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eddieg wrote:

Hi Terri,,,don,t buy it,,,had a expat friend buy via online auction,,nothing like photo,s online,,,full renovation to repair,,you have to visit & view to buy,,,,Every property has a full postal address,,if agents say they have,nt,,stay away from agent,,,,,,,Post has to be collected from local post office,,,,no postmen here haha,,,,,,,,you can pick a bargain here,,,,just be very carefull,,,try estate agent i gave you,,,,,,,,eddie

I'm sorry Eddie, but that is totally incorrect what you say about staying away from agents stating no postal address. I happen to live in a village which has exactly that issue, and on my ID I have no address only the name of the village and postcode.
The mayor said that there was a chance to get addresses in the village some years ago, but the villagers would have to pay, they all declined of course. I know our village is not the only one.

You may be lucky to have street numbers and a house number, but we have nothing at all in our village and it's not a small village either, it's just how it is and there is a post lady who pops our post in our letter box on our gate.
It is not unusual at all.

I agree with Eddie though, you shouldn't buy without viewing the property, but more importantly the area because it could be next to a pig farm for all you know, or the village may not have any amenities. You can change the house but not the village so buyer beware.

MINKYMOOTOO wrote:

Thanks BREyambol.  Can you recommend any particular areas or villages? I'm looking for areas where I can not only get to know the locals but also has ex pats nearby? My budget is modest: around the €12000 mark.

How far are you happy to be from the airport/sea or is that not an issue for you?
Yambol is about an hour on the highway, and we have a good expat community here if you want it.
Sliven also very good for facilities and expats, and Elhovo though a little further inland.

I can pm you some suggestions if you like?

worldlywanderer wrote:

It is important to understand the difference between Bulgarian law and the law In England or in Scotland, which while they have differences are largely the same. In the UK solicitors acting for each party handle the conveyancing and may under the rules of their profession only represent the buyer or the seller. In Bulgaria solicitors may act for both parties.

In the UK the property transaction is recorded by government departments in England or in Scotland after they are notified of the transaction by the solicitors involved. The sellers solicitor will record the discharge of a mortgage the buyers the new mortgage and the change of ownership. In Bulgaria only a notary, who is a paid government official, may notify the Property Agency of the change of ownership and only he may ratify the deed confirming the change of ownership.

His role is, however, strictly limited. He must ensure that both parties understand the document he is ratifying and he must ensure the transaction is in line with he law. He has no responsibility to advise either party on the contract. Neither does he have any responsibility to confirm the legal status of a property. It is entirely possible to purchase a property in Bulgaria which is illegal and could, in extreme cases, be demolished at the expense of the owner. The transaction may be entirely legal and legally correct but the property completely illegal.

NOT ONLY IS IT ESSENTIAL TO EMPLOY A SOLICITOR WHO REPRESENTS YOUR INTERESTS IN A TRANSACTION IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT THE BUYER INSTRUCTS THE SOLICITOR CORRECTLY.

It is not illegal to represent a buyer and a seller in a transaction and hold no legal qualifications. Only advocats who are registered with the national body, easily found on-line, have the legal qualifications and insurance to be held to account if they do not represent clients correctly. It is possible to employ highly professional English speaking solicitors from major practices in Sofia to represent one anywhere in Bulgaria for as little as £350. A small price compared to the loss of a fully renovated and furnished property which is unlikely to cost less than £30,000 even in Bulgaria.

Remember, however, that it is the responsibility of the client to instruct the solicitor properly. If you do not ask the solicitor to check that the property is legal in every way he may not do so and have the perfectly valid excuse that he was not employed to do so. Buying a property in Bulgaria is a different prospect to doing the same thing in our highly regulated society. Nobody in Bulgaria is bothered about whether an immigrant makes a mistake purchasing a property, just like one may find in the UK.

Caveat Emptor still applies in Bulgaria to an extent unknown in the UK in decades. It is a liberating feeling to be totally responsible for ones own actions but it does place a responsibility on the individual to research and learn before acting.

Well written, and Spot on... Buyer beware especially of Estate agencies, I wouldnt trust any of them lol.