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The mountains of central and eastern Europe have already democratised skiing. Now they´re doing the same for ski-property ownership, too Europe´s ski resorts were once the exclusive domain of the rich and famous, their pistes and property prices beyond the reach of most of us – think back to those photographs from the 1970s of royalty and film stars frolicking in the snow in unpronounceable and impossibly glamorous resorts such as Gstaad and St Moritz that we mere mortals thought we would never be able to enjoy.
But these days, thanks to low-cost airlines and the emergence of ski fields in former Eastern Bloc countries such as Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Slovenia, buying a property in a central European ski playground is achievable and aff ordable for those with as little as €45,000 to spend.
Bulgaria
 Bulgaria has been a big noise in the world of overseas property for the last few years. This is primarily thanks to low entry-level prices. €45,000 buys a new studio in some Black Sea coastal resorts. Arguably, however, property in ski resorts can have greater year-round potential: winter sports for four to five months annually, followed by hiking, walking and golf at one of a number of new courses in the summer. “Bulgaria has seen wide-ranging investment over the last five years, resulting in modern international-standard ski resorts,” says Robert Jenkin of agents, Bulgarian Dreams. “EU funds have paid for new roads, while private investment has expanded piste systems. Modern lift systems are now standard and high-quality accommodation is widespread. For example, we have properties for sale with their own private cinema and ice rink!”
Bansko and Borovets off er Bulgaria´s best skiing. The resorts sit in the Pirin Mountains in the country´s southeast, 90-minutes´ drive from the capital, Sofia. It´s also 50km from the border with Greece and approximately 160km from the coast – close enough to be able to drive to a beach. The range´s highest point is the 2,914m Vihren Peak and the 17 pistes include one uninterrupted 16km-long run.
Petko Petkoff of Allure Estates says Bansko is pick of the bunch. “Bansko is a major venue in the strong Bulgarian bid to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2014,” he says. “The conditions for skiing are among the best in the Balkans, with 65km of ski tracks to cater for skiers and snowboarders of every standard. Soon, more than 6,000 apartments will be built there, off ering incredibly high quality at low prices.”
Poland
 Poland may not be the first country you think of when someone says “Let´s go skiing for a weekend” – great news for those who prefer not to be regaled by stockbroker Tim Rich-but-Dim´s boring business stories over an apres-ski beer. Poland´s premier ski resort, Zakopane, is still best known to Poles and
other central Europeans. Less than 10% of visitors are from western Europe. Close to the border with Slovakia in the south, Zakopane has 36 ski lifts and is the main base for exploring the Tatra Mountains, whose highest peak is 2,650m. The largest mountain resort north of the Alps, Zakopane is both Poland´s premier skiing centre and a summer hiking destination, making it an ideal year-round base for a second home or investment property. “Zakopane is a dual-season destination with an active rental market for eight to 10 months of the year,” says Nick Dare, managing director of investment specialists, Dare Property. “Investors can expect a greater rental return than is normally the case with single-season destinations.” Getting there is pretty straightforward. The resort is two-and-a-half hours´ drive from Katowice airport.
Slovenia
 The country´s main ski resort is Kranjska Gora, in the Julian Alps. It´s a 30-minute drive from the capital, Ljubljana, and off ers great ski facilities. This means owning a property nearby in Bled is a good bet. It´s surrounded by mountains and has a lake ideal for swimming. Likewise, property in the picturesque capital is a good idea. Likened to a mini Prague, Ljubljana has a rich architectural heritage. The Roman, Venetian and art deco influences are making the city an increasingly popular destination with British weekenders. “We have noticed a rise in the number of Britons enquiring about property in Slovenia in the past 12 months, and as the country prepares to join the Eurozone in January 2007, we would expect further increases in interest,” says Kristina Hrman of web portal www.newskys.co.uk. “British buyers are likely to be drawn immediately towards the ski resorts of Kranjska Gora and Maribor Pohorje, but it is well worth looking into areas like Crmosnjice, Krvavec, Cerkno or Rogla, which are developing and could become investment hotspots in the very near future.”
Romania
 Romania! Are you mad? First things first: put away your preconceptions about an austere country ruled by a crazy dictator for several decades. Romania is a largely rural nation that, although beautiful, is somewhat lacking in Western-standard amenities – notably in its ski resorts. However, that´s all set to change as the country gears up to join the EU next year and grab its large slice of investment money that comes with accession to the Union.
Anda Giorgio of Romanian Business Connection picks out two resorts in the Translyvanian Alps – yes, near to Dracula´s castle – that off er skiing. “Eight kilometres from Sovata Spa resort is a relatively isolated ski slope in need of development. Over 1,200m long, it´s suitable for beginners and moderate skiers,” he says. “And there are other slopes near Toplita town, including a 420m long run and a 1,000m long run for beginners. Both are very busy, especially at weekends, when they´re heavily used by locals.”
It was ranked the most profitable country to invest in the real estate market in Europe by A Place in the Sun magazine. But in terms of its skiing property – for the time being at least, Romania sits under the heading “potential”. The pioneers amongst us will already be waxing their skis and sorting out a second mortgage. The question is: are you one of these?
| In southeastern Slovenia, near Crnomelj. Only a 30-minute drive to the nearest ski resort at Crmosnjice, this large house is suitable for both recreational skiers and competitors and is set in a picturesque, quiet rural village. The price is €86,000. NewSkys: +44 845 330 1449. www.newskys.co.uk |
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| Thirty minutes from the international airport and one hour from the ski resorts, in the centre of Tirgu Mures, Romania. This three-bedroom apartment, one en-suite, is finished to Western standards. The price is €95,000 with Romanian Business Connection: +44 20 8422 6524. www.romanianhomes.com (*Image not property above) |
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| Eight minutes from the centre of Zakopane, Poland, and close to the main ski lifts, a development of two-room apartments is for sale with a 5% net rental guaranteed income for three years. Prices start at €108,950 including VAT, through Dare Property: +44 20 7610 1040. www.dareproperty.com (*Image not property above) |
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| The Orchard, Bansko, Bulgaria, is being built less than 300m from the main ski lift, making it ideally placed to benefit from the existing and new gondola stations. Facilities for owners include a private ice rink and cinema. Prices start from €72,000 through Bulgarian Dreams: +44 20 7614 1240. www.bulgariandreams.co.uk |
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| Balkan Place, Bansko, Bulgaria, is an apartment hotel with spa being built by a British developer, five minutes from the new gondola lift. Features include lobby bar, swimming pool and gym. Prices start from €37,870 through Balkan Ski Chalets: +44 161 408 0725. www.balkanskichalets.com |
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Balkan Ski Chalets +44 161 408 1725 www.balkanskichalets.co.uk Bulgarian Dreams +44 20 7614 1240 www.bulgariandreams.co.uk
Dare Property +44 2Balkan Place, Bansko, Bulgaria, is an apartment hotel with spa being built by a British developer, five minutes from the new gondola lift. Features include lobby bar, swimming pool and gym. Prices start from €37,870 through Balkan Ski Chalets: +44 161 408 0725. www.balkanskichalets.com 7610 1040 www.dareproperty.com
NewSkys +44 845 330 1449 www.newskys.co.uk
Romanian Business Connection +44 20 8422 6524 www.romanianhomes.com
Kiedyś europejskie kurorty narciarskie były zarezerwowane dla słynnych i bogatych. Przypomnij sobie fotografie z lat 70., na których członkowie rodzin królewskich i gwiazdy filmowe spędzajš zimę w ekskluzywnych kurortach o trudnych do wymówienia nazwach, takich jak np. Gstaad czy St Moritz. My, zwykli śmiertelnicy, nie mogliśmy nawet o tym marzyć. Jednak dzisiaj, kiedy mamy tanie linie lotnicze i dostępne stoki krajów dawnego bloku wschodniego, nawet zakupienie nieruchomości w narciarskim rejonie Centralnej Europy staje się możliwe dla posiadaczy 200 tys. złotych. W ostatnich latach rynek nieruchomości nad Morzem Czarnym w Bułgarii przeżywa renesans. Nieruchomości w górskich miejscowościach, ze względu na ich całoroczny potencjał, również sš bardzo atrakcyjne. Podobnie jest w największym kurorcie narciarskim na północ od Alp, polskim Zakopanem. Gdy kończy się zima, zjeżdżajš tu amatorzy wędrówek i górskich wspinaczek. Coraz więcej inwestorów interesuje się też Słoweniš. Jej głównym kurortem narciarskim jest Kranjska Gora niedaleko Lublany.
Ogromny potencjał ma Rumunia, brakuje tam tylko infrastruktury o zachodnioeuropejskich standardach. Wszystko wkrótce się zmieni, jak tylko Rumunia przystšpi do Unii Europejskiej. Magazyn A Place in the Sun sklasyfikował Rumunię na pierwszym miejscu w Europie pod względem opłacalności inwestowania w nieruchomości. Natomiast nieruchomości w kurortach narciarskich umieszczone sš w kategorii „Potential”. I co, smarujesz już narty i załatwiasz następny kredyt?
A nagy európai pályákon siklani egykor a gazdagok kiváltsága volt. Ma az olcsó repülőjáratoknak és a közép-európai fejlodo síterepeknek köszönhetoen a síközpontok környékén található ingatlanok mindenki számára elérhetővé váltak.
BULGÁRIA Az utóbbi években Bulgária volt a legfelkapottabb a külföldi befektetők körében. A legjobb bolgár síközpontok Bansko és Borovets. A központok a Pirin hegységben, az ország délnyugati részén fekszenek, 90 percnyi autóútra Szófiától. A tizenhét sípálya közül az egyik 16 kilométer hosszú.
LENGYELORSZÁG Zakopane, a legnagyobb központ az Alpoktól északra, nemcsak a síelők, hanem a túrázók körében is kedvelt. Az itt vásárolt ingatlan egész évben jól kihasználható. A központ körülbelül két órányira fekszik a katowicei reptértől. SZLOVÉNIA Az ország legismertebb síparadicsoma a Kranjska Gora. A nagyszerű síelési lehetőségek miatt érdemes akár a közeli, hegyekkel övezett Bled városában, akár a gyönyörű fővárosban ingatlant vásárolni.
ROMÁNIA Románia sípályái Vlad Tepes szomszédságában, az Erdélyi Alpokban vannak. S bár az értékelések szerint az európai államok közül leginkább Romániában érdemes befektetni, a síterepek szempontjából egyelőre inkább a nagy lehetőséget rejti magában, mintsem a nagy profitot.
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Eastern promise
