Serbia is one of underrated countries. And though there is no sea, but there is Belgrade, picturesque mountains and clear lakes. Residence permit for buying real estate in Serbia is issued within 2-3 weeks. Vuk Stojanovic, a representative of a Serbian company-developer "KGS Engineering" in Russia told portal ee24.com about these and other advantages of this Balkan country.
- A recent study of portal ee24.com showed that the Russians’ interest in Serbian real estate increased by a record of 70% over the past year. Why do you think it happened?
- I would not like to refer to politics, but I have to, especially taking into account the recent reunion of the Crimea with Russia. Serbia is a country that is close to the Russians, and I consider the fact that it is not a part of the EU as an advantage. Prices are low, food is healthy and tasty, the level of entertainment is quite high: Belgrade is considered to be one of European party capitals.
At real estate exhibitions everyone offers apartments in Spain, Bulgaria and Montenegro. Of course, the sea is good and beautiful, but it's only three months a year, and even during these three months, not everyone can stand daily rest on a beach, not to mention winter when there is nothing to do and there are cold winds. Serbia has other advantages, and many Russians, who have been in the country, know about it.
Belgrade
- Real Estate in Serbia is not expensive, especially compared to exorbitant prices of Moscow. What is the average cost of apartments in popular Serbian cities and how can prices change in the nearest future?
- Apartments in Belgrade, which are closer to the center, cost €1,200-1,300 per sq.m. When you select a district, you should keep in mind that the Sava River divides the capital into the Old and New Town. Nowadays all business moves to New Belgrade, over last the 20 years they have been actively developing it: there are wide roads (rare for Serbia!) and good infrastructure.
Prices of apartments in Novi Sad are a bit lower. Significance of Belgrade compared to Novi Sad is something like Moscow and St. Petersburg: Belgrade is the capital and business center, Novi Sad is a well-developed city with a rich cultural life.
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"Two years ago prices stopped growing, they do not grow now, and changes are not expected"
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Looking at prices, you should consider another advantage: all apartments in Serbia are built finished, i.e. key-ready. Two years ago prices stopped growing, they do not grow now, and changes are not expected in the nearest future. When all political problems of Serbia and neighboring countries were solved, building activity increased. Developers bought land with small houses and built four-storey apartment buildings instead, and there were so many of them, that prices came to a stop. But sooner or later everything will be sold, and prices will definitely go up.
Novi Sad
- Are taxes and expenses of maintaining real estate in Serbia as low as prices?
- Annual property tax in Belgrade depends on location, on zone, and starts from 0.4% of cadastral value (it is usually a little higher than selling price) in the suburbs and reaches 1% in the center. Utility bills are twice less than in Moscow. In Serbia I pay €100 per month, for my apartment of 80 sq.m., including electricity
- Prices are low and maintenance is not high either, and you can even get a residence permit, is it right?
- A residence permit in Serbia is given to owners of any real estate, disregarding its value. But it should be noted that only those who are actually going to live in the country need a residence permit in Serbia. You can obtain it within 2-3 weeks.
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"Owners of any property can obtain a residence permit in Serbia"
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Also it should be mentioned that the Russians are already allowed to enter Serbia without a visa and stay for one month, and in a month of owning real estate, you can go to the police and write an application for staying in the country up to 90 days during half a year. However, Serbia is not part of the European Union yet...
- But is it going to get there?! You go to Serbia and you know what attitude they have these days...
- Serbia is a candidate for accession to the European Union since 2012, but when I ask people, all of them mind it. We're a small country, and if someone else dictates something, no independence will be left. And nobody knows if the EU will live up to 2020...
Belgrade
- What kind of real estate do most Russians buy in Serbia and for what purposes - for themselves or for rent?
- So far, the Russians buy mostly apartments in Serbia. Houses in cities are mostly old and small buildings, land is expensive, and everyone wants a new house with spacious plots. Outside the city people buy houses, but they are expensive even by the standards of Serbian prices. It is better to buy houses in Serbia in the mountains, where the price of land is €3,000 per are, and construction can cost €40,000-50,000.
Buying an apartment in Serbia for renting out is not the best investment. I have an apartment of 80 sq.m in the center of New Belgrade, and I manage to rent it out for €300 per month. The Russians generally buy housing in Serbia for living there, they choose the suburbs or quiet places in mountains and near lakes. For example, in the popular tourist region of Zlatibor in the west of the country – it is a place for family holiday, where people feel at ease in beautiful nature’s lap. A house in Zlatibor is a good solution for both recreation and living all year round. May be, some Russians want to buy an apartment in Belgrade and live there, but I do not know many examples.
Interview: Kirill Ozerov, ee24.com