destination, and now its property market is booming (Photo:Conor Rees via Unsplash)
Croatia is made up of over 1,000 islands, but most expats gravitate to several pockets across the country. Inland, Croatia’s colourful capital Zagreb offers a sophisticated blend of cosmopolitan city life and a continental climate, with a large international community. Split, the country’s second-largest city, is popular with those looking to combine a high-energy lifestyle close to the sea. Islands tend to be less popular, but more recently Hvar has become a hotspot for expat retirees looking for a slice of the high life at a more affordable price.
The acquisition process in Croatia is fairly straightforward, providing you are a European Union citizen. Citizens from the EU can purchase property in the same way Croatian citizens can. For citizens outside of the EU, Croatia operates a Principle of Reciprocity. This means you’ll need to ensure that your country of citizenship meets this reciprocity agreement. You’ll also need consent from the Ministry of Justice – without it, you won’t be able to finalize the process. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you have temporary residency, you’re unlikely to be approved for a mortgage too. We strongly advise working with a reputable bilingual lawyer and an agency that can assist in the buying process. Here are three recommended companies for helping you find houses and villas for sale in Croatia.
CPS –Croatia Property Sales
CPS was founded in 2009 by co-founders Inga Majic and Mario Moraca. Between them, they boast over 30 years of experience in the industry and have worked in real estate since the first investors started to trickle in after 1998. The company has since grown to become one of the most highly reputed real estate agencies in Croatia, with a multi-lingual team based in Split, Hvar and Brac. The agency focuses on property and villas in the Dalamatia region, which includes the coastal towns of Dubrovnik, Zadar and Split. Properties tend to be higher-end, in some of Croatia’s most sought after locations.
Find out more at Croatiapropertysales.com
Move Croatia
Move Croatia is a real estate agency based in Split. The company covers all areas of Croatia, with a good range of homes represented in Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split-Dalmatia and Zadar. The multilingual team offers a comprehensive and personalized service that takes care of every stage of the purchasing process, with additional services such as marketing and analytics too. The agency also works with a reputed network of brokers, lawyers and developers to help smooth the process, whether that’s finalising legislative paperwork or finetuning an investment.
Find out more at Movecroatia.com
CroEstate
CroEsate offers a staggering range of properties across Croatia, with over 20,000 properties for sale at any given time. Properties range from modern villas to luxury sea view apartments. The agency also offers a comprehensive legal service that includes documentation checks, changes of possession and registration of ownership. If you’ve purchased land or you’re looking to renovate, Croestate can also recommend a network of esteemed architects.
Find out more at Croestate.com