Top locations ahead of summer: Demand for houses up 60%, mostly around Belgrade and Novi Sad

During the Orthodox Easter and May Day holidays, there were big traffic jams on many roads in Serbia, and the Milos Veliki highway got especially crowded. That's a sign that people are still eager to spend time in nature and isolation, even though we don't have quarantine this year.

Namely, according to the data from the Republic Geodetic Authority, the number of sold weekend houses in 2020 is 60 percent higher than in 2019. It is interesting, therefore, that domestic guests are no longer only interested in renting accommodation somewhere outside the city's hustle and bustle, but want to own this type of real estate.

There is a special craze for houses on Fruska Gora and Tara mountains, about which we have written several times, something that was confirmed to us by the Halo Oglasi Nekretnine (a specialized ad publication). The trend from last year transferred to the first quarter of 2021, and everything says that it will continue.

In March, the turnover in real estate was higher by 29 percent compared to February. The largest increase of 4.3 times was in the turnover of special purpose facilities, followed by weekend homes - by 68.3 percent.

A local real estate company also told us that traditionally, neighborhoods, i.e.houses at the foot of Avala and around Kosmaj, are in great demand, primarily due to their proximity to the capital. But the locals are also interested in the surroundings of Novi Sad, since the demand for land there has increased by some 150 percent.

Increased interest, but also prices

Also, Sumadija is in great demand, and the area around Topola is ideal if you are looking for a favorably priced weekend home, clean air, nature and proximity to Belgrade. We should also mention the settlement of Tresnja near Avala, but also Lake Perucac - whose fairytale-like rafts are to "blame" for so many visits. However, there are more inquiries for renting accommodation than for buying real estate there.

Before buying, you should pay attention to the prices that jumped sharply during 2020, but also to the documentation: check whether the facility is registered, whether it includes everything that is stated in the contract, especially bearing in mind that some owners do not resolve the issues other than the building permit.

Demand is also reflected in the supply of banks, that is, the decision to expand it: this is about loans for the purchase of prefabricated houses or reparation and renovation of old/dilapidated real estate. This season, houses with a swimming pool, garden, yard, barbecue, and even a jacuzzi are especially in demand - depending on the buyer's financial situation.

(Telegraf Biznis/B.DJ.)