Cheap Bulgarian properties for Sale, Invest in Bulgaria

.....the good, the bad and general advice from someone who has been there, done it, been through it and survived....just!

thetravelbug.org

Bulgaria to Transylvania

At the start of October we were still gardening in shorts and t-shirts, but when we left Bulgaria mid-Oct and drove over the Hemblas pass to the northern side of the country we hit snow! It was an easy cruise to the Romanian border and then the usual hassle to try and buy a vignette. [...]

Greece to Bulgaria via Bansko

From Greece we were on the home run back to our place in central Bulgaria. It is around a ten hour straight drive without stops. Usually we follow the motorway straight across northern Greece towards Turkey and then at Alexandropolis take the road along side the Turkish border to Svilengrad on the Bulgarian border. From [...]

Problems with Developments Continue to Materialise

Early last summer (2010) I was contacted by a lady who had purchased an off plan apartment in Sozopol and was experiencing difficulties with the developer and was considering further court action. After looking through her contract and other documentation I advised her that it was probably not worth the hassle or expense of yet [...]

Italy to Greece – Ferry Problems

Having managed to get hold of the woman from Anek ferries, who we were supposed to be crossing to Greece with, I was assured we would face no problems or additional charges for choosing to go on the Superfast ferry crossing at an earlier time. We were to simply turn up a couple of hours [...]

Tuscany – France to Bulgaria Part 3

We hit the road fairly early the next day and got straight on the motorway to head down to Pisa for a whistle stop tour. We could see the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the distance and managed to pick up signs for it, along with navigation from the Sat Nav, find a nearby street [...]

I moved to Bulgaria in 2006, after visiting the country for a year or so. I lived there permanently for around 3 years before deciding I needed a break and then headed for France. Now I split my time between France and Bulgaria. The aim of this site is to give people an insight into life in Bulgaria and the problems and issues you can and quite likely will face there, as well highlighting the beautiful nature, amazing culture and history of the place and showing what Bulgaria has to offer - either as a holiday destination, somewhere to relocate to or just invest in. I am not an agent, although did spend a few years arranging viewing trips, sourcing property for people, helping others relocate and renovate houses and worked in partnership with a couple of real estate companies. I have faced horrendous problems with builders, been dragged through the Bulgarian court system numerous times, had issues with other expats............all is explained below and on other pages of the website. However, on the upside I have a fabulous house for the fraction of the cost it would have been in the UK and elsewhere, a lovely seaside apartment, the weather is fantastic and enjoy summers pottering around in the garden, picking fresh fruit, growing vegetables.....

So briefly about me (more here but grab a beer or glass of wine first :)) - Like many people my search for property began on the internet. It was 2004 and I was looking to invest in Bulgarian property somewhere near a ski resort. I ended up putting a deposit down on an apartment in Bansko (despite never having been there). However the ink was barely dry on the contract when that all went pear shaped and there began a long battle with the developer and agency which resulted in me eventually pulling out of the purchase and taking the agency to court in the UK for misrepresentation. More on this on the 'About Me' page and also in full detail in my eBook - 'My Bulgarian Nightmare'.

But from the first trip over I loved Bulgaria - the way the goats and cows still wandered down the streets making their way home each evening, the curious locals willing to put on a full table spread at the drop of a hat for you, the fact that there was mountains and skiing, lakes and forests, beaches and everything in between in one (fairly small) country. I made several trips over to Bulgaria travelling around and viewing property. I viewed property with a number of different Bulgarian real estate agents - some good, some bad and some indifferent. I made my first purchase of a Bulgarian property in summer 2005 - a small cheap rural Bulgarian house with a good sized plot and lovely mountain views (now sold). Buying and selling Bulgarian property developed into a side line and then a full time business - sourcing and selling Bulgarian property to other British. And I bought several more Bulgarian properties. Early 2006 I decided to move over to Bulgaria with my long term partner (although in the end he never came) and designed and built a new house from scratch. That in itself turned into a complete nightmare cultimating in several court cases which dragged on for over 5 years and cost a fortune. I also renovated several more properties.

I have experienced Bulgaria first hand - the frustrations, the struggles, the ups, the downs...I have catalogued the last few years of renovations, court cases and other struggles on this site to hopefully help others looking at buying property in Bulgaria.

After more than 3 years living in Bulgaria and building up a portfolio of 12 properties, I decided to downsize my Bulgarian portfolio and sell off a few houses and have purchased a couple of apartments on the Black Sea coast, one for our use only, a Sunny Beach apartment for rental and a speculative purchase of an apartment in Sozopol. I absolutely love my home in Bulgaria and am proud of the houses I have renovated but would like more time to enjoy my house and garden, concentrate on Bulgarian holiday lets and the charity I have set up with friends to help Bulgarian dogs & cats. U can't see myself doing any more major renovation projects in the next few years. I have now sold the 3 old un-renovated places I had (Red Brick House, Mud Brick House & Small Bungalow) and am just looking to sell one, maybe two of the other villas I own.

If you want to talk to someone independent about buying in Bulgaria, discuss various areas, what your money will get you, your options then please drop me an email. I have much experience with problems with off plan developments, builders, the court system etc. Contact me by email, skype or MSN.

To be kept updated on available properties for sale and exchange, news about Bulgaria and other information that maybe of use to you when considering buying or selling, please consider filling in the form below to join my mailing list. I only send updates once a month if that, so you will not be inundated with lots of emails and advertisements.