Moving to Serbia for Permanent Residence: What You Need to Know About Buying a House in a Village
Relocating for Permanent Residence: Focus on Rural Areas
When planning to move to Serbia for permanent residence, it's important to clearly define your goals. This isn't about a temporary stay to 'wait things out,' but a full-fledged relocation for those who have already researched the country and are ready for a fundamental change of residence.
The main focus should be on buying a house, especially in a rural area. This aspect has its own specifics, different from purchasing an apartment, and requires a special approach, particularly for those accustomed to city life.
A Village House is Not a Vacation Home
The key thing to understand is that a house in a Serbian village is not a vacation home in the usual sense. It can only be considered a country house for holidays if you already have a primary residence, such as an apartment in the city.
For those planning to settle in a village permanently, especially former city dwellers, it's important to realize that this is a full-fledged move with all its ensuing peculiarities. It's not just a place for weekend barbecues, but a proper home for year-round living.
Features of Serbian Villages in Vojvodina
Speaking of rural areas in Serbia, especially in the Vojvodina region, it's worth noting that the local villages are quite large. You rarely find small hamlets with just a few houses. More often, they are large settlements resembling small towns.
The population in such villages can range from 1,000 to 5,000 residents. There are also farmsteads, mainly inhabited by farmers, but they are less common. When choosing, it's important to pay attention to the 'vitality' of the village: some may be declining, with inadequate infrastructure.
What to Consider When Choosing a House with a Family
For families with children, the choice of a village and a house requires special attention to infrastructure. It is necessary to find out in advance about the availability and accessibility of educational and recreational facilities.
- Schools (primary and secondary grades)
- Kindergartens ('vrtić')
- Clubs and activities for children
Many large villages have schools where children from surrounding settlements are brought by a school bus. For families without children, the choice is wider, but they should also assess the village's prospects and development to avoid ending up in a half-empty settlement where half the houses are for sale.
Budget and Condition of Houses: The Reality of Old Housing Stock
Many people who are relocating look for inexpensive houses in the price range of €10,000 to €30,000. It's important to understand that this price gets you exclusively old housing stock. These could be hundred-year-old houses built from brick, adobe, or blocks.
Buying such a house is not a 'move-in ready' option. It will invariably require a serious financial investment in renovations. For example, to the €30,000 cost of a house, you should be prepared to add at least another €10,000 to make it comfortable to live in.
Necessary Renovations and Serbian Specifics
Old houses in Serbia have their own structural features that almost always require intervention. Even if a house looks solid, you should be prepared for major works to adapt it to modern standards of comfort.
- Utilities: Old electrical wiring and water pipes (even lead ones can be found) need complete replacement.
- Windows and doors: Old wooden 'stolarija' (joinery) lets the cold in, and restoring it can be more expensive than installing new uPVC windows.
- Ceilings: Often made using 'dranka' technology (wooden lath with plaster) and require renovation.
- Ventilation: Many houses, even relatively new ones (20 years old), lack a ventilation system, which leads to the growth of black mold.
Finding Work in a Serbian Village
The issue of employment in rural areas is also relevant. It's easier to find manual labor jobs in cities: couriers, builders, and finishers are in demand. In villages, the main channel for job hunting is 'word of mouth'.
Some villages have local production facilities, for example, for making dried fruits, where the starting salary is around €450-€500. This is a survival-level wage, as a comfortable life for one person requires €700-€800 per month. Construction trades are also always in demand. A key factor for successful employment is knowledge of the Serbian language.
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