Hrvatski
Written by: Ivana Beljan, Crozilla
Although apartments remain the most sought-after type of real estate, data from the Crozilla.com property portal shows that, compared to the previous year, demand at the end of 2020 increased the most for building plots and houses.
The year was marked by significant changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, which played a major role in the noticeable rise in demand for land and houses. Following the spring lockdown, every additional square meter of living space became more valuable, while owning a house, purchasing land for construction, or even land for growing food came to represent greater personal freedom and more outdoor space.
While apartments continued to generate the highest overall demand, Crozilla.com's data revealed that building plots and houses experienced the strongest year-over-year growth in buyer interest. In October, the Building Land category recorded the largest increase in visitors compared to the same month a year earlier.
Building Land Attracts Both Domestic and International Buyers
The highest demand for building plots on Crozilla.com continues to be concentrated in Zagreb, followed by Pula, Poreč, Rijeka, Zadar, and Samobor.
Easy access, developed infrastructure, and clear legal documentation all influence land values, although location remains the primary pricing factor. Along the Adriatic coast, plots situated near the sea are the most prestigious, while sea views further increase their value—a trend clearly reflected in asking prices on Crozilla.com.
"The quality of life in a house simply cannot be compared with apartment living. Since the pandemic, more people have come to appreciate the comfort and freedom that a house with a private garden provides," said Jasminka Biliškov, owner of Biliskov Real Estate, in an interview with Crozilla.com.
She believes that rising apartment prices have significantly contributed to the increased demand for houses and building land.
"As apartment prices in Split continue to rise, more and more young families are choosing to buy a house or purchase land to build one in the surrounding areas. For approximately the same amount of money required to buy an apartment, it is possible to purchase land and build a house of around 100 square meters with a private yard."
On the outskirts of Split, land prices typically range between €250 and €300 per square meter, while in prime locations within the city they range from €600 to as much as €1,000 per square meter.
"The challenge is that there are very few building plots available within Split itself. When one appears on the market, it sells almost immediately—often before it even reaches real estate agencies or online property portals. Around 50 kilometers from Split, in the Dalmatian hinterland, there is growing demand for land intended for holiday home construction, primarily because prices remain relatively affordable."
Prime Locations Are Mostly Purchased by Investors
"Recently, we have been selling at least one building plot every month in Zagreb, which was not common in the past. More people are turning toward buying or building houses, and both the pandemic and the earthquake have significantly influenced this trend," said Jasminka Biliškov.
During the final quarter of 2020, the average asking price for building land in Zagreb listed on Crozilla.com was approximately €125 per square meter. Prices started at around €15 per square meter for plots located on the city's outskirts.
As in Split, Zagreb faces a shortage of available building plots in highly desirable locations, particularly near the city center or within the tram network. These properties command the highest prices. Depending on location, infrastructure, accessibility, and other factors, prices for exceptional sites can reach €1,000 per square meter or more. Such premium prices are generally achieved by plots in prestigious neighborhoods, properties with existing structures, or sites that already have approved conceptual development plans.
According to Jasminka Biliškov, young families typically purchase plots measuring 500–600 square meters for the construction of family homes.
"We have noticed increased sales in neighborhoods such as Gornje Vrapče, Gornja Kustošija, and Gajnice. Building plots in prime locations near central Zagreb remain beyond the reach of most private buyers, and are therefore primarily purchased by developers for residential projects."