December the 10th, 2022 - So you've decided to take the plunge and explore living in Croatia. Just as a snail needs a shell, you'll need a house. Here's how to find a Croatian apartment or house, with a few tips and tricks thrown in.
If you’ve already applied (and hopefully been granted) residence in Croatia, then you’ve already got a place to live, as you need to have a Croatian address to apply, and you can skip this article.
Looking for somewhere to live anywhere can be a task and a half, let alone in a foreign land where you more than likely don’t speak the language, or nowhere near enough of it to navigate this alone. There are multiple ways in which you can do this in Croatia, both formally and informally. If you’re here because you’re being employed, this may not be an issue if you’re being provided with accommodation, or if your employer is helping you out with your quest. There are many Facebook groups which offer apartments and even houses for rent and sale without the need for a middle man or intermediary to get involved in the process. There is also Njuškalo, a platform where you can sell just about anything.
Unlike many other European countries, an unfurnished apartment is an exception, not a rule in many places in Croatia, particularly in the City of Zagreb. That said, the glossy wide-angle photos that have caught your eye on social media or a website might not be quite up to date, so always go and see the apartment in person before committing to anything. This is a general rule anywhere in the world, of course.
Check if your potential living quarters has all the appliances that you’ll need (such as a washing machine, stove, fridge. If it hasn’t, make sure to ask if the landlord is willing to purchase them. You can also hire a real estate agency to help you out with your search, but in that case, you will probably end up paying a lot more money. If you’re a foreigner, and you probably are if you’re reading this, then hiring a lawyer could be a useful extra investment if the cash is there. They’ll be able to fully explain all the details of the contract to you and make sure you understand everything, especially if the contract isn’t in English and if the owner doesn’t speak English.
Sites for finding apartments, such as the aforementioned Njuškalo, let you search via maps for apartments, so, based on what you’re looking for, you can filter and narrow down your search and find a location that suits you best more quickly.
Location, location, location…
Just like almost everywhere else on the face of Earth, the closer you are to the very centre of a town or city, the higher the prices typically are, but I must say that when it comes to Zagreb in particular, the price difference might not be quite as vast as you expect. This is because the buildings are typically older, while apartments located a bit further out are usually newer, so the combination of a convenient location with lower apartment quality, and not so convenient location with a top quality apartment equals more or less the same amount of money.
Money talks, and the season is short
You should also be very aware of the fact that Croatia is a nation of seasonality. You’ve probably heard of seasonal affective disorder, well, Croatia sort of has it, in its own way. The effect that the tourist season has on the rental market can be quite jarring. Short-term summer holiday rentals are what keeps many local families afloat, especially on the coast, and it isn’t uncommon for long-term rental properties to exclude the tourism-dominated summer months from their offers entirely. There are even horrendous cases of people being told they have to leave and go elsewhere for the summer, because tourists pay more and like everywhere else, especially in a country where tourism is the strongest economic branch - money talks. Having said that, the possibility of year-round income, even if it is lower, and not to mention stability, is also attractive to some landlords, as the tourist season remains short despite efforts to lengthen it. With such question marks hanging over your head, engaging a lawyer to make sure your contract and your agreement is watertight and you aren’t going to get any unpleasant surprises as soon as the temperature heats up is a worthwhile move, if for nothing else than peace of mind.
Facebook groups
The site that just used to be about posting on people’s walls and poking each other until one of you gave up (or grew up) has evolved into something enormous over the years. Facebook groups can be extremely helpful when it comes to finding apartments in Croatia. Groups that offer apartments will have names such as the following:
Stanovi za najam (Apartments/flats for rent)
Iznajmljivanje stanova (the same as the above)
Najam stanova [enter location] bez agencije (Apartments for rent without the engagement of an agency)
Newspapers and portals
Popular newspapers such as Večernji list, Jutarnji list and 24sata (to name a few) have advertisements in them.
Njuškalo.hr
I’ve mentioned this platform previously, but it’s worth a paragraph or two of its own. This platform is the most popular buying and selling platform in the country. A little bit like Craigslist or even ebay (at a stretch, but you get the idea), this is the country’s largest online advertisement website by far. Acting as a marketplace, it has more than 1.4 million customers who are in the market for, well, just about anything!
You’ll need to select the category on Njuškalo called Nekretnine (property), and browse using the filters to find something that suits you, from the area to the square footage.
Other useful websites
Aside from the wildly popular Njuškalo, there are several other sites which can help you to find your new living space in Croatia which also have English language options, they are:
Crozilla.com
GoHome
Najam.hr
Real Estate Croatia
Burza
Nekretnine 365
Oglasnik.hr
Podstanar.hr
Index oglasi
Oglas.hr
Things to note
Word of mouth, just like with everything else in Croatia, is extremely helpful when it comes to finding an apartment.
Make sure you get a written contract and you go through it with a fine tooth comb, or have a trusted friend or better yet, a lawyer (or a trusted friend who also just happens to be a lawyer) sit down and go through it with you.
If something doesn’t feel right or you’re unsure, ask, ask, and ask again.
For more on moving to and living in Croatia, keep up with our dedicated lifestyle section.
