Advice and Info

On these pages we offer some general advice and information about buying property and/or moving to and living in Croatia, hopefully answering the most frequently asked questions that come up all the time, but please feel free to ask any questions you have. We have also written an  “Advice & Info” pack which goes into the subjects in more detail, if you would like me to send you a copy then simply email me at ;  keith@inlandcroatia.com

The free information we give here is intended for general advice and should not be taken as complete or absolute. If you are seriously thinking about buying property or moving to Croatia then you should consult a qualified legal professional experienced in such matters and we would be happy to refer you to our own legal experts on request.

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Do you need a Visa?

At present yes you do but once Croatia joins the EU visa restrictions will no longer apply and EU citizens should be able to come as go as they please. Currently all foreigners must obtain a visa in order to be in Croatia; if you are coming here on holiday you can obtain a tourist visa to stay for up to three months (max of six months in one year) while those looking to live here or stay for longer than three months can obtain a temporary residency visa. Details of how to do this are included in our free Advice and Information pack and we are available to help. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Buying Property.

There are various ways to buy property in Croatia and the whole process is very safe and straight-forward if you follow a few simple rules. Depending on the type of property you wish to buy, such as a holiday home or permanent residence, you will need to follow different procedures and we would be happy to advise you formally about this via our Real Estate business.  Our free Info-Pack includes more detailed information about the options so simply request a copy by sending me an email at  keith@inlandcroatia.com

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What Costs Are Involved in buying a property?

Buying a property in Croatia is the same as everywhere else in the world and there are costs for Legal services, Govt tax, Agency fees and disbursements, all of which are explained in detail in our information pack.  Our pack sets out the various costs clearly so you will know your total outlay from the start and there will be no hidden fees or charges later on. 

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Helping Hand Service.

We know just how scary and difficult it can be buying a property or moving abroad, but rest assured our “Helping Hand” service will be there for you. Whether you need simple introductions to a doctor or dentist or just where the local farmers market and shopping centres are we are here to ask. We can set you up with language courses, bank accounts, driving lessons, schools in fact pretty much everything you will need until you find your feet. Our service is completely free for the first month from purchase, after which most people have things under control and can deal with day-to-day matters themselves, but we are still only a phone call away if needed and even offer a 24hr emergency mobile number in case you have a serious problem.

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Other Services.

In addition to finding you a property, we can also offer help and advice on a wide range of other services now that we have built up a tried and tested team around us, including legal and financial personnel, builders, architects, surveyors, removal firms, and so on.

We make no charges for our introductions and accept no payments from those we recommend, it is simply in our best interest to make sure your investment and relocation goes as smoothly as possible.

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Property Management and Maintenance.

If you are going to be living in Croatia then you will probably look after your own property and not need our M&M services, but if you own a holiday home here you will need someone to look after it for you while you are away.  What we do is matched to your needs and can include; occasional or regular security visits, checks for any problems after storms, collection of post, painting and decorating, window cleaning and general garden maintenance.  If you are planning to rent out your property we can prepare it for the arrival of your guests and clean up after they have gone. We will deal with the necessary holiday visas for them, airport collection if needed and even day trips or excursions wherever they wish to go.

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Renovation & Building Projects.

If you buy a property that needs renovation we can help, from the initial design stages to handing you the keys to your finished property on completion, we can take on the complete project for you or just a part as you prefer. Many clients ask us to arrange everything for them, while others ask us to do just the “heavy” building work as they wish to be involved hands on themselves. We have built up a tested and trusted group of local builders and specialist tradesmen you can choose from and be assured that you will only be charged genuine “Croatian” prices, something many foreigners miss out on. When you are in Croatia we would be delighted to show you some examples of our work or there is a small selection on the  ”Projects” page of our main website.

If you are capable and prepared to undertake building works yourselves then just ask us about the best places to buy your materials, hire some general labour or the odd specialist contractor, we are more than happy to help.

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Testimonials.

We are very proud of the high level of service we offer and achieve, something that is promised but sadly lacking with many companies today. Our aim is to become the best Real Estate Agency in Croatia, a goal we keep in mind every day. We want to keep our clients happy for many years to come (even after they have settled our invoice) so you will always receive prompt replies to emails or be able to reach us on the telephone.

Included in our Information pack is a long list of previous clients who have been kind enough to express their views on our services and you are welcome to contact any of them as a reference before doing business with us. All we ask in return is a few words from you that we can add to the list once you have experienced our service for yourselves.

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Cost of Living comparison.

In our Info Pack we have included a cost of living comparison covering the basic things we all have to buy every week including such things as bread, milk, electricity, water, gas, petrol, diesel and so on.

It is much cheaper to live here than say the UK, but it is Europe after all and prices are rising all the time. The list is updated every couple of months so check the “sell-by” date on the copy you receive. If you think something needs to be added to list then let us know.

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Insurance

You really should be insuring your property in Croatia and its much cheaper than in the UK.

For those Brits who prefer to drive their (RH drive) UK cars here we can refer you to a good UK insurer that will cover you for 12 months abroad.

While tourists are covered for free, for those living here health insurance cover is mandatory in Croatia and you can choose between the state or private sectors, again at very reasonable cost.

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Looking for a Small-holding or Farm?

For those planning to set up their own small-holding or farm in Croatia we have included a section on the basics you will need to know, especially useful if you are novices to this lifestyle (like us) . Running a farm or small holding is still the usual way of life for around half the population in Croatia so it’s an ideal place to start off as there are lots of great properties available and ready to go and with knowledgeable locals and ex-pats to help and ask for advice close by. Weve tried to include the obvious stuff about soil types, livestock and so on, but if we have missed something you think would be useful then please let us know.

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Removals and Storage

The cheapest way to bring your household stuff with you is obviously to do it yourself. If you don’t have a van or lorry these can be hired either here or in your home country very easily and at reasonable cost. You will need the help of an import agent which we can supply and  the drive across Europe is easy; if you share the driving you can be here in about 20 hours. We also have several referrals we can make to UK and European based firms that specialise in this business and we are happy to put you in touch. Prices do vary a great deal depending on how much you want them to do for you such as packing etc, so its worth getting 3 or 4 quotes.

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Thinking About Retirement?

 Many people we meet are planning ahead for their retirement, looking to find a place abroad where they can live comfortably and make their money go further. Pensions can be freely transferred into any Croatian bank account and funds repatriated without any taxation issues.

The health service here would rival that of many EU countries and from our personal experiences and those of others we would comment that it is far better than the NHS in theUK.  For example you have immediate access with no waiting times to see doctors or the need to make appointments, after all when you are unwell you need instant attention, not two weeks later when you are feeling better.

Properties prices here are much lower that other parts of Europe and you can have a highly insulated and practical home to suit your current and future needs; one with low running and maintenance costs, or a bungalow for easy access.

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WATCH OUT-TAKE CARE-YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

If you have read this far then its only fair we point out some potential  problems. You have probably seen ”horror” stories on TV programmes or read about people who bought an overseas property only to have serious problems and headaches later on. DONT BE ONE OF THEM!

Anyone involved in the Real Estate industry in Croatia is governed by strict laws designed to protect YOU the consumer and to make our business professional and accountable. Unfortunately there are some people out there deliberately flouting the system and the laws to make a quick buck.

If you are thinking about buying a property in Croatia (or any other country for that matter) you should only deal with licensed, approved and registered agencies such as ours that are actually based in the country, it may sound ridiculous but some agencies are not even based in Croatia at all!  Those of us that are have taken and passed difficult exams, must work from proper offices and are required to carry high levels of insurances, all aimed to protect you the buyer.

To be sure you are dealing with legal professionals just ask these four simple questions;

Ask to see a copy of their Real Estate license, if it’s not available……… run a mile!

Ask to meet in their office, if it’s a coffee bar or hotel reception……….. run a mile!

Ask to see the clean title papers for all properties and if it’s not available…………. run a mile!

Ask if they are even based in Croatia at all?……………..If not………..run a lot further!

We get cries for help every year from people who have run into serious problems, by which time there is very little we can do for them. Dont be our next call, just ask the four simple questions above and you should be OK.

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