Property Overseas: Where's Hot, Where's Not, Where's Next 19/03/2008
This time last year, we didn't even know what a credit crunch was. Now, the term laces every property conversation, along with widespread apprehension over just how far its insidious tentacles will stretch. But the year began optimistically, with the European Union's two newest members, Bulgaria and Romania, expecting to enjoy the boom that this seal of approval brings. As it has turned out, prices for off-plan properties in Bulgaria haven't soared as expected, says Robin Barrasford, of Barrasford and Bird. Currently, they remain stable. However, the resale market is seeing bigger leaps in value, with demand for resale properties up 70 per cent on last year and sellers making profits of about 45 per cent. "EU membership has brought about a measure of confidence and... more

stroyko 2000 Building Expo Opens Doors 27/03/2008
Over 7000 Bulgarian and foreign firms will present their production on the exposition for architecture, building and furnishing ‘Stroyko 2000', which starts in National Palace of Culture (NDK). The 30thedition of the forum will be opened today be the vice-minister of regional development and public works Dimcho Mihalevski. ‘Stroyko 2000' Expo will be opened every day to April 1. more

Bulgaria Tops Themovechannel Chart For Hot Property Destinations 14/03/2008
Real estate in emerging locations proved to be massively popular again in January on TheMoveChannel.com's top 10 list of hot investment properties, with far-flung destinations dominating the site. January's top ten proves once again that investors are shunning well-established markets like Spain and France, preferring instead to take calculated risks on cheaper properties in expanding markets across the globe. Last month's top property came from Bulgaria, and this month there's been no change. This month's major surprise was, however, the popularity of apartments in Albania, particularly apartments in Tirana, Albania. With most investor interest focused on Eastern European markets like Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia, Albania is shaping up to be this year's... more

Environmentalists Lodge New Complaint In Brussels Over Natura 2000 14/03/2008
The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) announced it has alerted the European Commission about infringement on the Europe-wide network of protected sites Natura 2000, the organisation said in a statement on February 25 2008. The complaint claims that unique natural habitats in the north-eastern Kaliakra region have been destroyed in the process of building a wind farm. It has been backed by 12 other environmental and civil non-governmental organisations. The environmentalists believe that Kaliakra "is emblematic of how innovations and investment are used to mask criminal encroachment on bio-diversity". The complaint package includes documents, photos and maps showing the damage that the wind farm projects have done to nature. The past few weeks alone have seen the... more

Small Talk: No Sign Of Property Blues In Booming Bulgaria 09/07/2008
Everybody knows that property prices in the UK are heading south and that the spectre of negative equity is once again raising its head. Not so in Bulgaria, apparently. Last week, Bulgarian Property Developments was shouting from the Sredna Gora mountain tops after it managed to sell its logistics park in the Black Sea town of Varna for €15m (£11.9m), the valuation given to it by Colliers last Dec-ember. That is important, says its chief executive, Ivo Hesmondhalgh, not only because it helps bump up the group's cash position, but also because it goes some way to proving to investors that the group's net asset value is sound. Mr Hesmondhalgh was so chuffed, in fact, that he has decided to buy more shares in the group, a lucrative move since last Tuesday when BPD announced a 19p... more