Real estate

Single men on the real estate market: how to get your first apartment by yourself

18-08-2026 / Regent Zagreb

Summary

Buying your first apartment as a single person means that the entire burden of the loan and the decisions rest on one income, making a realistic budget, location choice, and an emergency fund more crucial than for a couple. The loan amount is limited by a single salary, but first-time buyers have access to a tax rebate program for young people under 45 – a refund of the entire property transfer tax or up to 50% of VAT. Furthermore, buying with a partner or family member can increase your creditworthiness, but co-ownership arrangements must be settled in advance. In this guide, we explore what a single income means for property purchase and how to mitigate risk.

Key facts

The share of single-person households in Croatia has risen to 27.8% (CBS, Census 2021).
With a single income, the entire installment rests on one salary, so the loan amount is smaller than for couples.
A tax refund is available to first-time buyers up to 45 years of age: 100% of property transfer tax or up to 50% of VAT.
A co-debtor or co-ownership can increase creditworthiness, but they require a clear written agreement.
A reserve and a conservative installment are crucial protection when you bear the risk alone.

Buying a first apartment as a single person means that the entire burden of the loan and decisions rests on one income, so a realistic budget, choice of location, and protective reserve are more important than for a couple. The loan amount is limited by one salary, but first-time buyers have access to a tax refund program for young people up to 45 years old — a refund of the entire real estate transfer tax or up to 50% of VAT. Additionally, buying with a partner or family member can increase creditworthiness, but co-ownership relationships must be arranged in advance. In this guide, we explore what a single income means for purchasing and how to reduce risk.

Single people are no longer a marginal group in the real estate market, but an increasingly large portion of buyers. According to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics from the 2021 Census, the share of single-person households in Croatia increased to 27.8%, while in 2011 it was 24.6%. This means that today almost every third to fourth household is single-person, and many of these people want to solve their housing issue alone. From working with clients, we see that buying a first apartment as a single person raises different questions than buying as a couple. There is no second income to add to the loan, but there is also no need to coordinate with another person — the decision is entirely yours. In this text, we explain how a single income changes the calculation, what incentives are available to you, and how to protect yourself when you bear the risk alone.

Why more and more people are buying their first apartment alone
How much you can realistically borrow on one salary
Incentives and taxes for first-time buyers
Strategies when buying alone
Risk on a single income and how to mitigate it
Frequently Asked Questions

Key Insights

The share of single-person households in Croatia increased to 27.8% (CBS, Census 2021).
With a single income, the entire installment rests on one salary, so the loan amount is smaller than for a couple.
First-time buyers up to 45 years old have access to a tax refund: 100% of real estate transfer tax or up to 50% of VAT.
A co-borrower or co-ownership can increase creditworthiness, but requires a clear written agreement.
Reserves and a conservative installment are key protection when you bear the risk alone.

Why more and more people are buying their first apartment alone

An increasing number of first-time buyers today are single, and official data confirms this. According to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (Census 2021), Croatia has about 1.44 million private households, and in 27.8% of them, only one person lives. The trend is particularly pronounced in coastal areas and larger cities: the smallest average households were recorded in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and the City of Zagreb, and in Rijeka, as many as 34% of households are single-person. For the real estate market, this means stable demand for smaller, functional apartments that one person can maintain and pay off. From the listings we manage, we see that studios, one-bedroom, and smaller two-bedroom apartments in good locations are among the most sought-after precisely because of this buyer profile. Therefore, buying a first apartment as a single person is not an exception, but an increasingly common scenario — however, it requires a different approach to planning than buying as a couple.

Professional advice: Before you start your search, define for yourself your "upper limit of peace of mind" — the maximum monthly installment you could handle without stress even in a weaker month. This figure, and not the maximum amount the bank approves, should be the starting point of your budget.

How much you can realistically borrow on one salary

The amount of loan you can get as a single person is directly limited by a single income. The bank assesses your repayment ability based on regular income and existing obligations, and with a single income, there is no second income that would "boost" that assessment. Therefore, you will generally get a smaller loan and thus realistically look at smaller apartments than a couple with similarly large but double income. The final amount is also influenced by common loan parameters — the loan-to-value ratio, the share of the installment in income, and the effective interest rate. These terms determine how much you will actually be able to borrow and how much you will pay over the life of the loan, so it is worth understanding them before talking to the bank. Before signing, be sure to compare offers from multiple banks and ask for an informative calculation showing the total cost of the loan, not just the monthly installment.

Professional advice: Ask yourself how much you would borrow if the installment had to fit into one-fifth to one-quarter of your net salary, rather than the legal maximum. Buying on a single income forgives far fewer mistakes than buying as a couple, so a margin of safety is your best ally here.

Incentives and taxes for first-time buyers

As a first-time buyer up to 45 years old, you are entitled to a tax refund program for the purchase or construction of a first residential property, administered by the Agency for Legal Transactions and Mediation in Real Estate (APN). When purchasing from a private individual, you can claim a refund of the entire paid real estate transfer tax (which amounts to 3%), and when purchasing a new build from an investor, a refund of up to 50% of the paid VAT. The measure applies to contracts and invoices issued after January 1, 2025 (source: APN, gov.hr, Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property). Conditions include age up to 45, registered permanent residence and actual living in that property, and not owning an adequate property of your own. Size and price limitations also apply: for a single person, 50 m² is prescribed (with an allowed deviation of up to 75 m², but with the refund calculated based on 50 m²), and the price per square meter must not exceed 50% above the average local price. If you sell, rent out, or do not reside in the property within five years, you will have to return the support. Check the detailed conditions directly on the APN website. It is also worth knowing that a property where you have registered your primary residence is exempt from the new annual real estate tax.

Professional advice: Real estate transfer tax is usually paid first, and the refund is requested later — do not count on having the savings "in hand" at the time of signing. When planning liquidity, treat this amount as an expense that will be returned to you later, not as an upfront discount.

Strategies when buying alone

When you're buying alone, three levers most expand your options: size, location, and financing method. A smaller apartment in a well-connected location is generally a smarter first step than a larger one on the periphery — it's easier to maintain, cheaper to heat, and easier to sell or rent out later. Property liquidity, i.e., how easily it converts back into cash, is more important for a single person than for a family planning to stay long-term. If your own income doesn't yield the desired amount, there are two common possibilities.
The first is a co-borrower — a person (most often a parent or partner) who increases creditworthiness with their income but also legally liable for the loan.
The second is buying in co-ownership with a partner or family member, where everyone has their ideal share of the property. Both options require a clear agreement in advance: who invests how much, whose part is which, and what happens in case of sale or separation. Before signing, also perform the usual legal and technical inspection of the property, as with any purchase — we describe it step-by-step in the guide to the real estate purchase process and in the text on property inspection before purchase.

Professional advice: If you're taking on a co-borrower or buying in co-ownership, put the agreement on shares and "exit strategy" in writing before purchase, while relations are good. A seemingly unnecessary document in good times is most valuable precisely when needed.

Risk on a single income and how to mitigate it

The biggest difference between buying as a couple and buying as a single person is not in the loan amount, but in the risk. With a single income, there is no second income that would bridge a work interruption, sick leave, or job loss, so a protective layer is not an option but a necessity. Therefore, when buying independently, it is prudent to set aside a larger reserve and not stretch the budget to the last euro. In practice, this means several concrete steps: before buying, secure a reserve that covers several months of installments and utilities, consider loan repayment insurance, choose a fixed or partially fixed interest rate if the predictability of the installment gives you peace of mind, and select a property that can be easily rented out if circumstances change. A conservative installment amount that you can manage even in a tougher month is better protection than the maximum loan the bank approves.

Professional advice: Before signing, do a "bad month test" — check if you could cover the installment, utilities, and basic expenses if your income temporarily drops. If the answer is not convincingly affirmative, lower your target price or extend your savings, rather than stretching the deadline to the limit.

How Regent can help you

We help independent buyers set a realistic budget and choose a property that suits both today's life and potential sale in a few years. In addition to finding an apartment, we check the legal status and documentation and connect you with the steps that follow — from loan to handover — so that you go through the process smoothly, even when you don't have a co-pilot. See what buying with Regent looks like or contact us to discuss your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy an apartment alone, on one salary?

Yes, buying an apartment on one salary is possible, but the loan amount is limited by a single income. The bank assesses repayment ability based on your regular income and existing obligations, so with a single income, the entire installment rests on that salary. In practice, this means a more modest budget and a smaller property than for a couple with two incomes, which makes a realistic choice of initial budget and location crucial.

How much tax refund can I get as a single person when buying my first property?

Through the tax refund program for young people up to 45 years old, when purchasing a first residential property from a private individual, you can claim a refund of the entire paid real estate transfer tax (3%), and for new builds from an investor, a refund of up to 50% of the paid VAT. Conditions include, among others, age up to 45, registered permanent residence and actual living in the property, as well as square footage and price limitations. The application is submitted to the Agency for Legal Transactions and Mediation in Real Estate (APN).

Is there still an exemption from real estate transfer tax for a first property up to 150 m²?

Do not count on automatic exemption upon purchase. Today, the relief for first-time buyers is realized through the tax refund program for young people up to 45 years old, rather than as a pre-approved exemption upon signing the contract. The real estate transfer tax of 3% is usually paid first, and the refund is then requested from the APN if you meet the conditions. Before purchasing, check the current conditions with the Tax Administration and APN.

What size property can a single person buy with a tax refund?

For a single-person household, an area of 50 m² is prescribed for an apartment, with an allowed deviation of up to 50% (i.e., up to 75 m²), but the refund is calculated based on the recognized 50 m². For a family house, a single person can buy up to 112.5 m². In addition to the square footage, a price condition also applies: the price per square meter must not exceed 50% above the average local price determined for your local self-government unit.

Is it worth taking on a co-borrower or buying in co-ownership?

A co-borrower or co-ownership can increase your creditworthiness and share the burden, but they also carry legal consequences that need to be agreed upon in advance. A co-borrower is responsible for the loan just like you, and co-ownership means that each co-owner has their ideal share. If you are buying together with a partner or family member, formally arrange in writing who invests how much, whose ideal part is which, and what happens in case of sale or separation.

What if I lose my job while repaying a loan alone?

When buying on a single income, there is no second income that would bridge an interruption, so a protective layer is mandatory, not an option. Before buying, secure a reserve for several months of installments and expenses, consider loan repayment insurance, and choose a property that can be easily rented out or sold. A conservative installment amount that you can manage even in a tougher month is better protection than the maximum loan the bank approves.