Košice Real Estate: Flats and Houses in Eastern Slovakia

Košice was a European Capital of Culture in 2013, has a steel industry and an IT sector, and runs an airport with regular flights. The old town around Hlavná Street fills with cafés. East Slovakia's other towns are all within a drive: Prešov is close, Trebišov and Michalovce are to the east, and Rožňava, Humenné and Vranov nad Topľou are a little further out. Those are cheaper than Košice.

EU citizens can buy property in Slovakia without restriction; non-EU buyers may face limits on certain types of land, particularly agricultural and forest land, so ask a lawyer. Slovakia does not charge a general property transfer tax, but there is a cadastre registration fee, lawyer's fees, and an annual local property tax set by the municipality. Sales normally go through a preliminary contract and an escrow arrangement. Read our Slovakia buying guide, the financing page and the Slovakia overview.

Run costs through the mortgage calculator if you plan to borrow, because Slovak banks tend to lend to foreign buyers only with local income or a sizeable deposit.