Europe continues to expand its Union by letting in new member countries like Romania and Bulgaria. Hard-working Europeans are funding this new growth with their tax dollars. What many don't know is that they, as well as Americans, or any other savvy individual can profit from the investment there tax dollars have been making in these countries.

Real Estate values in these areas, bolstered by the coming European Union, continues to grow in value at a maddening pace, making some people very rich. Many Europeans are aware of this and are wondering how they can make there cut. Americans are increasingly finding out about this opportunity, which offers much higher returns then traditionally found in real estate investments there. The best way to get in while the getting is good and make your profit off of the expanding European Union is by going ‘off-plan.' This incentive-oriented investment opportunity allows you to make a maximum return on a minimal investment.

What exactly is an off plan?

In simple terms, an off plan property is one that is net yet finished construction. Normally, ‘off plans' are offered in an apartment or condominium complex or a development of houses or townhouses. The buyer "reserves" a property or properties in a development found in one of a various number of stages from planning to completion. Off plan opportunities exist in a number of countries. The most popular and profitable include Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. They are generally represented by representation firms which oversee the project development on a daily basis for its investors and provides diverse services such as mortgage assistance and property management once the development has been completed.

Why Off Plan is considered such an attractive investment consideration.

One key to why buying 'Off Plan' can be such a good investment lies in the fact that normally you only have to pay approximately 30-40% of the purchase price as a deposit and then often nothing until completion of the property when the rest can be financed on a 60-70% mortgage (however some off-plans are staged in 3 to 4 payments). How this model plays itself out in practical application can be seen in the example below: Purchase Price: $ 100,000 (September 2006) Deposit payable: $ 30,000 Let us assume that you sell the property in September 2008 (assuming the maximum wait period for almost any off-plan project) just before completion and that you sell for $130,000 (this is a much lower return than has been achieved in recent years). Your profit is $30,000 which is obviously on the $100,000 asking price a 30% return, but remember, all you have had to pay is a $30,000 deposit so your actual return on cash invested is 100%. You've doubled you're investment money. Many people also finance the 30-40% deposit by through releasing equity for their existing property and so do not actually have to have any liquid cash to take advantage of this profitable investment opportunity. Tax benefits, capital growth expectations, and rent-ability also play a major role.