Poland Property Investment For Sale

"A robust economy - the only European country to weather the global financial crisis."

Poland occupies a pivotal geographic position in central northern Europe and is seen as a stepping stone between the east and the west which gives it many commercial strengths.  Home to the last of the European bison and the coveted amber gemstone, Poland is peppered with a mix of towering mountains, gushing streams and the oldest primeval forest in Europe.  With close links to both Germany and Russia, Poland’s history has created an architectural landscape that stretches from medieval towns, through soviet austerity to contemporary cities.

In economic terms Poland has gone from strength to strength since joining the European Union in 2004, a transformation that started during the early 1990’s when Solidarity took over from Soviet control. Poland now has one the most robust economies in Central Europe and was the only European country to avoid recession during the global financial and economic meltdown, although the euro-zone crisis did eventually have some impact on growth, property prices and unemployment.

With a strong economic forecast, a growing middle class demand for modern housing is still strong in Poland.  Key areas to consider are Warsaw - the capital and cultural, entertainment and financial centre of Poland, Krakow -  home to Europe’s largest medieval square and thriving art centre, Gdansk on the coast and Zakopane in the Tatras Mountains – the centre of the Polish Ski industry.
 

Geography

Poland is located to the left of Germany, reaching from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Carpathian Mountains in the South. Gdansk and Szczecin are the only natural harbours on the Baltic Coast. Poland’s total surface area is 312,683 square kilometers including inland water. The area called the Lake District, in the northeastern region of Poland, is more sparsely populated than the rest of the country and lacks in agricultural and industrial resources.

Government

Poland is a presidential democracy with a bicameral parliament consisting of a 460 member lower house (Sejm) and a 100 member Senate (Senat).

Language

Polish is the official language in Poland spoken by most of the country's residents.

Standard of Living

Polish has a much lower standard of living than the average Western Europe company and has one of the lowest minimum and average wages among all EU member states. However the Poles are  the second wealthiest people in Central Europe after the Czechs and the previously high unemployemnt figures have dropped dramatically.

Since joining the EU in 2004, Poland's economy has gone from strength to strength and has been engaged in a cyclical recovery. With close links to neighbouring Germany, Europe's largest economy, Poland has been successfully integrated into the EU and, due to its size and economic clout, has been one of the most high profile 2004 entrants. 

Poland now has one the most robust economies in Central Europe and was the only European country to avoid recession during the global financial and economic meltdown, although the euro-zone crisis did eventually have some impact on growth, property prices and unemployment.

Key Industries

The Polish banking sector is the largest in central and eastern Europe and has numerous private farms so positioning it as a leading producer of food within the EU.  Key commodities produced in Poland include: cars, buses, electronics, helicopters, planes, ships, transport equipment, military engineering, Pharacueticals, food, clothes, glass and pottery.

Warsaw

Warsaw is not just the capital of Poland but also its economic centre. Littered with galleries, museums and theatres, the city is also home to the University of Warsaw which has come to be recognised as a leading academic institute across the continent. One of the fastest growing cities in Europe, Warsaw still reigns supreme when it comes to market standards and offers some of the best investment opportunities combining the lowest risks with good returns.

Krakow

Krakow attracts interest because of its place on the UNESCO world heritage list and status as a favourite weekend break and inter-rail destination. In terms of tourism, the city draws in huge numbers, however in terms of property, Krakow is the hardest city in Poland to get building permission and the returns are not as strong as in Warsaw. 

Gdansk

Alongside Poland's large commercial cities, smaller municipalities are beginning to materialise as important investment destinations enjoying fairly stable growth. Gdansk (German Danzig) set on the Baltic Coast and surrounded by good beaches is the country's principal seaport and industrial centre, Gdansk functions as a crossroads for trade routes from Germany to the East and its industry is largely based around shipbuilding and chemical production. It also has a charming Old Town painstakingly reconstructed after the Second World War which helps boost the city's tourist appeal. 

Prices here are some of the cheapest in Poland, a third of prices in Lodz, Wroclaw and Krakow and half of prices in Warsaw. With large government and municipal expenditure developing the Tri-City rail and road networks and the Special Economic Zone of Sopot to attract business and the very highest levels of education, Gdansk should continue to attract multi-national companies and pose as a strong investment hub in the future. There is however a lack of suitable accommodation for visitors as the city's few hotels are aimed at business travellers making them overpriced for tourists. The student population in Gdansk is especially large meaning rental demand is high and investing in buy to let is a growing market. Low property prices and demand for tourist accommodation mean strong yields are achievable, making Gdansk an attractive place to invest.

Zakopane

Located in southern Poland against the Tatras Mountains, Zakopane is Poland's premier ski resort attracting millions of visitors a year. With good access to Poprad airport across the Slovakian border and the proposal for a new motorway intersection linking Zakopane and Krakow airport, transfer times should soon be reduced to only one hour. 

Thanks to the area's varied leisure activities, Zakopane caters for both the summer and winter tourist seasons giving a rental window of around eight months each year. Holiday homes in Zakopane are currently most popular amongst the Polish meaning the value of property has remained steady and affordable. 

Lodz

Set against the stunning Sulejowskie and Jeziorsko lakes, Lodz is the fastest growing second tier city in Poland.. With good transport links and a growing economy, the city is a regenerating manufacturing base offering attractive property investments.  Commutes to Warsaw take only 45 minutes thanks to a new high speed train link. 

Wroclaw

Perched on the Odra River, Wroclaw is situated between Prague, Warsaw and Berlin close to both Germany and the Czech Republic. Thanks to the construction of a new multi million pound airport the city's prominence and investment potential should steadily develop. 

Katowice

Known as Poland's Sleeping Giant, Katowice, although a wealthy mining city, has property prices significantly lower than similar industrial cities such as Lodz but is the most urban and industrial city in Poland. It has an impressive infrastructure and a large and dynamic work force creating a thirst for quality residential property. The current quality of housing is poor and housing stock is ageing, meaning the demand for new modern apartments is high thanks to the high purchasing power of young residents working for large companies in the area.