Even as Slovakia’s largest cities—and especially Bratislava--become saturated by massive foreign investment, more remote parts of the country remain largely undiscovered by westerners.

Yet this presents a unique opportunity to take advantage of a likely rise in property prices in the coming years by purchasing land or homes when these are still quite undervalued.

Zilina Region’s largest town is the city that goes by this same name, but Martin—a municipality of 59,000 residents—is not far behind in terms of size and importance.

The town of Martin is similar to Zilina in that it went through of a process of urban renewal since the collapse of the former one-party socialist regime.

The city centre is especially impressive, as it combines a modern, twenty-first century glass and steel structure, with more traditional Central European architecture. But the real potential for both investment and tourism lies in the fact that the town is located next to the Malá Fatra and Veľká Fatra.

These mountains loom over the city and can be seen from all points, serving as an important reminder that Martin may soon turn into a major ski destination or resort for those interested in winter sports and recreational activities.

During the summer months, however, these same mountains have long attracted locals and domestic tourists to go on hiking and camping trips, but the city’s international tourism sector has yet to be developed.

Even if this takes several years, domestic tourism is already alive and well in the region and the need for private accommodation, in the form of rooms in houses, or vacation rentals, may present a lucrative business opportunity for investors.