Overseas - Croatia

The international property market has taken off in a big way in the past decade or so. With new member states in the EU, increased access to previously hard-to-get-to countries and the growing popularity of property as an investment vehicle, more and more of us are opting to buy overseas.

Whether you’re in the market for a place to retire to, a second home or a buy-to-let property in a resort area, the choice of locations is truly amazing. North America, sunny Mediterranean resorts, the exotic Middle East, the Balkan states – just about anywhere you can think of is now a destination for canny buyers.

Starting this issue, Hotproperty will be presenting a sample of very buyable properties in exotic locales. So whether you’re actively seeking overseas property or just curious about what’s available, we hope you enjoy browsing our selection.
So, on to the main event – and what better place to start than Croatia. Long known for its beautiful beaches, history and welcoming atmosphere, Croatia is a country blessed with what it takes to be a property sensation.

Croatia Properties specialises in property in Istria in the north of the country, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic region. This region boasts gorgeous beaches, old Venetian ports, olive groves and amazing seafood – it’s the perfect place to relax and immerse yourself in a culture that is appealingly foreign and very friendly.
Current properties for sale through Croatia Properties run the gamut of accommodation size and price. You can get anything from a 21 sq metre off-plan studio apartment in Medelin priced at €27,300, right up to an eight-bedroom luxury villa on the Dalmatian coast for €2.29 million.
For details of these or any other properties in this increasingly popular buying destination visit the website at croatiaproperties.biz.

One of the true success stories of overseas property in the past few years has been Dubai. This exotic location offers unmatched comfort, fantastic shopping and a relaxed lifestyle with a big emphasis on sporting pursuits, from horse racing to tennis to cricket. The thriving ex-pat community finds the pace agreeable and more and more are aspiring to the truly enviable lifestyle to be found there.
Property in Dubai, a true jewel of the United Arab Emirates, takes several forms, from multi-million-pound residential skyscrapers to more modest but still luxurious villas. There is an ever-growing pool of high-quality property to choose from, whether you intend to up stakes and relocate to the Emirate or are looking for a sound investment.

Victory Heights is the first phase of residential property in Dubai Sports City, a unique 50 million sq ft development which will also offer sports facilities, commercial property and retail space. This will be an accessible community that is passionate about sport. It is a celebration of what people value in their lives in the 21st century – an active lifestyle, ease and convenience, sporting and entertainment experiences and opportunities for personal development and learning.

Victory Heights, a gated community of 850 residential units situated around a golf course. Scheduled for completion in 2007, these stylish family villas will offer comprehensive security, international schools, a medical clinic, bike trails and walkways, and a social hub based around the David Lloyd Next Generation Tennis and Country Club.
Find out more about Dubai Sports City at the website dubaisportscity.ae.
In Bulgaria, another up-and-coming international market, Interlink offers apartments at the All Seasons Resort in Bansko, in the south-west of the country 170km from the capital Sofia.
This historic town is known as a ski resort – indeed, Bulgaria is an applicant to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. One of Bansko’s many attractions is Pirin Mountain, which is a protected site on the World National Heritage list. The location offers culture, an all-year-round season, nightlife and stunning views – not to mention some amazingly priced property.

The All Seasons Resort is set in beautiful scenery and is located approximately 750m from the gondola station and only a few minutes’ walk from Bansko’s main square. Air conditioning, heating and car parking are all standard provisions. This location would be equally suitable as an investment property and a holiday getaway for the owner

Prices start at €29,100. Completion is expected at the end of 2005. For more information call Interlink Properties on 0800 011 2920 or visit interlinkproperties.com.

We look at a couple of desirable buys in this much-loved Adriatic spot.

Croatia has one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines, breathtaking from a plane window and equally impressive up close. This stunning natural resource has come to the attention of a growing number of tourists from around the world, which is why those in the market for either a holiday home or purely an investment property should waste no time in paying this gorgeous stretch of the Adriatic coast a visit.
Avatar International has a vast array of very desirable properties in Croatia. In the lovely peninsula of Istria, the most popular part of Croatia for holidaymakers, Labin is a popular draw for tourists yet is surprisingly unspoilt. The hilltop town is the setting of Mali Kosi, a luxury development of six detached and four semi-detached villas, as well as four apartments and two studio apartments. The development is situated midway between the picturesque hilltop city of Labin, and the popular tourist centre of Rabac – only 5km from each.

Set within a tranquil landscape 250m above sea level, these luxury homes provide spectacular panoramic views of the islands along the Mediterranean coast. There is no-building land in front of this development, meaning that the uninterrupted views are forever guaranteed.

The architecture retains a traditional Istrian style. Internally, properties will include fitted kitchens and bathrooms and open fireplaces to the living areas. All houses are allocated two private parking spaces. The development also benefits from a circular-shaped swimming pool.
Labin is a medieval town in the eastern part of Istria, only 3km from the sea. It is these days known for its numerous galleries and artists. Labin comprises two separate parts: the old town on top of the hill and the more recent settlement, Podlabin. The airport at Pula is a short 45km drive, while Triest airport in Italy is 75km away.
A one bedroom apartment is priced from €78,100, while two-bedroom apartments are priced from €144,788. Two-bedroom villas are priced from €232,322.

Meanwhile, at Novigrad, Marina Marietta is a development of 30 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments situated in the heart of the city. Novigrad is rich with culture and history. Located just 200m from the coast, Marina Marietta offers outstanding, undisturbed views of the Adriatic. The development also incorporates a 350-berth marina complex which is located next to the apartments. Due for completion in June 2006, the marina will offer an excellent selection of shops and restaurants together with mooring facilities.

All of the apartments are fully fitted with kitchens and bathrooms and some have balconies overlooking the sea. Marina Marietta is only 60km from Triest airport, which is served by Ryanair. Novigrad is currently undergoing a large-scale government-funded regeneration programme to increase tourism in the area.

Novigrad is a friendly town that is proud of its beauty and its rich historical and cultural heritage. All the historical and cultural monuments of Novigrad are open to visitors. There is also an abundance of sports and recreation facilities, from watersports to tennis. There is a good variety of entertainment, including discos and bars, as well as open-air cinema and high class casinos.

In summer, the heart of the town opens into the streets and squares, transforming them into a huge open-air restaurant. At the improvised stalls you can taste grilled fish and traditionally prepared wine.
One bedroom apartments at Maria Marietta are priced from €95,532. For more information about either of these impressive developments contact Avatar International on 0870 728 2827 or visit avatar-international.com.