Búlgaría: PROPERTY INVESTORS TURN ATTENTION TO SPA RESORTS IN BULGARIA

Vacation property investors are interested in the regions having mineral water deposits near big Bulgarian resorts. An increasing number of apartment buildings in the resorts have spa centres and promote the powers of mineral springs, said an article in mediapool.bg. A number of closed-type complexes are being built the region of Bansko winter resort, famous for its numerous mineral springs.

The complexes usually include a hotel part with spa centre and swimming pools and independent houses for sale. Prices of apartments in the town of Razlog vary from 1300 to 2000 euro per sq m.

Banya, located between Razlog and Bansko, attracts investors with its 70 mineral water springs, mediapool.bg said.

According to investors, eight closed-type complexes having total area of 50 000 sq m and three village settlements are being constructed near Banya. Prices exceed 1060 euro per sq m.

Property prices raised in the town of Dobrinishte, which is also located in the region. Plots are offered for 40 to 60 euro per sq m.

The region of Veliko Turnovo, where a number of balneological sanatoriums stood in the past, also sees the construction of spa complexes, mediapool.bg said.

Búlgaría: HOUSING PRICES IN BULGARIA GROW AT A HEAD-SPINNING RATE

New high-jump world champions emerged in Bulgaria - residential property prices. "Bulgaria is now the second in the world in property prices increase," real estate agents report. The leader is Latvia, according to Knight Frank UK survey for the second trimester of 2007 compared with the same period of 2006. From April to June housing prices in Bulgaria went up by 27,1%. For the same period last year the increase amounted to a 12,2%. The speedy price hike sends Bulgaria up by eight positions in the world chart.

Bulgaria Leads Property Boom on the Balkans

Twenty years ago few Brits would have been able to find Bulgaria on the map, let alone tell you anything about the country. Today, hundreds of Brits own property there and thousands more visit this Balkan gem every year.

Bulgaria has undergone an investment revolution over the last decade, meaning that property buyers looking for a good return and a holiday home are very keen to purchase in this former Communist state.

But what makes Bulgaria so attractive to investors? After all, isn't it possible to find similarly priced property in other Balkan countries such as Romania, Croatia and Serbia? Well, Bulgaria has led the way by building a number of high quality residential complexes that are available at low prices in areas that are very attractive to tourists.

Bulgaria has become more and more established as a tourist destination for the Brits - both in the summer /due to the Black Sea coastal regions which have Mediterranean-like temperatures and beaches and internationally renowned golf courses/ and in winter /due to the mountain regions of the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopa which offer skiing from 2000-2500m and have a ski season that lasts from December to May/.

Bansko, currently Bulgaria's premier ski resort, has been well received by British ski tourists who are looking for a great value ski trip which is vastly cheaper than going to France, Austria or Switzerland, and also a more culturally exotic destination. The fact that Bansko is now a well marketed and well known ski resort which is frequently featured in the ski press and national papers means that more and more skiers and snowboarders are heading out there. Bulgaria also has an enviable stretch of coastline along the Black Sea which attracts both holidaymakers and those looking to buy property in Bulgaria. Cheap flights have also assisted Bulgaria's popularity rise creating a quick, easy and affordable route for Brits.

Demand for real estate is also coming from the increasing number of international buyers who are working for multinationals in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia. This demand is helping push up the design and quality of the construction in the city.

As a well-marketed holiday destination with increasing tourist numbers for both winter and summer seasons, newly built infrastructure and cheap, quick connections to the UK it's no wonder that Bulgaria takes the lead on the Balkans by offering one of the best property investments in Europe.

Búlgaría: Kiten offers different kinds of water sports- yachting,

Kiten offers different kinds of water sports- yachting, underwater- fishing, water diving, water ski and etc. It also offers a football playground, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball playground, swimming pools, banana and etc.
Excursions and picnics are offered in Strandja Park and Ropotamo reserve. Tourists can take cognitive tours to Primorsko, Sozopol, Duni, Nessebar and others. Those who with to feel the spirit of the old and rural Bulgarian tradition can visit Yasna polyana and Pismenovo villages. Excursions to Istanbul are being organized. Visitors can enjoy a yacht or boat trip. There is also a horse base in the resort.
Children will also be happy in the resort as they can experience numerous exciting entertainments.
Tourist can enjoy the numerous choices of local restaurants and taverns. Almost every hotel has its own inside saloon and a summer garden restaurants. Most of the restaurants offer traditional Bulgarian cuisine, fish and sea delicacies, barbeque grill. Life music or additional attraction is a common service in the restaurants.
Those who want to experience wild night life can make their choice of party in one of the numerous night clubs and discos in the town.

Búlgaría: Analysis of the ski resort market - Part 2

With the start of the this year’s ski season just a couple of weeks away, we are pleased to bring you the second article in our four-part series taking an in-depth look at the property market in Bulgaria’s Ski and Beach resorts for 2007, 2008 and beyond.

In the previous article (available here), we considered the factors that have impacted on the property market in the ski resorts during an extended period of stabilisation through 2007. This analysis showed that there have been profound changes in the market and probably the most positive outcome that we can identify for 2008 is that prices are now becoming balanced. The situation today is that there are many attractive off-plan offers available in all the resorts, with price levels pretty much where they should be - ie, at around 15% higher than last year, rather than at the unrealistic levels that some investors, developers and agents hoped to cash in on following the high demand of 2005 and 2006

In other words, prices are now a reflection of real property value. And this is particularly interesting when considered together with three other key value indicators for off-plan developments …

• the quality of design, building and materials is improving year on year
• fully integrated leisure, recreation and business services are now becoming standard
• effective property management, rentals (often with a guaranteed option), quality furnishing and good customer after-sales service are now widely available

The combination of these factors means that the purchase of an apartment in a ski resort - provided, of course, that you ask the right questions and do the necessary research before making your decision - is undoubtedly one of today’s best investment opportunities.

But what about tomorrow? No matter how attractive an off-plan offer might be at the point of purchase, it is also important to consider the potential investment return over the medium to longer term. And, here, we can look at what is happening on the ground now in each of the ski resorts …

Bansko and Razlog: the municipalities and commercial investors are now working in partnership to implement their strategy for year-round tourism. Alongside comprehensive infrastructure development and the continuing improvement of the ski facilities in Bansko itself, new pistes are to be developed in the nearby centres of Dobrinishte and Kulinoto. On the summer scene, there are now six golf projects approved or under construction, with the first course, Ian Woosnam’s Pirin Golf Holidays Club, already nearing completion. Spa tourism also has an important role within the overall tourism plan, particularly because of the! existing natural resources and traditions in the Banya and Dobrinishte areas. Over the next four to five years, the newly emerging spa resorts, ski pistes and golf courses will inevitably help to turn the Bansko region into one of Bulgaria’s most popular and attractive year-round destinations.

Pamporovo: work on the 255 million euro Perelik Sports Centre project is now underway. Over the next five years this will include some 55 km of new pistes, 11 gondola lifts, a number of ski schools and a snow park spreading over an area of 35000 square metres. In addition, the abundant nature in this region will enable the development of extensive winter facilities, such as: snow boarding, cross country ski running, sleighing and kite surfing, together with a wealth of summer attractions, such as: nature trails and bike routes, a golf course, an aqua-park and rural tourism zones, with hunting and fishing lodges.

Borovets: the long-awaited Super Borovets project has now been started and this will play a pivotal role in tourism development in this area. Like the Perelik Sports Centre, Super Borovets will bring in a wealth of both winter and summer facilities and, because it incorporates a significant number of new building plots within the project plan, it will also offset the historically low supply and correspondingly higher prices of properties in this region. Perhaps the biggest advantage that Borovets holds, though, is its proximity to Sofia and to the airport - around one hour’s drive - ensuring that, a! s the development plan progresses, this will become a resort of choice for both tourist visitors and residents of the capital.

In summary, then, we can note that the market for properties in the ski resorts is now operating more or less at equilibrium with the interaction of supply and demand directing prices towards real rather than inflated values. We can also identify actual progressive improvements in the added-value quality areas of planning, design, construction, integrated facilities and customer services embedded within the framework of a structured and co-ordinated tourism development plan in each of the three main ski resorts. As we move into 2008, all of this represents a positive purchase climate for today and a high investment potential for the future.

Búlgaría: Map of the Ski Runs in Pamporovo

PAMPOROVO- SKI RUNS

Height of resort: 1620 m
Highest skiing area: 1,937 m
Lifts: 5 chair lifts, 9 drag lifts, with total capacity 8600 persons per hour
Total length of ski runs: 25 km + 30 km slopes for ski run;
Longest run: 4,2 km

There are ski runs of all degrees of difficulty in Pamporovo. Most of the tracks start from the very peak. Also, there are three cross-country runs in the resort, with total length of around 40 km.

Beginners: Can start with the ski school of Pamporovo, which is quite famous with the quality tuition. Starting on the nursery slopes, after few days they will be able to ski on the higher ski runs.

Intermediate skiers: The total length of ski runs which are suitable for Intermedaites is approx. 20 km. These skiers can jump on the triple chairlift from the Malina station going to the top of Snejanka peak. Or, a single chair lift goes to the middle station, from where the new four persons lift runs up to the peak.

Advanced skiers: Can jump on the drag lift from the middle station which runs up the side of “The Wall”. It is the most difficult ski run in the resort. The other difficult piste starts from the TV tower, after the last station of the triple chair, go right, pistes called Snejanka.

The mountain rescue service works 24 hours a day, taking care of the security of the skiers. The ski-kindergarten is open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm.

Hér er linkur á skíða uppl, í Búlgaríu: http://www.bulgariaski.com/pamporovo/skiruns.shtml 

Spa Offers in the Best Spa Resorts

Experience spa in Bulgaria!

The mineral waters in Bulgaria are known for their varied chemical composition, for their rich in minerals structure and microcomponents.
Bulgaria also takes one of the first places in the world with the great variety of medicative herbs and apiarian products.
Bulgaria is a real country of sunshine, where the sunny days are 20 % more than in Central and North-West Europe. All these facts make the spa resorts in Bulgaria a real temptation for all Spa lovers.

Please enjoy relaxing spa experience in the wonderful Bulgarian spa resorts!

THE BULGARIAN BLACK SEA COAST

 
The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast is equal to anything to be found in the Med, with its lively resorts, sweeping golden beaches, bustling cities of culture, ancient wooden townships and lush sloping hills and vineyards.

For sun and fun seekers the resorts at Sunny Beach and Golden Sands cannot be bettered with their stimulating mix of relaxing beaches, water parks, jet-skiing, windsurfing, restaurants and clubs where traditional folklore and modern entertainment go hand in hand.

An eclectic mix of ancient and modern can also be found in the areas two major cities of Varna and Burgas, both of which boast fascinating architecture in their churches, cathedrals, museums and public buildings. The hustle and bustle of city life can be left behind for a few hours with a stroll through the extensive Maritime Park in Burgas or a trip to admire the wide array of birdlife around the four Burgas Lakes. A visit to the magnificent Archaeological Museum in Varna is also a must.

Bulgaria, SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARDENS

 
The institutions listed are all operating for Bulgarian children studying in foreign languages; however, their programs are suitable for foreign pupils as well. Most offer courses in Bulgarian for foreigners, including private lessons. 

School system “Evropa”
45 Antim I str.
Burgas
Tel. [phone] 

British Cultural Ceter
18 Kiril I Metodiy str.
Burgas
Tel.  [phone]


School system “Faros”
75 Slavjanska str.
Burgas
Tel. [phone]

Kindergarten “Super kids”
For children from 3 to 7 years
Tel. [phone]

Bulgaria: Holiday Homes Still Fashionable.

Standstill in prices, entrepreneurs not worried.
Observations of the holiday homes market in Bulgaria for the first half of 2007 show that in some regions the number of new apartments has increased by 50%. Colliers International say that there were over 76 500 holiday properties on the market at the end of June. The sale prices (800 – 1,700 EUR/sq.m.) remain unaffected and the supply exceeds the demand. The number of new apartments along the Black Sea has risen by 39% in the first half of 2007 and the new apartments offered in the resorts are already 13,500. In the St. Vlas resort the rise in the prices is 52% (the holiday homes are sold between 590 and 2,500 EUR/sq.m.) and in Sozopol the prices are up by 62% (505 - 1,800 EUR/sq.m.). The apartments in Sunny Beach cost from 550 – 2,240 EUR/sq.m.