Finding an apartment

A good search starts before you open the first listing. Decide what you really need, what would be nice, and what you can afford — then let the filters do the work.

Before you search

• Budget: for buying, include the purchase costs (around 3–6 % of the price) and a reserve for repairs. For renting, add utilities, building fees and the deposit.
• Location: list two or three neighbourhoods you would accept. Check the commute at rush hour, not on a Sunday.
• Must-haves: number of rooms, floor and elevator, parking, heating type, balcony. Everything else is a bonus.

How much can I afford?

Use the search well

Save time with the filters for city, neighbourhood, price, area and features. Sort by "newest" and check back often — good apartments in Skopje, Ohrid and Bitola go quickly. Add interesting listings to your shortlist so you can compare them later.

At the viewing

Documents to ask for

When buying, ask for the property certificate (имотен лист) from the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre. It shows who owns the property, its size and whether there is a mortgage or another burden on it. Compare the owner's name with the ID of the person selling. For new buildings, ask for the building permit and the certificate of use.

When renting, ask who the owner is and make sure the person signing the contract is the owner or has a written authorisation.

Making an offer

Prices are often negotiable, especially for older apartments. Compare similar listings in the same neighbourhood, point out what needs renovating and agree everything — price, what stays in the apartment, the handover date — in writing.