For years, Germans dominated the foreign property market in Croatia, but the tides have shifted. Slovenians have now taken the lead as the most prominent buyers of Croatian real estate along the coast.
According to industry insights, a significant shift in property trends is expected in the coming year. While 58% of real estate professionals anticipate stagnating prices for apartments and houses, nearly 30% predict continued growth, and 10% foresee a decline. Dubravko Ranilović, president of the Association of Real Estate Business at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), echoed these mixed sentiments during an annual conference attended by 600 agents in Zagreb.
Residential property sales in Croatia continue to decline, with projections indicating fewer than 28,000 transactions this year—down from the record 60,000 sales in 2008. In the first eight months of this year, foreign buyers accounted for around 7,000 property purchases, particularly in Istria and other coastal regions, where foreign interest remains strong.
Zagreb, however, has seen a more modest 56 apartments sold to foreign nationals this year. While the market may be cooling in some areas, Slovenia’s proximity and strong interest suggest their dominance in the coastal property market is set to continue.
