Bulgaria offers a very nice and diverse climate which is one of the main reasons why the country has become so popular among foreigners – both with tourists and people looking for property abroad (see also Bulgaria Property Facts for more informatioan about Bulgaria and the property market). The coast area near the Black Seah as a very nice climate from April to September and it is still not over exploited as other and older tourist areas of Europe. For foreigners looking for a ski resort, Bulgaria is an interesting alternative to the more traditional ski sport resorts in France or Switzerlandwith excellent weather conditions, cheap properties and installations that are becoming closer to central European standards.

Where to Buy
The most popular locations in Bulgaria to buy property among foreigners are in the capital Sofia, the ski/sport locations: Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo and on the Black Sea coast in Varna, Burgas, Sozopol or, of course, the tourist resorts of Sunny Beach or Golden Sands but it is also becoming more popular to buy property inland.

Sofia
As the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia attracts a lot of foreign investment but mostly of either foreigners that have professional relations in the capital or by foreign companies that are looking to either build or restore complete apartment blocks.
Apartments in the capital offer a good year-round rental potential and the investment value is also good so it could also be an alternative for individual buyers.

Bansko
Bansko is the main ski resort of Bulgariaand it is located only 3 hours drive from the capital so it is relatively easy to reach from anywhere in Europe.
The new Ian Wosnam golf course which is scheduled to be finished in 2007 will make Bansko even more popular as a year-round destination and the ski installations and infrastructure are the best in Bulgaria - very close to top European standards.
In Bansko you can find a lot of new promotions but it is also possible to find old houses in the nearby villages.

Borovets
Borovets is the oldest ski resort in Bulgariaand it is located only 1.5 hours drive from the capital and has traditionally been very popular among the upper class from Sofia. Borovets is a little cheaper than Bansko but offers a good rental potential both from locals and foreign ski enthusiasts (although, among foreigners it is less popular than Bansko or Pamporovo).
As in Bansko there is both the option of buying new promotions or older town houses which will normally need some refurbishment.

Pamporovo
Pamporovo is located about 5 hours drive from the capital next to the city of Plovdin and the Greek border but the city has it own airport which can be reach from Sofia and some international destinations.
The resort is a bit smaller than Bansko but apart from the size they are very similar both regarding to the many new promotions taking place and the popularity among foreigners.

Varna
Varna is the third biggest city of Bulgariaand is located on the northern part of the Black Seacoast.
Most foreigners only pass through the city on their way to the tourist resorts in Golden Sands north of the city or on a one day excursion but it is also becoming more popular for those that prefer the city compared to the tourist spots.
The city has a lot of attractions and the combination of low property prices and a good year-round rental potential makes it a good investment opportunity.

Burgas
Burgas is the fourth largest city of Bulgaria, located on the southern part of the Black Sea coast. It is like Varna in that it’s most known by foreigners for its international airport and as place you have to cross by to get to the popular tourist destinations.
It has the biggest portof Bulgaria and is also one of the most important industrial areas of the country.
It doesn’t attract much foreign investment although the property prices are low and there is a potential for year-round rental, but compared to Varna it doesn’t have the same appeal to foreigners looking for an alternative to a tourist destination on the coast.

Sozopol
Sozopol is a small, former fisherman village located 30 km south of Burgas on the Black Sea cost. Today it is one of the most popular tourist destinations offering a charming combination between a cosy village with small streets, local markets and wooden houses and a typical tourist resort (located just outside the village) with all its modern facilities.
Here it is possible to buy a new promotion or one of the old houses in the village although; the latter are becoming expensive due to the popularity of the area.

Sunny Beach
Sunny Beach is the most well-known and largest tourist area in Bulgaria located just north of Burgas. It is famous for its great beaches, water sport and the many restaurants, bars and ongoing nightlife.
Apart from the tourist areas you will also find the historic village Nesebar in this area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site so there is also something for the cultural interested tourist.
Sunny Beach is the most popular place for foreigners to buy property in Bulgaria and there is a lot of construction work taking place along the coast line so if you are looking for a tranquil area this is not the one.

Golden Sands
Golden Sands is the second biggest tourist resort and is located to the north of Varna on the Black Sea coast. It used to be a popular holiday destination for the upper class in Bulgaria and the rest of eastern Europe but today the British, German and Scandinavian tourists are dominating.
Apart from the many tourist facilities (bars, restaurants, beaches, etc) you will find the Zlatni national park which makes it a nice place for nature lovers.
The building control is much stricter in this area, compared to Sunny Beach, and therefore, there are not as many new properties available so this has increased the price level.

Inland
If you are looking for a very cheap property and in a very tranquil place then there are many great possibilities in the country side of Bulgaria. Here you can find old farms, country houses, a cottage or even vineyards for very reasonable prices. Most of the properties inland will need a great deal of refurbishment and the infrastructure in inland Bulgaria is very bad so take that into consideration before buying. If you are interested in inland property we can highly recommend visiting the place during different seasons as it might change a lot from summer to winter.

What Type of Property to Buy
The type of property to buy foremost depends on your personal preferences and your budget but you should also take into consideration why you are buying the property and the complications there might be with purchasing certain properties.

If you are buying a property in a ski/sport resort and expect to rent it out part of the time then you will have to take into consideration what rental agents and tourist are looking for. Although you would love to own an old house outside the ski resort, it would be difficult to rent it out and in this case an “all-inclusive” apartment complex next to the ski-lifts is most likely a better alternative.

If you are buying primarily as an investment then, either buying off plan (as early as possible) or property that needs to be refurbished (as the labour force is very cheap) is the best alternative.

Although the labour force is cheap in Bulgaria and, therefore, it is cheap both to construct and to refurbish a property then there are a lot of potential complication and risk involved with this type of investment. With help from the right lawyer it is not impossible, but you are still taking some risk and will have to be prepared for traveling frequently to Bulgaria to inspect how the work is going.

If you, for example, decide to purchase a property with land then you will have to take into consideration that foreigners are not allowed to own land (the property, yes, but not the land - see the section Legal Matters of Buying Property in Bulgaria) and you would have to first set-up a Bulgarian company. Then, afterwards, buy the property through this company. It is not because it is much more complicated but, there are some practical and ongoing legal matters of owning properties in Bulgaria that you will have to take into consideration before you make your choice.