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More hardship for the UK. It's time to move to Bulgaria!

George Osborne warns that there are will be at least 5 more years of hardship for the UK. Mr Osborne expects a "bleak course of stalling growth, public sector pay restraint, painful cuts and rising borrowing stretching into the next parliament."
Source: Financial Times: Britain braced for debt storm, by Sarah O'Connor and Chris Giles, November 29, 2011.

With such dark times ahead, it is likely that more people will move to other countries such as Bulgaria, where the cost of living is much lower, the weather is better and there is already an etablished ex-pat community. With property prices in Bulgaria at their lowest for over 5 years, now is a good time to relocate.

Design of Avren Golf Resort is Released

Interest in the proposed golf course at Avren, a small municipal town just south of Varna, has been growing steadily since the developer, Jan van Herwaarden, won a court case against his ex-partner. The law suit caused a delay of several years, but since the Supreme Court ruled in his favour, everything has been 'full steam ahead' for Jan.

Speculation about the design of the golf course, the leisure facilities and the golf homes has been rife. Golf enthusiasts, existing property owners in and around Varna and those looking for a home in Bulgaria will be delighted to see that a 2D plan is now available on the Avren Golf and Leisure Resort website. The plan of the resort shows facilities such as the clubhouse, tennis courts and an equestrian centre, in addition to the golf course and the luxurious villas and apartments.

Mid-Year Signs of Recovery?

The start of 2011 brought no positive change in the health of the Bulgarian property market. It looked as if we were in for yet another year of extremely low sales volumes. Even during the months of February and March (usually prime time for property sales) the flow of new enquiries was slow. But is there at last some signs of recovery? Bucking the usual seasonal trends, enquiries increased significantly during May and June. July is usually one of the quietest months for online enquiries - as people concentrate on enjoying their holidays, or trying to keep the kids amused at home - but a steady flow of property seekers continues.

Russian buyers continue to dominate the market, although they generally take a tough stance and expect to pay well below the market value for properties. But enquiries are coming from many countries, including the USA, Canada, Scandinavia, Germany, France, Poland,and (of course) the UK and Ireland. News of the low cost of living in Bulgaria has been spreading across Europe and encouraging people to consider emigrating to find a better lifestyle.

5% Rental Return and Your Money Back

One of Bulgaria's major property developers has launched an amazing scheme which offers investors a 'no lose situation'. It's simple and very clever. Basically, you invest in an apartment for 6 years, during which you get a 5% annual return on your investment, plus the chance to use the apartment yourself twice each year. At the end of the 6 years you can either keep the apartment yourself (and you are free to do whatever you want - live there, rent it out or sell it privately) or the developer will buy it back at the same price that you paid. And that's guaranteed!

If you can buy the apartment without credit, there are two options; get 5% annual income and the full price back, or get 7% annual income and 80% of the price back. If you can't afford to pay the full price but you still want a piece of the action, there is an option to put 60% down and pay the rest over 3 years. For more information see our Del Cabo Apartments web page.

First Tourists Arrive at Albena, Dobrich

Although the weather in Bulgaria is a little unseasonal, it has not deterred the German tourists. On April 18th the Bulgarian news agency (BTA) reported that the first 80 tourists of the 2011 summer season had arrived in Albena from Germany. The lovely Black Sea resort of Albena is well known for its wonderful beaches, water sports and beautiful parks.

More Flights to Varna Airport in Summer 2011

From March 27, 2011, Varna International Airport is operating its new summer schedule. There are a total of 19 destinations on offer, including 4 new ones - Cologne (Germany), Katowice (Poland) and Samara and Kazan (Russia). The most frequent flights to and from Varna airport will be to Sofia, Vienna and Budapest.

From the start of June, there will be daily flights to and from Moscow's Domodedovo airport. Russian visitors will also be able to fly twice a week from Sheremetyevo Airport and once per week from St Petersburg. From April 22, Bulgaria Air will operate flights twice each week from Gatwick airport to Varna, and from June 23, Wizz Air will offer Varna flights from London's Luton airport on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Weekly flights between Varna and Cologne will begin in the second half of July.

Jamiroquai in Razlog's New "Elevation Festival"

The "Elevation Festival" is a new event that will be held every year near Razlog. The first event will be on June 24th and 25th, 2011. Performances will be carried out on 2 separate stages, one for Rock and one for Dance music. Organizers have confirmed that UK music star Jamiroquai will be the top star at the festival. Other international stars include 30 Seconds To Mars, Hurts, Parov Stelar, Dog Eat Dog, Gentleman and the Evolution, and Cyanna. Bulgarian performers such as Monyx, Sepuko 6 and Odd Crew will also be participating.

The town of Razlog is at the base of the Rila and Pirin mountains in South-west Bulgaria. It is famous for it's golf course and also for being just a few kilometres from the ski resort of Bansko. The new festival will help to bring more summer tourism into the mountain areas and will also be great news for property owners in and around Bansko.

Russians Still Keen on Bulgarian Property

It's no secret that sales to British and Irish investors have been thin on the ground for the last couple of years. However, Russian buyers who are looking for holiday homes at affordable prices are replacing them. Alex Romanenko, the president-elect of FIABCI (the International Real Estate Federation) has reported that "In the past three or four years, over 200,000 Russians have bought property in Bulgaria, worth over a billion dollars ... Bulgaria occupies a dominant position in the real estate market in the Balkans, which has a great potential."

New Interactive Web Site For Apartments at Sunny Day 6

The Sunny Day 6 holiday village now has a new interactive web site. Customers can immediately see which apartments are available and how much they cost. They can choose an apartment by its position in the complex (using an interactive map) or choose from a list of studio, 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom apartments.

Customers who buy an apartment at Sunny Day 6 can buy optional extras such as laminate floor coverings, fitted bathrooms, furniture packs and accessories. The new site allows a customer to see instantly how much the apartment will cost with or without each of these options. Once they have chosen an apartment, all they need to do is click a button to reserve it.

Recovery Expected in Sales of High Quality Homes

According to a recent survey, prices of high quality homes in Sofia, Bulgaria, could soon increase. Sales figures show that there is a strong market for "middle plus" and "high end" properties. These are properties which are in attractive locations, are built to a high standard and have nice gardens and plenty of parking for cars. During the recession, prices of these properties dropped to around 1,000 to 1,900 Euros per sq.m. It now appears that the supply of middle plus and high end properties is starting to run out. Prices have steadied and may even increase during 2011.

The typical buyer of these properties is a professional person who is quite likely to be self employed. These buyers can raise most of the money for the purchase without a mortgage. As the number of large national and international companies in Sofia increases, there is also a growing demand for housing for managers. Middle and upper management employees have high incomes (in terms of Bulgarian salaries) and can afford to buy good quality properties.

Apple Tree Properties in Turkey!

During the last 4 years, we have been successfully selling properties in Bulgaria to clients from many countries within Europe, America, Asia and Australia. We are proud to announce the launch of our new sister site ATP Turkey Properties. As Eastern Europe's most popular British estate agents, we can now offer you a selection of the best villas and apartments for sale in some of the most beautiful areas of Turkey. We have some fantastic investment opportunities in the fascinating city of Istanbul as well as fantastic villas in the most popular seaside resorts. Turkey is one of the very few places in the world where the economy is still growing. Take a look at our new Turkey Properties site and browse through the tourist information pages - it's like going on holiday without leaving your seat!

Carrefour Hypermarket to Open in Dobrich!

The French hypermarket chain Carrefour is to open a new store in Dobrich. Carrefour is one of the major retailers which will occupy the site of a former shoe factory in the city. The old factory will be reborn as a new shopping mall covering 12,861 sq.m, of which the Carrefour store will occupy 6,900 sq.m. European Trade Centre (ETC) is investing 15 million Euros in the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

The new shopping mall is yet another indication of the increasing importance of the city of Dobrich in the economy and development of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Other international companies that have recently opened stores in Dobrich include Kaufland and Penny (Germany), Billa (Austria) and the global 'cash and carry' giant, Metro.

Bansko is Rated the Best Value Ski Resort in 2010!

According to an article in The Independent (20th November, 2010), families wishing to hit the ski slopes without breaking the bank should head straight for Bansko. The 2010 Post Office Survey (conducted in collaboration with the winter sports guide "Where to Ski & Snowboard") says that, while prices in ski resorts in Europe and North America have risen by up to 15%, ski resorts in Bulgaria are better value than ever before.

The survey considered the cost of items such as ski equipment, lift passes and ski schools, as well as the price of food and drink. The ski resort of Bansko was found to offer the best value, followed by Kranjska Gora in Slovenia and Ellmau in Austria.

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