If you do not have time or wish to be provided with an overall service, you can go to a real estate agency. Please note that some agencies might be willing to search for an apartment for a foreigner, provided that a foreigner fulfils all the requirements necesssary for obtaining permission to purchase real estate.
The types of contracts with a real estate agency:
- Open - concluded with multiple agencies at once;
- Exclusive - concluded with only one agency.
An open contract allows for using several agencies’ services, but in the case of an exclusive contract, the agency usually pays up more for explorationYou can sign a contract for a fixed period or indefinitely (until you find the property). Processing fees vary depending on the region - from 0.1 to 5% of the value of the property. There is a simple rule: the bigger city, the higher the commission.
ATTENTION! Processing fees may be negotiated. The greatest opportunities for discounts are when one buys more expensive and less popular property.
A real estate agent shall:
- check the legal status of property (e.g. whether no one is checked at the premises, whether the premise is not subject to the lien or whether the accounts have been settled);
- conduct price negotiations;
- advise on the purchase.
A good way of finding accommodation is also a review of ads in the sections "buy an apartment” in national and local newspapers. Internet sites where you can find an apartment:
www.me-mieszkania.pl – browser of the real estate offers; available in: English, Polish, Russian, French, German.
www.nieruchomosci-online.pl - browser of agencies and direct offers
Another way of finding accommodation is to walk around the area in which you intend to buy an apartment. Many apartment owners instead of submitting an offer to the real estate agencies prefer to put up announcements in its vicinity, e.g. poles at pedestrian crossings, shops, etc.
