Buying property in Slovenia is relatively straightforward and easy procedure, thanks to changes in the law that came into effect when the country attained EU accession. As always, a respected local lawyer should be employed to help with all dealings and aid with translation of documents.

Once a property has been decided upon and an offer is made, the buyer must apply for an EMSO number if they have not done already. This is a mere formality and is pretty much a social security number, just as a lot of other countries have (an alternative is to apply for a Slovene tax number). A contract for the property is prepared, along with a legally binding translation of the document, which is then signed by the buyer, seller and a notary, and a deposit usually of around 10 to 15 percent is paid before the documents are sent to the local Land Registry for the property to be signed over officially to the buyer. This service in Slovenia is surprisingly fast, and a lot of applications are dealt with in around a week. Once confirmation of the transfer is received, the remainder of the fee can be paid and all outstanding balances can be settled.

Agency fees tend to be around two percent of the total cost, whereas lawyer and notary fees vary from place to place. A few government and land registry taxes are paid on completion and it should be decided before the purchase is complete which party pays them. It also helps the purchasing process to have a Slovene bank account – these are easily opened once an EMSO number is obtained. All in all, the process of buying in Slovenia is simple and straightforward, causing little in the way of headaches, and with competent agencies and lawyers available widely the process is made even easier.