Buying a property in Croatia usually takes from a few weeks to three months, depending on the documentation and how you pay. These are the steps we guide you through.
- Enquiry and selection. Tell us what you are looking for – location, budget, number of rooms, distance from the sea. We suggest suitable properties, including ones not yet published.
- Viewing. Viewings are free and never conditional on signing a contract. If you want us to represent you as a buyer (searching, negotiating, managing the purchase), we sign a separate written brokerage agreement.
- Property checks. Before you make an offer we check the land registry extract, consistency with the cadastre, encumbrances (mortgages, easements), the building and occupancy permit or legalisation decision, and the energy certificate. For land we check the permitted use under the zoning plan.
- Offer and negotiation. We pass your offer to the seller and negotiate the price, deadlines and what stays in the property.
- Preliminary contract and deposit. Once both sides agree, a preliminary contract is signed with a deposit (often 10% of the price). It sets the deadline for the main contract and what happens if either side withdraws.
- Purchase contract. You sign the contract before a notary public, who certifies the signatures. The seller gives a registration consent (tabularna izjava) allowing your ownership to be registered, usually once the price has been paid.
- Land registry entry. The application for registration is filed with the competent land registry court. The notary reports the contract to the Tax Administration for the real estate transfer tax.
- Transfer tax. The Tax Administration issues an assessment, and you pay the 3% tax within 15 days of receiving it.
- Handover. You receive the keys, we read the meters and help transfer the utilities, water and electricity into your name.
Need a mortgage? We recommend asking a bank for an indicative offer before you start searching – you will know your real budget and close the deal faster.