thetravelbug 

Buying in Bulgaria, Living There, Renting, Selling....

.....the good, the bad and general advice from someone who has been there, done it, been through it and survived....just!

Bulgaria Guide Walking in Bulgaria Bulgaria in picturesBuying in Bulgariatraditional bulgarian cooking Bulgaria in pictures  Buying in Bulgaria 

Initially this website was set up to promote properties for sale in Bulgaria and gradually evolved into chronicling my experiences of life in Bulgaria as I struggled with builders and renovations, court cases and living in a foreign country. I now intend to make it more a site aimed at arming those considering a move abroad, particularly to Bulgaria, with as much information as possible on topics such as relocation, renting long term, purchasing property and the expat lifestyle, as well as offering a private sales listing section for those looking to sell and a property exchange service for those interested in swapping their own property for another in a different region or country.

Take a look at the article section and the forum and blog for upto date information about the buying process, the Bulgarian property market, European property market and articles on all sorts from relocation, to traveling with dogs, buying a car in Bulgaria, outdoor adventures and sight seeing.

[I update these pages regularly but to see new items added to the site and any new information, please visit the Forum for quick reference.]

So briefly about me (more here but grab a beer or glass of wine first :)) - Like many people my search for property began on the internet. It was 2004 and I was looking to invest in Bulgarian property somewhere near a ski resort. I ended up putting a deposit down on an apartment in Bansko (despite never having been there). However the ink was barely dry on the contract when that all went pear shaped and there began a long battle with the developer and agency which resulted in me eventually pulling out of the purchase and taking the agency to court in the UK for misrepresentation. More on this on the 'About Me' page and also in full detail in my eBook - 'My Bulgarian Nightmare'.

But from the first trip over I loved Bulgaria - the way the goats and cows still wandered down the streets making their way home each evening, the curious locals willing to put on a full table spread at the drop of a hat for you, the fact that there was mountains and skiing, lakes and forests, beaches and everything in between in one (fairly small) country. I made several trips over to Bulgaria travelling around and viewing property. I viewed property with a number of different Bulgarian real estate agents - some good, some bad and some indifferent. I made my first purchase of a Bulgarian property in summer 2005 - a small cheap rural Bulgarian house with a good sized plot and lovely mountain views. Buying and selling Bulgarian property developed into a side line and then a full time business - sourcing and selling Bulgarian property to other British. And I bought several more Bulgarian properties. Early 2006 I decided to move over to Bulgaria with my long term partner (although in the end he never came) and designed and built a new house from scratch. That in itself turned into a complete nightmare cultimating in several court cases which dragged on for years. I also renovated several more properties.

 I have experienced Bulgaria first hand - the frustrations, the struggles, the ups, the downs...I have catalogued the last few years of renovations, court cases and other struggles on this site to hopefully help others looking at buying property in Bulgaria.

Now, after more than 3 years living in Bulgaria and building up a portfolio of 12 properties, I recently purchased a home in France and now split my time between France and Bulgaria and so I have decided to downsize things in Bulgaria and sell off a few houses. It is simply too much to keep an eye on and to maintain. And to be honest I am ready for a change. I absolutely love my home there and am proud of the houses I have renovated but would like to spread out my investments over different countries, travel more, experience other places and cultures....so for these reasons several of my houses are listed for sale or exchange (looking to exchange for France mainly) - take a look at the left hand menu. The other properties I own are available for long term rental.

If you want to talk to someone independent about buying in Bulgaria, discuss various areas, what your money will get you, your options then please drop me an email. I have much experience with problems with off plan developments, builders, the court system etc. Contact me by email, skype or MSN. I can telephone you if you would prefer to chat. 


Rachel

  To be kept updated on available properties for sale and exchange, news about Bulgaria and other information that maybe of use to you when considering buying or selling, please consider filling in the form below to join my mailing list. I only send updates once a month if that, so you will not be inundated with lots of emails and advertisements.

 

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