|
Post by nikh on Jan 26, 2006 9:36:56 GMT 1
Regulations are coming,my general rule of thumb, or starting points, are , do your research, know what questions to ask get three amswers to the same qusetions that are all the same. Dont hand money to a complete starnger withourt safe guarding it, compare commissions and all charges. Interview your lawyer give him written instructions as they dont always do what you would expect and check expereince and credentials. Only use agents that are registered companies ,registered with chamber of commerce, have you sign a contract keeping them responsible,,get an independent survey.And all the rest!!!!Broker are amazing me daily, they must be getting about 10 % of each sale and hiking the price up aas well, unbelievable. I wonder if i was to sell through them how I woud do? !!!!
|
|
gleng
New Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by gleng on Jan 26, 2006 11:09:17 GMT 1
We were recently charged 3% and that included our lawyers fees. What do you normally charge nikh? I think most are in the 3-4% level.
|
|
|
Post by marijah on Mar 7, 2006 6:24:53 GMT 1
Valj, I am very interested to know who the attorney is of whom you speak, as well as the tradespeople. I am about to purchase a property north of Dubrovnik and need someone to take care of the company setup ASAP. Then I need someone to do the books, and then my "pile of rocks," as I have taken to affectionately calling it, needs a roof...
|
|
|
Post by mambo on Mar 7, 2006 11:55:00 GMT 1
3 to 4 % from both sides that is !
And the price hikes is also a very common feature here in Istria at least. You can find the same property listed at different agencies for different prices. And I am sure that the owner doesn't know anything about those differences.
Real estate in Croatia is still the 'wild wild west', anything goes, no rules, each man for himself.
Would be good if the goverment or the real estate agents themselves would start applying strict rules and a code of conduct.
|
|
bosco
Junior Member
Posts: 10
|
Post by bosco on Mar 7, 2006 12:07:15 GMT 1
I would make avouding Broker the first step towards a successful purchase in Croatia.
When we first came to Croatia in 2003 my wife and I visited their office and I quickly got an uneasy feeling about their business, something about the way the staff seemed to circle us like vultures with shifty looks on their faces. It turned out that strangely none of the properties we had circled on their website (and they seem to have dozens of websites !) were any longer for sale instead they gave us about three possibilities.
They then placed a contract in front of us which had details of the charges for taking us to view the properties and other stuff about how we would effectivel be tied in to buying through them if bought in the future. I said I'd call them and we left.
In March last year whilst sitting at a cafe in Split an English lady sat next to us and we got talking and she told us that she had purchased through Broker and that it had been a nightmare and she had refused to pay them some money, somehow Broker had managed to extract funds from her account anyway without her permission (god knows how they did that) After our experience and then reading posts about Broker on this website I felt very sorry for her.
In the end we found a wonderful agent (no longer running I'm afraid) who showed us round properties for free ("It's my job") helped us to set up a company, found us an accountant and only charged us 2.5%.
Hey Jill ! Are ya sure ya don't work for Broker !!!
|
|
bokwey
Junior Member
Posts: 12
|
Post by bokwey on Mar 7, 2006 15:06:40 GMT 1
I just came back from looking at property in Croatia. If you pm me I can give you the name of a real estate company that charges 1,200 euro to set up, plus the 20,000 kuna. best price i have found so far. seemed to be upfront. I have not bought yet, will not use broker, be cautious as they have many names they work under.
good luck
|
|
|
Post by marijah on Mar 9, 2006 7:50:36 GMT 1
I am thoroughly confused. I hope some of you will help, and share your experience. I have found a property north of Dubrovnik but feel paralyzed about how to proceed. Here are the places where I am stumped: *I am pretty certain I want to go ahead with the d.o.o. This is a property I believe I am going to rent out - but it will probably take me two to three years to renovate. My impression is its still a better route than the MFA, except that by the time I'm ready to rent, I'll probably have citizenship (although not guaranteed). *I have looked at hitro.hr but it is confusing? Should I be so daunted? Upwards of 2000euros to pay someone to do it seems like a rip-off, though. *Once that's set up, can I trust the sellers to find an attorney? I'm concerned they're going to assure me that the property is clean, but I'd like someone on my side, or at least someone objective and reliable, to take me through it? *Do we split the cost of the attorney, notary, etc, etc.? *Then how on earth do I find a good bookeeper? *Then there's more: how do I find reliable tradespeople? (But that can be for later; I'm more concerned about the other issues for now.) Please help! Thank you so much. Maria
|
|
|
Post by janskov on Mar 10, 2006 0:41:25 GMT 1
Marijah- North of Dubrovnik is a bit unspecific, but send me an email and I may be able to suggest some people who can help you and who I use for my business. I know a good solicitor in Dubrovnik and I have an accountant that is very strict with me – which is good for me :-)
|
|
|
Post by z00ey on Mar 10, 2006 23:01:39 GMT 1
marijah, if you have the funds, a good architect should help you renovate the whole property in one season (which on the coast is from october till june)...
if you're interested, i can advise you on some good architect in the dubrovnik or split region (being an architect myself, from the only university of architecture in croatia, i should know the good from the ugly). pm me if you need help
|
|
|
Post by susan06 on Mar 11, 2006 11:30:59 GMT 1
I think when buying a property in Croatia your best friend is your estate agent. My agency provided reputable lawyer, they came with us at all viewing stages, staff speaking Croatian. Also we had weekly updates on building stages with pictures and full info. Looking back we were so lucky when you hear all the horror stories.
|
|
|
Post by nikh on Mar 15, 2006 18:43:38 GMT 1
An agency providing a lawyer???!!!mmmmm!!!!! Look at previous posts ref this, estate agent best friend? ?? Lucky? You had angels looking down on you!
|
|
|
Post by mambo on Mar 15, 2006 20:59:09 GMT 1
I am sure there are good real estate agents out there and I am also sure there are good lawyers out there.
Unfortunately, as an outsider e.g. a tourist visiting this country, not completely 'in' on the pro's and con's, you will not be able to identify the good from the bad ones.
I understand that efforts of coming to some sort of a 'trademark seal' or 'seal of approval' or even 'governing council' or even a organisation of bonafide real estate agents are still fruitless. Many real estate agents don't want to participate.
What I don't understand is why the foreign real estate agents, if they are serious, don't come together and do it themselves. Even if it is only a group of 4 or 5 agents, maybe more, you can still publish your standards, you can work with one common website, advertise your standards to the foreigners and for sure the tourists will catch on. I can guarantee you that, if these standards are high and become a success, also the 'serious' Croatian real estates will come on board and thus you can come to the necessary improvements in this sector.
Now it is simply the 'Wild Wild West', anything goes and as we say in Holland: 'rien ne vas plus, het geld is niet meer van u', which of course is based on the roulette term: 'rien ne vas plus' (no more bets please they say in English) and we simply added 'and the money is no longer yours'.
Buying a house or property in Croatia should no longer be a gamble, the service that Susan had should be the standard and until the time the real estate agents become organized buyers will still run into problems.
|
|
|
Post by nikh on Mar 16, 2006 19:50:29 GMT 1
Amazing what greed will do,thats a lovely idea MAmbo, i wish it could be so, but what you are forgeting is they are busy cutting each others throats for market position and with the shortage of product,the wild west will still rule for a while yet. Im a firm believer in buyer beware and stop being so bloody stupid buying property, apply the rules of purchase you would apply at home and then double check it. Research your market ask questions and the rest. Didderent country different rules.Lawyers need to be on their own and fully paid up members of the bar as a minimum with no allegiance to the agent or the vendor and dont give your money to a stranger for God sake! notarised accounts??? USE THEM. The attitude of saving on the swings so youll gain on the roundbouts drives me insane. People handing money over like its running through their fingers because its cheaper than at home not realising how much it costs to own a property and expecting high rental yields but wont check the rules . For Gods sake !! If I hear another person say my agent was a lovely person and really helpful, i trust them, jeez louise, they are getting paid by you and the vendor in most cases and your ony 1 sale the vendor is many.Work it out!They are not your friend.Im having a mad moment again!! Okay, I feel better !Phew! She was lucky or mayb e shes an agent!Yes I agree after al that ,Im sure, their are some that are dilligent and good, but its business dont foreget that, they are not your friend
|
|