Hrvatski
English
At the very beginning of buying real estate, we ask ourselves whether we should buy an old apartment or a new one. If you have decided on an old building:
Then you count at the start that you will save with a more favorable price. That is, the ratio of square footage to the price of the property will be more favorable for you. At the same time, do not forget the costs of decoration and repairs. In addition, the purchase is additionally burdened by the real estate transaction tax, which amounts to 3% for the buyer of the purchase price. If you are lucky enough to buy a well-maintained apartment that was partially adapted by the previous owners, you will save at the start.
What you should pay attention to when buying old apartments is the condition of the electricity, water, gas, supply and drainage installations. sanitary ware, ceramics, floors, external and internal carpentry. The exact year of construction is important to you, what are the ceilings, floors like... Are there beams on the floor or ABS construction... What are the statics of the building itself, or how the building behaved after the earthquake. Does it have a yellow, green or red sticker. It is preferable that it does not have a sticker, if it is green then it is valid. Check how the heating is handled, i.e. whether you need to get a new water heater according to the regulations or service the old one. What a chimney. It is also important whether the building has a thermal facade, i.e. whether the energy class is higher or lower... See if there is moisture/fungi in the apartment and the building.
This alone saves significantly on heating/cooling the property and on utilities. One of the items that should be taken into account is also the current condition of the building and the amount of the reserve. If interventions have been made on the roof/facade/installations, the reserve is probably higher than usual. But also arranged. If the reserve is low and the roof is old, the facade is unkempt, the building is not maintained, then you are in trouble.
Regardless of the reduced price of the apartment, your dependent expenses will increase due to future renovations of the building and raising the amount of the reserve. Pay attention to the neighbors too; what are they like. The corridor of the building itself speaks volumes about them. Old buildings mostly do not have an elevator. Or they say that it is planned if they decide. We often come across old buildings with messy title deeds and buildings without a use permit. If you are buying through a bank housing loan, proper documentation is important for you, as well as for further registration in the land register. The question is whether it is shared with all tenants or separate. Why pay for water you don't use? Own water meter is an advantage. If you are lucky and buy a semi-furnished or furnished apartment in an old building, in most cases you do not have a guarantee from the master who did the adaptation. The apartment is sold in "as seen condition", later complaints are not accepted. One of the biggest problems you face when buying an old building is the lack of your own parking space. Mostly it is about the toll zone and parking in the surrounding streets or around the building.
If you are buying a new building:
- The apartment is adapted to the buyer during the construction phase (choice of tiles, bathtub/shower, etc.)
- You don't have to pay for the decoration, all you have to do is bring the furniture into the new apartment
- You have a guarantee on the property; 2 years for craft work and 10 for construction
- The construction of the building is reinforced concrete, anti-seismic
- Consumption of water, electricity and gas are separated
- The building is energy-efficient with a thermal facade, built with high-quality and modern materials that enable greater efficiency and lower heating/cooling costs.
- Floor heating in accordance with all professional regulations (gas, heating plant, renewable sources)
- Secured parking spaces next to each apartment
- Relatively low reserve
- You can immediately rent out the new apartment as an investment
- When you buy from a legal entity, VAT is included in the price and you do not pay real estate sales tax of 3%
- The value of real estate is more stable than in old buildings (depreciation).