Rural Smallholdings Magazine

If you are considering buying a smallholding and have been disappointed by the lack of available properties and high prices in the UK, you might want to consider looking further afield to realise your dream.

Croatia may sound a very long way away, but in reality is only 2 hours by plane or a good day’s drive, making it a very attractive option. Once there you will find a wide range of farms and smallholdings for sale at very reasonable prices, some starting at less than €15,000 Euros which includes a farmhouse, outbuildings, large barn and three acres of land!

Due to join the EU by 2012, Croatia was once part of the former Yugoslavia and is now a modern, vibrant Country where English is widely spoken and running a smallholding is still the normal way of life for around half the population.

Starting your own smallholding may seem to be a huge a step in the UK, and doing it in another Country might appear to be even more daunting, but fear not many others have already gone before you.

Keith Pierce, owner of real estate company “inlandcroatia.com” explains;
“When Michele and I arrived five years ago, we were the first Brits to come and live in this part of the Country, now there are quite a few of us and many who are aiming to become self sufficient by running their own smallholdings”

He continued;
“We knew very little about this way of life, but with help from our Croatian friends and neighbours, we now have a farm with eight acres and are really starting to get to grips with life in the country”

When we asked why he and his wife chose Croatia he replied;
“Having chosen to re direct our lives we found that we simply could not afford to do it in the UK. Other parts of Europe were already very expensive, so we decided to look towards Eastern Europe where prices were much more reasonable. When we arrived and found this beautiful countryside with such a wonderful and friendly people, we didn’t need much convincing.”

The countryside regions of central Croatia are just that, beautiful. Ranging from rolling hills to fertile plains with winding rivers and lakes, there is a wide choice of properties and land to choose from.

Keith continued;
“Now that there are a few of us here life is a lot easier. We all muck in and share a good deal of the hard work between us, each bringing their own experiences and skills to help out with whatever needs doing.”

And in these difficult economic times more and more people are looking towards a smallholding or farm for the future.

Keith said;
“We now run our own real estate company, helping people who are considering this lifestyle to find the right property here in Croatia. Since the start of 2008 the level of enquiries for farm type properties has doubled compared to the previous year as more and more people seem to be looking to get out of the UK and want to try a smallholding. As Croatia is not in the EU yet, probably not until 2011 or 2012, prices here are still very cheap any you do get a lot for your money.”

So if you are looking for that something different, an inexpensive smallholding in a not too far away place, Croatia may be just what you are looking for, and being just 2 hours away by plane your family and friends can easily pop over for a visit, preferably around harvest time.

For more information visit www.inlandcroatia.com or call them on 00 385 12727 911