Any one bought a Bulgaria property?
Discussion
Hello,
Any one here bought a property in Bulgaria recently?
Trawling through Ebay, far too late one night, and I happen on the Bulgarian property sales.
So I do a little reading, and find Bulgaria joined EU in 2007.
Then I start to see soem pictures of reasonable houses, in various states.
All looking all too cheap.
The interesting one's were between £3000 to £6000
The land offered with most of them is between 100 M sq, - 2000 M sq.
So a nice are for a vegetable plot etc,
What have you bought, and where?
Vette
Any one here bought a property in Bulgaria recently?
Trawling through Ebay, far too late one night, and I happen on the Bulgarian property sales.
So I do a little reading, and find Bulgaria joined EU in 2007.
Then I start to see soem pictures of reasonable houses, in various states.
All looking all too cheap.
The interesting one's were between £3000 to £6000
The land offered with most of them is between 100 M sq, - 2000 M sq.
So a nice are for a vegetable plot etc,
What have you bought, and where?
Vette
A few friends have bought apartments in the ski area of Bansko, ridiculous value for money, £25k for a fully furnished 1 bed apartment within walking distance of the ski gondola/chairlift.
Only problem they found is that mortgages for foreign nationals were pretty much non-existant, but at that price they can be funded by savings/remortgage of your own home.
Everything seems to have went smoothly, no problems with legal paperwork or anything like that.
Only problem they found is that mortgages for foreign nationals were pretty much non-existant, but at that price they can be funded by savings/remortgage of your own home.
Everything seems to have went smoothly, no problems with legal paperwork or anything like that.
I bought a gaff near Veliko Tarnovo, (about 15 minutes drive from there), and just off the Sofia - Varna road... 15,000 euros paid in cash. A few bits and bobs to be done, for example I've just, (literally finished a day and a bit ago), some steps from the mahana to the top floor, and it cost me maybe 250 quid for them, and even then I think I was paying Angleski prices.
Weather today was 36 degrees, internet is cheap, I get 55down, and 35 up for 10quid a month. Electricity is cheap. However, certain bits of the infrastructure is still being done in Bulgaria. Power cuts are common, as are water cuts. red tape is redder then anywhere else I've lived, (and I've lived in quite a few countries)...
Weather today was 36 degrees, internet is cheap, I get 55down, and 35 up for 10quid a month. Electricity is cheap. However, certain bits of the infrastructure is still being done in Bulgaria. Power cuts are common, as are water cuts. red tape is redder then anywhere else I've lived, (and I've lived in quite a few countries)...
Thank to both who replied.
Generally, it looks quite a good place, with relation to other up and comming places.
Varna is lookin quite good, however, I am sure the prices would reflect this, and cost more.
Can any give any information on the state of any of the beaches there.
I am quite a beach fan, and would spend decent time strolling and generally loafing around on the beach.
V.
Generally, it looks quite a good place, with relation to other up and comming places.
Varna is lookin quite good, however, I am sure the prices would reflect this, and cost more.
Can any give any information on the state of any of the beaches there.
I am quite a beach fan, and would spend decent time strolling and generally loafing around on the beach.
V.
+1 for everything chichoandy said. I bought in 2008, a fully renovated 2 bed detached rural villa on a 1000 sqm plot for 21000 euros. Property prices have dropped a fair bit since, and a goodly number of ex-pats have given up the good-life and gone back to the UK, so there are a number of renovated properties going cheap.
30,000 Euros will get a superb renovated Villa away from the Black Sea coastal towns, or a sound building and the budget to renovate for yourself. Unless you want to go self sufficient you don't want any more than 1000 sqm land, the weeds grow a foot a day out here, ignore them for a week and they're waist high.
Corruption in authority was a real problem, but there's a high profile campaign at the moment against corrupt coppers, with arrests in the news almost daily, and whole government departments being sacked. Every business till should now be connected straight to the tax man via the internet, to prevent fiddling of tax returns.
Red tape ties everyone in knots, no one trusts anybody out here, so every legal transaction is witnessed by a notary, for a fee, and reams of receipts. I bought a kitchen cupboard door yesterday, and had to sign six copies of the receipt.
Many of the rural roads are now being fixed, but most are still unutterably s
te, tank-trap sized potholes will destroy alloys, Lada Rivas on Mud-plugger tyres are state-of-the-art. If you can speed, don't, Bulgaria discovered speed cameras last year, they're popping up like pimples now. I doesn't stop the 2@ts in black 4x4's attempting motorised suicide everywhere though.
The pros far outweigh the cons, especially if you like living your own life, away from the Nanny State and petty regulations. Life away from the big towns is extremely cheap.
30,000 Euros will get a superb renovated Villa away from the Black Sea coastal towns, or a sound building and the budget to renovate for yourself. Unless you want to go self sufficient you don't want any more than 1000 sqm land, the weeds grow a foot a day out here, ignore them for a week and they're waist high.
Corruption in authority was a real problem, but there's a high profile campaign at the moment against corrupt coppers, with arrests in the news almost daily, and whole government departments being sacked. Every business till should now be connected straight to the tax man via the internet, to prevent fiddling of tax returns.
Red tape ties everyone in knots, no one trusts anybody out here, so every legal transaction is witnessed by a notary, for a fee, and reams of receipts. I bought a kitchen cupboard door yesterday, and had to sign six copies of the receipt.
Many of the rural roads are now being fixed, but most are still unutterably s
te, tank-trap sized potholes will destroy alloys, Lada Rivas on Mud-plugger tyres are state-of-the-art. If you can speed, don't, Bulgaria discovered speed cameras last year, they're popping up like pimples now. I doesn't stop the 2@ts in black 4x4's attempting motorised suicide everywhere though.The pros far outweigh the cons, especially if you like living your own life, away from the Nanny State and petty regulations. Life away from the big towns is extremely cheap.
uk_vette said:
Hello,
Any one here bought a property in Bulgaria recently?
Trawling through Ebay, far too late one night, and I happen on the Bulgarian property sales.
So I do a little reading, and find Bulgaria joined EU in 2007.
Then I start to see soem pictures of reasonable houses, in various states.
All looking all too cheap.
The interesting one's were between £3000 to £6000
The land offered with most of them is between 100 M sq, - 2000 M sq.
So a nice are for a vegetable plot etc,
What have you bought, and where?
Vette
Beware buying through E-bay (as always). Furriners are not (yet) allowed to own land in Bulgaria. They must form a limited company, which then owns the land, and the property on it. Forming the company costs around 400 to 500 BGN, and requires signatures in person on the documents in Bulgaria. The company must be maintained properly with annual tax returns and reports, the charges for them vary with the accountant you select, but will be around 250 BGN a year. If you fail to pay the property taxes and submit the returns on time there are big fines and you may lose your property.Any one here bought a property in Bulgaria recently?
Trawling through Ebay, far too late one night, and I happen on the Bulgarian property sales.
So I do a little reading, and find Bulgaria joined EU in 2007.
Then I start to see soem pictures of reasonable houses, in various states.
All looking all too cheap.
The interesting one's were between £3000 to £6000
The land offered with most of them is between 100 M sq, - 2000 M sq.
So a nice are for a vegetable plot etc,
What have you bought, and where?
Vette
If you buy an apartment, obviously you don't own the land so you don't need a company.
Hello karona,
Thanks for some great advice, and a good perspective .
Along with Ebay, where else to look for Bulgaria property sellers?
I would assume the Black Sea coastal regions to be reasonably expensive, and saying that, when teh summer season has died dowm, they will look like ghost towns?
Where is your favourite areas, if you were to buy again.?
Thanks for some great advice, and a good perspective .
Along with Ebay, where else to look for Bulgaria property sellers?
I would assume the Black Sea coastal regions to be reasonably expensive, and saying that, when teh summer season has died dowm, they will look like ghost towns?
Where is your favourite areas, if you were to buy again.?
uk_vette said:
Hello karona,
Thanks for some great advice, and a good perspective .
Along with Ebay, where else to look for Bulgaria property sellers?
I would assume the Black Sea coastal regions to be reasonably expensive, and saying that, when teh summer season has died dowm, they will look like ghost towns?
Where is your favourite areas, if you were to buy again.?
There are a number of on-line Bulgarian forums, My Bulgaria, Our Bulgaria Portal, Our Bulgarian World, Ex-pat in Bulgaria, to name a few, forum members have property for sale. There is a very active list on Facebook, 'Bulgarian Friendship for Ex-pats an friends' members there also have properties for sale. There's real bargains on E-bay, though, just keep your eyes open and ask the right question.Thanks for some great advice, and a good perspective .
Along with Ebay, where else to look for Bulgaria property sellers?
I would assume the Black Sea coastal regions to be reasonably expensive, and saying that, when teh summer season has died dowm, they will look like ghost towns?
Where is your favourite areas, if you were to buy again.?
The tourist areas, s
tty Beach, Golden Sands, bear absolutely no resemblance to the real Bulgaria, they're worse than Blackpool for sleaze and rip-offs. The nearer you get to them the higher the property prices. Yes, between mid September and mid May they are, literally, ghost towns. We live in the South East, near Elhovo, about an hour from Yambol, and a bit further from Burgas, and have no plans to move, we love the area.
In the UK 'Estate Agents' are universally despised as the ultimate rip-off, out here they are very different beasts. Ours offers full time support, not just for the legal aspects of buying, tax returns etc. but supplies translators for the mundane things like hospital trips, getting the car MOT etc. etc. Have a look at a few of the sites, get a feel for the prices, and if anything takes your fancy, PM me your e-mail and I'll pass you on to my better half who is expert in all things property related.
edit, that makes me sound like an Estate Agent, I'm not, just a happy customer.
Edited by karona on Saturday 25th June 08:23
Agree about the estate agents. I used a company called Stara Planina, and their after sales service is top notch. They will bend over backwards to help you through life after they would wipe their hands clean in the UK. As Karona says, avoid the 'resort' areas. They are just filled with Brits, and you might as well just go to the Costa Del Crap as move there. The countryside is beautiful. I live up by the mountains, and it is stunning to drive through, with some great roads, and some bumpity bumpity suspension testers. That's why I opted for a cheap 4x4 rather than import my G35. Electronics are not particularly cheap, and every thing seems to be a year behind on some things. It's very laid back, and there are plenty of cheap places to eat, and plenty of them. Local food is pretty good, if it;s decent, and pretty bad if it;s not, but you'll learn where to go. My local is a Monestary bar, which is open air. Cheap, good food, and very relaxing.
I love it here, despite the cons that Karona mentioned. It sounds like she/he does too.
My house is more local, than villa, but it was already part refurbished by the time I got my hands on it, so not that much to do. I'm in the process of doing the mahana/basement, and have just put the steps in. Need windows, doors, and insulation. If you're in the country, most have a wood burning stove, so you have to get your wood around this time of year. I paid around 800 leva for 16 cu/m of pre chopped wood, (it just needs chopping a bit more to burn), and I used about 12 cu/m last winter.
I love it here, despite the cons that Karona mentioned. It sounds like she/he does too.
My house is more local, than villa, but it was already part refurbished by the time I got my hands on it, so not that much to do. I'm in the process of doing the mahana/basement, and have just put the steps in. Need windows, doors, and insulation. If you're in the country, most have a wood burning stove, so you have to get your wood around this time of year. I paid around 800 leva for 16 cu/m of pre chopped wood, (it just needs chopping a bit more to burn), and I used about 12 cu/m last winter.
Edited by ChiChoAndy on Saturday 25th June 11:42
Hello Andy,
Thanks for the good information.
I must say, it is sounding more attractive with each post I read.
Even to get away from UK, and take a 12 month "break away"
I see you have your UK car there with you.
Any thing I need to know about bringing mine with me, also a 4x4
Do you maintain UK tax disc, or UK insurance ?
whats the details of them positions.
I guess steering wheel on the other side is not too much of a hassle?
The roads there by you, don't exactly look overcrowded.
V.
Thanks for the good information.
I must say, it is sounding more attractive with each post I read.
Even to get away from UK, and take a 12 month "break away"
I see you have your UK car there with you.
Any thing I need to know about bringing mine with me, also a 4x4
Do you maintain UK tax disc, or UK insurance ?
whats the details of them positions.
I guess steering wheel on the other side is not too much of a hassle?
The roads there by you, don't exactly look overcrowded.
V.
That is my brothers car. To get it lobbed over onto Bulgarian plates, it only costs a few hundred leva to do. I know a lady who does it, and it saves you having to go through the morose of offices to get it done. Insurance is cheap. Fuel is about the same price as the UK, however. 2nd hand car prices seem expensive, so you are probably best bringing a car with you, to be honest.
Oh, and you can keep a car on UK plates here, I'm just not sure for how long.
Roads in the cities are busy, the countryside, not so much.
Oh, and you can keep a car on UK plates here, I'm just not sure for how long.
Roads in the cities are busy, the countryside, not so much.
Edited by ChiChoAndy on Saturday 25th June 12:36
ChiChoAndy said:
That is my brothers car. To get it lobbed over onto Bulgarian plates, it only costs a few hundred leva to do. I know a lady who does it, and it saves you having to go through the morose of offices to get it done. Insurance is cheap. Fuel is about the same price as the UK, however. 2nd hand car prices seem expensive, so you are probably best bringing a car with you, to be honest.
Oh, and you can keep a car on UK plates here, I'm just not sure for how long.
Roads in the cities are busy, the countryside, not so much.
The biggest problem with importing a UK plated car is an 'ECO' tax, based on the value/age/emission rating of the car, it can be expensive importing a new gas-guzzling 4x4. As ChiChoAndy says, the actual process isn't difficult, just a bureaucratic nightmare merrygoround of different offices. You can keep a UK plate car here until the UK MOT runs out, you can't MOT it out here unless you register it here. The MOT is a joke here, lights, rolling road brake check, emissions test and it's done. 15 minutes tops, and costs 30lev (12 quid). A good estate agent will help you through the process, supplying a translator. Oh, and you can keep a car on UK plates here, I'm just not sure for how long.
Roads in the cities are busy, the countryside, not so much.
Edited by ChiChoAndy on Saturday 25th June 12:36
edit, if your UK tax expires while it's out here you must SORN it, or register it here, or the DVLA start handing out fines.
Edited by karona on Saturday 25th June 14:01
ChiChoAndy said:
I haven't imported a car, but when he imported the Tahoe, (5.7 V8), he only paid the tax when it was sold, not when it was registered, as far as I can remember. I could be wrong.
Tova e Bulgaria lol, The tax was introduced just after I imported my newish Kia, but things change often out here, so I might be wrong too.ChiChoAndy said:
karona said:
Tova e Bulgaria lol
Ain't that the truth! 
(PS, have you gotten used to the wobbly headed yes yet? I can;t get my head round it still!)
karona said:
ChiChoAndy said:
That is my brothers car. To get it lobbed over onto Bulgarian plates, it only costs a few hundred leva to do. I know a lady who does it, and it saves you having to go through the morose of offices to get it done. Insurance is cheap. Fuel is about the same price as the UK, however. 2nd hand car prices seem expensive, so you are probably best bringing a car with you, to be honest.
Oh, and you can keep a car on UK plates here, I'm just not sure for how long.
Roads in the cities are busy, the countryside, not so much.
The biggest problem with importing a UK plated car is an 'ECO' tax, based on the value/age/emission rating of the car, it can be expensive importing a new gas-guzzling 4x4. As ChiChoAndy says, the actual process isn't difficult, just a bureaucratic nightmare merrygoround of different offices. You can keep a UK plate car here until the UK MOT runs out, you can't MOT it out here unless you register it here. The MOT is a joke here, lights, rolling road brake check, emissions test and it's done. 15 minutes tops, and costs 30lev (12 quid). A good estate agent will help you through the process, supplying a translator. Oh, and you can keep a car on UK plates here, I'm just not sure for how long.
Roads in the cities are busy, the countryside, not so much.
Edited by ChiChoAndy on Saturday 25th June 12:36
edit, if your UK tax expires while it's out here you must SORN it, or register it here, or the DVLA start handing out fines.
Edited by karona on Saturday 25th June 14:01
Hi Karona,
Thanks again for the great advice.
So, ideal to MOT the car just before depart UK shores.
Also TAX car for 12 months just before leave UK shores.
After 1 year, I don't have a problem to drive it back to UK for MOT and TAX again.
Looks liek a reasonably straite run of about 1700 miles.
V.
karona said:
Every business till should now be connected straight to the tax man via the internet, to prevent fiddling of tax returns.
Red tape ties everyone in knots, no one trusts anybody out here, so every legal transaction is witnessed by a notary, for a fee, and reams of receipts. I bought a kitchen cupboard door yesterday, and had to sign six copies of the receipt.
Red tape ties everyone in knots, no one trusts anybody out here, so every legal transaction is witnessed by a notary, for a fee, and reams of receipts. I bought a kitchen cupboard door yesterday, and had to sign six copies of the receipt.
karona said:
The pros far outweigh the cons, especially if you like living your own life, away from the Nanny State and petty regulations. Life away from the big towns is extremely cheap.
I'm confused. Is it an overbearing bureaucracy or not 
uk_vette said:
.
Hi Karona,
Thanks again for the great advice.
So, ideal to MOT the car just before depart UK shores.
Also TAX car for 12 months just before leave UK shores.
After 1 year, I don't have a problem to drive it back to UK for MOT and TAX again.
Looks liek a reasonably straite run of about 1700 miles.
V.
You will need to buy a 'vignette' for Bulgarian road tax as you enter the country, it's just under 70 lev (32 quid) for the year, but, depending on the time you get here, you may be better buying it monthly from the bigger petrol stations. Hi Karona,
Thanks again for the great advice.
So, ideal to MOT the car just before depart UK shores.
Also TAX car for 12 months just before leave UK shores.
After 1 year, I don't have a problem to drive it back to UK for MOT and TAX again.
Looks liek a reasonably straite run of about 1700 miles.
V.
You will also need a 'green card' from your insurers to prove European cover. Your insurers may tell you you don't need one, bang on the table and demand one, coppers here cannot read the English insurance certificate, but they do understand the Green Card.
You'll need warning triangle, spare bulbs, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, high viz vest, snow chains/tyres and compulsory daytime headlights November to March,
Flintstone said:
karona said:
Every business till should now be connected straight to the tax man via the internet, to prevent fiddling of tax returns.
Red tape ties everyone in knots, no one trusts anybody out here, so every legal transaction is witnessed by a notary, for a fee, and reams of receipts. I bought a kitchen cupboard door yesterday, and had to sign six copies of the receipt.
Red tape ties everyone in knots, no one trusts anybody out here, so every legal transaction is witnessed by a notary, for a fee, and reams of receipts. I bought a kitchen cupboard door yesterday, and had to sign six copies of the receipt.
karona said:
The pros far outweigh the cons, especially if you like living your own life, away from the Nanny State and petty regulations. Life away from the big towns is extremely cheap.
I'm confused. Is it an overbearing bureaucracy or not So, yes, there is overbearing bureaucracy, but there's no Nanny State like the UK. There's corruption in high office, but there's a strong will to stamp it out, unlike in the UK.
Excuse any grammar or spelling errors, this was typed under the influence of ice-cold Karltenberg draught lager, from our village bar, at 1.20 lev (50 pence)a half litre, the perfect end to a long sunny day with temps in the 30's.
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