A busy life between Moscow and Berlin—meetings, subways, and stuffy glass offices. And then: the perfect plot of land in Kolašin, a few apple trees, and a wooden outhouse. Building a house in Montenegro – why this was one of the best decisions of my life.
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Anyone visiting me today at my home in Kolašin sees the result of a long-term strategy. But the journey here was not a spontaneous impulse; it was a consistent process of transformation. In 2013, I was deep into the daily grind of international business. My life took place in a triangle of airport lounges, Moscow traffic jams, and Berlin conference rooms. I functioned perfectly, but I missed freedom. I missed nature. I made the decision to build a new pillar and a new life in a country that many did not even have on their radar at the time.
The Moment of Decision: Fruit Trees Instead of Glass Facades
I remember exactly the day I stood on this specific piece of land for the first time. Next to me was the seller—a man who is now my neighbor and a close friend. In that moment, I was in “business mode”: keeping a low profile, checking everything, showing no emotion.
But internally, something happened. The light breeze, the bright sunshine, and the old apple and plum trees spoke a language I had long forgotten in Moscow. The plot was empty, apart from a rustic outhouse. But the good neighborhood and the tranquility were the deciding factors. I wanted to get away from the noise and toward something tangible. I wanted to build a house—not just as an investment, but as an anchor for my own creativity.
Why Building a house in Montenegro? The Bridge Between Worlds
Before I came to Montenegro, I actually wanted to buy an apartment in Tenerife or Portugal to go surfing. But from Moscow, that was a world trip. Montenegro sat geographically, culturally, and politically right in the middle of my two life centers, Berlin and Moscow. A place where Germans and Russians could meet without a visa—a neutral ground of freedom.
I wasn’t looking for the hustle and bustle of the coast. I was looking for the mountains. I wanted a simple, almost village-like life as a balance to the stressful daily city routine. During this time, I studied survival training and plant lore. I wanted to know how to live in and with nature.
My emotional anchor: A bank account or a stock portfolio can vanish into thin air. A luxury car is just scrap metal after an accident. But a house remains. If the world economy stops tomorrow, I’ll be sitting in Kolašin, heating my stove, and eating apples from my garden. That is the ultimate independence.
Reality in the Balkans: Lada Niva and Serbian Precision
Building a house in Montenegro starts with finding a plot of land and back then this was Wild West style. Everyone wanted to broker real estate. Since 2026, a new law has been in place stating that only licensed brokers and companies are permitted to mediate real estate.
I had no experience in house construction, but I chose a prefabricated house company from Ivanjica (Southern Serbia). Together with my neighbor, I drove there several times in the hottest summer in a Lada Niva without air conditioning to inspect the production. During the construction phase, I learned the language—directly on the scaffolding. It was a wild mix of Serbian, English, Russian, and German. Interestingly, many technical construction terms in Serbian are of German origin—a legacy of the Austro-Hungarian era.
In just three months, the house was standing. I was on-site every day, brought food for the workers, and handled the atmosphere. My neighbor acted as my construction supervisor and controlled every detail. The relationship of trust with him was the key. Today, we drink coffee together, and he brings me onions and carrots from his garden. That is the currency that truly counts in Montenegro: connection.
The Ritual: The Axe as Mental Training
Today, my house is my place of power. The most important ritual? Chopping wood. The house is heated with wood, and when I spend two weeks chopping intensely, it lasts for a year. It is my personal gym. If you follow me on Instagram, you know what I’m talking about. It is physical work that clears the head. It makes me ready for the next casting or the next tough negotiation.
What I’ve Learned (And What You Should Know)
My years in Russia, where nothing was handed to me, hardened me. In Montenegro, that helped me read people and choose the right partners.
My advice to you: If you are considering an investment abroad, buy a property you would actually live in yourself. If prices go up—great. If not, you still have a place in the sun where you can be happy. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Land and a house in Kolašin were the best investments of my life.
Want to see how I realized my dreamhouse in Kolašin?
Watch my video, where I take you through the process of building my house.
And if you have your own plan to invest, build, or live in Montenegro: Get in touch with me. I know the pitfalls, and I know the shortcuts. Let’s talk house builder to house builder, investor to investor.
Yours Philipp Rowe: Actor | Creator | Business Consultant
Whatsapp/ Telegram: +7 966 004 05 55
Instagram: @rowephilipp
Email: germandesk(at)philipprowe.com
Foto von Dean Milenkovic auf Unsplash
