Britons living in Bulgaria. Guide to Bulgaria, Sofia and Varna

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A detached building with three bedrooms, it was originally built at the turn of the 20th century and used as the local school. Add the home to that and the total cost might be as little as £32,000 (�46,700).�Planning permission can be a problem for those planning a new build. Among Bulgaria\'s advantages the article singles out its rich culture, stunning unspoilt villages and scenery as well as rock-bottom living costs. As Rockarch�s Rossen Dimov explains, �In places like Gabrovo you can buy a good-sized patch for �10,000 (£6,860). Bansko boosts the advertising campaign before the start of the new winter season by, the municipality explained. Bansko\'s popularity as a winter resort has been continuously growing over the last few years. Bulgaria Air is to launch twice-weekly flights in October. But the past year has seen British buyers looking towards the Bulgarian countryside as the site for family-friendly properties and a more relaxed way of life.Most buyers of Bulgarian property cite the bargain prices as a major attraction and the Edwards family is no exception. Close by are the remains of the Aladzha monastery, and caves occupied 7,000 years ago. Equally as important, the previous owners had comprehensively revamped the interiors to bring it into line with the expectations of foreign buyers. Generally they�ll be of sound construction, though they need a bit of work to bring them back to life,� says Mr Lambert. In the past few years, Spanish hoteliers have been brought in to raise standards and by next summer, visitor numbers from Britain are expected to double, compared with 2003. In the upcoming winter season to be officially inaugurated December 18 by Bulgarian football coach Hristo Stoitchkov the popular resort expects over 350,000 tourists. It is the first time the national carrier has operated services to the UK provinces. It points out that last year prices rose by about 35 per cent, and in the lead-up to EU accession in 2007 annual rises of 25 per cent are predicted. It�s a real possibility if you shop around.The Edwards aren�t the only ones to become wise to the riches in the Bulgarian countryside. Last December, legendary Italian skier Alberto Tomba opened the town\'s ski season. Main attractions of Bulgaria: Golden Sands, both the name of a leading resort and a fair description of the shoreline. Many of Bulgaria�s established property agents are noticing a significant shift in interest from UK buyers. Over June alone the growth rate was 11.5%, the International Committee on Tourism informed. Planes will land at the Gatwick Airport, and from there they willl be able to reach directly 160 different destinations, British Air Sales Manager for Bulgaria Emil Delibashev has said. Rental yields tend to be better for ski properties than those on the coast because of the longer ski season. Rockarch Estates introduced the idea three months ago � for £27,750 (�40,500) they will build a two-bed, 154 square metre villa in one of three styles, anywhere in Bulgaria. Rural houses for renovation are still widely available for less than 20,000 pounds. Services will operate on Thursdays and Sundays. Some are hunting property, in advance of Bulgaria\'s membership of the EU. Ten new hotels will meet the visitors, including a five-star Kempinski hotel. The best accommodation was kept for Communist Party officials, and holidaymakers suffered a dismal dining experience, despite the culinary traditions of Bulgaria (yoghurt was invented here, and it has excellent food and wine). The buyer has to purchase a plot separately although this needn�t be particularly costly. The carrier will use 148-seater Boeing 737 jets on the route. The city of Varna, from where British troops sailed to the Crimean War, is rapidly turning itself into a riviera-style resort. The company is currently carrying out seven regular flights a week to London\'s Heathrow Airport. The cost of living is low and the climate excellent, and there is a wealth of historic towns, unspoilt villages and some beautiful beaches. The flights will take place on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays staring June 3. The former Soviet bloc countries Croatia and Bulgaria are expected to join the top ten destinations.The return of stability to the Balkans and the opening up of Eastern Europe has bought vast new swaths of property into the marketplace. The increase of visitors to Bulgaria is causing alarm in Spain and Greece, both of which suffered a slump in UK package holidaymakers last year. The other is that clients want to be away from the hustle and bustle of the coast and positively opt for rural settings.� BulgariaThe rural life in Bulgaria undoubtedly has its attractions. The price � at £28,000 (�40,850) � was right, and so was the location. The strength of the euro, and perceptions of price rises in member states, persuades bargain-hunting Britons to look further east.Bulgaria has had cut-price holidays at its Black Sea resorts since the 1980s, but standards were poor. The Times notes that most Brits are buying on the Black Sea Riviera, especially at Sunny Beach, Golden Sands and Bourgas, and the resort city of Varna. Their demands were simple and fairly typical � an affordable family-sized property in a peaceful location and within easy reach of travel connections. There�s over 42,000 square miles of countryside ranging from craggy highlands to wooded dales, towering valleys to golden beaches, all dotted with small rural communities that haven�t changed much in the last 50 years. They kept the original features but they added two brand new bathrooms � replacing the outdoor toilet � and completely updated the kitchen and living room.� An all-season holiday home for under £30,000 (�44,000)? They�ll ensure you�re paying the local price for works and will keep you informed.One way to get around the troubles that come with restoring a property isan apparent paradox � a newly built traditional home. This has created a massive new market of buyers, Government figures show that the number of Britons buying abroad rose 14 per cent last year - to 630,000 families.Despite the prospect of EU membership, Turkey is due to lose its number four position. Tomba was one of the first professionals to try Bansko\'s new ski run. Town\'s highlights, winter and summer holiday opportunities, the advantages of Bansko ski facilities are to be displayed in \"Tourism and Rest\" magazine on over 15 international tourist markets, including the one in London, starting in November. Tuscany-like hilltop towns such as medieval Veliko Turnovo are to be found inland, while the ski areas in the Rhodope Mountains in the south are increasingly popular. We�re expecting to sell around 200 rural properties by the end of 2005,� says Stephane Lambert of Bulgarian agents Stara Planina. With three children it will be difficult for us to keep nipping over to Bulgaria to check on progress.�One viewing trip we found a suitable candidate in the hillside village of Cherni Vit. You can expect about 12 per cent gross yield for a good ski apartment and about half that on the coast.