Thu, Feb 09 2012
The interest in holiday complexes along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast increased 3 to 5 times compared to 2006, Nikolai Pehlivanov, owner Green Life Property Development, said.
Real estate prices along the southern coast increased by an average of 18 per cent on annual basis, despite the prognosis of trade decline and reports of foreign investors' withdrawing, Focus news agency said.
Holiday properties in the winter resorts were the most expensive in the country. In the Bansko and Pamporovo mountain resorts prices reached 1200 to 1300 euro per sq m. In the summer resorts real estate was sold at 1000 euro per sq m, Pehlivanov said.
The difference in the prices results from the more expensive construction in the winter resorts. The property developments there were more luxurious too.
The property market in Bulgaria was risky for investors. They would have to select the plot, determine their buyers' target group and be flexible and able to change the developments for different target groups, Pehlivanov also said.
Average market prices of homes in Sofia fell by one per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010, according to the Raiffeisen Real Estate Index, as quoted by Klasa daily.
Proportionately, the number of transactions in leva increased as people reacted to speculation that the euro would disappear.
Nearly all banks are ready to finance between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of the price of a home, provided it is a good building in a large city, Bulgarian daily says.
Property prices in Bulgaria were five to 10 per cent lower in 2011 than in 2010, while initial estimates for this year are that they will remain largely unchanged, with transactions remaining at ‘crisis levels’.
Bulgaria’s capital city Sofia ranks 17th, report says, quoting Global Property Guide.