Life / Relocated from the US: Warsaw or London? [24]

I've lived in London all my life, but have been travelling regularly to Poland for the last 4-5 years. I am English born, but have Polish parents, so fortunately can speak both languages fluently.

I have to say London is one of the most expensive cities to live in ... the taxes are high, cost of living in general is high and the Labour government has made irrepairable damage to the country.

My wife, who is a native Pole, and has been living in London for the last eight years has seen the decline in standards in England, whether it is crime, the NHS, or education.

The 'yob culture' is something which I haven't experienced in other countries I visit ....

I am seriously considering moving with my family to Poland ... either Warsaw or more probably Krakow.

In my opinion, Poland is a country on the up, whilst England unfortunately is going in the other direction !

If I was in your position YankeeDoodle, I would choose Warsaw. I have friends who got transferred to London through work, and they said that London was their least preferred choice of relocation, due to the high cost of living amongst other things.

Your salary will go a lot further in Poland .

Real Estate / Advice on what Polish city to invest in.... [101]

Hi NickAnna,

Most of the experts predict Poznan and Lodz to see the best capital appreciation over the next 2 years.

I'm sure that property prices will rise in Warsaw and Krakow, and the other major cities, but the prediction is rises of around 15-20% per annum, whereas Lodz and Poznan are expected to see rises above 30%.

You're right in the size of apartment being the best for investment ... 40-60sq.metres is the range to go for, preferably on a higher floor, south facing, and close to good communication links.

I have bought in Poland myself, and will be investing in more apartments over the next few years. I also help other investors buy property/land in Poland and have a good network of partners in Poland.

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]

Hi Seanie,

I think you're right in considering Lodz for property investment; I have been helping overseas investors, as well as Poles here in England buy property in Poland; up to now Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw have been the main cities of interest, but recently we have seen huge interest in Lodz, and also Poznan.

I run a company which assists investors purchase property in Poland, so if you need any advice or help send me an email.

There are a number of reason why Lodz is a good bet ....

Lodz has an advantageous geographical position, being located in the centre of Poland, and being in close proximity to Warsaw (130km). Other Polish major cities like Wroclaw, Krakow, Poznan, Bydgoszcz, Katowice and Lublin are easily accessible.

In the future, major free-ways will be crossing near Lodz i.e. the junction of the North-South A1 and East-West A2.
The construction of motorways will not only improve communication links, but will have a direct effect of attracting investors.

Already companies such as Gillette, Bosch-Siemens, Coca-Cola, Merloni and Dell Computers have built or are building factories in Lodz. The new factory being built by Dell will sell to the Polish market and export to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, thus becoming a regional production and distribution centre.

Companies are attracted to Lodz because the city has a vast human potential; the city is a buoyant academic and scientific centre, meaning that prospective investors can find well educated professional in Lodz.

Another reason why companies are attracted to Lodz is that the city authorities create favourable conditions for the operation of small and medium-sized businesses, which in turn create the force that drives the country’s economy.

The average GDP in Lodz over the next three years is forecast at 6%, whilst the average for Poland is 4.8%

Property market analysts predict that in 2007 the markets in Lodz will record the highest level of growth in property prices out of the whole country.

Real Estate / Apartment purchase in Poland [226]

Hi Kaa,

I have found that Fortis Bank gives mortgages to foreign investors.

Sometimes it's worth going through a mortgage broker, such as Open Finance or Expander, and they will search the market and find the best offers available.

Check out the website polandcityproperty.co.uk and there is a good section on mortages for foreign investors, as well as Polish people working abroad looking for a mortgage in Poland.

Polanglik

Real Estate / New apt in Warsaw - Advice needed please! [20]

Hi Paddy,

At the moment. the way prices are rising, and with much investment going into Warsaw, i don't think you can go too far wrong in buying anywhere in Warsaw.

However, i would agree with Kasia13's comment about purchasing a smaller size apartment. The optimum size is between 40-60m2. (Studios or 1 bedrooms); these would be easier to rent.

However with smaller sized apartments being the most popular, they are also the hardest to buy. When developemnts go on sale, it is the smaller units that get snapped up first.

Good luck with your purchase !

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]

Hi bennyboy ...

i am waiting for the developer to give me a release date for the Lodz project. It should have been released in April, but it looks more likely to be sometime in June.

the developer that i am dealing with said that for this project it would be 20% initial payment and the rest on completion. you can sell the contract before completion, unlike some other developers which do not. The only downside i find is that the 80% is index linked, so you may pay a bit extra depending on indexation. It is worked out on a monthly basis and the figure could be +ve or -ve or zero for a particular month, however the developer will only calulate on the +ve values and disregard the negative values.

our lawyers have tried to make this clause include the -ve values, but the developer did not agree to this. it's a sellers market at present and the developer is in a strong position.

i assume this is the same developer that kneehawk is talking about; when I spoke to the developer i was quoted prices of around 5000zl/m2 , but this was a few months ago, so I expect them to be slightly higher now.

we have helped investors successfully buy with this developer recently, so if you want some advice you can email me.

at the moment I'm in Krakow, checking out a few developments and also attending the property exhibition here over the weekend;

News / What do you associate Poland with? [27]

1. Beautiful /sexy women .... i am biased but Polish women are the most beautiful in the world !!
2. Vodka
3. John Paul II
4. Excellent dentists... and cheaper than in England, but then again most things would be cheaper than in UK
5.Cold winters and unbearably hot summers, just like it is now in Krakow !!
6.Great tasting bread, kielbasa, bigos & Maslanka (my wife loves it .. i can't stand it !!)
7. Traditional Polish Christmas .. wigilia :o))

Life / Can you think of any famous Polish personalities? [147]

Wasn't Liberace a Pole ...?, and someone once told me that Charles Bronson had Polish roots.

Edyta Gorniak
Lech Walesa
John Paul II
Adam Malysz
Jerzy Dudek
Wojtek Fibak ( tennis player from the 70's)
Andrzej Wajda
Rula Lenska (minor celebrity i suppose)

Real Estate / Be careful when buying apartments with BUD MAR Investment in Krakow [23]

Hi LwowskaKrakow

What was the name of the development where you had these problems ?

I am meeting with Director of Sales of BudMar Investment on Friday, to discuss possible purchase of flats and single family homes in the Lusina and Ochojno areas

I have found that it is quite common for developers to overrun on their predicted date of completion ...

At the end of the day, one must be happy with the preliminary purchase contract that is signed ... i always make sure my lawyer goes through it thoroughly.

Life / First month in Warsaw, trying to combat homesickness! [9]

Hi New Adventures ...

Even though I don't live in Warsaw permanently, I 'm there on business nearly every month and have my own flat in Wilanow.

I'm lucky that i have friends who have moved to Warsaw permanently and I can pop in to see them whenever i get lonely and start missing my wife and kids - i will be in Warsaw next in June , 12-26, as it's my God-daughters 8th birthday and i also have some clients to show around developments in the city.

If you'd like to meet up for a drink when i'm over send me an email. I speak English and Polish fluently.

Are you working or studying in Warsaw ?

Life / First month in Warsaw, trying to combat homesickness! [9]

Hi New, i hope you don't mind being on first name terms .... you can call me Pol !! :-)

If you go to my profile i believe you can write to me on private email.

what have you got planned for this weekend .... is it as unbearably hot in Warsaw as it is in Krakow ?

i am going to a Property exhibition here in Krakow, and i've heard some say it will reach the mid thirties !! ..... i should really be on a beach in this weather.

tomorrow i fly back to London, where i've been told it's a lot cooler.

Look forward to hearing from you ...

Pol

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]


I agree Neil63, Lodz is one of the cities I believe will see good capital appreciation over the next few years.

I think you still can't go wrong with investing in property in Warsaw and Krakow , although the growth in these cities will not be as such a fast pace, but the rental potential will be greater in Warsaw districts.

I have heard of one recent development just released in Lodz, prices starting at over 6000zl/m2 which i thought was a bit high. I am waiting on the release of another development, maybe not classed as luxury standard, but more in tune with what Polish buyers /renters will be able to afford.

Real Estate / Łódź Housing Fair TabelaOfert.pl May 19-20 [9]

Hi SEQ,

Why all the hostility ? .... best to ignore stupid , abusive comments as this only fuels the mindless comments :o)

I didn't go to Lodz, but was at the Krakow exhibition and they had a stand for the Scheiblera development there.

I think I was quoted prices starting at around 9000zl/m2 ..... which if correct is very high, although I know the first phase sold extremely well, and I expect this one to successful also.

I am waiting for a development in Lodz to be released soon ... and think prices will be around 6000zl/m2 +

Real Estate / Łódź Housing Fair TabelaOfert.pl May 19-20 [9]


I believe there will be some Targi Mieszkaniowe in Wroclaw , 29-30 September in Hala Orbita, as for other major Polish cities

Krakow 1-2 September 2007,
Lodz 1-2 September 2007,
Poznan 15-16 September 2007,
Warsaw 6-7 October 2007,
Gdansk 20-21 October 2007,

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]

Hi SEQ,

When looking at price per square metre, 6000-7000zl/m2 in Lodz, you'd be able to get the same price in some areas of Warsaw, for example Bialoleka.

I am seeing some investors wanting to keep to Warsaw, mainly on the basis that it is the capital city, and therefore are looking at the cheaper districts of Warsaw rather than low prices in other cities.

It all depends on the individual investor, and whether their investment strategy is for the short or long term. Remember if you wish to sell within 5 years, and don't invest the funds in another Polish property you'd be liable for tax.

I read somewhere recently, that if investment coming into Warsaw continues at the rate that it is at present, then within 5-6 years Warsaw will be the 6th most important financial capital city in Europe.

Most investors who take out mortgages on their investment property, frequently will not cover their monthly repayments with rental income. This really depends what sort of LTV they get; presently it is definitely a sellers market, and this has the effect of lowering rental yields, and making renting out a property much harder.

When choosing one's investment property , looking forward to see who will be your potential tenant is very important.

Polanglik

Real Estate / Łódź Housing Fair TabelaOfert.pl May 19-20 [9]


Might see you there then ! :o)

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]

I have friends living in Praga Poludnie ... good place to invest in my opinion.

However, prices for offplan builds are from around the 8000zl/m2 - 9000zl/m2 mark , whereas Bialoleka prices are from around 6500z/m2

As I have said before, I don't think you can go wrong purchasing anywhere in Warsaw at present. Some places are quite expensive already, but I don't see prices going down in near future. There will always be slight fluctuations but overall i see property prices going upwards for the next few years.


Let me know when you hear anything definite about this 44% tax .... there have been many unfounded rumours regarding tax .... :o)

Real Estate / Advice on what Polish city to invest in.... [101]


I sent you an email ...

Happy to help :o)

UK, Ireland / Is Any Polish communty in Manchester or London [18]

Hi teng ..

Polish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith is a good meeting place for Poles .. there are bars, restaurants , theatre and there used to be disco ( showing my age now !) on the lower ground floor called Pom ... short for Pomidor (Tomato).

Hammersmith is full of Poles now ... and you'd think you were in Warsaw walking down King Street with the word 'kurva' being heard too often !

Anywhere there's a Polish church , you'll sometimes find a social club associated with it ... eg. Windsor Road in Ealing W5

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]


Hi Reg & Kneehawk,

I agree that it's important to try and get a good price, as well as a favourable payment plan , and if you can sell before completion it gives you an added option when it comes to deciding whether you want to rent or sell.

I have bought in Poland, and know the hassles one may come across.

Kneehawk, it sounds as though you are waiting for the same development in Lodz as I am :o) It should have been released in May but it appears it should be at the end of this month. I was quoted prices of around 5000zl/m2+, but for the better payment plan of 20/80 it is usually an extra 600zl/m2

I would also advise that if someone is thinking of buying in Poland, it is best to work with someone who knows what they're doing, especially if you don't know the language or business culture... and also make sure you have a contract / agreement with the person or company who is assisiting you with your purchase.

After I bought in Poland, I set up a Limited Company which assists non-Poles (as well as Poles) purchase mainly off-plan properties in Poland. I have a number of clients waiting to buy in Lodz presently.

Life / Jaywalking in Poland ? [38]


.... and don't you think the 'old babcie' are the main culprits in a free for all !!

Life / Jaywalking in Poland ? [38]



what I meant Daffy ... is that in a supermarket quite a lot of the pushing and shoving is done by the 'old babcie' = 'old grannies'

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]

Hi Registerdpers,

Usually the developer will handover property in what is called a black finish (developers finish with no floors, non-plastered walls etc), and you then need to put in kitchen, flooring etc...

We have a partner company in Poland which would be able to do this extra work - there are three standards of finish which would be reflected in the price you pay.

Don't forget that you would then need to furnish the apartment, and again the price depends on what standard you want to have.

For the developers finish I believe 5000zl/m2 - 6000zl/m2 is what you should expect to pay, although I know you can pay a lot more as in the new Schleibera Loft buildings;

As for rental, there are a few rental/management agencies we would use to rent out apartments for our clients. We do not rent out/manage apartments ourselves, although this is the direction we see our company taking in the future.

Most of our clients are purchasing offplan, so in two years time when they take possession of thier apartment we hope to have a lettings/management department up and running.

We are seeing that many investors are still concentrating on Warsaw, and purchasing in the lower end districts; eg. Bialoleka, and also Bemowo and Wola are becoming very popular , but prices here start at approx 9000zl/m2. The main reason is that many investors see Warsaw as a better bet when talking about rental yields. Praga Poludnie is also a good investment area , but prices are also in the 8000zl/m2+ .

Life / Jaywalking in Poland ? [38]


were there fake Policemen in the fake cars ? .... the police in Poland don't appear too bright ... maybe I have only seen the wooden ones !

UK, Ireland / Anybody knows how to watch Polish channels in UK? [36]

Hi Malwa...

Even though I was born in England, having Polish parents and grandparents bring me up, I feel more Polish than English.

I have to agree that Polish tv is much more enjoyable to watch .... barring a few English classics like Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers etc.. but those programmes were made some time ago. The newer stuff is mostly crap in my opinion.

We have Polish channels, and my kids (aged 5yrs and 3 yrs) prefer it to English. You may need to give a Polish address as some of the receivers/decoders are for use in Poland only.

I am in Poland till 26th June, but when I get back I can give you the name and tel. number of the guy who did my Polish satellite. I can now watch all the Poland matches live ... and my wife can watch all her favourite soaps :o)

Which part of England are you living ? .... i think my guy only works London, but I'm sure you can find someone in whichever part of England you are.

Life / Popular Polish classic Songs [18]

definitely a favourite .... can't go wrong with Czerwone Gitary ...

how old is your friend's mother ... it would depend on her taste in music :o)

Budka Suflera ... good choice ....

Piotr Szczepanik ... for more easy listening ..

...... Trubadorze ... probably spelt wrong ... and I'm sure someone on the forum will correct me :o)

Real Estate / property in Lodz - anyone any experience [102]

check out if Ober-Haus has offices in Lodz ... not sure how good they are at management ... i have found most agencies will find you a tenant (or at least try!) but not do management.

130 sq meters is quite a considerable size .... i think you'll have difficulty letting it out ... unless you get students sharing ...

as for what rent you should ask ... i'll look into this for you.:o)

Second flooding in Lodz
June 15, 2007
Enormous downpour has went through the Lodz city twice in two days time. Heavy rain caused flooding in the city center making it unable for cars to pass through and moreover it paralysed the urban means of transport.

I read this on expats Poland ; just wondered if anyone knows how bad it was ?

Life / Jaywalking in Poland ? [38]


I agree with you .... it appears you took due care and attention when crossing the road. I always thought jaywalking was crossing the road without any consideration for traffic ...

Life / Popular Polish classic Songs [18]


Thanks for the correction :o)