Bulgaria is associated with cheap, good, and, in general, lazy life on the coast. Indeed, the studio apartments on the Sunny Beach and similar resort cities cost from $ 12,000. However, despite the advertising, such housing has both pluses and minuses. About alternate properties, the special conditions for pensioners and about the Bulgarian peace and tranquility, we talked with the owner of the company Glavno.bg, big Bulgarian real estate agency.
Why Bulgaria attracts foreign buyers?
Investing in Bulgaria, you buy peace and quiet. This is the power of our country. As in most cases we are talking about customers in the retirement age, we often tell our clients, "You do not buy a house or apartment, you buy additional 5 to 10 years of your life in quiet, almost in paradise."
We have a good environmental situation, mild and pleasant subtropical climate. Low crime rate. Children from 2 grade go to school by themselves - take a bus or the subway. People are very friendly, the vast majority - are convinced Russophile. In general, it is the ideal place for affordable stay for seniors and fans of serene life.
The residence permit for pensioners
Foreign buyers of retirement age can easily get a residence permit in Bulgaria, passing the standard legal procedures.
After the sales transaction and receipt of certain documents, you come back to your country. Then you should contact the Embassy of Bulgaria and apply for a visa D. It is valid for 6 months. You will need to register yourself in the police within this time. You will pay a stamp duty of $ 250 and health insurance for 1 year ($ 130).
Registration gives you the right to stay in Bulgaria visa-free for a year. You can leave the country whenever you want. Further registration is renewed every year for 4 years. After 5 years it is possible to obtain permanent residence for the period of validity of your passport.
As you can see, for retirees moving scheme is simplified. Pensioners in Bulgaria are especially welcome - they have a steady income, come here to spend the money, and does not pretend to the jobs. Therefore, in Bulgaria there are even whole settlements for pensioners, mainly in resorts such as Sunny Beach. However, this type of housing has both pluses and minuses.
What should be ready to buyers of apartments-studios, built on the sea
Despite extensive advertising, the houses of the type of Sunny Beach is only suitable for seasonal residence. In winter almost nobody lives there. There is a big difference between a house built for life, and the house, which was built exclusively for sale. In the first case, all is designed for long stay, in the second – are used cheaper and lower-quality materials.
In addition, in Bulgaria almost there is no central steam heating, with the exception of Sofia and a few large cities. Accordingly, if you live alone in the house of 30 apartments (and in the "off-season" this could happen), you have to heat all the apartments.
All customers need to realize that cheap can not be good - there is always a reason for the low price. One bedroom apartments in a suburb 25 kilometers from the sea are of the same prices with one-room studio apartments in Sunny Beach ($ 15,000). But in the first case it is due to the remoteness from the sea, and in the second – to the quality of construction.
Another problem of such properties is that the owner has to pay for expensive services of the management company - $ 500 - 700 per year. In towns and cities where there is a residential house with the Bulgarian neighbors, there is no problem – there is a selected senior on the porch, and he himself is engaged in repair, maintenance of order in the house, etc. Represents an average of $ 5 per month.
Alternatives: compare prices on the various housing in Bulgaria
On average, prices on housing in major cities like Bourgas are:
- One-bedroom apartments - from $ 30 000 (the area - 45 - 50 m2);
- Two-room apartment - $ 35 000 - $ 43 000;
- Three-room apartment - $ 45 000 - $ 55 000.
If you take the small towns in the suburbs of Burgas, and the prices are as follows:
- One-bedroom - $ 12 000 - $ 13 000 (the area - 50 m2);
- Two-room apartment - $ 15 000 - $ 16 000 (65-70 m2);
- Three-room apartment - $ 18 000 - $ 20 000 (80-90 m2).
In the residential complex on the sea are almost the same prices:
- Studio - from $ 12 000 to $ 25 000, depending on the complex (30 m2);
- One-bedroom apartments - from $ 15,000;
- Two-bedroom apartments - from $ 20,000.
Most low cost options are in the village. But note that there is no infrastructure there.
Large and small cities have everything you need - banks, notaries, medical institutions. The most popular are studio apartments on the sea and in the suburbs. But the area of studio apartments is up to 30 m2. For the same money you can get good-quality one-bedroom apartment in a small town, and square meters will be much more - 65 - 70 m2.
Do not be confused by the distance from the sea. You can quickly and easily reach it by bus. Small towns in Bulgaria looks very European with its cobbled streets and tiled roofs. In the 20-25 km from the sea is always a lot of vegetation, and nearby is the "Strandzha" National Park.
Text - Alyona Eliseeva, ee24
Photocredit Depositphotos.com