Romania's on the rise

The low price of property is tempting for intrepid investors.

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The opening scenes of Borat, showing his ramshackle home village and its half-crazed inhabitants, may have been shot in Romania, but the film does this new member of the European Union a disservice. The former communist nation is, in fact, surprisingly sophisticated and expensive. The Prince of Wales has bought a house there, and the country is also home to many fashionable restaurants and bars that wouldn't look out of place in the trendiest cities.

"Britons come here expecting the locals to be walking around in threadbare clothes, but the opposite is true" says Michael Johns, of The Right Move Abroad (TRMA) estate agents. "I've seen more well-dressed people in Bucharest nightclubs than I have ever seen in Manchester or London. It's an eye-opener and is reflected in the fact that property prices here are far from cheap.” ... more

Romania Tops Channel 4's "20 Best Places to Make Money"

Romania is surprise winner as A Place in the Sun reveals 20 best European destinations to invest in property abroad.

A Place In The Sun has shocked overseas property experts by naming Romania as the best European destination to invest in a holiday home. Research carried out by makers of the hit Channel 4 programme, the results of which are presented in full in this month's issue of A Place in the Sun magazine, revealed that property buyers would make the biggest profit if they bought in Romania, over and above any of the other European countries ... more

Prince Charles Has Chosen to Be Dracula's Neighbour

Prince to buy ruined farmhouse in 'timewarp' Transylvanian village.

The Prince of Wales is buying a retreat in Transylvania, the region of Romania famous as the home of Count Dracula. The prince hopes to inject new life into a historic village listed as a world heritage site.

His purchase is intended to inspire sustainable tourism in the former communist country. It could also help staunch a possible exodus of Romanians from the region when the country joins the European Union in January ... more

Ski in Romania

The Prahova Valley, about two hours' drive north of Bucharest, in the heart of the Carpathian mountains, is Romania's principal ski area.

Like the country's Black Sea coast, it so farlacks Bulgaria's international profile, but Poiana Brasov, the main resort, is increasingly popular with the capital's smart set, who have been buying up villas or purchasing land and building their own. Robert Burke of Romanian property experts, Romauction, says it is possible to pick up a new or refurbished 200-300sqm house in Poiana Brasov for £170,000 - £200,000, but suggests also looking at other resorts ... more