| Bulgaria has attracted a lot of attention over the last | | | | the Black Sea Coast, Sofia and the mountain |
| two years, as foreign buyers and investors flock to | | | | ski-resorts. Other buyers are attracted by the old |
| its emerging property market. In 2004, foreigners | | | | houses inland that can start from as little as |
| invested over Euro 500 million in Bulgarian property, | | | | £1,700 and the medieval charm of picturesque |
| compared to Euro 98 million in 2003. Frequently listed | | | | cities and villages like Veliko Turnovo, Arbanassi and |
| in the top 20 places to buy a foreign property, | | | | Tryavna in central Bulgaria. |
| Bulgaria is now firmly on the property investment | | | | Enjoying over 300 days of sunshine a year, boasting |
| map. | | | | a coastline that stretches over 380km, spectacular |
| With EU entry forecast for 2007 investors are keen | | | | mountains, eco-tourism and some of the most |
| to buy into the Bulgarian market to reap the | | | | affordable property in Europe, there is no wonder |
| inevitable rewards of capital appreciation and establish | | | | that Bulgaria is attracting such interest. Property |
| a rental income in a country that has demonstrated | | | | prices in some regions have doubled in the space of |
| increasing tourism over the last few years. In the | | | | the last two years alone - though new apartments |
| first 6 months of 2005 alone, over 2.7 million tourists | | | | on the coast are still available from as little as |
| visited Bulgaria; with a 42% increase in the number of | | | | £20,000. |
| British tourists. By 2020 the World Trade Organisation | | | | Despite recent bad press about developers and |
| has predicted that the number of foreign tourists | | | | estate agents in Bulgaria over-estimating rental |
| visiting the country will increase to 10 million. | | | | returns and exaggerating capital growth rates, |
| The most popular regions for foreign property | | | | Bulgarian property remains under-valued and is a good |
| investors can be broadly categorised into 3 sectors: | | | | investment. |