 |
Why Not To Invest In Bulgarian Property
According to research carried out by the Thomson Group, owning a property abroad is now the ambition of over 50% of the British population. Not surprisingly Spain and Cyprus remain the most popular destinations for second home buyers while countries like France, Italy and Portugal continue to grab their fair share of the property investment gold rush! While the usual suspects will always attract the more cautious, risk aversive investor, the most recent generation of property investors can't seem to get enough of what our Eastern European neighbours have to offer. Eye-popping prices in the former communist states draw thousands of us to the shores of countries practically unheard of before they popped the for sale sign into the national soil. None, more so than Bulgaria and let's face it, people knew that a property in Bulgaria could be picked up for £5000 long before they could point to Bulgaria on the map. So what's the big attraction? Well, unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past twelve months you'll know that cheap property prices, the promise of high capital growth, pending EU membership and spectacular scenery are just a few of the treasures attracting investor cash to the country and some might ask what else could an investor ask for? But is Bulgaria really as good a deal as it's made out to be? Sure, you can buy a beachfront apartment in a sunny resort for £35,000 but step outside the apartment and what have you got? Resorts like Sunny Beach, the largest of the Black Sea tourist hotspots are devoid of character and charm, much like the rest of the country. The 8kms of beach that makes up the resort is spattered with concrete blocks built ad hoc along the coastline with the sole aim of attracting foreign cash. Move away from the resorts into the towns and cities and the influence of the communist era is vividly apparent in the bland former communist blocks that define much of the local architecture. Many consider Sofia, the country's capital, a run-down dilapidated city and one most definitely not famous for its sites and culture. Not surprisingly, the tourist industry hasn't developed as it has done in some of Eastern Europe's more attractive cities and so Sofia remains one of the cheapest capital cities in Europe in which to buy property. While the situation is improving and efforts are being made to regenerate the city, it's not happening quickly enough. One tenth of the population live in Sofia and young Bulgarian's are fleeing the country in thousands. It is estimated that more than one million Bulgarians live abroad, forced to seek better opportunities in more developed economies. In a country with a population of only 8 million, this is a significant figure. The implications are quite apparent too. If Bulgarians are leaving the country and foreigners continue to stimulate development by buying cheap properties in places like Sofia, supply will greatly exceed demand. If developers continue to build at existing rates and Bulgarians continue to leave at existing rates, some predict many thousands of empty apartments in five years time. Another measure of a healthy property hotspot is the number of individuals and families relocating. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people relocate to Dubai, another popular emerging market. Families stay away from Bulgaria. An extremely underdeveloped educations system, run-down schools and the language are obvious put-offs for expats considering a new life abroad and these are issue not likely to change in the near future. Educational facilities are quite often low priority on the government agenda in growing economies. Despite Ireland's miracle success over recent years, many of its rural schools are still in need of renovation and this remains a contentious grass roots political issue in many of the rural communities. While pending EU membership is contributing to major reforms in Bulgaria, weeding out corruption and improving economic and bureaucratic structures, that fact remains that EU membership is not necessarily the magic wand that will turn Bulgaria into the new Ireland or Spain. Bulgaria has worked hard to meet the deamnds of Brussels so far fulfilling 26 of the 30 requirements for EU membership and like many of the new EU states aspires to be the next Ireland. Unlike Ireland prior to receiving EU funds, Bulgaria does not have a fully developed commercial/financial base. Bulgarians have until this year been unable to access mortgages. Ireland also had a relatively small population that helped spread the benefits of direct foreign investment. It managed its EU aid well, pushing funds in projects of lasting value. The property boom was created on the back of a well-managed economy that rapidly increased growth in income per head. Unlike many of the new EU members, Ireland did not rely on the property market to boost and stimulate the initial stages of economic development. The only country that has succeeded in doing this to date is Dubai and many agree that this speculator driven market is in danger of overheating leading to a much feared burst bubble! Leaving these macro issues aside, Bulgarian property investment poses problems at the micro level too. While buying a new build might be straightforward enough, buying older homes not only raises issues with the need to create a company with which to buy the land but also raises concerns about title. It is not unusual for older Bulgarian properties to have multiple owners. All owners must agree before a sale can be agreed and ensuring that the title is legally and rightfully transferred can be a tricky process. The last thing you want is to move into your new mountain home, painfully restored to find Mr. X knocking on your door six months later claiming he still has part ownership of your new home. For those who do wish to invest in Bulgaria, the safest option is to buy properties on the ski slopes or properties on the Black Sea coast where rental income is tourism driven and high capital appreciation is more likely. The tourist season is longer in the ski resorts and so slope properties offer better rental yields. Bear in mind when buying older homes that the resale market in Bulgaria has not yet developed. With so many developers offering new and off-plan property, single houses sell far less quickly and those interested in second hand homes are usually bargain hunting at the lower end of the market. What I have tried to do in this article is combat the blind optimism that many investors seem to develop when they find what they believe is a bargain property hotspot. Sure property in Bulgaria is extremely cheap but a bargain is defined by value for money rather than low cost and there is still a great amount of uncertainty about Bulgaria's future. All going well, the country will find the path to success and develop into a strong and competitive economy. My word of caution is that it may not shine as brightly or as quickly as investors anticipate. Tracey Meagher is a property advisor and journalist. She owns and maintains Property Newsdesk, an information website that reports property news from around the world. Email any property related questions to tracey@propertynewsdesk.com
MORE RESOURCES:
London Ontario Real Estate Information
Can I Sell My Private Mortgage Notes?
How to Prequalify a Buyer When You Sell Your Home By Owner
Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience
Budgeting Your Log Home: Where Do You Start?
How to Get Financing after Filing Bankruptcy
Joint Ventures In Real Estate Development; So How Do They Work?
How to Price Your Property?
How to Make the Real Estate Market Work For You and Get The Most Money
Cheap, Bargain, Real Estate; Good Deals, Below Market, Low Priced Properties Are Available...
Real Estate: Reasons and Priorities for Purchasing Property
A Powerful Suggested Technique for YOUR Home & Property Search
Horses In My Back Yard
How To Give Yourself A $20,000/Year Raise Without Asking Your Boss
How Do I Implement The Lease Purchase Plan?
How I Became a Real Estate Investor
Safe, Scenic & Secure Sussex County Delaware
Quality of Life in Sussex County Delaware. Facts, Statistics, Observations and even opinions!
Investing in Real Estate Profitably: Financing Options for Purchase of Rental Houses, Part 1.
Investing in Residential Real Estate: Achieving Positive Cash Flow
Regarding Real Estate On Leased Land
How Much Home Can You Afford In Todays Market?
Why Do Realtors Advertise Your Home in Print,on the Radio, on Television, etc.?
I have a buyer for your property and I can sell it now!
Where Does Your Real Estate Commission Fee Go - Why is The Commission so HIGH?
What We Do To Sell Your Property!
Maximizing Curb Appeal and First Impressions to Sell your Home
Juggling The Day With A Deal
The Many Benefits Of Lease Purchasing
Various Aspects Of The Lease Purchase Business
What Can I Realistically Earn In A Lease Purchase Business?
Real Estate, Real Property and Leased Land; Definitions, Discussion and Explanations
Tax Deferred Exchanges of Investment and Business Real Estate
High Tension for the Buyer and Seller of Real Estate Can Be Reduced
Legal Information About the Real Estate Contract
Real Estate: Buyers Agent, Sellers Agent & Dual Agent (defined and explained)
Landscaping Adds Great Value to Real Estate And Helps You Sell
Are You Profiting From O.P.P.?
The Many Ways To Profit From O.P.P.s Multiple Cash Streams
How Do You Profit From O.P.P.?
Lease Purchasing Is The Perfect Home-Based Business
Buying Country Acreage and Rural Properties, To Buy or Not To Buy
The 21st Century Way To Build Equity
Property Types A, B, C And D
The Psyche of The Seller and The Tenant Buyer
Reprint Rights and How To Use Them To Generate A Steady Income
Seller Objections To Lease Purchase
Tenant/Buyers Have Multiple Options
The Devine Secrets Of The Ya Ya Lease Purchase Hood
How To Get The Best Rental Accommodation In The Area By Using Your Capital
Strata Title Hotel Investments
Why You Should Rent To Live And Buy To Invest
Time Is A Major Real Estate Wealth Growth Tool, So Use IT And Watch Your...
Property Auction & Why You Should Run A Mile From Them
Condo Hotels Offer Luxury and Great Investment Potential
Condo Hotel Trends - A Look at the Big Picture in Vacation Home Ownership
The Benefits of Fractional Ownership in Private Residence Clubs
Real Estate Development Marketing
Buying Land For Development Requires Careful Planning and Execution
Home Inspections or Home Warranty?
Peace of Mind for Home Inspections: Choose the Right Inspector!
Preparing To Make A Zero Down Offer
Using The Internet In Your Lease Purchase Business
Real Estate Local FAQs.
Sell Houses Fast & Top Dollar: Design Psychology
What is a Predatory Lender?
Find Bucks in Yucks! 20-Year-Old Woman Turns Doghouses into Dollars!
Selling by Owner = Saving by Owner?
You Have 15 Seconds to Sell Your Home! 11 Steps You Can Take to Sell Your Home for Top Dollar
Selling by Owner Tips
Using Transformation Psychology to Sell Investment Properties
How to Become a Successful Real Estate Investor
Buying Houses: Types of Bargains to Find
Financing Houses
Using Color Psychology to Sell Your Home
Five Things to Help Sell Your Home Fast, and For More Money
Ten Steps for Becoming a Successful Real Estate Investor
Finding a Great Listing Agent for Your Home: 8 Tips
Selling Houses: Design Psychology and Interior Colors
Interior Design Secrets for Selling Houses
Five Ps of Selling Houses
Selling Houses: The Basics of Design Psychology
The Costs of Transforming Your Home into a Buyers Dream House
Fixing Houses: Mixing Your Own Paint for Savings and Harmony
If Your House Is a Mess, You Dont Have To Sell For Less
18 Easy Steps to Buy a Bargain House
How to Choose Your Real Estate Lender
Create a Sizzling Home Sales Flyer
A Beginners Guide to Flipping Houses
Questions Investors Should Ask When Buying and Selling Investment Property
Real Estate Investing: How to Choose a Lender
Real Estate Investing: Infomercial and Mentoring Scams
Why You Need a Lender to Sell Your Home
Selling Your Home: The Power of a Great Sales Flyer
The Secret to Maximum Real Estate Profits: Lighting
Selling Investment Houses: Props & Profits
Selling Houses: Cutting Edge Design Tips for Selling
Dont be Tempted by We Buy Houses (Updated)
Buying and Selling Distressed Houses for Maximum Profit (Update)
Selling Houses Fast: Basics of Design & Color Psychology
Selling Houses: Flooring & Feelings
Selling Houses: Psychological Effects of Landscaping
Credit Help: Buying Real Estate -- Not the Same as Buying Cars
Fixing Houses: Using Psychology for Profits
Selling Your Home Quickly, Even if You Have No Money For Repairs
Talk to a Lender Before You Sell Your Home
Selling by Owner Escrow or Closing Checklist
Investing in Real Estate Profitably: Eliminating the Need for Mortgage Insurance
How to Make Money in Real Estate Without Doing the Scrunch Work
Achieving Positive Cash Flow from Your Real Estate Investments
Selling Houses: Design Psychology Works!
Selling Your House Fast!
Transforming Doghouses into Dollhouses
Selling Investment Houses: Psychology of Mirrors
A Real Estate Primer
What are the Elements in Real Estate?
Curb Appeal
What to Look Out For When Buying Off Plan
Staging® Your Home for Sale: a Superior Real Estate Home Marketing Technique: Part 1
What Does It Take To Be A Donald Trump in Real Estate?
On the Crossing of Continents
Panama is Hot - A World Class Retirement Haven Thats Ripe For Profitable Real Estate Investment
Personal Branding Techniques for Real Estate Agents and Brokers
Real Estate Investing Myths That Steal Profits From Your Pocket
Budgeting Your Log Home - Creating a Checklist
Do You Want To Sell Your Rehabs Fast?
How Much Should I Pay For This House?
Real Estate Investment 2005 - The Hottest Countries for Investment in 2005
Real Estate Investment - Why it is Big Business?
Tax Free Exchanges: Watch out for the New Residence Rules
Home Inspectors - Negotiating a Lower Price
Finding the Right Real Estate Agent:: A Guide for Seniors
Why it is Important to Hire Just One Real Estate Agent to Buy a Home
The Professional Investors Plan
How to Buy a Home When Your in Your Twenties
Why Invest In Property?
Location, Location, Location
Prepare Your House for a Successful Sale
Pricing your House to Sell
Virtual Agent? Online Real Estate
Curb Appeal
Water, Water Everywhere on the Waterfront
Before Selling Your Home
When Showing Your Home
For Sale By Owner Listings
Should you Sell your Home yourself?
Evil Gains Entry
How to Sell Your Own Home and Save Thousands of Dollars
Home Inspection Checklist - Home Inspectors
The Value of Foreclosed Property
Investing In Commercial Property
Investing In Land
Selling Your Home - A FSBOs Guide to Keeping It Safe
Seven Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Condo Hotel Unit
What is a Foreclosure?
Expenses of Home Ownership
Dealing With Dual Real Estate Agents
At Home In Your Overseas Home
A Real Estate Investing Primer
The Real Estate Bubble Fallacy
Tax Assessment/Appraisal: How Do I Know What My Home is Worth?
How to Build a Real Estate Investing Power Team
How Can the Average Person Build Wealth in Real Estate?
Product Review of Carelton Sheets No Money Down Course
Real Estate News
Types of Listings with Agents
The New First Impression in Home Selling
Buying a House in Scotland
Fixing Houses for Resale: Three Beginning Steps to Increase Profits and Have Fun
Basic Tips for First Time Home Buyers
Homebuyer Heaven Can't Possibly Last
Selling Your Property Without An Estate Agent
Avoid The Traps Of Finance
Big Discounts With Property Investment Clubs?
New or Old House?
How Not To Blow Your Build Budget
Is a Vacation Home Right for You?
Should You Buy Real Estate Now
Staging Homes for Top-Dollar Sales
Real Estate Bankruptcy
How To Negotiate A Higher Price For Your House
Maintaining Small Town Charm In An Ever-Changing World
OPM - The Art of Leveraging
A Difference Between Appraisal, Assessment, Home Inspection
Investing in Real Estate Like a Stock
Getting Raw Land, Not a Raw Deal!
Investing in Real Estate Vehicle for Wealth Building
A Possible Bargain: Foreclosed Properties
How Can I Stop Foreclosure on My House?
Buying New Construction...How Do I Begin?
Dont Sell Your House--Ever!
A Singles Game of Real Estate
Investment Real Estate Done Right -- Your Quickest and Safest Path to Wealth
Atlanta Georgia Real Estate - Marietta - East Cobb, Roswell, and Alpharetta
How to Attract Clients in Residential Real Estate
How to Build Your Dream Home
Property in Bulgaria - Huge Investment Potential
Unravelling The Real Estate Buying Process in Canada
Why Canadian Real Estate is Such Good Value
How To Find Your Dream Home In Belize
Negotiating the Real Estate Contract
Be A Realtor With Curb Appeal
Investment Real Estate -- A New Twist: Be the Bank, Not the Landlord, and Get Rich Without the Work!
Build Your Retirement By Investing In Real Estate
Appraisal vs. Market Value: How to Avoid Pitfalls in the Sale of Your Home
Utah Real Estate
Purchasing Land: What To Look For
If You Cant Afford to Retire...Move
Moldy Homes are a Great Investment
NAR® Broker Will Swear It - Real Pro' Agents Share It - FSBO Truth
How to Get the Best Price for Your House
Flat Fee MLS Listings - Is This The Future Of Real Estate
10 "No Money Down" Ways to Buy Real Estate
Look Past the Bottom Line for a Propertys Potential
10 Tips for Investing in Distressed or Foreclosed Properties
How to Research and Purchase a Good Investment Property
Termite and Moisture Damage Not Reported
Free Tips That Will Dramatically Increase the Selling Value Of Your House (Part 1)
Dont Overpay for a House, Even in Todays Market
What Homeowners Should Know to Stop Foreclosure- Speaking Your Lenders Language
Finding A Capable Agent To Meet Your Real Estate Needs
How to Prepare Yourself for Owning a Dual Purpose Second Home
Conditions Are Right For Buying The Higher Priced Home You'Ve Always Wanted
What To Expect In Closing Costs On A Home Purchase
Avoiding A Bad Investment Is Easier Than You Might Think
Working With Your Real Estate Attorney
What's Your Style? A Guide to America's Most Common Home Styles
XML error: XML_ERR_NAME_REQUIRED at line 1 |
