When clients ask me where to start, I always advise them to prepare before arriving in Serbia. Today, it’s easy to learn about the country, its regions, and cities through YouTube and social media. This is not a waste of time — quite the opposite. Proper preparation helps narrow the search, speed up the buying process, and avoid regrets caused by rushed decisions after the purchase.
The next step I consistently recommend is to define your budget in advance and plan how the selected property will be paid for. Opening bank accounts and transferring funds to Serbia is becoming more complicated month by month, so these issues should be addressed early, not once the right property has already been found.
When it comes to security, I always point out that it’s easy to make mistakes or be misled in a foreign country. That’s why I advise working only with real estate agents who operate legally and take responsibility for their work. The brokerage must be registered in the Register of Intermediaries of the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade, and the agent must hold a valid license and have passed the professional exam.
Only then can you be confident that the person assisting you is competent and providing accurate information about the property you are purchasing.
I also caution clients about so-called “exclusive” properties that are supposedly not listed on Serbian websites and are presented as “available only to you.” In practice, this often indicates an attempt to overprice a property or sell an illiquid one, taking advantage of the buyer’s lack of local market knowledge.
Another key piece of advice I always give is not to try to save money by excluding a lawyer from the transaction. I recommend hiring an independent lawyer who specializes in real estate transactions. They will review the documentation, explain potential risks, and help you make an informed decision. I also do not advise relying solely on the seller’s lawyer, as their primary duty is to protect their client’s interests — not yours.
In practice, I assist clients by guiding them step by step through the entire process, and when needed, I recommend trusted lawyers I work with and can confidently suggest for property purchases.
Sergey Nagin
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063 748 4331