A scenic town in northern Croatia is now selling off houses and land plots for just 13 cents ($0.15).
The houses will be located in Legrad, a rural town in northern Croatia with a population of about 2,000 people. To be eligible to purchase one of the houses, the buyer must be under 45 years old, in a marital or extramarital partnership, and have no criminal record, as reported by local Croatian media outlet HRT.
In addition, the buyer must not already own property. However, Croatian officials did not specify if that only applies to properties in Croatia or if it also applies to properties anywhere else in the world.
What Is the Goal of the Program?
Legrad was once a thriving town lying on the snaking Drava River near the border with Hungary. However, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire redefined borders, which significantly reduced the town's population. The local government is now aiming to boost its population by encouraging young families to make Legrad their home through the housing program.
The initiative was previously launched in 2021. At the time, uninhabited houses were being sold off for only $0.14. The houses being sold were in various states of repair. To encourage buyers, the municipality said it would pay about $3,500 for any necessary renovations.
The 2021 initiative sold 17 houses and has successfully increased the town's population, with more children now than there were five years ago. As a result, the town is planning on building a new daycare center.
Since Legrad announced its recent housing program, they have already seen interest in the scheme. A total of five houses ready for occupancy have since been sold, and at least three families have already moved in.
"A total of five houses ready for occupancy have been sold. Three families have already moved in, and what delights us is that all three families welcomed a new member during their move-in. This has increased the number of children in the daycare center," Legrad mayor Ivan Sabolić said, as quoted by HRT and translated via Google Translate.
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