This is a personal opinion and strictly confidential, intended solely for its recipient who has agreed not to divulge, copy or quote from it.

It's a free-for-all, chaotic, no regulations, no planning, no restrictions. It seems right now in Bulgaria that anyone can sell anything to anyone at any price.

Don't get caught with iron pyrites in the Gold Rush, by trying to buy just on price, so.....BEFORE YOU "BAG A BARGAIN"

1. Bulgarians. Really Russians, their best friends. They may look like us, but after fifty years of communism and with an average wage of Ј20 a week, they think we're all millionaire mugs.  Envy and a lot of "flexibility", but no western business ethics. They call it Free Enterprise, well it won't be free to you.. Remember, you're in the Balkans, which have a  troubled history, and away from the major towns its very backward. Examples:  If you go to a museum, they'll charge you a five lev entrance fee and a Russian or a Bulgarian just one. There are NO laws against domestic violence.

2. Who's selling it?  There was no housing market or estate agents until three years ago. Lots of people pretending now though. The same house may be being offered by six different sharp young firms or individuals, all trying it on at different prices and perhaps with dodgy lawyers. Three that I bought over a year ago are still on various agents' websites [naturally for much bigger prices] But its not just them. The British & Irish time-share touts kicked out of Tenerife are waiting for you at the airport and along the beach. Example: I spoke to a Police Inspector who had just been stopped in the street by a young man and offered an apartment block for Ј40k - he said in England he'd have arrested him.

3. Buildings. There's never been such an occupation as Building Inspector or Surveyor in Bulgaria. Many houses should never have been built - poor access or foundations, self-build workmanship, structural and damp problems, very dodgy wiring, sited on flood plains. No planning permission. Its ok if they're not yours - because a lot will fall down anyway

4. Land. Ensure you have a good lawyer [You can use one of mine if you want to] and the boundaries are clearly defined. You don't want to come & find the neighbours have encroached on you or are claiming a right of way. Measure it yourself,  sometimes the dimensions you're given are "optimistic". If its "regulated" [i.e. within the village limits and supposedly having outline planning permission] make sure the local mayor [ a government employee with a lot of authority ] is fully onside for what you want to do on it. If they tell you getting it regulated won't be a problem, don't just believe them. Check with the mayor and Local Authority. They all know how the Brits love the seaside. Remember the EC will impose strict controls on development soon and you could be left with just a field.

5.Apartments. The Russians own most of the so called building land in Sofia and along the coast. They may still own the land your apartment stands on after you've bought it. No restrictions on new blocks, maybe in front of yours. Nobody knows how many are being built. The infrastructure isn't keeping up at all. Sunny Beach and Golden Sands are going to be like ant hills in a few years. Plus when some of the service agreements run out the new ones may be multiplied ten times - you'll have to vacate and then they'll rent them to the new Roumanian tourists. Plus they can only ever be worth what they cost to build [a lot less than you're paying] if restrictions aren't imposed.

6. Title and Possession.  Ensure you have full, unencumbered, clear title and full possession. I got two when I started and didn't know any better - one's got nine descendants of the original owners, all signed except for one who went to the USA, nobody's heard from him for twenty years . What's the betting when its finished a grandson will pop up with his hand out. Another was sold by a little old lady who was going to live in the town with her children. Yes, you guessed, the money's gone to the town OK, but she's still there, "looking after it for me". Some chance of getting a Bulgarian Court to evict her!

7. Allotment Sheds. Every Bulgarian town has a "Villa Zone", established under Communism where couples could escape cramped city apartments for the occasional night. They are usually 1 or 2 rooms and were never intended to be permanent residences. Some people have unofficially extended them & installed facilities. Because they're in nice areas and we Brits love a "snip" a lot of us are getting caught with them. Forget it. The Mayors don't want British shanty-towns springing up in the best regions. They'll all be going soon, like Spanish coastal seizures.

8. Gypsies. Bulgarians keep them a secret, but you need to know. They constitute over 10% of the population, but with an exploding birth rate, nobody knows for sure. They are a semi-nomadic, illiterate, penniless underclass with their own language. Racially distinct and best avoided. Mainly the descendants of the Turks who brutally occupied Bulgaria for four hundred years. Forcibly settled by the Communist regime in slum areas of the towns and some villages. They are treated very badly and have a well deserved reputation for stealing. Stay away from them and any villages that have a big community of them. You can buy a house in a "gypsy" village for Ј400, but not from me - it won't have any windows because the locals will have stolen them. Imagine how they'll look forward to getting your TV, fridge, washer etc!

REMEMBER - if you get it wrong - who are you going to complain to?

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