In fact, the interesting thing about this investment opportunity is, how so many potential downsides for investing here, are also the very factors that could lead to an amazing explosion in prices in the near future. If you're prepared to move in now before almost all other investors, we believe there are a number of events and developments on the near horizon that could transform this market into a goldmine.

Let's have a look at the four key factors we believe could have an explosive effect on property prices during the next few years ahead of us:

MEMBERSHIP OF EU.
Romania is not yet even a member of the EU and it has been suggested that its planned entry for 2007/2008 may be put back a year. The obvious advantage, however is that entry is going to happen. For investors prepared to wait patiently for a few years, they can profit from the enormous leap that economies tend to make in their first few years of membership

AVAILABILITY OF MORTGAGES.
One crucial factor that could be a stumbling block for many investors is the fact that, as of yet, foreign investors are unable to get a mortgage to buy property in Romania. Anybody looking to buy will need to have cash to invest upfront or find alternative methods of financing their investment. On the PLUS side, however, this current lack of available finance means that very few foreigners are currently buying and prices are therefore still at rock bottom (apartments for £15,000, amazing holiday homes for £45,000). If you are prepared to move in now and wait until mortgages do become available, we predict some absolutely amazing returns in the long-term

ECONOMY IN VERY EARLY DAYS OF GROWTH AND RECOVERY.
It is only in the last few years that this country's economy has really begun to get its act together. While for the faint-hearted this development may not be far enough, for others it spells another huge potential boost to the market just ahead. If, as is anticipated, macro economic indicators stay on course, then interest rates will be lowered from their current 20%-25% to 10% to 15% in the local currency. This slashing of interest rates, without doubt, will open up the domestic market to hundreds of thousands of new borrowers, in turn pushing the prices up.

DIRT CHEAP LABOUR.
Much of the country is still very poor. While this does mean there is a lack of that rosy prosperity that can give investors a feeling of confidence and security, it can also spell out great future potential for the more adventurous. While we consistently maintain that a cheap labour market alone is not a reason to consider long term investment in a market, in Romania's case, the base line is so low that the cheapness of labour will fuel growth for longer than other cheap labour centres, like Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.