At first glance buying property here in Croatia may seem confusing and complex and I'm sure you have many questions and a lot of reservation about buying here, But there has never been a better time to buy. Hopefully I will answer  and explain some of your  questions and concerns and put your mind to rest. If you have any other questions about buying property in Pula or Istria then just us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Can a British or Foreign citizen buy in Croatia  

A British subject or foreign citizen can buy an apartment, stone villa, Urbanised land or business in Croatia. The country that you are coming from Must have a reciprocal arrangement with Croatia. If you are Not from United Kingdom or Europe then check with you Embassy.

How am I sure the vendor won't off with my money

Simple. You will both sign a pre-contract  with a time table of the payment schedule. The lawyer will prepare this contact and then both parties will sign at the public notary. You can also pay the deposit into a third person account such as your lawyers and create an Escrow account. The funds will be released to the escrow account when whatever requirements that you have stipulated have been met by the vendor. Some Croatian do not like the escrow account route and the idea of a third party, but its your money , you are the buyer !!!

What is an official translation

An official translator is someone that has been approved by the courts of Croatia. When you get your translated version it will have an official stamp and signature on it.  If  your translated document has NOT been officially translated by a court authorised translator then it not a legal document. Translation fees vary and you can expect to pay  200 Kn - 300 Kn per A4 page . It is strongly advised to get all official documentation translated.

What is a public notary

The public notary system is widely used here and they official seal all documents. Even if your lawyer prepares the final contract then it still has to be public notarised. You will need to notarise your passport at some time or other if you are buying property in Croatia. There are many public notary offices in all major cities and  you should be able to find one that is open Monday - Friday 08.00 - 18.00. Some work Saturday mornings and some open until 20.00. Your Estate agent or lawyer will know of one. The public notary will check all the data in the contract and will check all parties concerned passports or id numbers . When you provide  information to the public notary in Croatia it is critical that all the data is correct. If there are any mistakes then new contracts will have to be made. The Public notary can technically write and prepare a contract of purchase. But the main job and purpose of the public notary is to ensure that the information provided is correct, i.e. all names, addresses ,passport numbers, id cards etc. The public notary will not carry out due diligence, The public Notary records and officiates all data, and a copy of the sales transaction is left with them. Prices vary at the public notary for different tasks. If you just getting your passport notarised then you will pay between 100kn and 150 kn. If you are notarising a contract then the fees will be between 250kn and 400 kn. In general terms the fees of the public notary are small as essentially they are just  certifying signature.

Why is property advertised in Euro + can I pay in Euro or Pounds

Although the Kuna is the official currency of Croatia you will often see prices quoted for sale in Euro, this is because the Euro is regarded as a safe currency When you come to purchase anything in Croatia the transaction must take place in Kuna by law. When Croatia is part of the E.U then this will inevitable change until then any foreign currency must be 1st changed into Kuna`s and then the transaction can go ahead. In the real estate contract it will state X amount of euro to be paid at the equivalent Kuna rate.

How do I change money to pay in Kuna's

For small amounts of money there are numerous money exchange offices in  all the major towns and cities in Croatia. For lager money exchanges such as in real estate you will instruct your British bank to transfer the funds to your Croatian foreign currency bank account. Then you notify the Croatian bank account via fax, email, or in person that you would like to convert the foreign currency to Kuna and place in your Kuna account. Then the payment can take place. There are numerous money exchange companies and its worth checking out a few, however very very few deal with Kuna and you will have to change the money in Croatia.

Do I need a structural survey

Structural surveys are not common practice in Croatia, however many British investors insist on them and we are happy to offer you the services of good independent structural surveyors and architects. Most new apartments and new build Istrian stone villas  have passed all the building regulations and your lawyer will confirm this. If  you are looking at buying a completed renovation project and you do not know the builder then it is advised that a structural survey is done. If you are buying an old Istrian Stone house or ruin with the intention of building and renovating it yourself then surely you know if the house is sound or not and what it will take to fix it ! if you don't then do you really want to continue

How do I buy Off Plan in Istria and Croatia

At present there are many off plan  projects underway especially here in Istria. Having agreed to purchase the project you and the investor will arrange a payment timetable. Usually over 4 or 5 phases. The Initial investment by you will be approximately 30 %, The final payment should be  10 % with the remaining 60% paid at varying times of build progress . Although you are paying more as a deposit you will be or should be getting the property at a lower price.

Bez brige d.o.o is a fully licensed agency under Croatia's Real Estate Agency Law effective April 27th,2009