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