Property Criteria

Find a Property in Bulgaria

After having calculated how much you can afford, you can start on the most exciting part of the property-buying process: selecting your future property.
But before you start spending your nights digging through piles of Bulgarian property web sites and looking at estate agents' brochures, it is advisable to sit down and think about what exactly you want. Property-hunting is exhausting and time-consuming, and you can save yourself a lot of work and energy by deciding on certain prerequisites before starting out on the actual property search.

Choosing the location and the neighbourhood

Make sure you select an area you feel comfortable in, and which suits your personal needs. If you are going to spend only your holidays in Bulgaria, then maybe you will prefer a property in a ski or sea resort. If your intention is to retire in Bulgaria, then a small village may be suitable for you. But it is a must to check the infrastructure in the region. The same is the situation if you are thinking of purchasing a property in Bulgaria for part-time retirement.
If you are a young, childless professional, you might want a lively pub scene in the area, whereas if you are an overworked parent of two children, a good school and a playground might be more important to you.
Anyway in Bulgaria there is a place for everybody - quiet lovely villages with animals and gardens, or undisturbed mountain villages, or lively cities, or luxury sea or spa resorts.
Here are the essential points to consider when choosing your future location and neighbourhood:
1. The Prices
Find out what area you can afford a decent property in by looking at the prices of properties sold recently in different locations.
2. Your feelings
Make sure you feel comfortable in that location.
3. Distance and transport
You can arrive in Bulgaria by plane, by car, by bus or by train. The major airports are in Sofia, Varna and Bourgas. From there you can take a bus or a taxi to your final destination. For more information you can see Arriving in Bulgaria at FindBulgariaProperty.Co.UK. So when you choose your property's location consider how you would get to there and how long it would take you. The best possibility is that your future property is close to the major airport and the road infrastructure is in good condition.
4. Local Amenities
What you need depends on your lifestyle and preferences. Look out for shops, public transport, leisure' facilities like pubs and clubs, children?s activities, parks etc.
5. Schools
If you have kids, find out what is the situation with the local schools.
6. Crime rate
Find out the crime rate in the region.
7. Condition of the region and neighbourhood
Keep in mind that the state of the houses in your neighbourhood influences the value of your own. The resort regions are likely to be more fancy than the ordinary villages.
8. Local Authority Services
Find out how often the waste is being collected, if the road infrastructure is regularly maintained, if the gardens and parks are kept in good condition etc.

Choose a Property

In addition to deciding what area you want to live in, you will have to make up your mind in regard to the characteristics of the property you intend to buy.
Below there is a list of property features you will have to consider:
1. Property type
Do you want a house or a flat? If you prefer a house, should it be detached, semi-detached or terraced?
Under the Bulgarian Act on Foreign Investments, foreigners are not allowed to own land but may own buildings. Foreigners wishing to own land can do it by setting up a Bulgarian company to hold the land. Bulgarian company incorporation costs less than £600. Bulgaria's ownership policy will be harmonized with the EU in the future, most probably in 2007.
2. Property Features
Determine what size the property should be (keep in mind that bigger home mean higher heating costs).
Decide on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the face of the building, whether you want a garden. If you are looking for apartment, have you any preferences for the floor number.
3. Old or new?
A new property will be more expensive to buy, but with an old property high expenses might incur for repairs and improvements. There are also many properties that are sold "off-plan", which may be pretty favourable for you.
4. Garage
If you intend to have a car in Bulgaria, check whether you have good parking facilities on the street or if there is a garage.

Bulgarian Property-Hunting Resources

After having decided on your priorities, you can start off looking for a property to buy. There are different resources for property listings.
1. Estate Agents
In Bulgaria the Estate Agents can advertise the properties and handle negotiations. Agents usually have a wide range of properties available and can offer detailed information.
Buying property in Bulgaria should only be undertaken with good professional advice. It is essential to use a reputable real estate agent - the boom in what is a largely unregulated market has led to a huge increase in the number of companies selling property, some of which may not have the experience or professional approach of longer established agencies. It is advisable to ask for references from previous customers, particularly other foreigners.
2. Private sale
Some property sellers prefer to handle their sale privately, by advertising locally. However a private sale may hardly be found. But the advantage of this kind of bargain is that there are not any estate agent fees to be paid and you might end up paying less.
You have to consider that a private seller might not deal with you in the same professional manner as an estate agent does. Especially when difficulties or delays arise, the situation can become a bit tense.
3. Online property listings
When you want to buy a property in Bulgaria and you want to get a quick impression of what's on the market, the online property listings are very convenient and helpful. It is usually possible to look for properties according to features, price range and location. Internet listings can be accessed via estate agents' home pages or independent property web sites.
You should keep in mind that a photo posted on the internet might not give you an adequate impression of the property, so it is better to remain skeptical until you have actually seen the property.