Buying Property Off-Plan - How it works
FOREIGN BUYERS
Ownership
There are two ways for foreign buyers to purchase property in Croatia. You can buy direct in your own name or set up a company to execute the transaction. A Croatian Company can be owned by one or more shareholders. The shareholders do not need to be Croatian citizens. There is a cost in setting up a Company. Capital of approximately £2000 (Euro 3000) is required plus legal fees. If you choose to buy the property in the Company you must make the property available for rent some of the time with the intention of generating revenue for the Company.
When you buy villas or apartments from My Croatian Villa we will advise you on the different options.
Croatia is a member of the EU although it has its own currency, the Kuna.
Title
Croatian law allows full freehold ownership of property but not all properties can show clean title. Many older properties have shared ownerships and the high level of emigration during the 20th Century (the second highest in the world after Ireland) mean that the owners can not always be traced. When buying property it is essential to establish whether the seller has clean and unambiguous title to the property.
Where to Buy
Almost anywhere on Croatia's huge coastline can be an attractive location for a holiday villa and there are many beautiful inland locations. The main areas of focus for many foreign buyers are:
ISTRIA
This is the area closest to Italy - the triangular peninsula jutting down into the Adriatic. Istria benefits from easy road access from Italy and is the only area currently accessible by low cost flights into Italy and Slovenia. Almost anywhere on the Istrian coast can be worth considering as well as the hilltop towns of central Istria, an area that is often compared to Tuscany.
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN DALMATIA
At the southern end of the Croatian coast the wonderfully preserved walled city of Dubrovnik is a major tourist pull and the milder winter climates of the south are also an attraction. Dubrovnik itself and the surrounding area as far north as the Peljesac Peninsula are worth considering. Prices in Dubrovnik itself already reflect the strong demand for property in this area. Further up the coast the area around Split and the historic town of Trogir provide spectacular coastal scenery coupled with the wonderful architecture of these historic towns.
ISLANDS
The larger islands are readily accessible by ferry. There is a great variety ranging from the chic and buzzing Hvar Town on the island of Hvar, to smaller islands where vehicles are not permitted and the pace of life is more tranquil.