Bulgaria's House Prices continue to rise sharply thanks to falling Interest Rates and stable Economy

So far most countries in the euro-zone have performed far better economically than expected. Among them is Bulgaria, where residential real estate prices continue to rise sharply thanks to strong performance of the country's economy, rising international demand and falling interest rates. Bulgarian apartments and villas, even in sought-after Sofia, are surprisingly cheap, starting from as little as £39,200 in some destinations.

According to the Global Property Guide, Bulgaria's real estate market suffered five years of stagnation, only to see it replaced by a rapid recovery in 2016. This recovery is being led by Bulgarian capital Sofia, where house prices are now in the double-digit, putting a broad smile on the faces of some early-bird investors. Here a one-bedroom apartment on Saborna Street near the National Bank, National Theatre and Presidency will now cost around £197,000.

Interest rates have continued to hover at almost Zero per cent on bank deposits, which is why more people began to invest in Bulgaria's real estate market in 2016. The growth in demand for cheap Bulgarian apartments and villas encouraged developers, and the continued rise in completed off-plan and pre-construction residential property transactions is most encouraging.

Polina Stoykova, the Executive Director of Bulgarian Properties, a leading estate agency, said that 2016 had been a very "dynamic year for the Bulgarian real estate market and for the first time in many years the trend has been entirely positive. Of course, there is always a risk when making a purchase in early stages of construction, but people are more willing to take this risk because currently demand is higher than the supply."

The fact that European citizens are now able to buy real estate, including land, has had a huge impact on the overall property market in Bulgaria, which is expected to remain strong throughout 2017, with demand in major cities, especially in the capital Sofia, to continue to grow. Supply is increasingly limited by fairly low levels of new construction projects. However, with the Bulgarian economy continued expansion, the construction sector should gain confidence and see better annual growth rates, too. According to the IMF, Bulgaria's economy is forecast to expand by a further 2.8% this year, having seen annual growth rates of around 1.5% since 2014.

Bulgaria's nationwide house price index grew by 8.82% during the year to Quarter 3 in 2016, according to the National Statistics Institute (NSI), and house prices increased by 1.59% during that same quarter (1.29% inflation-adjusted).

Before January 2012, foreigners were only able to purchase land in the name of a legal entity and could not own a Bulgarian property themselves. The lifting of this ban has enabled EU citizens to own a property as a private individual in their own name.

Location, Location, Location

In Sofia house prices rose by 14.4% during the third quarter of 2016, and have continued to rise sharply this year. By contrast, house hunters in Varna saw an overall increase in house prices of 5.9% in that same quarter, and similar figures for the first six months of this year.

The most sought-after locations demand the highest prices, both in terms of asking prices for property purchases and in terms of rental values. In the city centre of Sofia and Lozenets district for example, demand for rental objects continues to be high, despite seeing the greatest increase in purchase prices in Bulgaria. Here prices now range from 1,200 to 1,500 euros per square metre. However, in the districts of Druzhba, Suhata reka, and Levski buyers could find apartments at an average price of 580 euros per square metre.

Head into rural Bulgaria, or to the Black Sea coast, and it's still a veritable buyers' paradise for those with small budgets. A one-bedroom apartment in Elenite, Burgas, typically costs around £40,000, while the same budget will buy a 3-bedroom detached house in Dryanovo, Gabrovo, and Polski Trumbesh, Veliko Tarnovo. For a very modest £18,500, on the other hand, one can buy a one-bedroom apartment at the southern Black Sea coast, in Akheloy, Burgas.

Bulgaria is also blessed with snow-capped mountains and ski resorts. In Borovets, a ski resort in Sofia region, a four-bedroom detached villa comes with a guide price of just £130,000. Bulgaria sees significant amounts of snow in winter, and can thus offer good holiday rental yields all-year round, not just during spring and summer.

Article by Maria Thermann on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

A new report from ski tour operators Crystal Ski reveals which resorts have the most bars per sq km and although the French coined the term après ski, it is the Bulgarians that have taken the crown.

The ultimate après resort, based on Crystal's research, is Borovets in Bulgaria with approximately four bars per sq km and pints of beer costing little more than £1 during happy hour.

A representative from Borovets tourism office said: " To have quality après, you need quality avant-ski, and Borovets has that too. The ski-in/ski-out resort in the highest Balkan mountains combines perfect skiing conditions with daily visits to rich cultural and historic sites, unique local cuisine and unrivalled hospitality ".

The reasonably priced and cheerful Eastern European spot came well ahead of the French Trois Vallées resorts of Méribel, with 2.2 bars per sq km, and Courchevel, with 2.1 bars, second and third place respectively.

The lively resort of Pas de la Casa in Andorra came in fourth with around 1.8 bars per sq km followed closely by the more traditional Austrian ski resort of Schladming in fifth place.

The French resort of Les Deux Alpes came sixth, Italy's Sauze d'Oulx and Livigno came seventh and eighth and a third Trois Vallées resort, Val Thorens, came ninth.

According to the search engine analytics tool Google AdWords, the term “après-ski” was searched for more than 22,500 times between December 2014 and April 2015, proving that skiers and snowboarders are not just looking for a large ski area, but also for venues where they can let their hair down at the end of the day.

Last September Crystal launched five different types of ski tours – Mile Muncher, Piste Princess, Gadget Guru, Park Rat and Après Animal, and incorporated them into the holiday search panel of the Crystal website.

Vicky Hales, customer engagement director at Crystal Ski Holidays, said: " We get that our customers all love ski holidays for different reasons, and our Après Animal Ski Explorer character has been really popular on social media. Skiers can now search our deals by which character they are – so après lovers can find the perfect holiday ".

The après research was based on 25 resorts in Europe, provided by tour operator Crystal Ski Holidays . Resort sizes vary. All bars counted are within the boundaries of the specified size of the resort.

The Bulgarian resort sits at 1,300m and its slopes rise to 2,550m. The 58km of mainly intermediate pistes are served by 12 lifts. It also has two terrain parks, catering for all levels, and night skiing on eight runs. Snowmaking covers more than 60% of the slopes.

Local folklore evenings are popular with visitors as are excursions to the capital Sofia or the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Rila Monastery.

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

Property consultants Cushman & Wakefield reported a record year for foreign investment in Bulgaria last year with real estate sales contributing €239 to the economy, predicting a continued rising demand throughout 2015.

After prolonged economic hardship following the global financial crisis, Bulgaria's property market remains at a huge discount to peak 2007 prices, attracting wealthy foreign investors with opportunities to acquire land and property at rock-bottom prices.

Polina Stoykova, managing director of Bulgarian Properties said: " An important element of the new market reality is the return of confidence in the property market. More and more buyers are thinking of buying property because real estate is a safe real asset and good investment. This understanding coincided with a very favourable moment in the property market development because real estate prices are currently at levels from ten years ago and respectively, the properties are much more affordable. We could also add to the picture the improved mortgage conditions now offered by the banks ".

Apart from price, another dynamic property investors are interested in is tourism. Most foreign investors seek to take advantage of resort properties with excellent occupancy rates that ensure consistent rental revenue streams in a growing market. Bulgaria has risen through the ranks as one of Europe's most popular alpine resorts, offering exceptional value for family ski holidays and with plenty of breathtaking beaches the country has a whole lot more on offer besides.

Bulgaria enjoyed an extremely successful winter season in 2014/2015 that saw more than 80,000 visitors to its alpine resorts, boosting the nation's economy by €17.5m. According to the country's tourism minister Nikolina Angelkova, the number of visitors from Turkey increased by almost 30% as a result of the simplification of visa requirements while German tourists increased by around 17%.

At the beginning of August last year, budget flight operators Ryanair issued a press release that is set to boost Bulgaria's tourism and real estate sectors moving forward into 2016. The airline's Robin Kiely said: " Ryanair is pleased to announce a new daily London Stansted to Sofia route beginning May 2016 which will go on sale on www.ryanair.com in September. Sofia is another key capital city airport and our second in Bulgaria as we continue to grow Europe's largest route network, with more routes and flights and improved schedules ".

Property prices in Bulgaria have also been buoyed by weak supply due to limited construction. This has impacted markets in the country's large cities and resort areas the most and with off-plan investment opportunities thin on the ground, prices look set to continue rising.

As a direct result of Bulgaria's fantastic winter season and the financial injection to its economy, property prices are forecast to stabilise as the economic recovery is consolidated. Modest price growth in both commercial and residential property sectors is expected throughout the year, matched by stable economic growth that will underpin investment in Bulgaria.

According to a report by real estate researchers Colliers International , foreign investors are expected to steadily increase their exposure in Bulgaria's commercial property market throughout 2016, depending on the availability of product for sale. Investor returns will continue to be driven by rental upside, discounts on existing debt and lower interest rates and strong income generating assets in Bulgaria's commercial occupational markets will continue to attract more investment capital.

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

Property consultants Cushman & Wakefield reported a record year for foreign investment in Bulgaria last year with real estate sales contributing €239 to the economy, predicting a continued rising demand throughout 2015.

After prolonged economic hardship following the global financial crisis, Bulgaria's property market remains at a huge discount to peak 2007 prices, attracting wealthy foreign investors with opportunities to acquire land and property at rock-bottom prices.

Polina Stoykova, managing director of Bulgarian Properties said: " An important element of the new market reality is the return of confidence in the property market. More and more buyers are thinking of buying property because real estate is a safe real asset and good investment. This understanding coincided with a very favourable moment in the property market development because real estate prices are currently at levels from ten years ago and respectively, the properties are much more affordable. We could also add to the picture the improved mortgage conditions now offered by the banks ".

Apart from price, another dynamic property investors are interested in is tourism. Most foreign investors seek to take advantage of resort properties with excellent occupancy rates that ensure consistent rental revenue streams in a growing market. Bulgaria has risen through the ranks as one of Europe's most popular alpine resorts, offering exceptional value for family ski holidays and with plenty of breathtaking beaches the country has a whole lot more on offer besides.

Bulgaria enjoyed an extremely successful winter season that saw more than 80,000 visitors to its alpine resorts, boosting the nation's economy by €17.5m. According to the country's tourism minister Nikolina Angelkova, the number of visitors from Turkey increased by almost 30% as a result of the simplification of visa requirements while German tourists increased by around 17%.

At the beginning of August, budget flight operators Ryanair issued a press release that is set to boost Bulgaria's tourism and real estate sectors moving forward into 2016. The airline's Robin Kiely said: " Ryanair is pleased to announce a new daily London Stansted to Sofia route beginning May 2016 which will go on sale on www.ryanair.com in September. Sofia is another key capital city airport and our second in Bulgaria as we continue to grow Europe's largest route network, with more routes and flights and improved schedules ".

Property prices in Bulgaria have also been buoyed by weak supply due to limited construction. This has impacted markets in the country's large cities and resort areas the most and with off-plan investment opportunities thin on the ground, prices look set to continue rising.

As a direct result of Bulgaria's fantastic winter season and the financial injection to its economy, property prices are forecast to stabilise as the economic recovery is consolidated. Modest price growth in both commercial and residential property sectors is expected throughout the year, matched by stable economic growth that will underpin investment in Bulgaria.

According to a report by real estate researchers Colliers International , foreign investors are expected to steadily increase their exposure in Bulgaria's commercial property market throughout 2014, depending on the availability of product for sale. Investor returns will continue to be driven by rental upside, discounts on existing debt and lower interest rates and strong income generating assets in Bulgaria's commercial occupational markets will continue to attract more investment capital.

 

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

Simplification of the visa requirements of Russian and Turkish visitors to Bulgaria introduced in February this year look set to significantly boost Bulgaria's tourist sector, an important economic driver for the country.

Bulgaria's tourism minister Nikolina Angelkova recently reported 9% growth in tourism over an extremely successful winter season that saw an additional 80,000 visitors to its alpine resorts, boosting revenue a further €17.5m.

She said that the number of Turkish visitors had increased by almost 30% as a result of the simplification of visa requirements while German tourists increased 17%, Austrian 7% and visitors from Israel by more than 20%.

The visa application process was streamlined to try and improve visitor numbers from Russia and Ukraine in attempts to improve relations with the country after Bulgaria's support for EU sanctions and its cancellation of major Russian energy projects.

More visitors are expected

Angelkova commented on the upcoming summer season arguing that the preliminary forecast was optimistic except for the Russian and Ukrainian market, expected to decline by around 30% this year.

However, more visitors are expected from other nations that could limit the shortfall for the coming summer season. Arrivals from Germany are expected to increase by around 5%, Israel 10%, France 4.5%, Lithuania, Latvia and Moldova 40% and Poland, Czech Republic and Belarus by 5.10%.

The tourism minister suggested that the number of tourists arriving from UK and Romania was expected to remain unchanged, while visitors from Greece – one of Bulgaria's most important markets - are set to increase by around 10%.

Bulgaria's government are also making headway to improve the country's tourism infrastructure and have been developing cultural and historical routes together with promotional material and maps that are available imminently.

Bulgaria is a fantastic country for property investment because of its place at the base of a growth curve in its tourist markets. Bulgarian property prices remain low compared with pre-crisis levels there are some great yield opportunities in resort areas, both beach and ski. This is a country that has everything on offer to the discerning traveller and although relatively under-developed, the outlook is rather bright.

 

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

Bulgaria's tourism minister Nikolina Angelkova recently reported a bumper winter season (December-February) that saw growth of over 9%, representing an increase of almost 80,000 tourists.

Commenting on this year's summer season, she said the preliminary forecast was extremely optimistic. An increase of 5% of German arrivals, 10% Israeli, 5% from France and a massive 40% increase in visitors from Lituania, Latvia and Moldova is forecast for summer 2015.

Bulgaria has become an increasingly popular holiday destination in the last few years although its tourist sector is relatively undeveloped. With fantastic beach resorts and winter skiing, there's something for everyone all year around.

Seeing a niche in the market, a new portal – Arendoo.com – is set to revolutionise Bulgaria's holiday property market. This is good news for the many British and Irish investors in Bulgaria's property market and presents an opportunity to capture growth in the country's tourism and make a good profit from it.

Arendoo.com is a fully transparent, fully accountable rental portal that generates bookings as well as providing associated services such as cleaning, key exchange and linen changes. In a press release the portal states:

" Arendoo.com is Bulgaria's answer to a decade of under-performing property assets. Charging owners only when property rentals are completed, arendoo.com's clients enjoyed their properties being let for more than 40,000 rented nights last year. "

The portal's director Christophe Gater said: " Until now, British and Irish owners have had few professional options in the Bulgarian rental market. Most have naturally opted for the services offered by their complex reception but have suffered inexplicably low occupancy. It's time for accountability and full transparency in Bulgaria's holiday rental market ".

Arendoo.com fills the void and communication between foreign owners and their holiday properties in Bulgaria. It is currently the only rental portal offering videos of listed properties and online log-in facilities for owners where they can view all bookings, transactions and monies owed. They also cover check-in and check-out together with cleaning and linen services so that owners overseas have hassle-free rentals in their absence.

The portal arrives at just the right time as Bulgaria's popularity among international tourists is rising. Owners of property in the country's holiday hotspots now have a way to tap into visitor volume growth allowing them to enjoy more consistent rental income.

 

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

Deputy Mayor of Sofia, Todor Chobanov predicted growth of between 7% and 10% in Bulgaria's tourist sector this year, in a statement earlier this week.

The improved outlook comes on the back of Bulgaria's strengthening economy which recorded its first Q1 budget surplus since 2009, with €128m in its public purse ripe for re-investment.

Bulgaria's winter sun resorts had a spectacular 2014, recording an increase in visitor numbers of 9.2% to the nation's ski slopes during the season, according to Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova.

Todor Chobanov presented Bulgaria's Regional Tourism Product Development project on Monday, part of a national scheme to invest in tourism infrastructure to support predicted growth in the sector.

The local government project will see investment directed towards the municipalities of Sofia, Ihtiman and Svoge. The development package includes routes to over 20 historical, cultural, religious and natural sites in the three municipalities.

Ivo Marinov, Director of Municipal Enterprise Tourist Service confirmed that Bulgaria's capital registered a 7% increase in tourist numbers in 2014, consolidating its position as the country's most important economic sector.

Tourists have flocked to Bulgaria's ski resorts throughout the season although there has been a distinct rise in interest in the country's many spa hotels, adding another dimension to its tourist market.

In terms of property investment, strong growth in tourism is a dynamic that adds value to a resort purchase. Bulgaria is an attractive destination all year round due to its rich landscape that features awe-inspiring mountains thick with snow during the winter and glorious sun-baked beaches on the Black Sea coast.

As Bulgaria's tourism expands, its real estate market will be positively impact, with demand for properties in major cities and resort areas expected to see growth in 2015. Low levels of new construction will ensure that demand remains consistent although prices are likely to increase as a result.

 

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

2014 was a good year for Bulgaria's real estate sector, with investment picking up as prices hit the bottom of the market.

Demand for properties in major cities is set to continue during 2015, particularly in the commercial real estate market, on the back of a record year for foreign investment in Bulgaria. Deals involving offices, malls, hotels and plots of land reach record volumes, contributing €239m to the Bulgarian economy in 2014, according to research by Cushman & Wakefield .

Demand for commercial real estate in Bulgaria saw major growth last year, largely due to recovery in its property market and the opportunity to acquire quality assets at rock-bottom prices.

Prices are currently at levels from 10 years ago

Polina Stoykova, managing director of Bulgarian Properties said: " An important element of the new market reality is the return of confidence in the property market. More and more buyers are thinking of buying property because real estate is a safe real asset and good investment. This understanding coincided with a very favourable moment in the property market development because real estate prices are currently at levels from 10 years ago and respectively, the properties are much more affordable. We could also add to the picture the improved mortgage conditions now offered by the banks ".

Bulgaria's property market recovery is set to continue through 2015 with growing demand and weak supply due to limited new construction giving buoyancy to the sector.

Polina Stoykova expects the real estate market to be driven principally by Bulgarian buyers in 2015, including the segments that were traditionally dominated by foreign buyers such as property by sea and ski resorts. " We also notice a noticeable increase of interest to properties in Bulgaria by British buyers and we expect this trend to evolve in 2015, " she said.

Apartments in Bulgaria's largest cities and resort areas, e.g. Burgas, will remain the prime target for both Bulgarian and foreign investors in 2015. Property prices in the country are expected to stabilise and see modest growth as Bulgaria consolidates its recovery during the year.

 

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

Bansko in Bulgaria has been named the cheapest family ski holiday destination in Europe, according to TripAdvisor.

The survey compared hotel costs, meals, drinks, ski passes, hire and lessons over the course of 7 days for a family of four in 42 European ski resorts, before announcing Bansko a clear value-for-money winner.

TripAdvisor's survey identified Switzerland as having four of the 10 most expensive resorts in Europe, with St Anton, Austria ranking as the most expensive at an average cost of £5,000 per family.

Bansko best value for family ski holidays

Bansko, in south-west Bulgaria topped the poll with packages costing the least at £1,631, almost a third cheaper than St Anton.

Second in the poll was Spain's Sierra Nevada, where costs totalled £1,930 followed by Winter Olympics host resort, Sochi in Russia at £2,025.

After St Anton, St Moritz was the second most expensive resort at a cost for a family of four of £4,811, followed by Val d'Isere in France (£4.606), Zermatt in Switzerland (£4,572) and France's Val Thorens at £4,565.

The survey heralds further good news for Bulgaria's tourism sector which has enjoyed considerable growth this year. Bulgarian Hotelier and Restaurant Owner Association, Blagoy Ragin recently commented that the sector expects around 6% increase in visitor numbers this winter.

Not only has Bansko been identified as the best value for family ski holidays, it is also a well-known resort for ski novices, making it the perfect destination for young families. Out of 16 runs in total, 30% are for beginners, 45% intermediate and 25% for advanced skiers, providing enough choice to keep the whole family happy.

The tiny medieval town of Bansko has been rejuvenated by ski tourism, with 5-star luxury available at the Kempinski Grand Arena hotel which enjoys direct access to the gondola ski lift. The old cobbled streets are crammed with tavernas and restaurants to cater to every taste, providing a wealth of choice for maximum enjoyment.

 

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com

2014 has seen a great deal of change in the Bulgarian real estate market, with more and more foreigners buying assets along the Black Sea coast, in the ski resorts or in the country's capital, Sofia.

Consequently, house prices and rents have started to show increases for the first time since the financial crisis, with further growth expected. Despite a lack of new large-scale construction projects in Bulgaria, the property market still has many assets to offer.

The main difference between Bulgaria and other real estate markets in Eastern Europe that have experienced an increase in prices is that in the capital, real estate projects are easily accessible to the public through vehicles such as Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), listed at the stock exchange.

This means that Bulgaria's property market is largely financed by their stock exchange, a unique attribute to Bulgaria compared to other Eastern European countries, still struggling with the aftermath of the financial crisis, unable to revive their own real estate sectors.

Commercial property remains relatively cheap to other countries with office space in central locations fetching around €2000/sqm for prime spaces. The commercial rentals sector has also enjoyed growth, largely as a result of rents falling to 9% for centrally-located office space.

Prices are considerably higher in the residential sector, around €1,800/sqm in prime Sofia locations while in other Eastern European capitals, the prices can reach as much as €2,500/sqm.

The same price disparity can be seen in Bulgaria's agricultural land which has an average price per hectare of €1,000, while in Poland land can fetch around €6000 per hectare and in Greece, up to €10,000.

There are several advantages of investing in REITs, including improved liquidity over traditional property purchases and the divisibility of the sums that can be invested. The REIT segment of the Sofia real estate market has a capitalisation of €200m with forecasts for the figure to reach €1bn over the next 3-4 years.

Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com