Montenegro

Worried that you may have left it too late to buy in Croatia? Then why not move further down the coast to Montenegro. This south-western part of the former Yugoslavia is being heavily promoted by British agents as a new and hitherto undiscovered version of its more illustrious northern neighbour. With more than 180 miles of stunning Adriatic coast, steep mountains and lush national parks, Montenegro offers considerable natural beauty. There are many attractive properties to be found on the coast, in its pretty walled towns and villages inland or the Gulf of Kotor, the largest fjord in southern Europe. The pretty town of Budva, with cobbled streets, bars and boutiques is a popular spot, as is the beach resort of Petrovac, while the resort island of Sveti Stefan is spectacular. Montenegro is not quite as cheap as you might expect, and prices are moving rapidly towards Croatian levels. Although it is possible to find very basic, unrestored rural houses in the hills of the south for £30-40,000, you could pay £300,000 for a classic villa with sea view near the Croatian border or overlooking the fjord. Mortgages are not so far possible for foreign investors and, as in Croatia, there can be problems with title, making good independent legal advice essential.

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