Montenegro is one of the most overlooked property goldmines in
Europe. With absolutely beautiful terrain and rock bottom house
prices, it is hard to see why more people have not flocked to
purchase the latest developments.
One thing to remember is that Montenegro is, in fact, a very small
country, approximately the size of Northern Ireland. Therefore,
there are actually relatively few properties available for sale.
Previously, Montenegro was linked with Serbia which was a larger and
generally fiercer candidate both economically and politically.
Montenegro now wants to go it alone and so far it is looking good
for this tiny little gem of a country.
Already, Montenegro is starting to gain considerable tourist
interest and is now beginning to feature regularly in tour
operators’ brochures. This is of extreme importance to the general
economic wellbeing of the country and, of course, is fundamental to
the growth of the property market.
Buying Property in
Montenegro
Montenegro
boasts numerous geological attractions that have, until recently,
been hidden away from the rest of the world. Amongst these are
Europe’s largest canyon and Europe’s most southern fjord. It also
has two UNESCO listed heritage towns, namely Kotor and Perast.
The property
market in Montenegro is still very much in its infancy and offers a
lot of future scope. As previously mentioned, this is also
substantially linked to the burgeoning tourist market which has yet
to reach its full potential.
Developments
are few and far between in Montenegro. Currently there are fewer
than ten new build developments across the beautiful coastline. This
is not to say that there are not enough properties available to
purchase. On the contrary, there is a good supply of older
properties that are ready for renovation and are a lot cheaper to
purchase.
A renovation
project can be purchased for as little as £38,000 and this includes
spectacular views with plenty of surrounding land. Alternatively, a
new build apartment may cost around £89,000, although this higher
price is partly down to the lack of new build apartments available
on the market, thus pushing prices upwards.
In practice,
the housing market in Montenegro is a potentially risky option,
because there is very little in the way of historic information
available from which to draw future projections. This may put off
many investors; however, this is where the more adventurous
investors can cash in. Looking north, Montenegrins can see the
success that Croatia has experienced recently, which is a good
indication of the future for Montenegro.
Using this
comparable information, experts are predicating an impressive 75
percent rise in property prices, across the country, with the
largest boom areas expected to be the ones that are attracting the
most tourists, at present, namely the coastal resorts.
One thing to
bear in mind is that Montenegro is still very much at the beginning
of its property boom. This country is likely to rumble upwards for
some years to come. Investors wanting to make the most of the gains
in this region should be prepared to stick at it for the long haul.
Remember,
the experts are suggesting that Montenegro is approximately three to
five years behind Croatia and even Croatia is still considered a
relative newcomer. Getting in first has clear advantages for the
property investor, but pull out too soon and you could live to
regret it!
Montenegro
is certainly one to watch for the future!