Anyone with
any interest in property investment abroad would have been hard
pushed not to have heard about the potential growth area of
Bulgaria. During the last 12 months, property prices have risen, on
average, by around 25 percent. But remember, this is an average and
some savvy investors have achieved a gain of 100 percent, in the
last year!
This is not
to say that the market has hit stagnation. On the contrary, Bulgaria
has a very rosy future with further gains predicted. Currently,
property is the fastest growing asset in the country and is still
showing considerable growth.
Bulgaria has
become increasingly stable over recent years, economically,
politically and socially. The country is going to join the EU in
2007, which suggests that property prices will continue to rise,
over the coming years.
Tourism is
also a growing industry with approximately 4 million tourists
visiting, last year, an increase of 13.5 percent on the previous 12
months. Interestingly, last year, the number of British tourists
increased by over 60 percent. One of the main reasons that Bulgaria
is so popular with tourists is that it offers such a wide range of
holiday types including, ski, mountains and beach holidays. This
year-round appeal means that tourists flock to Bulgaria every month
of the year, perfect for the buy to let investor.
New build
prices in Bulgaria currently start at approximately £20,000 for a
brand new studio apartment; up to £120,000 for a luxury three bed
apartment with superb views. Individual properties that require
renovation vary dramatically in price and vendors are often up for
negotiation so do your research and get haggling!
Buying land
is also a very good way of maximizing gains in Bulgaria. Consider
that a new build, off-plan apartment will sell at around 900 Euros
per square metre, but that land with planning permission would sell
at around 60 Euros per square metre. A conservative expert suggests
that a property could be built (including the land costs) for 400
Euros per square metre. As you can see, the figures certainly stack
up if you can cope with project managing a new build in a foreign
country.
A real
winning point that Bulgaria has to offer is the sheer variety of
resorts. Beach lovers will be delighted with the choice of resorts,
namely Albena, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach and Duni. Bulgaria has a
Black Sea coast that is served by two airports, Varna and Bourgas.
It is the beach resorts that have seen the largest surge in property
building in recent years, with most off-plan apartments being
available on the coast.
As well as
the beach resorts, Bulgaria has internationally renowned ski
resorts, which double up to offer wonderful mountain hiking
opportunities, during the summer months. The Balkan Mountain range
is the backbone of Bulgaria and offers a range of ski resorts for
both beginners and experienced skiers. Bansko is currently
considered to be the main resort; however, there are many other
smaller resorts to choose from, should you want to get off the
beaten track.
Sofia is the
capital city of Bulgaria and offers wonderful investment
opportunities. Many large international companies are investing in
Eastern Europe, due to the cheaper yet dedicated workforce. More
jobs mean more employees requiring central accommodation, a dream
for property investors.
Bulgaria has
so much to offer the international property investor, with something
for every taste and budget. With a wide range of resorts and a
growing economy, Bulgaria justly deserves a second look!
About The Author
Providing essential information on buying Bulgarian property,
Tem Pearson is dedicated to offering all the necessary information
for people looking to buy property in Bulgaria. Visit
www.buying-property-abroad.info/Bulgaria for full details.
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