She left Serbia at age 2 and moved back 57 years later
"I said 'home.' That was the first time I couldn't wait to leave America and come back to Serbia."
Suzanne · originally from Novi Sad, returned after 57 years in Australia
Watch Suzanne's full story
The complete interview on YouTube
Who is Suzanne?
Suzanne was born in Serbia — specifically in the Novi Sad region — but left when she was just two years old. Her family first relocated to Austria, then emigrated to Australia as part of the wave of European migrants welcomed by the Australian government in the early 1970s. She grew up in Melbourne, spent 25 years in Sydney, and eventually settled in Brisbane. She built a 35-year career in management. And then, at nearly 60, she packed one suitcase and moved back to Serbia.
This is her story — and if you're an expat, a diaspora returnee, or someone considering a move to Serbia from Australia, the UK, the US, or anywhere else in the Western world, it's worth reading in full.
Why did she leave Australia?
It wasn't a single dramatic reason. It was a slow accumulation. Her mother — still living in Serbia — was showing signs of cognitive decline. As the only sibling realistically able to relocate, Suzanne felt the pull strongly. But there was more to it than family duty.
She had also started researching retirement in Europe. Portugal. Spain. Italy. All of them came with bureaucratic hurdles: income thresholds, minimum savings requirements, temporary visas that needed renewing, complex residency pathways. And then she remembered: she was born in Serbia. She already held Serbian citizenship. She had a family home to stay in. No income minimums. No visa applications. No waiting lists.
"I've got the citizenship. My mom lives here. I got a place to stay. And Serbia is right at the threshold to all of Europe. Why am I looking at other countries?"
The decision crystallized during a Christmas visit to her sister in the United States. Standing in a Walmart, staring at the deli counter — and feeling, for the first time, an overwhelming desire to get back to Serbia.
The biggest fear: leaving a stable job at 60
Suzanne is candid about this. The scariest part wasn't the language barrier. It wasn't the bureaucracy. It wasn't buying property in a foreign-language legal system. It was handing in her resignation.
"That was the most scary because I'm on my own. Resigning — there goes my security. What if I don't like it? Who's going to employ me at my age? I'm almost 60."
This is one of the most honest things a returning expat or late-life relocator can say — and something many people in the same position never admit out loud. She'd already experienced age discrimination in Australia firsthand: after a state-to-state move in her late 40s, she spent eight months unemployed despite a strong management background, even being turned down by a supermarket chain for being "overqualified."
Her answer was to give herself a 12-month runway. She came to Serbia, experienced daily life, and gave herself the time to decide before buying property. That patience paid off.
Choosing Bačka Palanka: how she found the right town
After the Walmart moment confirmed she was home, Suzanne returned to Serbia and got methodical. She made a list. She researched towns by population bracket — 20k to 50k, 50k to 100k, 100k to 200k — and watched YouTube videos on every single one. Her criteria were specific: not a village (needs services), not a big city (too expensive, too fast); medical facilities within reach; close to her mother; a functioning market, shops, and public transport; and a genuine community feel.
Bačka Palanka checked every box. It's a town of around 56,000 in Vojvodina, roughly 45 minutes from Novi Sad by bus, 30 by car. It has a health center, a Lidl, markets, furniture stores, cafés — everything you'd need for a comfortable, slow-paced life without being isolated.
"I love that people get out and about on their bikes. You can go to the markets. The kids are laughing in the street. You don't get that in Australia."
Finding property in Serbia: what nobody tells you
This is where Suzanne's experience gets genuinely useful for anyone planning to buy property in Serbia.
Listings aren't on the big portals
Real estate in Serbia — especially outside Belgrade — is predominantly listed on Facebook and Instagram, not on traditional property portals. Once Suzanne understood that, she found far more options.
Agents work differently here
Unlike Australia, Canada, or the US — where the agent hands off to a solicitor after a sale is agreed — Serbian agents typically handle the entire transaction from listing to contract drafting to key handover. Suzanne's agent walked her through every stage.
You're buying the shell of the house
No kitchen units. No light fixtures. No fitted wardrobes. No air-conditioning (even if you saw it at the viewing). In Serbia, what isn't explicitly listed in the contract as included is taken by the seller — standard practice, not bad faith. Go room by room during viewings, ask what stays, and get it in the contract.
"When you buy a house, you're basically buying the shell of the house."
Why she called Relocation Serbia
Suzanne had discovered the Relocation Serbia YouTube channel before she even moved. When it came time to actually buy, she reached out. The reason was practical: her agent's documents were in Serbian Cyrillic script, which Suzanne cannot read. The legal due diligence, the cadastre checks, understanding exactly what she was signing — all of it needed a bilingual professional who understood both the legal process and the experience of a foreign buyer.
"I need your help with the documents. Honestly, best thing ever. I couldn't have done it without your help."
Her agent was cooperative throughout — an outcome that isn't guaranteed, and one Suzanne recognizes as fortunate. Having a relocation specialist involved from the start creates a layer of protection that no amount of machine translation can replicate.
What life is like now
Suzanne is settled in Bačka Palanka. She's renovating. She's close to her mother. She's learning Serbian — finding that younger Serbs speak English and that older Serbs respond warmly to anyone making the effort to use even basic Serbian.
"Now I can start to live my life to the fullest. The lifestyle here is just so relaxed. When I'm pottering around in my garden, I can hear children playing in the street."
That's not nostalgia. That's a woman who researched her options carefully, tested her decision over 12 months, bought a property with proper support, and found exactly what she was looking for.
Considering a move — or a return — to Serbia?
Book a consultation →Buying property in Serbia as a foreigner: the key facts
If Suzanne's story resonates, here's the practical and legal picture as of 2026.
Can Australians buy property in Serbia?
Yes. Australia and Serbia have a reciprocity arrangement, so Australian citizens can buy residential property as natural persons. Citizens of most Western countries — the US, UK, Germany, Canada, and EU member states — can also buy freely.
What can foreigners buy?
Apartments, houses, and commercial buildings. Agricultural land remains restricted to Serbian citizens, and some protected areas carry additional restrictions — always verify before proceeding.
Does buying property give you residency?
Owning property can support a temporary residence application, but it doesn't automatically grant residency or citizenship, and as of 2026 Serbia operates no formal golden-visa program. After three years of continuous legal residence (with limited time spent abroad), you can apply for permanent residence, and eventually citizenship.
Legal due diligence is non-negotiable.
Verify the property in the Republic Geodetic Authority (RGZ) cadastre before signing or paying anything — checking for liens, ownership disputes, and proper permits. This step is how foreign buyers avoid the most common and costly mistakes.
What it costs to buy
| Cost | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer tax (resale properties) | ~2.5% of assessed value |
| New-build properties | VAT applies instead |
| Notary & cadastre registration fees | Several hundred € |
| Total transaction costs (budget) | 3–5% on top of price |
| Annual property tax | Capped ~0.4% cadastral value |
Is Serbia right for you?
Suzanne's story is one of dozens we've documented at Relocation Serbia. Australians, Americans, Germans, Brits — people who left the Western treadmill of high costs, age discrimination, and relentless pace, and found that Serbia offered something they hadn't expected: a real quality of life.
It's not for everyone. The language is a barrier until it isn't. The bureaucracy moves at its own pace. Renovations take longer than you'd like. But for people who do their homework, take their time, and get the right support, Serbia consistently delivers.
Frequently asked questions
This article is based on a real client interview and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Property laws and residency regulations may change — always consult a qualified professional before making decisions. Last reviewed: June 2026 · Relocation Serbia.
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