News / Is The Warsaw Voice in British or American English? [39]

I would like to add my two bobs worth to this discussion...
Every day, I receive the daily news email from the Warsaw Voice with links to their articles (and sometimes articles about Poland from external news sources).

As I live and work in Poland, I find it very useful to keep up to date with what is happening in the country in English, as my still poor Polish means I am otherwise limited to reading headlines in newspapers and hearing from colleagues/friends about what is happening. Admittedly, I have never actually bought the paper. But the daily email is a really useful source of Polish news.

Travel / Health Tourism in Poland [17]

After more than 4 years in Poland, I finally decided to visit a Polish dentist last week, and I was more than pleased with all aspects of the visit. More than an hour of work (mainly cleaning) set me back a reasonable 200zl. Everything was state of the art and the dentist spoke good English. I went to Vita Medical in Krakow.

Life / What type and brand of cars do Polish people like? [51]

for some reason BMW's have a bad rep in Poland...associated with gangsters and drug dealers. I guess they get stolen more often for that reason..

Language / What is the most annoying thing about non-native Polish speakers? [90]

I will tell you what really annoys me living in Krakow. It's when I go into a shop/cafe/bar and ask for something in my passable Polish and I get the reply in English. I guess this is more likely to happen in Krakow because of the number of tourists, but I live here and I want to fit in! I guess it is because I don't look Polish, and perhaps they want to show that they speak English, but by the same token it is really annoying.

Language / What is the most annoying thing about non-native Polish speakers? [90]

sometimes I do!

Real Estate / "Forma własności: hipoteczne" - why is this on a property schedule? [22]

In terms of ownership in Poland, "hipoteczne" has nothing to do with the owner's financial arrangements, despite it also being the word in Polish for mortgage.

It is actually one of the forms of ownership for an apartment in Poland. Other forms are
"spółdzielczo-własnościowe" or just simply"własnościowe".
I am not going to go into the different forms of ownership here as I am not 100% sure of my facts, however my understanding is that for a foreigner, a "hipoteczne" apartment is the best (only?) one to go for, as the apartment itself has its own "ksiega wieczysta" or ownership deed. This separates it from the rest of the building (and also gives it a % share of the commonly owned areas of the building and land). Other forms of ownership (mainly for older style block flats) don't specify that you actually own the apartment you are buying, but more a share of the building/land.

*Note - if the seller does have a mortgage over the property they are selling, this will be picked up by the notary who draws up the contract, as it will appear on the "ksiega wieczysta" (which they have to check). It would then be a part of the sale that the mortgage is cleared so that the new owner buys the apartment which is free of any debt.

Real Estate / Deals available from Polish property developers [40]

I can't comment on Warsaw, but in Krakow I have seen developer's reducing prices and offering discounts in the past few months. The reality is that the 'golden times' which developer's experienced during the last 5 years (and since EU accession particularly) are over. There is twice as much supply in the Krakow new-build market as this time last year, and less foreign buyers. The developers have to be more accommodating in order to make sales, which is ultimately good for buyers who can now actually negotiate rather than being dictated terms.

At the right price and in the right location, off-plan apartments are still selling like hotcakes to the Polish market. I am marketing a development in Bielsko Biala which is priced at 4350 PLN per m2 (inc VAT) and more than 40 out of 70 apartments have sold in the first six weeks of sales.

On another point, we also do mortgages for foreign investors from our base in Krakow. Our company is called Poland Mortgage Direct, and I have a full-time English speaking Polish staff member who is helping arrange mortgages for anywhere in Poland with six different banks currently. We only deal with competitive banks (bank margins max 1.75%) and it is slowly getting easier to obtain finance for foreigners, though we don't claim to be able to help everyone.

Andy

Real Estate / Deals available from Polish property developers [40]

Self-employed foreign applicants are still difficult to get mortgages for with most banks.
At the end of the day, it is also up to the applicant to be pro-active and provide the documents we/the bank requires.
There are 'banks' (and I use the term loosely) such as Noble and Dom who will seemingly loan to anyone (including asset based applications with Noble), but you will pay through the nose with very high bank margins and lots of hidden fees. There is a point at which getting the mortgage is not really worth it because of the high fees.

Law / Temporary residence card to obtain a mortgage in Poland? [17]

Regarding Open Finance, from what I have heard they push pretty much all foreign applicants in the direction of Noble Bank, to whom they are affiliated (same ownership I think). Noble Bank do not have very competitive interest rates and their fees/commissions are also high.

My business, Poland Mortgage Direct, uses some of the major banks - BZWBK, Deutsche, Millennium, Fortis to name a few - these mortgage offers, should the applicant qualify, are very competitive and the same as what a Polish applicant should get (though LTV max is usually 80-90% for foreigners).

Travel / Krakow Hotel/Apt Suggestions [11]

we have lots of nice apartments to rent to tourists on a short-term basis,
krakow-apartments.biz

Real Estate / Do most Polish people rent their homes or do they have a mortgage??? [15]

A 50m2 1-bedroom apartment is pretty much the most popular size for a Polish apartment and should rent easily...depending, of course, on all the usual factors (condition, location etc).

According to a recent report from szybko.pl, a Polish property portal, the average rent in Gdansk for a one-bedroom apartment in the third quarter of 2007 is 1439 zloty, up 34% since the start of 2006

Food / No Bagels in Poland (even though they were invented in Krakow :/ [11]

you can get bagels at a place called 'bagelmama' in kazimierz, the jewish district of krakow. very tasty ones too!

Real Estate / Do most Polish people rent their homes or do they have a mortgage??? [15]

Hi No 14, in response to your question, I am Australian and have lived in Krakow for 4.5 years. I do work in property here, but not in Gdansk. I too still rent in Krakow, but hopefully only for another year. Two years ago, together with some friends, I bought a loft in Krakow. We have been stuck in planning and neighbour disputes since buying it, but now looking likely that we will be able to build in spring 2008, so fingers crossed I will soon be living in my own apartment in Krakow soon!

Food / Polish Kabanos - "KABANOSY PSZCZYNSKIE" what are these? [8]

Pszczyna is a very pretty town in Sląsk, spent a great weekend there a few years ago. Aren't 'kabanosy' sometimes made from horse meat in Poland?

Real Estate / Skierniewice - apartment complex value [7]

It would be very easy to sell individual units, as each time you sell you would also sell the new owner the equivalent share (eg 50/390) of the common parts of the building and the land it all sits on.

Life / Banks in Poland - Any good recommendations [30]

I am very happy with Citibank Handlowy. Their internet banking in English works well. If I need to call their call centre, there is always an English speaker on the other end of the line. When I visit the branch, there is very rarely a queue. Charges are not too bad.

Real Estate / Poland property boom over???? [54]

I sell property in central Krakow. There is no doubt prices have stopped going up in Krakow in general. The average per m2 price is now around 7500 PLN for the entire city and suburbs, though in the centre you can pay anywhere from 10000-20000 PLN/m2. Prices in the last six months have been fairly static. We have seen lots of developers trying to sell apartments (often renovation projects) at prices in the region of 15000-20000 PLN/m2, but to be honest, I don't believe many have been sold at this level. This was too high (for all but the best/most exclusive of developments) and most investors aren't stupid. In the range of 11000-14000 PLN/m2 there are some good offers currently. This is not cheap, but then again, the old town and surrounding areas in Krakow are not big and there is only a finite supply - the suburbs are a different story. Most people will be willing to pay a premium for an apartment in a building which has been entirely renovated and doesn't have potential problems with installations/roof etc or with neighbour feuds. I agree with Property Secrets, who predict that prices in Poland will be stable for the next year or two (though rents will be increasing), with the second round of capital growth (10-20% per year) starting again in 2010. If you get a nice apartment in a nice location for a reasonable price, you will still make money in the longer term. Poland is still in the early days of it's development/growth phase and wages are growing at 10% per annum.

Travel / Katowice bus service direct to Zakapane ? [5]

There is a daily bus which leaves from Zielona Gora and goes all the way to Zakopane.
It stops in Katowice (next to the train station, PKP) at 11.10am and arrives in Zakopane at 2.55pm. The cost is 28 zloty for this leg of the trip. (It does also stop in Krakow).

Info is form pks.katowice.pl

Life / Non-smoking cafes in Krakow to use laptop plugged in [12]

Dynia is a great cafe on ul.Krupnicza which is totally smoke free, pretty sure they also have wireless internet.

Real Estate / Apartment purchase in Poland [226]

If you are a foreigner looking for a mortgage in Poland, Fortis is the nr 1 bank at present, they have the best offer and application procedure.

My company can help you with a referral to Fortis or with submitting the application proper, we are based in Krakow but can deal with properties purchased anywhere in Poland.

Law / Today's Zloty - 1.00 GBP = 5.25471 PLN [29]

Live rates at 2008.01.29 11:09:30 UTC
1.00 GBP = 4.86459 PLN
United Kingdom Pounds Poland Zlotych
1 GBP = 4.86459 PLN 1 PLN = 0.205567 GBP

from xe.com/ucc

Travel / Ticket controllers in public transportation vehicles in Poland [24]

I've been living in Krakow for more than 4 years, and in the past I have been caught ticketless by the controllers a couple of times. It's not a pleasant experience. These guys (and they are always men) often resemble football hooligans, and will not stop at physically restraining someone who doesn't have a ticket and wants to bolt. Once I got away with paying nothing - didn't speak Polish and refused to accompany them to the bankomat. Another time I paid a bribe of 20 złoty which they accepted. But that was a long time ago and now I don't really see there is an excuse for not having a ticket. New ticket vending machines (funded by the EU) have popped up all over the city, and you can choose an English menu to buy your ticket. Plus there is the new 'Krakowska Karta Miejska' and you can buy monthly tickets at the machines without having to spend ages in a long queue at the office. Anything is better than that sinking feeling when you are ticketless in the tram and the controllers strike!

Travel / Snowboarding in Poland [75]

There is a pretty good slope at Myślenice, which is only about 30 minutes south of Krakow, on the way to Zakopane. I have only been there in the summer, but the slope seemed to be pretty steep and challenging, with good infrastructure. My friends have been going there regularly from Krakow this winter. If you don't have a car, there are regular buses from Krakow.

Life / Who has moved to Poland in the last year? Swap stories. [115]


Following my first year in Krakow (3.5 years ago!), I wrote an article for a local expat magazine called 'Krakout' (now since defunct) about this topic.

At the time I was an English teacher in Krakow, and I had done a class which I had downloaded from the internet about 'culture shock'.

According to research, there are four stages of culture shock experienced by expats when they move to a foreign country.

The first is positive - you are really excited to be in a new place, everything is exotic and different. You are partying, making new friends etc. It can last anywhere from a few days to a few months.

The second is negative - it's the 'shock' stage. You have the realities of life in a foreign place getting you down. Finding a job, dealing with bureaucracy, language barrier etc.

This phase can last a few months or so. Many will not get over this stage and will return home. Others will get over it by seeking out people from their own culture, finding someone to share your experience and your gripes with life in this foreign place.

The third and fourth phases are for the long term expats, the ones who decide to make this new place their home. The third, I think it was called 'acceptance' and involves you learning the language, settling down, making local friends and generally acclimitising to your new surroundings.

If you stay long enough (5 years +) then you may reach the fourth stage where you develop a dual identity. You essentially become like a local, though it's of course not possible to forego the identity/culture you grew up with.

At any point in time, you may decide to go home. It is at this point (and it depends how long you have been away) that you encounter 're-entry shock'. You have been changed by your experience, grown as a person. The only problem is that your friends and family at home haven't changed. They are more interested in what is happening in their own life and don't particularly care for your stories and experiences.

If anyone is interested, I will track down the original article and post it here when I get the chance.

Real Estate / Buying land in Bochnia (near Krakow) in five years... [6]

I had a look on krn.pl

Building plots in Bochnia (in the town itself) look to go for between 50-100 PLN per m2, all dependent on the usual factors of course.

Land in surrounding areas/villages can be even cheaper than that.

Travel / Central / Eastern Europe Travel Plans 08 [6]

There is a regular bus service from Vilnius to Gdansk. I took it once, and from memory it was about 6 hours and runs daily. Like the Vilnius-Warsaw bus, it is an overnight one, and so not ideal. They tend to arrive very early in the morning (before 5am), so you almost need accommodation sorted for that night so you can go and crash as soon as you arrive. I also took the Warsaw-Tallinn bus, but never again. It broke down somewhere in Estonia, and all us passengers were just left to fend for ourselvers and find another way to get to Tallinn. You can find bus information on eurolinespolska.pl

I am actually going to Vilnius and Minsk for the May long weekend. This time I am flying from Warsaw to Vilnius. It's not cheap with LOT, but preferable to spending a couple of nights on the bus.

Real Estate / Market Report - RICS 2008 Poland Housing Review [25]


Don't know of any other monthly reports, but Szybko.pl / Expander issue quite a detailed quarterly report in Polish on the state of the secondary market in Poland, including rental prices as well.

The update for the 1st quarter of 2008 can be found here: szybko.pl/nieruchomosci/raport_nieruchomosci_K1R2008


Sorry, I can't say I agree with you on this point. I was working at a fair in Krakow on the weekend. Not only was it pretty quiet and the buyers very price/location sensitive, but many large developers have well progressed developments in which there are lots of apartments remaining for sale. Regarding Angel Plaza, well that was pretty much sold out 1 year ago, at the peak of the market.

A better example would be 'Garden Residence', a huge new off plan development in Krakow's Zabłocie region. They started marketing the 700 apartments around one year ago. The Greek developer has spent shedloads of money on marketing, and I was told that as of recently they had sold only 56 apartments out of 700. Whilst I can't confirm the veracity of this information, it wouldn't surprise me. Also, I notice from seeing the building site last week that no works have got underway yet...

Real Estate / Mortgage prices and rates in Poland [28]

Well, it depends which currency the mortgage is in....

In Poland, most banks will give you the choice of denominating the mortgage in a range of different currencies, all with different interest rates.

Most mortgages are variable and based on a LIBOR 3mth interbank rate (or EURIBOR, WIBOR for złoty):

Currently, here are the base rates for the different currencies:
PLN 6.57% (Polish zloty)
EUR 4.85% (Euro)
USD 2.68% (US dollars)
GBP 5.86% (British Pounds)
CHF 2.77% (Swiss Francs).

To this, the bank offering the mortgage will add it's margin.
A competitive margin in Poland will be around 1%, an uncompetitive margin will be up to 3-4%.

So the question is, how much is the margin on your mortgage, and that will tell you if you are paying too much...