Anyone who’s been on the market for a house recently knows this isn’t exactly an easy challenge these days. Since the beginning of the pandemic the buying fever is real and the offer seems to be quite a bit smaller than the demand. Prices are rising, houses are selling fast and it’s difficult to get a foot in the door – both literally and figuratively. If you’re really struggling and don’t know what to do anymore, it might be a good idea to look a bit outside of your comfort zone.
Because although travelling can be challenging nowadays because of the virus, this might also be the perfect moment to jump into the unknown. To finally do something you’ve been dreaming about for a very long time: move abroad. Because if not now, then when? Timing’s seldom perfect yet now that everything’s changing, it might be easier than ever to change your whole life around and be happy about it too.
But where to go? How do you decide where to live when the whole world’s your oyster? Admittedly, it’s not an easy choice and one you should think about it thoroughly. Yet luckily, the universe sometimes tends to give us a sign, pushing us to finally take the plunge. This time, that sign points to the Croatian town of Legrad.
Legrad
Legrad once used to be the second-biggest population center on Croatian territory, yet since the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire a century ago, things have changed. “We turned into a border town with few transport connections to other places. Since then the population has been gradually falling,” the town’s mayor, Ivan Sabolic, told Reuters. Nowadays, the town counts 2250 inhabitants, which is about half of what it used to be.
In order to attract new citizens, the town’s now launching a special campaign. They’re selling abandoned houses and construction sites at the symbolical price of €0.13. Some of them are literal ruins, others are looking more like a house already. On top of the very low purchasing amount, the town is also willing to put €3300 towards any possible refurbishments. The key conditions for individuals or couples who want to settle in Legrad include that they must be financially solvent and under the age of 40. They also need to commit to staying at least 15 years. So if you fit those demands, you now know where to look.
