| Boasting
over 1,200 islands, fantastically diverse sailing, and mooring
that costs a third of the price of the Balearics, it's not
surprising that Croatia and Montenegro are fast becoming the
A-listers favourite ports of call, says Nick Shinner, Managing
Director of Where on Earth.
Eastern Adriatic
There's nothing like stumbling across hidden
treasure to get the wind in your sails. Imagine the French
Riviera or the Amalfi Coast before they were built up and
commercialised. Add over 1,200 islands, a stream of stunning
historic towns dating back to the Romans, delicious cuisine
at seafront restaurants where you don't have to have a bun-fight
to moor outside (at the moment), and sailing that offers something
for everyone. There you have the eastern Adriatic.
Croatia and Montenegro Property
"Croatia and Montenegro have got it all,"
says Simon, director of Split-based charter yacht company,
Lazy Winch. "It doesn't matter which way the wind blows.
There's always something to see or do. There are great short
island hops that would suit a young family as well as fantastic
offshore sailing for hardened sailors."
Croatia
Croatia's 5,835km coastline - 1,777km of which
stretches along the mainland - has always been popular with
the yachting fraternity. "From a navigational perspective,
the Adriatic coast offers mostly deep water, even 5-6 metres
away from the islands, so it's easier to anchor near your
destination. And you don't have to worry about hitting shifting
sand banks either," Simon advises. "Another advantage
is that there's no major commercial shipping along this stretch,
so the water is cleaner and it makes sailing safer."
For the past decade, Croatia has been busy
modernising its marina facilities, so infrastructure tends
to be good. You can tie your boat for around £45 per
night, which more than beats the £100-£150 charged
by the marinas at Palma, Ibiza or Mahon. The upmarket Croatian
islands of Hvar and Brac in particular have become magnets
for the moneyed, as has the stunning bay of Kotor in Montenegro,
which is also courting favour with yachtees who just can't
help falling in love with Europe's most southerly fjord.
Montenegro
"The sailing potential in Montenegro
is excellent,." says Caroline Hollingworth, Managing
Director of UK-based property consultancy, Hollingworth &
Taylor. "There are 117 beaches and coves to explore,
caves, islands, a stunning fjord, and a host of historic town,
but the current infrastructure in Montenegro has a long way
to go before it matches what's on offer in Croatia, basically
because it lacks marina. This is excellent news for investors
looking for great commercial development opportunities."
Indeed, the Montenegrin government have exciting
plans under way for new marinas in Budva, Bar, and Tivat -
where they hope to build the largest marina on the Adriatic
- among many other much needed marinas along its stunning
294km coastline.
"Within our Tourist Masterplan, the government's
aim is to rival the Balearics and the French Riviera for holidaymakers,
and create upmarket tourism," says Dragoljub Markovic,
MD at Morsko Dobro, the government agency in charge of ensuring
the coast is preserved from over-development. "There's
some way to go, but we're getting there."
As a result of Montenegro's burgeoning infrastructure,
its increasing popularity as a tourist destination, pending
EU accession expected by 2010, and successful adoption of
the euro currency in 2002, these factors have created an excellent
climate for investors, especially for sailors looking for
an exclusive waterside property with its own boat mooring
or private beach.
Property Prices
"Property prices have been rising on
average at over 20% for the past 3 years and well over 50%
in the hotspots," says Nick Shinner, MD of property consultancy
,Where on Earth.
Emerging Property Markets
Croatia, and Montenegro in particular, are
still emerging markets, so you can get your millionaire's
pad at a fraction of the price you'd pay in more obvious locations,
like the South of France, yet still have the benefits of a
Mediterranean lifestyle. "If you're happy to do some
renovation work, you can find yourself a seafront property
with its own boat mooring from €150,000, or your own
plot of land with a beach from around €100 per square
metre," says Dragovic of Hollingworth & Taylor. "Now
is the time to buy, before Montenegro or Croatia join the
EU and prices go through the roof."
So while your boat could be depreciating in
value, albeit in one of the most beautiful places in Europe,
you can offset it with an appreciating asset on dry land.
Don't expect to find a mass of theme parks, high rises, easy
parking or food that forgets to disguise its origins with
breadcrumbs. Culture, history, delicious cuisine, fantastic
sailing, and some of the world's most stunning landscapes
are what makes Croatia and Montenegro such exciting destinations.
Go now while it still feels like you've just uncovered hidden
treasure.
How
To Enjoy Croatia | The
Elaphite Islands: Croatia's Best-Kept Secret
| Croatia's
World Heritage Sites
Croatia:
An Emerging European Real Estate Hotspot |
Travel
to Croatia | Yacht
Charter in Croatia |
Top
10 European Countries for Real Estate Property Investors
|
Croatia:
an Emerging European Real Estate Hotspot |
Property
Investment In Croatia And Montenegro |
