Mike, it's a funny thing but I'm in love with Croatia too! I am just about to invest over there. Every summer, I go and stay with Croatian friends near Pula in Istria. (The bit just opposite Venice that used to be Italy until 1947). Every summer I look at the properties I nearly bought the previous year and kick myself!!
I am a property journalist and have written about Croatia. (I also own the on-line property investor magazine Square Foot.) So I have done some good research.
This July, I met up with a regeneration consultant working for the Croatian government on re-developing part of the Istrian coastline. It will be transformed from a quaint fisherman's village into a 5* marina with top-end villas and restaurants. Bizarrely, the transformation is to take place in the very town I've visited annually for the past 7 years.
I have teamed up with this Croatian consultant to find me properties in the area for investments with friends. I'll be hosting a recce in Spring 2008. I'm keeping pretty quiet about this for the moment as I want to get in on the deals to be had before the area goes crazy. If you're interested, I'd be happy to give you more details.
Kind regards
MIchele Andrew
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike -NewOverseasInvestor
I am new to the property game and looking to get started in the lower eastern block in Europe to begin with... I have just visited Montenegro & Croatia & feel inlove with Croatia... Montenegro I know is on the up but the attitude here is vastly different to that in Croatia & I feel Croatia is still a very good market to invest in if you spend the time on the ground to find the right deals!
I am looking for advise though on how I best get into the property game... I have maybe 30K Euro cash so being my first deal, I really need a mortgage or business loan of some type but I am not sure where to go? Should I do this in the UK or go direct to the country I want to invest in? I understand this is pretty impossible in Croatia at the moment... Any input would be highly regarded!
Oh yes, while in Montenegro, I spoke with several locals and they said outside of the major new developments, most ruins, older properties etc... were being put aside for the Russians who work with good old fashioned cash! I guess this puts me of dealing in this market as I simply can not compete with rich russians who have far too much loose cast to throw around! - Croatia though I felt a little safer... Thoughts????
Best Regards
Mike
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