Second base

As the vacation property market continues to thrive in popular resort destinations across Poland, developers like Gethouse.pl are dipping into the potential of the second-homes segment.

"The performance of the market in West Europe and in Poland demonstrates the great degree of interest in this type of [second home] investment," says Dariusz Mioduszewski, president of the board at Gethouse.pl. According to Mioduszewski, his firm's development will be attractive to those looking to invest in a second home both in terms of its design and amenities. Construction has already begun on a five-storey luxury building in the mountain town of Szklarska Poręba. The property will offer about 60 spacious high-standard apartments of up to 100 sqm, with amenities such as a lobby bar, a private pool and sauna, fitness center, special areas for storing ski equipment and a play center for children. The project's design comes from the Format design studio, based in Jelenia Góra.

Partycja Siekierska, investment director at CEE Property Group, finds that Poles are increasingly mixing business with pleasure with regard to real-estate investments. "They make use of their second home as a base for weekend or vacation jaunts while profiting from leasing the property the rest of the time," she says. "The construction boom that has been active in many of Poland's tourist destinations, has contributed to a rise in interest in long-term investments in leisure and retreat projects. Also, a growing number of management agencies are appearing on the market to facilitate the handling of the entire process and making it easier to enter into such arrangements," she adds.