Homes Overseas - June 2005

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BULGARIA
Good climate, low cost of living
Three-course meal with wine - £4, a beer 50p, coffee 20p
Prices rose over 20% in 2003, 35% in 2004, but large rural houses for under £20,000.
Ski areas: longer season for rentals. Bougas and Varna cost the same, but weekly rental on two-bedroom apartment at Bourgas would be around £350, double that of Varna.
Income tax is progressive, from 15 to 29%. Non-residents pay 15% tax on rental income and capital gains.
Due to join European Union in 2007. Bidding for 2014 Winter Olympics.
Direct flights from UK costly and scarce (British Airways & Balkan Bulgarian Airlines only).
About the size of England, yet population only 8 million.
Hotspots: Bourgas and Varna (?Black Sea riviera).
Beautiful Tuscany-like hilltop towns such as medieval Veliko Turnovo inland.
Ski areas = Rhodope Mountains in the south.
Attractive properties along the Danube.
On northern border with Romania: Ruse, history-rich town with splendid architecture.

Escape 2 Bulgaria - www.e-2-b.com

www.lifeinbulgaria.com
www.allure-estates.co.uk
www.bulgaria4U.biz
www.experiencebg.co.uk
www.vps.bg
www.b-en.co.uk
www.nessebargardens.com
www.edendevelopments.co.uk
www.emergingrealestate.com <<<<<
www.aquavistaproperty.com
www.premier-estates.co.uk
www.bulgaridom.com

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SLOVENIA
Population only 2 million.
Top tourist location: Bled, 35 km from Ljubljana airport - lake with island with castle, surrounded by stunning unspoilt countryside.
Portoroz - bustling seaside resort - beach, thermal pools, waterfront bistros, restaurants, discos.
Other Adriatic: Piran, Ankaran, ports of Izola and Koper
Goricko National Park - lots of cheap property in beautiful rural setting - will soon be linked to Ljubljana by direct motorway.
Kranjska Gora, 40 km from Bled, is the most popular ski resort.
Before EU accession very difficult for foreigners to buy, kept prices down.
However, richer Slovenians speculating during the lead up to joining caused price increase by more than 100% from 2002-2004.
Higher than Bulgaria, but some rural houses under £15,000.
Foreigners must have tax registration number to buy property, obtainable from local authorities. Local banks require it before opening account. Otherwise straightforward, and greatly helped by a computerised land registry that can complete searches within 24 hours, as well as efficient legal system and high-tech banking. Law requires official court translator be present when contract is signed.

Slovenia Properties - www.slovenianproperties.com

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SLOVAKIA
Geographical center of Europe. Economy booming. EU membership 2004. December: easyJet became fifth airline to offer direct flights from London to Bratislava.
Has become something of a tax haven, has flat tax rate of 19%, no taxation of dividends and inheritance.
Bratislava 40% cheaper than Prague. Rising steadily in recent years - average growth of over 20% in 2004.
Bratislava: from 35,000 for older flats to 65,000 for new 2-bdrm apartment.
Rural - start 20,000. 3 to 4-bedroom house in Tatras Mtns 50 to 80,000.
Rental healthy - yields of 8% on newly built apartments. Should go up as population gets wealthier due to EU membership.
Increasingly common for residents to commute to Vienna, 40 miles away.

New Europe Enterprises - www.slovakia-property.com

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CROATIA
Brits have been buying. Often dubbed "the new Tuscany'. Mediterranean climate. Set to join EU 2008, so prices will go up even more in next years. Most foreign buyers head for sleepy, uncrowded Dalmation coastal resorts like Brela, Mlini or Cavtat. Istrian coastline more cosmopolitan than rest of Croatia, as well as pine forests, olive, groves, vineyards, and many old stone houses. Island of Brac popular. Hvar, noted for vineyards and lavender fields, has good beaches and a sense of exclusivity, as does Korcula. Alps. Zagreb is reminiscent of Vienna.
Prices rose 40% in some areas in 2003. Dubrovnik three times Istria, rentals 1 1/2 times.
Need permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to buy in Croatia, which can take 3 to 12 months to be granted. Avoid this by setting up a Croatian company to buy the property. This can be arranged by the estate agent or property consultant.
Estate agents in Croatia are unregulated. Establishing ownership can be complex, especially with older properties, as they may have been inherited by an extended family, all of whom are required to agree to the sale.
Income tax for residents rises from 15% for 2,500/year to 35% for over 6,000. Surtaxes and social security deductions can often increase the total tax burden to over 50%. Capital gains is 20%, although no capital gains tax payable on properties owned over 3 years.

Dream Croatia - www.dreamcroatia.com

www.croatiansun.com

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(BALTICS) ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA
Low-cost airlines fly London to Tallinn and Riga.

Estonia: fairytale capital, Tallinn, is a medieval gem, home to over 1/3 of 1.5 million.
Unspoilt beaches ten minute drive on Gulf of Finland. Helsinki is boat trip away. St. Petersburg a few hours by car.

Latvia: Riga - many Russians. Cheaper.

Lithuania: Vilnius - cobbled Old Town. Best architecture in Baltics. Lagging behind on property boom, except some in last couple years. Cheapest.
Very pleasant second city, Kaunas.

Someplace Else - www.someplaceelse.co.uk

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FRANCE
www.franceguide.com
http://travel.roughguides.com/roughguides.html
www.discover-france.info
www.wtg-online.com/data/fra/fra.asp

www.friendsinprovence.com
www.moving-to-france-made-easy.com
http://gofrance.about.com/od/relocating/

ITALY
www.enit.it
www.hottraveltips.com/country/italy/venice/
www.italiantourism.com
www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Italy/Basics

www.knowital.com
www.expatfocus.com
www.livinginitaly.com
www.informer.it

EXPATS
www.euroexpats.com
www.backinblighty.com
www.britishexpat.com
www.expat.telegraph.co.uk
www.escapeartist.com
www.expatfocus.com
www.expatica.com
www.practicalspain.com
www.the-british-in-spain.com

INSURANCE
www.intasure.com

LANGUAGES
www.linkwordlanguages.co.uk

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http://www.aplaceinfrance.co.uk/

http://www.frenchinvestmentproperty.com/

http://www.lawoverseas.com/
www.fuster-associates.com
www.bennett-and-co.com

FINANCIAL
www.blevinsfranks.com

http://www.latitudes.co.uk/

MOVERS
www.roy-trevor.com

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