Q: What's the country like ?
A: Bulgaria's an oblong country a bit bigger than Scotland, at the south-east corner of Europe. Boundaries are the river Danube in the north, the Black Sea coast on the east and spectacular mountain ranges on the west and south. Lots of small rivers, lakes, large fertile plains and forested hilly regions, all pollution-free. Population is 7 million and dropping. Capital is Sofia. Four major cities and lots of small towns and villages. It's got a fully developed infrastructure like ours, including good roads, trains, telephones, cable TV, mobile phone coverage, mains electricity, water & sewage, hospitals and clinics, banks, schools and lots of sporting amenities. Lots of spas & rural pursuits. Many Unesco World Heritage sites. The people are just as civilised as us.
Q: Aren't the Balkans a bit dodgy?
A: There have been two nasty wars in the former Yugoslavia in the last fifteen years, mainly between Moslems & Christians. Everything is under control now, but Bulgaria was never involved in the slightest. It has natural, secure frontiers, a strong army, a Christian population and a highly developed sense of nationalism. . Apart from China and Egypt, it's the oldest country in the world, founded in 650 AD. A fully integrated nation. You'll be a lot safer there than here if the terrorist threats materialise. It's a member of Nato and the EU, it's army is in Iraq with us.
Q: What about health care?
 A: Every town has a modern free hospital and most have large private clinics. Every village gets a visit from the local doctor once or twice a week, or you can call him out. Professional standards are higher than ours and much better staffed. Public facilities are underfunded though. Private health insurance is also available, or you can be back with the National Health in 3 hours. Dentists and opticians are excellent & very cheap.
Q: What about the money?
A: Bulgaria has a hard currency - the Lev - pegged to the Euro so it can't fluctuate. About 3 to the pound. The main reason everything is so cheap. It should be one lev to a pound instead of three, then prices would be the same as UK. You can open a bank account free in Euros, Pounds Sterling or Lev, or one of each. Branches in all towns, plus cash card dispensers. Interest rates are a bit higher than ours. Credit cards are not used much.
Q: How do I make a living ?
A: There will be a massive surge in tourism soon and renting parts of your house to holidaymakers or providing activities for them will boom - horse riding, bird watching, shooting, fishing, climbing, walking tours etc in the countryside and beach activities along the coast should provide a steady income. Or open a British pub or cafe - there are no restrictions on us. Many Brits have bought a second property for renting or to use for a business. If you wish to teach English or have any building or practical skills you will be in great demand. Plus there's a rapidly increasing British community in many villages which is sharing services and skills.
Q: What about getting around ?
A: The coaches and buses are excellent & cover everywhere at a tenth of our prices. Trains are a bit slow. Taxis are very cheap. Car hire is reasonable and includes insurance and breakdown cover. Away from the cities the roads are empty.
Q; What about driving ?
A: New car prices are some of the cheapest in Europe. Petrol price is 2/3rd of ours. Not many second hand ones - cars hold their value so the country can save its hard currency. Driving is on the right. The EC is constructing a fast new road system between the cities. Minor roads are mostly empty and still have a few bad patches. Major signs are easily read, but you need a Bulgarian map to read the cyrillic destinations on minor roads. All road signs have recognisable symbols. When oncoming cars flash their lights at you it's to let you know there's is a speed trap down the road, so slow down. If they get you they'll fine you up to 6 pounds! Car tax & insurance together are under 3 pounds a week.
Q: What about telephones?
A: You can have a landline installed for 60 quid and then pay 3 quid a month and 1/2p a minute for calls. Overseas calls are 1/5th of ours. Cable TV is being installed in all the larger villages or you can have a SKY satellite dish with 50 channels and Internet access for under a tenner a month. Mobiles are relatively expensive to buy - take one over and they'll put a sim card in it, then you'll pay under 2p a minute. Internet is usually wi-fi.
Q: What about living costs ?
A: Hard to believe. Under a quid a week Council Tax and they nearly PAY you to drink the beer ! Come with a British pension & live like a King!
Electricity 0.7p a kilowatt hour; water 0.3p a cubic metre; full time cleaner or gardener 60 quid a month; Gas 0.2p a litre; Taxi 0.18p a kilometre; Serviced burglar alarm system up to 120 quid installation, then about a tenner a month. Lots of markets & roadside stalls with fruit & vegetables at NOMINAL prices, grow your own, or get them from your neighbours, they'll have plenty to spare..
Great restaurants: 2 juices, 2 salads, 2 soups, 2 dishes with meat/poultry/fish and garnish, 2 coffees maximum a tenner. Bacon 2 quid a kilo; salami and cheese a quid a kilo; sirloin steak four; milk 0.30p a litre; jam 30p a large jar; bread 7p a loaf; fruits around 50p a kilo; Absolut vodka and Scotch Whisky 4 to 6 quid a litrure; Local whisky, vodka & brandy quid a bottle. UK cigarettes 70p for 20; local cigarettes (they pay you to smoke them) Lager 20-30p for a large bottle or pint.
Q: What's the weather like?
A: Bulgaria has been a popular European summer tourist destination for many years. Generally the summer season runs from mid April through to late October, with temperatures rising to 35 degrees and sea temperatures reaching 23 degrees. The winters are shorter than ours. The Black Sea coast is several degrees warmer than inland Bulgaria in summer, but colder in winter. The skiing areas have snow for 3 months a year, the southern areas have a bit milder Mediterranean climate influence & snow for only a week or two.
Q: What are the Bulgarians like ?
A: Very happy, sociable, friendly people, lots of outdoor get-togethers. They don't do the American smile-all-the-time stuff though. They're Europeans, mainly of slavonic origin, like the Polish. They look just like us but a bit smaller and slimmer. The ones who work in the fields have pretty good suntans. The brighter young people are English-speaking, very stylish and fully westernised. Everyone is pleased to see us - they all know that tourism will be their country's main income and that we are bringing desperately needed hard currency to their country. No tourist fatigue like in France and Spain. Religion is Orthodox Christian, but not many practice it. I've never met a beggar yet, unlike here.
Q: What about living standards ?
A: All the towns & cities have delightful pedestrianised centres with pavement cafes, elegant, well dressed people, good restaurants and shops like ours. Excellent open air swimming pools and football stadiums at 50p admission. The latest electrical appliances and European brands of food etc can be bought much cheaper than at home. In the rural areas there are still donkeys & carts though, and something of a barter economy. Geese, ducks, turkeys & pigs wandering around.
Q: What's the food like ?
A: Its similar to ours without the fry-ups. Much more fresh fruit and vegetables, Bulgaria has the most fertile land in Europe and everything is organic. Excellent fish and seafood from the Black Sea and the clean rivers, lots of meat and poultry dishes, although some are spicy. Very healthy diet - you never see anyone obese. Coffee & tea are only served with milk if you ask for it. The wines are superb, especially the ?1 a bottle Chardonnay. There are two major brands of lager, one normal and one strong, that are just like 4X and Stella, but 20p to 30p a bottle.
Q: How do I get there ?
A: Thompson and many other tour operators offer flights & package holidays from May to October to the big holiday resorts of Sunny Beach & Golden Sands, and ski holidays in winter from all major UK airports. Wizzair from Luton to Sofia is the cheapest. wwwBalkanholidays.co.uk often has excellent deals all year. Balkan Air [www.BulgariaAir.com] has a weekly flight from Gatwick to Varna for ?170 return. Or you can fly to Sofia with most major airlines anytime and we will book a nice hotel for you and organise your viewing trips. Just let me know.
Q: I don't like flying
A: You can drive there directly in 2.5 days. Some Brits have taken their belongings there with a trailer and roof rack on the car. Motorways east & then through Serbia. The most scenic route is to Italy, then a ferry across to Greece & drive up, but it takes a bit longer and costs more.
Q: How safe is it?
A: Much safer than the UK - all the young men are doing National Service. The coastal areas are heavily policed but the occasional chicken disappears in the rural areas. There are lots of policemen who carry guns and know the tourists represent Bulgaria's future. There is no sign of "tourist fatigue" and everyone is very pleased to see us (and, admittedly, our hard currency) However, we can provide keyholder security & alarm systems if you want them when you're not there.
Q: What about corruption ?
A: Business ethics are not yet as evolved as in the UK - some people are taking advantage of the new market economy - for example several estate agencies all trying to sell the same properties, and all at different prices. Also there is some organised crime in the Capital, just like in London, but European & American agencies are getting control of it. In the villages its a big deal if a chicken disappears!
Q: What if I have problems?
A: You are a British National & an EU citizen. You will get favoured treatment from any authorities. Also the British Embassy in Sofia is there to help you: Tel. (+ 359 2) 933 9222; E-mail:britembinf@mail.orbitel.bg. You can ring me as well: 044(0)7733410198 or
Q: I can't believe the prices, there must be a catch
A: There are no Building Societies and the Banks have hardly any money either. No one there knows how much houses should cost - I met a man who sold his for 120 Lev [that's about 40 quid] when the new Government gave everyone their property back after the fall of Communism. Also the Bulgarian currency is pegged to the Euro at an artificial level, while our pound right now is very strong against the Euro. Don't bother making offers though - they cost far less than they could be built for and are rising fast.
Q: How do you make sure a property transaction is snag-free ?
A: Any snags about any of the properties on this site - disputes with neighbours, clear title, boundaries, claims [you can be liable for the previous owner's debts], they've already been dealt with by the present owner - ME [on one the electricity company wouldn't connect until I paid the previous owner's outstanding bill of over 70 pounds.]
Q: What about improving my property ?
A: We'll provide a schedule of repairs and detailed estimates & plans. You'll get a detailed quotation in English for any work you want doing, from minor repairs, maintenance, new bathrooms, swimming pool or full house construction.
Q: Why don't you finish improving them?
A: Some people want to do it themselves or change the layout, some just want to keep for investment, everyone wants to choose their fixtures and fittings. We have three finishes: cheap and cheerful, top of the range, and bespoke. YOU decide.
Q: Do we need a visa and how long can we stay?
A: UK passport holders don't need a visa and can stay as long as they want. There are no charges. Long-term visas can be obtained from the Bulgarian Consular service in London. Getting a job means some paperwork, but you can set up your business anytime. For further information please contact the Bulgarian Embassy in London on 0207 584 9400 or check www.bulgarianembassy.org.uk.
Q: What's the figures?
A: Bulgaria is 2 hours ahead of us; 3 hours flying time to Sofia; 3 leva = one pound; a metre is just over a yard. 20 degrees centigrade is hot, zero is freezing.
Q: What about the future ?
A: Since the fall of communism in 1989, Bulgaria has changed from a state-controlled to an open market economy. Bulgaria joined the European Union on January 1st, 2007. Meantime the European Union is investing millions of Euros upgrading the country's infrastructure including roads and airports, as well as schemes refurbishing the historical architecture and tourist resorts. Also, new private investment will bring Bulgaria in line with its neighbouring EU Countries in the near future. Its currency is stable and pegged to the Euro.
Q: Who's in charge ?
A: Bulgaria has been a democratic republic with political parties and a written, European Constitution since the fall of Communism in 1989. It was a monarchy until the Russians arrived in 1944, when the young King Simeon had to flee. He was invited back four years ago from New York and brought with him lots of Wall Street economists of Bulgarian origin to help him sort out the country. They have done a Margaret Thatcher job on the economy and getting rid of all the old communist bureaucracy, regulations & military. Because the country is a Republic, he cannot be the King again, so he is now the elected Prime Minister and uses the name Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (our own Queen's real surname - they are related] Now there is a younger Prime Minister, but he is still a Cabinet Minister.
Q: What should I buy ?
A: It depends first on what you want it for. Bungalows are best for retirement, villas for family holidays. Decide that first, then the type and size of property and your budget. Iif you can, come and look at a few, preferably in the same region. Easy year round access and proximity to a good sized town are important. Then you can't go wrong on any of them as long as no one rips you off. Right now its like buying in France, Spain or Italy at 1970s prices. Just make sure the buying process is under your control. Ask me if you want any advice or if you're thinking of buying from anyone else, especially apartments.
Tips: "first floor" means ground floor to us; square metre size is all floors, not just the ground floor. Land - 1,000 square metres is around 1200 square yards or 1/4 acre [ an international soccer pitch is 590 square metres ] Farm buildings - they can be renovated for homes or their sites used for new domestic buildings anytime.
Q: How do I go ahead with buying?
A: Come and choose if you can, or tell us which one(s) you want on the property website. We'll need a money transfer or a UK cheque to set up your company and for the 10% deposit and it's yours unless someone else beats you to it ! I've already ensured clear title, so we'll go ahead. see How to Buy
Q: I haven't got time to go to Bulgaria right now
A:If you're too busy at the moment and don't want to miss out, it's no problem. We'll set up your Bulgarian private company [see below ] and you can go and sign the forms at the Bulgarian Embassy, then send them to us.
Q: How do I set up a company in Bulgaria?
A: At the moment, to purchase a house or land you need your own private company. We do it for you. Once you've got it, you can buy as many houses as you want ! It takes around a month. Once you've signed the initial contract, if you don't want to return to Bulgaria specially to complete the purchase, you can grant power of attorney to our solicitor, or any other person of your choice. They can then sign the final documents and they will post the deeds to you, along with court-certified english translations. To maintain your company we offer the services of a Bulgarian accountant. [These services are offered free as part of the buying package.] If you're too busy at the moment and don't want to miss out, it's no problem. We'll set up your Bulgarian private company [see below ] and you can go and sign the forms at the Bulgarian Embassy, then send them to us.
Q: Any other questions ?
A: If you want to know anything I haven't covered, or have specific issues - what kind of car to buy, or you don't live in the UK, are a practising catholic or part of a minority group, want commercial premises, a business start-up, investment only, etc, or just want advice:-
E-mail me: bulgariancottages@gmail.com