Slovenia
gives credence to the saying ‘small is beautiful’.
Situated in the heart of Europe this small country - area
20,273km - has a wealth of wonderful scenery from its mountainous
interior to its short but attractive coastal strip.
Slovenia became an independent state in 1991,
becoming a member of the European Union in 2004 and has promised
to convert to the Euro from its current currency of the Tollar
in 2007.
It is bordered by Austria to the north, Hungary
in the East, Croatia to the south and Italy to the west. Ljubliana
is Slovenia’s lively capital and has a wealth of baroque-style
and medieval buildings. It has a rich, cultural life with
regular events during the summer months - for comparisons
imagine Prague without the hordes of ‘stags”degrading
the whole place.
Among Slovenia’s other attractions are
the Julian Alps which attract winter skiers and summer walkers
alike. And if you’re not up to such lively activities,
Lake Bled, a two-km long emerald lake which you can walk around
within two hours, is a more leisurely and romantic option.
In its centre is a small stone church which you can row out
to and ring its celebrated bell to ensure true love, or so
the legend goes.
The lake is bordered by an attractive village,
where you can grab a meal and somewhere to sleep. Of course
you can go one step by watching the sunset from a lofty restaurant
high above the lake, but for those of you who are fragile,
take a portable oxygen tent because the restaurant above the
lake is beautifully gothic but tres high.
If the coast is what you want, why not head
for Pirin, a beautiful, Venetian town at the end of the Istrian
penisula - although if a beach is what you want, Pirin is
not for you - rocks and slabs are as good as it gets. However
the town itself is wonderful with wonderful seafood restaurants
dotted among its historical stone walls.
Other coastal towns include: Portoroz with
its sandy bay, and Koper, only 21 km south of Trieste.
The first step in buying a property abroad
is to do lots of homework - narrow down the region or country
where you want to buy, work out your budget, and it's worth
buying some books. There are country specific, region specific
and general books on buying a house overseas.
It pays to be skeptical at all times when investigating purchasing
a property abroad - get a keen eye for spotting whether people
or articles are as independent as they may claim.
There may be investment prospects in Slovenia,
but it is essential that you seek independent expert professional
advice before undertaking any property purchase. There are
lots of things to bear in mind, including local laws and regulations,
taxes, surveyor's assessments of the building, financial currency
exchange, dealing with interbank transfers, volatility of
the housing market, etc. etc.
In some countries there are various restrictions
on foreigners owning land or property, so this needs to be
checked out fully. Any property purchase is a major undertaking.
The interest in purchasing property abroad has increased at
an amazing rate in the past five years, fuelled in the UK
by a booming domestic housing market making overseas properties
seem good value for money. Also, TV programmes like Channel
4's `A Place in the Sun' have made everyone realise that owning
a property abroad is no longer just for the rich and famous.
People are interested in purchasing a home overseas for a
variety of reasons - enjoyment, investment, a new life, retirement,
and more.
basic
Slovenia information | Slovenia
- A Little Jewel | Slovenia
- Prosperous ? | Facts
about Slovenia |
Ljubljana
- capital of Slovenia | The
Property Market in Slovenia |
Buyer's
Guide | Why
buy property in Slovenia? |
Investment
Advice
|
