Winter fun
In addition to pristine forests, pristine lakes and rivers, of which there are many in Russia, Finland has excellent infrastructure and good roads leading not only to each locality, but also to individual households in the forest.
"There are no places in Finland where a person is cut off from civilization, from where there is no way to quickly get to a city or village," says Snezana Lahdensiu, CEO of Domfinland Oy LKV. – Finnish cottages are devoid of pomp and do not offer (with rare exceptions) luxury accommodation, but conditions for comfortable living are created everywhere, all infrastructure and real estate facilities are focused on real human needs."
The tourist centers of Finland, ski resorts, individual cottages in the forest and on the shores of reservoirs are suitable for active winter recreation: skiing, snowboarding and Finnish sledding, trips across snow-covered expanses on snowmobiles, dog and reindeer sledding, snowshoeing, hunting and ice fishing.
"Finland's reservoirs are rich in freshwater fish. Winter fishing is very popular and does not require a license. The forests, as in Russia, are home to a large number of birds and wild animals, many of which open the hunting season by the end of autumn. To hunt, you need to pay a state fee and get a Finnish hunting card," says Yulia Titova, CEO of Rentsale.
To the entertainment, you can add recreation in water parks and spa centers, which are very popular in Finland.
At the peak of popularity
According to the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, in the first half of 2010 Finland was the leader among all Russian destinations, ahead of Egypt and Turkey. In six months, almost 1.5 million Russian citizens visited the country. In addition to the developed tourist infrastructure and the beauty of the region, such popularity is largely due to the territorial proximity, thanks to which many people get to Finland by plane, train and car.
"Today, not only Imatra and Lappeenranta, which are closest to Russia, are popular, but also other areas. The regions of Mikkeli and Savonlinna, for example, are in great demand," says Snezhana Lakhdensiu. – Real estate buyers are, as a rule, people who have been coming to Finland for 10-15 years, staying in cottages and then buying their own homes in the same places. Priority is given to facilities for year-round living in the immediate vicinity of reservoirs. Cottages are most in demand. 120 000 – 250 000 euro".
Foreigners can purchase real estate in Finland without any restrictions. Based on the purchase and sale agreement, the owner of the property, family members and next of kin receive a Schengen visa for one year, allowing them to stay in the country for 180 days.
"Places within 100 km of border checkpoints are popular among Petersburgers, Muscovites choose areas that are easily accessible by train. But many people are looking for a home in places "deeper and further away", where untouched nature, excellent fishing, where you can relax from the hustle and bustle of the big city, especially since the roads in Finland are wonderful and it is a pleasure to drive along them. Usually they request objects near the water and with their own shore, but this immediately increases the cost. In order not to overpay, you can look for housing within walking distance from the reservoir," says Boris Zaborsky, CEO of the Finest Estate Group.
In southern Finland, near the town of Kouvola, where trains from Moscow and St. Petersburg stop (98 km from the Russian border), in a quiet place on the shore of a lake house with an area of 210 sq. m. An apartment with a large plot and its own coastline costs 380,000 euros. The nearest shops are 3 km from the house and 13 km from the town of Kouvola, where the Tykkimaki amusement Park is located – a popular place for family holidays.
In eastern Finland, on the shore of one of the lakes of the Saimaa system, a log cottage (Honka) with an area of 236 square meters is for sale. m on a plot of 0.8 hectares for 440,000 euros. The house is located 50 km from the cultural capital of Finland, Savonlinna. The border with Russia is 170 km away, shops are 5 km away.
"Among those who want to buy something elite, interest in island real estate has increased," says Tatyana Vasilyeva, CEO of Alice Estate. "There are great offers in this segment, including facilities with their own coastline in prestigious areas." So, 85 km from Helsinki, on an island with an area of 320 hectares with a full-fledged infrastructure, there is a club village with 70 villas. There is a swimming pool, a tennis court, stables, a driving range for golfers, a marina (some villas have their own berths). You can fish, hunt deer and game on the island. The villas have a total area of 279 sq. m. m together with outdoor terraces cost from 374,000 euros.
Ski spots
The ski season in Finland starts earlier than anywhere else, and perfect snow cover in Finnish resorts is guaranteed. There are no large height differences here, and the slopes are steeply inferior to high-altitude Alpine slopes, but they are safe for beginners and ideal for family holidays.
"There are more than 80 ski resorts in Finland, large and small, and ski trails can be found in all regions," says Snezhana Lahdensiu. – The majority of visitors to Finnish ski resorts are Russians. There are especially many vacationers during the New Year holidays, and you need to book a hotel for this period in advance. Real estate in ski resorts is quite expensive, and it is often rented out to justify part of the maintenance costs."
Tatyana Vasilyeva believes that it is desirable to buy an object not only near the ski slopes, but at the same time near the border or the capital. The Himos ski resort, the closest to St. Petersburg (400 km away), is very popular. There are Russian-speaking instructors, free lifts for beginners. The house has an area of 60 sq. m. m and with a plot of 500 sq. m. m in Himos will cost 197,000 euros.
"In the southern part of Finland, the most developed ski resort is Messila. It is located 8 km from the city of Lahti, where trains from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Helsinki stop. In order not to overpay, it is better to take a property not in the resort itself, but nearby," Boris Zaborsky advises. In the city of Lahti, for example, a small two-room apartment on the secondary market can be bought for 50,000 euros.
Yulia Titova says: "For those who are interested in ski resorts, the north of the country is of the greatest interest – Lapland. The favorite vacation spots of Russians in the eastern part are Rukki and Kuusamo. The highest mountains are in western Lapland." The two main resorts in the area are Levi with a diverse tourist infrastructure, including a golf course and an aqua park, and Yullas, which ranks first in Finland in terms of the height difference and the length of the slopes.
There is a villa with an area of 187 sq. m on the territory of the Yullas resort. m with a plot of 2000 sq. m. m is offered for 195,000 euros. The house is fully equipped and suitable for year-round living. Kittila Airport is 35 km away, where charters from Russia fly during the season; Kolari Railway Station is 30 km away. In Sirkka (Levi ski area), apartments in a new club hotel cost from 149,000 euros, a penthouse can be purchased for 399,000 euros.