Sun, Jul 05 2009
Bulgaria's real estate market would soon reach its saturation point, while Romania still had options to develop, The Diplomat Bucharest reported.
Some areas in Bulgaria are already over-developed, agents said. Coastal resorts like Sunny Beach experienced over-construction, which in turn affected the plans of investors.
Coastal areas in Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the region surrounding the capital cities offer the best opportunities for property investors. The report, however, said that in Romania the costs are higher.
Bulgaria still features as a more attractive purchase destination but profits in Romania are higher, agents said.
Apart from the residential sector, other property segments in the two countries are developing. The office markets in both countries saw some developments and major transactions recently.
Retail is also gaining momentum in Bulgaria. Some major international brands are considering expanding their market to Bulgaria after a number of malls opened doors in the country, The Diplomat Bucharest reported.
The project will be financed by the Bulgarian Bank for Development, and the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas, or Jessica Programme, although the report has so far failed to reveal the total cost of the vast enterprise.
The strategic plan envisages the conservation of the nature "for decades ahead", and it was formulated by a municipal team headed by professor Ivan Nikiforov, backed by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.
Once the overhaul and reconstruction of the Sofia–Vidin line is complete, it will cut travel time to three hours, as the train will be able to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, shortening the journey to three hours.
Marriott however has made it clear that is not interested in investing in construction, but rather to occupy and manage existing buildings. Its strategy is to obtain management contracts.
Investors realise that it’s not viable to have a building remaining empty over the course of a year – so it's better for them to employ more flexibility to offset that loss.