We originally had dealings with a bulgarian real estate company (.net) which turned out to be extremely corrupt. We followed all the right routes including legal support but found that Bulgarian agencies that were meant to support, advise and protect were ridiculous inept. We brought another property and were luckier. This is a beautiful country and investment should be encouraged. However until it gets some fundamental issues sorted with the legal system its good name will be constantly dragged through the mud.

This is a good account of the pitfalls of buying in Bansko and any Bulgarian 'resort' in fact.

I've 'know of' Rachel for a number of years she has always in my opinion given a good account of the problems/pitfalls of buying in Bulgaria.

Bansko/Sunny Beach and areas such as this have destroyed their real estate market in the areas through cronic overbuilding, terrible planning and most likely corruption. Not only that, Bansko has ruined a good part of tourist industry aswell.

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No I do not live in France. My home is still in Bulgaria. Yes I have a couple of my own properties for sale but mostly they are properties of other people. I advice others on investing in Bulgaria and can help them purcase if they wish. If anybody actually bothers to read the article and website before posting stupid comments, you would see that I am not whining or complaining. The article was merely about the fact that I managed to pull out of a purchase in Bansko, like thousands of others now wish they could do. Aside from that I made Bulgaria my home and found the villagers lovely and friendly.

When Miss Gawith was actually living in Bulgaria she was a property agent.

However, what has not been mentioned in the article is Miss Gawith now lives in France and it is in fact her own Bulgarian properties she owns herself that she is trying to sell.

So to imply she is still an "agent" of sorts in Bulgaria when she now lives in France and it is in fact her own collection of properties she is trying to palm off is a tad misleading.

I agree 100% with the comments by another lady and Jordan Andonov/ imdb. Miss Gawith herself was yet another one who tried to make a fast buck out of Brits in Bulgaria, so what is she whining about?

First I did my research, there was nothing that could have been done about the fact that an unscrupulous British/Bulgarian firm decided to rip many people off. I was lucky. I got my money back. Many didn't. But for all those of you slagging me off - have you actually read the article - I moved to Buglaria because I liked the country, I made my home there, I helped other British make their home there. I have met some very nasty, dishonest Bulgarians, encountered corruption and more, but also found the same in many British in Bulgaria. I have never once badmouthed Bulgaria. The book is about the British firm selling in Bulgaria and was written 4 ears ago. Maybe before you all comment about things you know nothing about bother to read the article and associated websites. I think I have done more to promote Bulgaria these last few years than any of you have for all your 'wonderful' comments here.

manage one problem , find two new ones .

the same old story - someone ready to to rip the english off and sell them property - but when her own ignaorance has cost her - she starts screaming wolf !!! what goes around comes around rachel - a lesson to be learnt in life - bulgaria is a beautiful country with wonderful people .....Lets hope you dont make the same mistake again

Most people have choices, this woman made hers. Get a life lady. This is a beautful country, with some beautiful people. I know where I would sooner live and it's NOT jolly old England (even though I was born there). There are good and bad people in all walks of life so what makes anyone think situations would be any different here. Bulgaria rocks!

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It's true there is lots of frustration and red tape when it comes to doing anything in thorn up Bulgaria. Forgeiners shoudl not complain since many bulgarian people deal with the same thing. What I hate about this "business woman" is that she drags BULGARIA's image in the dirt while investing in Bulgaria?! I say to oyu "Get out or shut up about it Mrs British woman with pocket full of money buying cheap land in our country." Bulgaria is what it is and I hope things change fo rhte better, but stop throwing dirt in our face while taking advantage of the "country you fell in love with".

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My experience of Bulgaria and it's people has been a very positive one. The lady in question is a fool who has been ripped of by a UK organisation... about right.

I was in Bansko on Sunday, a fine spring afternoon. It is a tragedy, the old quarter wall to wall restaurants and barely a soul in the streets. The massive (and really ugly) development above the town is apparently only 11% sold and yet the prices still seem to be around 900 euro per sqm. How did this happen, such a development with no market? Well, certain types of money care more about coming out clean than actualy attracting buyers, clearly-- the Sunny Beach syndrome. A local told me, however, that if one contacts builders directly from the phone numbers on the buildings (not the bloody agents, natch) one might pick up an apartment for about half the asking price today-- that's how desperate some of them are with ye olde 'credit crunch'. So there's some advice-- they are probably quite a good deal at half the price.

Sir Isaac,
Thank you so much for the good words for bulgarian people.Nice to hear finaly something positive!!!

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MY CV: I am a retired American. My wife is Bulgarian. We have lived here (Sofia) for 6 years. We lived together in California until I retired. My family is gone and my wife’s family is here, so we relocated. (Bulgaria is a lot less expensive than Southern California! for someone on a pension.) I am 80% deaf so I do not understand Bulgarian. Even talking to someone in English I have to be able to see their face to hear them. I read a lot of Bulgarian and talk some with what I am told is a “terrible” accent. (I don’t hear myself speaking so it’s difficult to correct the accent.)

MY POINT: ALL of my friends here are Bulgarians. Most, but not all, speak some level of English. I don’t even know a non-Bulgarian here. When I need something done or some work accomplished, I ask one of my friends for their recommendation for getting the job done. No one here uses the “yellow pages” to find a worker. It’s all by personal recommendations. My friends have never sent me to someone who has tried to cheat me, and if the work is not to the standard I require I ask the friend that gave the recommendation to have a kind word with the worker. I don’t know what the “kind words” were but the speaking volume was increased, and the work quality got improved. The friends I have made here are the “true” friends and would do anything for me. At the same time, I would do anything for them even without their asking.

Bulgaria is a beautiful country and I do love it here. I do not love the holes in the road, especially when I’m on the motorbike. Being retired, I have time to go out and do things in the country. I ride my Harley all over the countryside by myself and have met many, many kind and friendly people. I try to present myself to them in that same light. In the villages not many people speak English, and even with my limited Bulgarian we get along famously. People I have never met before, with whom communicating is restricted, have gone out of their way to help me, or to just talk to me. I let them know how much I appreciate them.

I do most of the shopping in the local markets. I always say hello to the sellers, even if I’m not buying anything from them today. When I am getting something they always help me pick the best oranges, apples, cabbage,… from the box. I never had to do that in California. I treat them as friendly people doing their job, and they treat me like a valued client. It’s good for both of us.

My point is: What you give out, you get in return. In 6 years I have never had any of the problems that so many on this forum are complaining about. Maybe they are just getting back what they put out. Consider your attitude towards the Bulgarians you come in contact with and maybe you’ll understand their attitude toward you.

Margaret,I do agree with your point of view and analysis. Perhaps we need to learn the language so that we can comunicate with other local builders and not just rely on english speaking builders who tend to take advantage of you. I have met some very nice people in my village. One has love and hate relationship with the country. Apart from majority of builders, taxi drivers there are nice people and you feel you want to help them.

Smilley,
Are you trying to advertise Africa now and want to compare with Bulgaria? Are you kidding me?

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guys, i can understand all your hardships, but hey, people are different from place to place, sometime, when people are poor, or just say when the majority of the people in a given place are poor, this gives reason to be greedy, Bulgaria still has a long way to go.
I remember trying to stop a lot of my investors from investing in Bulgaria, i lost the fight, today... many as much as 97% of them are in the direction of giving up on their investments, am sorry for that but we humans, we dont listen when we have the chance.
i am a real estate adviser, guys i am looking for investors at the moment to participate in a secured investment opportunity in Africa, i know, the first thing that comes to your mind is... Corruption.. do not forget, it takes some decent minds to stamp it out. if you are able to go to Bulgaria, trust me, you do a million times better investing your capital in Africa. contact me if this opportunity is of interest to you, even if it's just to hear what it is all about.

mailto:info@121.hu
mailto:info@121.hu

If you want the REAL Bulgaria, try this:
http://www.orpheusproperties.com

Its true that many Bulgarians see Brits as an opportunity, but that is not true of every Bulgarian. We have worked in BG for 5 years and have had dealings with one or two very trustworthy Bulgarians. Most you couldnt trust to look after a stary dog but some you can.

dude Sam is 100% right...read him and weep...Bg is just like that...
curious thing is Bulgarians seek business in other countries and are treated well, but vica versa......

The answer is not to invest in the
tourist areas.Because if you do, and things have not turned out as you hoped, you will be seen as a whinging pom. Never mind that the Bulgarian planners have done a very good job of ruining their own,
once beautiful country - particularly as regards to Bansko
and the Black Sea coast. For tourist purposes - no matter where
the tourists come from - this is ot good for the economy. And once
the investors have been caught out
they will not invest again.
And the tourists are already going
back to France, Austria and Italy despite the higher prices.And for
seaside holidays they are going to Turkey. Bulgaria is becoming another Spain - currently the Spanish have almost 20% unemployment.
The whinging poms came as tourists
in great numbers, both to the Black
Sea and the ski resorts.The Russians will still come to the Black Sea, but perhaps not in such numbers; and maybe the Greeks will
come to the ski resorts but not in such numbers.
The Americans hardly venture to Bulgaria at all: and are used to, and expect, much better service.
You can find homes to rent at very cheap rates direct from the owners
on holiday rentals and holiday lettings.

Bulgaria is a beautiful country,but has a long way to go .
YES to long term Investment

Sam..., In America (USA) mouthy assholes like you are known as a "white trash" or "trailer trash"... No one keeps you in Bulgaria you are free to go. And In America (USA) Most Bulgarians I know are much better off even the poor one. compare to the mid American.

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Email me re this house in Boyanovo near Elhovo
on mailto:o4seas@yahoo.co.uk

Kind Regards
John

Bulgarians are no different than anyone else; some honest, some not.
On the whole its quite a beautiful
country,with some very decent people, eg a Bulgarian Lady [a total stranger ]paid the taxi fare whilst going in my direction once. How about that eh ?
Yes u have to be wary of so called builders and taxi drivers who will see u as "MONEY"
Peronally I have been lucky on the two houses I bought and renovated in the village of Boyanovo,near Elhovo,approx 75 mins from Sunny Beach on the Black Sea.I dont need 2 properties so one is for sale now.It has 2 houses[1 fully renovated]1000 sq mtrs land with a vineyard,orchard,veg garden ,flower garden and lots of outhouses plus a well for irrigation.The property is in the centre of a friendly village with lots of cafes /bars etc etc.If u have £25,000 to spend its yours/the smaller house could make a cafe /internet cafe[gap in the market. Good Luck/Bulgaria will be a good investment long term-you will see. John

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The Australians have a name for these moaning British - most of them greedy and wanting to make a quick buck --"wingeing poms". Hopefully when £1 = 1 evro they will retreat back to their native land and allow the Bulgarians to enjoy their own country.

Oh dear, I do wish people would stop whingeing about Bulgaria. Sure, it's got problems but they're getting fixed. I came from England three years ago because, on a pension, I couldn't afford to live there anymore. With property so comparatively cheap, there were bound to be snags. In life, you get what you pay for. I probably paid too much for my little kushta but it was already renovated and within my price range. I've had to do a lot to improve the poor finish but I would have had to pay at least five times as much for a similar property in the UK. I've had some minor problems with the local Roma but most of the people in my village have been kind, generous and friendly. Local services have greatly improved since I arrived and Bulgaria is a lovely peaceful country. A friend of mine on a visit here said sadly that it looked like a country that had just been through a war and it's true that everywhere you look there are derelict buildings. The obvious building boom 80 years ago was much the same as the recent one; poorly constructed. These houses are already collapsing but many are being rebuilt, which is surely better for the country than the modern "get rich quick" schemes to which the lady in the New York Times article refers. She is now doing the right thing. Regenerating the traditional rural village life is the way for Bulgaria to go and grow.

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EMERGING MARKET!! u must be a bulgarian...am i right? or married to one? dont say more!! u make me sick!......i still say and would say it agiand dumb ass....i do love this counrty...but i hate the way its run......and yes i am better off taking my hard work money somewhere else!

well...u know what emerging market!! or should i call u emerging stupid!.....i normaly dont use bad words n by the way smart u........i am not a brit's! i am from israel!!! and i think u might be the one whom is gay!!! EMERGING GAY! but yes u r on the market...but not emerging market!!

I see that Sam seems to originate from Essex or some other highly literate county of the Old British Empire! Use of swear words and the common habit of repeating one self in a somewhat repetitive manner is a trademark of such a place. Sam could be an Essex girl (short for Samantha) or an Esssex Boy wearing a shell suit and chains which ironically would make him look like a local mutra in a black 4x4.
Dont you just love the whining Brits, one reason to come here is to get away from them, well Sam whoever you are and whatever your gender, good ridance and happy traveling!!!

The problem is Bansko, and apparently the company Bulgarian Dreams. Bansko and other overbuilt resort areas are famous for the 'certain type' of builders and business people who are basically washing their laundry. The buyer was naive. I have a fantastic house (a mansion in fact) on the Danube that I bought for 10,000 euro direct from the owner a few years ago. I love it here, but dodgy businesses go along with any tourist development and she should have done her homework.

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Well, it is not about badmouthing the Bulgarians. I read Sam`s opinion and that just sounds so racist, but again he is entitled to an opinion. In regards to the lady nightmare, well tough luck. Madam you didn`t do your homework. And yes buying and selling a house it is not as easy as living in US or Canada, or perhaps Spain and so on. Bulgaria is an emerging market and it will be for a while, but it is people like the so called nightmare lady, who want to make a buck buying really low, fixing and selling really high. You are in hot waters lady. I am sorry, but people like you damage the market in Bulgaria, because the more you buy the more they will build and talk about your concrete monster and loosing your view well people do that, because there is a demand that is created by foreigners. Stop buying and they will stop building. May be it is time to look into investing in Northern Africa and I am not joking. Cheers to all who expressed an opinion and much respect.

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After all this lady "fell in love with the country",vety isnteresting!

Do not invest your hard earned money in Bulgaria.My builder have taken part of the money and still have not completed the fence and garrage. It has costed me the same what it would have in uk. Quality of work is most shoddy I have ever seen. They drive 4X4 you can only dream of. I am glad I have only paid half of the money. Advise to fellow investors ther are better places to to have your dream home and hassle free.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs in this case, most people who bought property in Bansko will agree that this once beautiful town has been destroyed by over-building. It has been turned from a quaint ski resort into a concrete monstrosity. I bought an apartment in Bansko in 2005 - sold on the basis that it would have a permanent view of the mountains. A year later I look out onto yet another hotel just twenty metres away. And still planning permission continues to be given for more monstrosities - even though there are thousands of apartments currently built which will take years to sell. Only on the Spanish costas have I seen such irresponsible and unbalanced planning by the local authorities, where Bulgaria's natural beauty and heritage has literally been cemented over. Foreign buyers appreciate the beauty of Bulgaria, but apparently the local councils do not. Paradise Lost.

how many years as this woman lived in bulgaria does as she so calls slating it off and does she know all the rules and regs as she would in any country . eg ; spainshould this firm be uk based ,i see this so called lady trying with the so called new york times as trying to make money out of her story shes no better then anybody else .  its easy dont put anything down till you see what you like make sure its allegal with a solicitor get all the documements then part with yor money when everythings ok. also i would personally buy a kushta or a house to the english ,straight from the owner with a bulgarian friend what you know and trust 100 persent. end of story