According to The Serbian Economist, the Croatian municipality of Legrad, located near the border with Hungary, has extended its program to sell municipal real estate for the symbolic price of 1 euro through 2026. The initiative aims to attract young families, restore neglected homes, and stem population decline.
The program includes several support mechanisms, including the sale of individual plots of land and houses for 1 euro, partial financing for construction and renovation, reimbursement of a portion of the cost of purchasing a first home, and the rental of municipal apartments with the option to purchase them later.
Under the program’s terms, young families and individual applicants who plan to establish their permanent residence within the municipality may purchase properties designated by the municipality for a symbolic price.
For most applicants, the age limit is set at 45 years. For certain categories of families with minor children, the age limit is raised to 55 years.
Participants must not own any other habitable housing, are required to register their residence in the community within the timeframes specified by the program, and must live there for at least 15 years.
The municipality has also provided financial support for construction and renovation. Compensation for project documentation costs can amount to up to 1,000 euros, and for building materials and labor—up to 5,000 euros, depending on the terms of the relevant competition.
Separately, partial reimbursement of costs for the purchase of a first home is provided. For residential buildings, support can reach 5,000 euros, and for land plots—2,000 euros.
According to local media reports, 10 houses and land plots have been sold since the program’s launch, and 65 families have received various forms of housing support.
The program has also attracted the attention of Croatian expatriates living abroad.
For foreigners, eligibility depends not only on the terms of the municipal program but also on Croatian real estate laws and the existence of legal grounds for long-term residence.
Legrad is located in Koprivnica-Križevci County in northern Croatia. The community’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, and its population has been declining for a long time.
The sale of real estate at a nominal price is part of a local demographic policy aimed at attracting young residents, revitalizing the housing stock, and supporting local businesses.
