Living & Traveling in Slovenia
Buying Real Estate
Can U.S. Citizens Buy Land in Slovenia?
Yes. Below is our translation of the Slovene-language-only text on the web site of the Slovene Ministry of Justice:
"Based on the 'clause of greatest advantages' included in the 1881 Commercial Treaty between Serbia and the United States of America, U.S. citizens may buy real estate in the Republic of Slovenia under the most favorable regulations that enable foreigners to acquire real estate. U.S. citizens may carry out the procedures of real estate purchase in compliance with current legislation, which no longer includes the condition of reciprocity, and therefore the certificate of reciprocity issued by the Ministry of Justice is no longer required."
Until 2004, U.S. citizens could purchase real estate in Slovenia under Slovenia's Reciprocity Act by proving that Slovene citizens could purchase comparable property in the U.S. citizen's home state in the United States. When Slovenia became a member of the European Union in 2004, it changed a number of its laws, including the Reciprocity Act, and now it is no longer necessary for an American citizen to obtain the certificate of reciprocity from the Slovene Ministry of Justice in order to purchase property in Slovenia.
How Can I Buy Land?
The process works in much the same way as it does in the United States. We strongly recommend that you work through a real estate agent to identify available properties. Once you find a property you want to buy, you work with the real estate agent, an attorney, and the seller to draw up all the papers. Then you take all the papers to a notary, which is a position that in Slovenia has extraordinarily more power and authority than in the United States. The notary places his/her seal on the documents, which are then submitted to the Land Registry Office to record the transfer of the property in the Land Book. Only the final paper from the Land Registry Office certifies that the property has been transferred from the previous owner to you. This process can take a long time.
Useful Links
The United States Embassy does not endorse any of the companies listed below. This list is provided for informational purposes only. We strongly recommend that you consult with a local attorney before purchasing any real estate (called nepremičnine in Slovene).
Real Estate Agencies
Gorenjska
Lendava
Ljubljana
Primorska
Štajerska
Relocation & International Moving Companies Based in Slovenia
More Useful Information on Buying Property in Slovenia
These web sites are largely aimed at British citizens who wish to buy property in Slovenia, but the basic steps of the purchasing process are the same.
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Living & Traveling in Slovenia
