ABOUT BULGARIA: Frequently Asked Questions

I've heard that buying property in Bulgaria is very complicated, with multiple owners and complicated formalities. Is this true?

Not with Orpheus Properties. We are not an agency for anyone else; we own many of the properties which we are selling, so in that case you only have one person to deal with. You do have to set up a company in order to own a property in Bulgaria, but we will take care of that for you. We use an excellent English speaking solicitor who will take you painlessly through the purchase process.

What are the hidden extras? Will I have to pay taxes and legal fees on my purchase?

Yes, there will be legal fees, but your Orpheus solicitor will make you aware of these before you start.

I've seen television programmes of people turning up to properties that are virtually derelict. How can I be sure that won't happen to me?

Anyone who buys a property 'sight unseen' deserves everything they get! At Orpheus we encourage you to visit our properties and assure yourselves that they are in the best possible condition.

What about maintaining the property when we are not there?

Local people are always happy to look after your property for you for a small fee. Alternatively, Orpheus can arrange inside and outside maintenance through a specialist Bulgarian company.

Bulgarian properties are supposed to be very cheap. Why is this not true of properties offered by Orpheus?

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. You can find derelict properties in Bulgaria for next to nothing, but it will cost you time, money effort and stress to restore them. Orpheus buys properties in choice location and restores them to a high standard without losing their local character. The result is a comfortable house or apartment that you can move into immediately with no need to do any repairs first. All this for a third of the price that you would pay for a comparable property in France.

We do offer properties for sale that require renovation but we try to be as open as possible about their condition and what will be required to bring them up to standard. Again, we urge you to see before you buy.

Is Bulgaria safe and stable?

Since 1996 Bulgaria has had a stable and improving economy, with a currency linked to the Euro. It is a member of NATO and officially joined the EU in January 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1059735.stm

How do I get there?

There are regular flights six days per week all year by British Airways to Sofia and other scheduled flights to Varna. In the summer there are various charter flights directly to Bourgas from several airports in the UK as well as the Wizzair flights three days a week from Luton. Rumours abound about the future intentions of Ryanair and EasyJet but nothing concrete has emerged as yet.

Driving there is interesting, if somewhat tiring unless you intend to take your time, and one of the Orpheus Directors even made the journey by train last year. (He has flown ever since!)

How long does a purchase take?

Around three months. There are the usual legal hoops to be jumped through, including setting up your company (which typically takes about six weeks).

What legal protection do I have?

You are dealing with a British company, with all the protection afforded you by British law. Bulgarian notaries are state employees who have a duty to ensure that the seller actually owns the property and that all existing taxes on it have been paid.

What if I want a swimming pool?

We are in touch with specialist companies who will build a pool to your specifications. You can expect to pay around £5,000 to £10,000 depending on
the size of pool.

What if I want to rent all or part of my property?

There is nothing to stop you doing this, though we suggest that you enter into a maintenance and care contract with a suitable local company.