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What is the best real estate agency in Pula? Here's how to check it out — instead of just taking their word for it

Every real estate agency says it is the best. That is why, in this article, I am not offering you self-proclaimed superiority, but criteria you can check for yourself — public reviews, official licences and the way the agency works. Check them, compare them and draw your own conclusion. Criterion 1: Google reviews — the only public and independent indicator Google reviews are not written …

Everything buyers and sellers need to know about earnest money: terms, amounts and refunds

When buying real estate in Croatia, earnest money is usually around 10% of the purchase price, although the amount is not prescribed by law — it is agreed between the seller and the buyer. In practice, it is normally agreed that the earnest money forms part of the purchase price, so it is not an additional cost for the buyer. If the earnest money is …

How can I know whether I can trust a real estate agency?

A real estate agency’s reliability should be verified, not assumed. You can check whether the agency is entered in the Register of Real Estate Brokers, whether the agent is licensed, whether the agency holds professional liability insurance, whether it uses a written brokerage agreement, and whether its valuation is based on actual completed sale prices. An agent who promises a price without carrying out an …

Real Estate Specialisation: What I Learned from the Best Turkish Agent (And what it means for the Istrian market)

A contact database and one area: what I learned from Mert Sakallıoğlu at the KW Reunion in Slovenia I was recently at the KW Reunion in Slovenia, attending a talk led by Mert Sakallıoğlu, an agent from Istanbul and the founder of the Emlak Makinesi team within Keller Williams. One sentence of his kept me awake the whole evening: “If you think you have enough …

Cooperation and Quality as the Key Vision: First Steps of the Professional Group of Real Estate Intermediaries in Istria

This week, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce – Pula County Chamber established the Professional Group of Real Estate Agents of the Istrian County, and my colleagues honored me by unanimously electing me as its first president. Danijela Putnik (In Fiducia nekretnine, Tar) and Laci Debeljak (Aspectus, Pula) were elected as deputy presidents. I would like to share here, directly and openly, why this establishment is …

Buying Property in Istria Legal Guide: Everything You Need Before You Sign

If you are reading this buying property in Istria legal guide, here is a number that surprises almost everyone. According to Croatian National Bank housing market data, only about 14.8% of residential property purchases in Istria County are financed through housing loans, which means more than 85% of transactions are completed without a traditional mortgage. That single fact tells you more about this market than …

Real estate buyer’s agent: what I learned at the panel in Ljubljana

Written by: Aljoša Vučetić, Maris Real Estate At the beginning of June, I was sitting in Ljubljana on a panel with my colleague Uga, a London-based agent who has been representing buyers exclusively for around thirteen years. What kept me alert throughout the whole talk was not the story about luxury neighbourhoods, but something much simpler: the way she thinks about who she actually works …

Building land inspection: what you need to check before buying or selling

You bought building land, but you cannot build. No electricity. No legal access road. It sounds absurd, but in practice, it happens more often than you might think. Just because you bought building land does not mean you can build what you had in mind. Sometimes, it does not even mean you can build at all. The same applies to sellers. Before you set the …

Best Apartments for Sale in Pula Croatia 2026: A Complete Buyer's Guide

If you are searching for the best apartments for sale in Pula Croatia 2026, you have arrived at the right place. Slovenians have officially overtaken Germans as the number one foreign purchaser group on the Croatian coast, and with Pula sitting just a short drive from the Slovenian border, demand for well-located, low-maintenance apartments in this city has never been stronger. In this guide, we …

Thinking About Buying Abroad? The Real Pros and Cons of a Property Searching Service for International Buyers

If you are looking at Croatia real estate from abroad, the first thing you will notice is how much information there is — and how little of it actually helps you move forward. International buyers are active across the Croatian market, and many arrive well-researched, only to hit the same wall: inconsistent listings, unclear documentation, and no single person genuinely working on their side. This …