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Romania: Investing in a Land of Unexpected Opportunity

I have to admit it. I had almost no the fairy tale land of Transylvania. In
knowledge of the country of Romania just between is just about a little of
five short years ago, when I came here everything else, from natural healing
for the first time. What came to my mind springs, to flatlands highly suitable for
were images of Dracula, Frankenstein, and agricultural use, to a host of medieval
under-cared for orphaned children, the and modern cities such as Sibiu, Cluj,
kind that were featured in fund-raising Brasov, and Timisoara, which is perhaps
specials that appeared on television when the most Westernized of all Romanian
I was a kid. At least I can say that I cities.I spoke with a number of real
knew for sure that it existed, and so did estate experts about what the best
it's province of Transylvania. That's speculations for the real estate investor
partially contrary to what I was taught would be, asking questions like cost of
in elementary school, by the way, when entry, minimum length of time for
our teacher assured us that Transylvania investment to mature, etc. All seemed to
was only a storybook land and therefore agree that land, all over the country,
we need not be frightened that the was the best bet. Only one problem
horrible creatures that inhabit it though. Foreigners can't own undeveloped
actually exist!Today, five years later, I land without an attached dwellingHowever,
have a radically different and much more I discovered a loop-hole that not only
well-informed allows the foreign investor to own land
view of Romania. The things that used but also to diversify his investment
to come to mind about this country, portfolio, if he wishes, and invest in
rarely do anymore. When I think back the the three hottest areas of Romanian
about my old preconceptions of Romania, real estate at the same time - land,
it never ceases to take me aback the homes, and office space. It's called a
great difference between the infamous REIT- Real Estate Investment Trust.A REIT
legends and surprising reality about is a security that sells like a stock on
this country.Now, instead, I am captured the major exchanges and invests in real
by many of the same things that ancient estate directly, either through
Roman emperors like Cesar and Napoleon properties or mortgages.REITs receive
found so alluring about this place. special tax considerations, and typically
(Romania was a part of the Roman Empire offer investors high yields as well as a
and takes it name from the Latin word for highly liquid method of investing in real
Rome.) From incredible natural resources estate.
to majestic mountain and seaside The REIT concept is in action in Romania
landscapes, Romania is a place that has a by a reputable American firm and is
little of everything you would find designed specifically for the purpose of
elsewhere and a number of things you enabling foreign investors to have the
can't find anywhere else. And as for opportunity to invest in Romania's
Transylvania, my teacher was right on one greatest real estate opportunity (land)
point - it is a storybook land- but, on and to diversify their real estate
the contrary, for it's beauty and that of portfolio, even with minimum funds for
it's people.Ultimately as concerns investment. (The usual entry investment
Romania though, the most important is 25,000 Euro.) Investors should be
discovery I made in my search for the willing to hold there money in the
truth about this land of legends, is the portfolio for about 5 years. The yearly
tremendous real estate investment gains over that period of time are
potential that exists here.Romania expected to be quite significant and
presents the investor with an exceptional investors who currently have invested in
opportunity to benefit from the ascension an REIT have already made considerable
of an eastern block country to the returns on their investment.A more
European Community. The timetime line explanatory overview is available for
this opportunity, however, is limited. those interested.Another promising
Romania is one of the last European development for Romanian real estate is
countries in ascension talks with the EU created by the construction of a new 2
and it is projected to enter in either billion EURO super-highway being realized
2007 or 2008. The expectation around this with the financial backing of the EU.
hallmark event has resulted in much This new super-highway built with the
needed economic and government reform, technology of the American firm
making conditions more suitable for contracted to complete it by the year
foreign investment.The pre-ascension 2010-12 will dramatically change the face
excitement has also given way to a of Romania. It will cut the travel time
dramatic increase in real estate prices between Bucharest and major European
in recent years, especially in major cities down significantly and literally
cities and tourist areas. For example, a create new major destinations in Romania,
friend of ours bought a 2-bedroom overnight. Cutting through the Western
apartment in central Bucharest in early portion of the providence of
2002 for $25,000 USD. Today his apartment Transylvania, numerous towns and
is valued at 75,000 EURO ($100,000 USD) potential resort districts abounding in
and the amount of interested buyers is raw natural beauty with mountains,
more then sufficient.So much so, that springs, and rivers will suddenly be
potential buyers have actually posted centrally located. Rather then remaining
advertisements on the entry door to his isolated, somewhat hard-to-reach hidden
apartment building stating that they are treasures, these gems of Mother Nature
eagerly looking to buy an apartment in will now be as close as turn on the
the building or a nearby one. This friend off-ramp. Truly, many of these locations
of ours can choose to sell his apartment surpass the potential found in the
today at a significant profit or hold on current tourist areas that are easier to
to it until closer to the actual reach.
ascension of Romania to the EU, allowing .The ability to start an inn or bed &
him to benefit from the greatest possible breakfast in one of these areas is ripe.
appreciation in value of his property. We even know of a top Bucharest hotel
During the mean time, he could continue chef ready to pack his bags and commit
to rent out the apartment at 700 EURO his energy to starting a restaurant in
($890 USD) a month or get in on the burge one of these new destinations for a small
oning short-term rental market which piece of the potential profit he believes
offers an alternative to the over-priced it will yield. Those who are in Romania,
hotel room rates in the city, and with a know the market, and have seen what has
pretty good occupancy rate, rent the happened thus far, have little doubt what
apartment on a daily or weekly basis at the future will yield and are ready to do
50 Euro per night.Our friend is just one almost anything to get in on the action.
of countless foreign citizens and
Romanians who have already profited For those who are looking to relocate,
greatly from investment in the Romanian the opportunities likewise are great.
real estate market. Yet, as you will soon This is the chance to live in the best of
discover in this article, there are still both worlds - old and new - and position
better deals out there to be had then the yourself and your loved ones in what will
one he and others have so far benefited be one of the biggest member countries of
from. the European Union.An American friend of
While the prices have already jumped mine owns a beautiful home in a lakeside
significantly in recent years, the suburban community with a wonderful view
near-certain speculation is that they over the lake and 2000 meters of land.
will continue to rise dramatically until This two-story home with three bedrooms
the time of the ascension of Romania into cost him about 150,000 Euro to build. The
the European Union. The certainty of this premises also contain an outdoor kitchen,
speculation is bolstered by the 10% rise orchards groves and gardens. In short, a
in cost of houses, apartments, and dream home.By deciding to build his dream
property in Bucharest over the period of home outside of the city, about 25
December 23, 2004 and January 5, 2005. minutes downtown Bucharest, in what
With the amount of interested clients Americans would consider a nearby suburb,
sufficiently high this means that an my friend not only saved on land costs,
investor could have bought and sold a he also set himself up for a great growth
property and made a 10% profit in less in value.As he put it, draw a circle
then 2 weeks in the Romanian real estate around any Western European city of 25
market while he or she was celebrating kilometers and you have the city's
the holidays with family or busy skiing.. suburbs. As Bucharest continues to expand
this area will become a
The amazing reality is that such centrally-located, well-saught-after
opportunities for substantial profit suburb, especially with the large lake
continue to exist, for now at least, here and forest that it contains..
in Romania. In the capitol city of There is still a limited amount of
Bucharest, deals can still be found for property available both in this and
investors with ready cash from sellers neighboring communities for construction
looking for quick money. Another great of similar homes. The best bet seems to
speculation is office space in Bucharest. be the build your own home with a
At 1.2 Euro per square meter, Bucharest reputable construction firm, according to
is now close to the cost of office space your tastes, and pocket the savings that
in Vienna which is currently at 1.8 Euro this effort will yield for you.A home in
per square meter. These prices continue the suburbs, of course, is not for
to accelerate. Such opportunities though everyone. The true romantic may be more
are only the beggining. intrigued by a "conac" the Romanian name
While the general over-evaluation of for a cottage of the aristocracy of the
real estate in Bucharest has caused Country at the turn of the 20th century
prices to rise and made the average cost where gentry would spend their weekends
of entry higher then just several years and summers sipping wines from the
ago, this very reality, gives clear surrounding vineyards as well as the
indication that clever investors can basement vaults.
continue to benefit from this .These home often need a little fixing
over-evaluation of property value in the up, but are worth it as the lingering
mayhem surrounding Romania's anticipated aroma of the wine harvested on their
EU entry.It is generally held that prices estates and spirit of days gone by
will continue to rise sharply until continue to fill the premises with an air
leveling off, or perhaps dropping of magic.
slightly, after the entry of Romania into For the cost of an acre in the Napa
the European Union. This has created a Valley (or probably less) you can have a
short time period in which investors can functioning micro-vineyard and getaway
yield serious turnaround on their home located in the Romanian wine
investments and those wishing to relocate country, situated in the steppe to the
can do so while getting in at a good Carpathian mountains, a short drive from
bargain.The best bet for investment Bucharest.Another alternative would be a
oriented apartment-hunters in Bucharest mountain home or getaway which be had
today is high-end luxury apartments. The from anywhere from 20,000 Euro and up. A
potential for profit off of lower to superb villa in a choice location would
middle end apartments has began to tweak be about 100,000 Euro. Most such homes
off as prices have already risen closer come with spectacular mountain views and
their final expected levels. A luxury often with other natural beauty close by
apartment however, which can currently be or on the grounds of the property, such
had for between 120 to 200,000 Euro (2-3 as fragrant pine tree forests and
bedrooms), will likely climb in value meadows.Romania offers excellent services
10-20% a year, over the next two years and conditions for expats. The general
leading up to EU ascension. By looking at cost of living is much less then in the
the price of luxury apartments in any European Union and allow the non-European
European Union capitol city versus the chance afford-ably stake his claim in
Bucharest, the capitol city of Romania, the European Union and establish a life
one can observe the great disparity in in what will be a flourishing European
prices which still exists at the moment superstate.
between the luxury apartment market here Whether one is looking for a short-term
verses in EU capitol cities. While the investment turn-around in an European
investor waits for his investment to capitol city like Bucharest or to start
mature he can rent out his apartment for their own resort inn in the breathtaking
1,500 to 2,000 Euro per month, further wilds of Transylvania, opportunity is
adding significantly to his overall readily available for the serious-minded
profit. The number of multi-national investor.This opportunity which is
companies present in the city makes this available in the present is akin to that
a relatively easy sum to get for such a which was available in the Czech Republic
place on a rather consistent basis. 10-12 years ago. Many speculate, based on
. At this point it stands to mention Romania's size and natural assets, the
that any real estate purchase made by a future yieldings will actually end up
foreign individual can be financed by being much greater.These opportunities
leasing available through only one will not last long. As the EU accession
Romanian company, as long as a 20-30% gets closer and the new highway is paved,
deposit is initially made.While Bucharest the potential for revenue-making that
abounds with investment opportunity, the currently exists will clearly subside and
opportunities outside of the capitol are diminish. For those who missed out on
also ripe with potential for significant investment in the Czech Republic and
profit matching or exceeding that of Hungary and don't want to miss out again,
Bucharest. Romania offers a diverse the time is now in Romania.Kevin
landscape ranging from a large stretch of Stillmock has been involved in real
seaside along the Black Sea Coast to the estate investment since 2000.
impressive Carpathian Mountain range in




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