Situated on the Adriatic Sea with great access to Central and Eastern Europe, Croatia is rapidly emerging from the shackles of the Balkan conflict.
Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics, Croatia's economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output collapsed and the country missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since 2000, however, Croatia's economic fortunes have begun to improve slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation over the same period has remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable, with the country expected to be admitted to the EU in 2010.

Croatia has a population of about 4.4 million and a GDP per capita of US$9,582 as of 2006. With an unspoiled natural environment, a celebrated cultural and historical heritage, thousands of islands, and so much emphasis on Croatia as a tourism destination, now's the time to invest.

The foreign citizens in Croatia may purchase real estate in case they obtain formal approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a recommendation of the Ministry of Justice. The approval is granted only to the citizens of the states with which Croatia has signed the agreement of reciprocity, and even for them the procedures of obtaining approvals often last over a year. The agreement of reciprocity has been signed by Croatia with many western countries, the USA included. Those who cannot obtain approval or have no time for waiting over a year for purchasing real estate can establish a company in Croatia which, as a Croatian legal entity, could be able to purchase real estate without obstruction. All foreign citizens are allowed to establish a company within a period of approximately one month with a minimum initial capital of 5 000 German Marks ($2500).