Buying in Bulgaria is not so complicated but time consuming when you only have a week or two to find something and be sure its right for you, there are many lovely villages and getting to all of them is impossible.
Before you start to look think about what you want - your essential and desirable requirements….
Who will use it and when? Close to or in a town? In a village? Size of plot and property? Outbuilding and barns? Views? Accessibility?
What you think you want may well change once to start to view some properties. Unless you really do have some strict criteria our advice would be to see as much as you can.
Please note this is only to summarise what is roughly necessary from you and your appointed business representative (power of attorney), your estate agent should answer any questions you may have with regard to the finer details of the buying process and legal issues.
What needs to be done and how long it takes?
First a company needs to be set up which takes only a few days as long as the all of the necessary information is provided, you then need to find a property - this of course has no time scale.
When you have found a property it is normal to place a deposit and sign a preliminary contact to secure the deal, a few hours is enough for this. Your estate agent may request you pay their % at this point.
All property documentation will be checked by a Notary and approximately 4 weeks after the preliminary contract is signed the balance of the money is exchanged and a Notary will produce the new deeds with your (the new owners details), at this point some taxes will need to be paid. The documents and deeds go to the court for approval and are normally ready for collection the following day.
What else needs to be done?
Power of attorney given to your estate agent or designated representative for your company and bank accounts (bank accounts optional).
Newly acquired property to be registered in your name with the tax office.
Utilities transferred to your name.
Pay property tax for year to come (if not paid by previous owner).
Submit annual tax return for you company (march/april).
Who to use? (in alphabetical order)
County Property Investments (CPI) http://www.cpibulgaria.com/
Property BG http://www.property.bg/
Remax http://www.remax.bg/
PLEASE NOTE - we are only suggesting you try these companies but it is your choice who you choose to help you find what you are looking for.