Why investing properties in Bulgaria

Investing in golf properties in Bulgaria haven't been a likely opportunity for UK investors in the past, but things has changed so we provide an overview of Bulgaria and its culture.

Why invest in properties in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is a small country rich in ancient culture, scenic beauty and endless charm.

The country is situated in south-eastern Europe and it occupies the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. Its northern border with Romania passes along the Danube and its eastern border is the Black Sea.

One of Bulgaria’s biggest assets about investing in properties is its tourism trade, with stunning coastlines, great golf courses and an incredible mountain range, making the country extremely popular all year round.

Bulgaria also has around 600 natural mineral springs, and the baths and health spas are frequented by locals and scores of international tourists. Although the facilities need to be updated, the spring water in Bulgaria is rich in minerals and flows freely from a natural source.

Bulgaria is a country steeped in history and contains nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like the ancient city of Nesebar, which is an eclectic mix of cultures, including Thracian, Greek and Roman, as well as being one of the most important centres of sea-borne trade in the Black Sea.

What is the weather in Bulgaria?

As Bulgaria has such a contrasting landscape, from the snow-capped peaks of the Balkan Mountains, to the sunny Black sea coast, the climate tends to be variable.

In general, the weather in Bulgaria is typically Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, particularly along the coast.

Dan Johnson, Managing Director, comments:

“Bulgaria has preserved its tradition and embraced modern times by brilliantly balancing ancient values with new ideas, making it a country that offers something for everyone.”

Foreigners increasingly interested in BulgariForeigners increasingly interested in Bulgaria’s spa property destinationsa’s spa property destinations

The interest of foreign investors in the acquisition of property located in areas having mineral springs is growing, consultants from Home for You said.
Velingrad, which has already established itself as a spa destination, is growing in popularity. Research shows it is among the top destinations for both foreign and Bulgarian investors.
Agents said that Velingrad had the potential to develop into a European resort and into one of Bulgaria’s best spa resorts.
Foreigners also continue showing interest in vacation property in Bulgaria’s coastal resorts. Mountain vacation property also registers interest, which tends to be strongest towards rural developments.
Italian, Spanish, Austrian and German investors are showing increasing interest in property acquisition in Bulgaria. Scandinavian investors are also growingly attracted to property in the country.

Information Source: Sofia Echo

Property market developments in Bbulgaria unpredictable in first half of 2007

Predictions made for property market developments in the first half of the year failed coming true. The market saw dynamic developments and turned to be one of the fastest evolving segments. Price hike went beyond expectations, making agents unable to predict future growth. In the first half of the year, one and two-bedroom apartments registered the biggest price increase. The growth, however, is specific for each district and average estimations cannot be made. New construction is responsible for the varying trends, especially in Sofia. If a district sees a number of new two-bedroom apartments, owners of older such property try to sell it at prices similar to the ones for newly built apartments. Bulgaria’s bigger cities saw residential property price increase of seven to eight per cent. In general, property located close to the city’s centre gained more in value.

Information Source: Sofia Echo

Property investment returns rate ranks Bulgaria second in Europe

Bulgaria ranks second in Europe on the returns rate of property investment over the past 12 months, research of British consultancy company Assetz shows.
According to the company’s index, drafted each annual quarter, Bulgaria’s property investment returns reached 71 per cent over the past 12 months.
Poland ranked first with 100 per cent returns.
Assetz warned potential investors that the rate in Bulgaria was expected to decrease significantly.
Regions featuring over supply like Sunny Beach coastal resort and Bansko winter resort already experience problems with their rental markets.
Bulgaria is the only European country listed in the ranking, for which Assetz expects such decrease in returns.
Poland will also experience decrease, though it will be smaller compared to predictions for Bulgaria.

Information Source: Sofia Echo

Polish company to invest 90milion leva in mall construction in Bulgaria's Varna

Polish company Globe Trade Centre (GTC) will provide funding for nearly 95 per cent of the construction of Gallery Varna mall.
Investment will total 89 million leva.
This is the fourth mall project to be launched in the coastal city of Varna since the beginning of 2007.
The project is still awaiting construction permit. Construction works will be finalised by the end of 2009.
Annual rental income is expected to reach 9.5 million leva.
This is the first GTC project in Bulgaria. The company already has several trade centres in Romania. It plans to construct two more trade centres in other big Bulgarian cities.
GTC announced that in 2006, it acquired a 4500 sq m plot in Sofia, worth 1.55 million euro.

Information Source: Sofia Echo

Bulgaria with “Phenomenal” Position in Property Market Popularity Ranking

Bulgaria continues to be a magnet for UK property buyers, as a new report by the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP) has revealed.

Describing the position of Bulgaria as "phenomenal" the AIPP table that ranks the popularity of foreign property markets had the Eastern European country at third with 7.7 per cent of the market.
This placed it just behind perennial favourites like Spain and France, which remained as the two top markets.
And Quest Bulgaria's latest issue shows that four in five of overseas property investors are from the UK, as reported by Real Estate TV, which revealed that the market is particularly popular with Britons but not elsewhere in Europe.
The surge in demand has led to warnings that investors expecting profits from buying and selling property should cool their expectations, as the Bulgarian real estate market faces oversupply, dampening future price rises.
Spain, where properties have become more affordable due to a recent crash in the market, and America, where a weak dollar is still making real estate a relatively cheap investment, are set to become more popular in the short term.

Information Source: News.bg

Bulgaria maintauns leading position in property market attractiveness ranking

Bulgaria's capital of Sofia ranks third in property market attractiveness according to recent research of Global Property Guide (GPG).

The ranking included 12 European capitals and placed Bratislava and Istanbul at the first two positions.

GPG compared several factors including prices per sq m, annual rental income, taxes, transaction costs, GDP and legislation in the country.

EU membership requirements activated a number of reforms in Bulgaria, research said. The annual gross rental income in Sofia is 10.6 per cent on average.

Average residential prices are still low amounting to 1042 euro per sq m and the taxes on rental income are within the European levels.

Transaction costs remain too high with average levels between 24.8 per cent and 26.6 per cent.

Slovakia turns out to be the most attractive place for property investment due to its GDP growth of 8.7 per cent in 2006, high rental income and low transaction costs.

Legislation changes in Turkey in the end of 2005 made it easier to purchase real estate in the country. Rental income ranging between six and 7.6 per cent and steady economic growth placed Turkey second among most attractive places for property investment.

The ranking goes further to include Romania, Hungary, Moldova and Ukraine.

In comparison, Baltic countries registered rental income decrease. Apartment prices in those countries are already reaching the levels in Copenhagen, Helsinki and Stockholm.

Information Source: Sofia Echo