Bulgaria joined the EU in January 2007. Now is the time to invest in Bulgaria to see maximum returns during the next 3 to 10 years. GDP is growing at more than 6% per annum and set to continue this trend. Tourism increased by 5 % in the 1st half of 2006 increasing to 2.8 million tourists, the UK tourists increased by over 20 %.

Market surveys show that more than 2 million Brits plan to buy properties abroad. Bulgaria is popular in the UK and Bulgaria will attract a large number of buyers, because they get value for money compared to what buyers can get in Spain, North of Italy, France, etc. Buyers from Northern Europe, the Middle East, Greece, Russia, Poland and Turkey buy also properties on the Black Sea coast in increasing numbers – it is truly an international property market. Experts project that the number of tourists and holiday house owners will exceed more than 15 million in a few years time. 6 billion EUR is to be spent on infrastructure with an additional 2 billion EUR on motorways, 720 km of new roads are planned. World leading companies, such as Microsoft, Google, Hewlett Packard and Deutsche Bank are now setting up in Bulgaria to capitalize from the high growth rates. Unemployment is less than 8.7% and tumbling from 10.77% in Aug 05, this trend is set to continue. Inflation is under control. Corporate tax is only 15% pr. year. EU companies with more than 20% of the shares in LTD companies avoid withholding tax of 15%.

The negative aspects relate primarily to infrastructure problems. Airports, roads and utilities are not developed to fully support the growth and dynamics of the private sector. The doctors are well educated but the hospitals and the poor service levels of most banks need to reach a higher level. The government, the courts and the regional municipalities as well as banks operate in a bureaucratic and slow way. This is due to lack of competence and experience with the Rule of Law and good public service. The Bulgarians are learning fast, becoming a part of the democratic market economy of the EU, and we are convinced that they will overcome these remissness post-socialist problems after some years if the required political reforms are forced by the EU to be implemented. The doctors and dentists in Bulgaria are well trained, but investments in state-of-the health care system and facilities are needed in the whole country.

All in all the economic future looks bright for Bulgaria and this will continue to boost the property market from low levels to near levels of the South of Europe.

The table was made using conservative estimates. Regionally and locally there can be huge differences. Some may say that this table is not projecting the accurate market situation. We still choose to publish it, because it gives the reader a general understanding of the growth potential of the Bulgarian property market. In Spain it can be extremely difficult and expensive to get a permission to construct. In Bulgaria, this is typically something that happens fast and the costs are relatively low. Villa plots in Spain and South of France can be priceless if they are situated at prime locations - they can not be placed in this table at all. It is a precondition that the plots on the table are well situated with easy access to airport, beaches etc. All prices are collected from certified brokers in the countries mentioned.