Ever since the Schengen border treaty opened up Hungary to neighboring European Union countries in 2008, villages near Bratislava have been experiencing a sharp increase in demand for real estate, writes index.hu. This year condominiums and peasant homes are most popular, while in the previous two years simple, one-family homes were most sought after. Property generally now fetches twice the price as real estate near the Slovakian capital is valued at a premium and commuting times are low. For geographical and historical seasons, the capital is most accessible from the south and there are no traffic jams on roads coming through the border, making run-down Hungarian villages a natural choice.

Most buyers are from the middle or upper classes and middle aged or nearing retirement, with roughly half of Hungarian ethnic origin. Despite the conflicts across the border, origo.hu, says local families and immigrants coexist peacefully and free of political tensions. Not surprising when they know they can sell their property at twice the normal price!