Region Focus: Sofia, Plovdiv and Blagoevgrad
In the second of its ‘Region Focus’ series, experts in real estate in Bulgaria House Sales Bulgaria (http://www.housesalesbulgaria.com/) looks at the Sofia, Plovdiv and Blagoevgrad areas of the country, considering the various factors within the regions which may affect buying and selling property there.
Sofia
Sofia-Capital – Sofia is of course the capital city of Bulgaria, but there is also a Sofia province and the two should not be confused. Sofia the capital is located within its own administrative centre (known as an ‘oblast’ in Bulgarian), named fittingly ‘Sofia-Capital’. Sofia city has a population of 1.27 million people and is a hub for commerce, media, universities and institutions. Sofia has some of the most prestigious property in Bulgaria, as one would expect from a capital city, but it also has a good number of reasonably priced one- and two-bed apartments in and around the city. These are in demand by those looking to invest in real estate in Bulgaria because they have great buy-to-let potential from the students and workers who live in the centre and suburbs of Sofia all year-round.
Sofia Province – In many ways, much of Sofia province could not be more different than the capital city. Its terrain is mountainous; it is vast, containing 22 municipalities; and it is industrious rather than cosmopolitan. The mountainous landscape makes for beautiful scenery, however (mining is one of the province’s main industries) – the southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains provides a stunning backdrop and the region also boasts sweeping valleys. The Sofia province is home to one of the most important ski resorts in Bulgaria, Borovets, and indeed you’ll find some of the most sought-after ski property in Bulgaria in this region. Outside of the ski resorts, most property in the province is rural and many buildings are in need of renovation in more remote areas. There are some beautiful villages around the resort of Borovets which are more popular with international buyers, however.
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is located in the heart of Bulgaria, the central south of the country, to be exact. The city of Plovdiv is the province’s industrial and administrative hub, being surrounded by 18 separate municipalities. The mountains, rivers and dams of this province make it home to some of Bulgaria’s most beautiful and most visited spas. These, along with Plovdiv’s many natural springs, are the root of the area’s tourism, and the province’s main economy is from agriculture. As one would imagine, therefore, Plovdiv is home to a great deal of the rural real estate in Bulgaria. While the province is beautiful in parts, buyers would need to check on the amenities, condition and accessibility of any property in the region.
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is in southwestern Bulgaria and has 14 municipalities and 17 towns (Blagoevgrad
being the principal city). This province is home to many of Bulgaria’s main towns, such as Bansko, Melnik, Petrich and Semitli, so it is therefore more popular with purchasers of property in Bulgaria than more rural areas such as Plovdiv, for instance. In part, this is because the southern tip of the region enjoys a more Mediterranean climate and therefore the region welcomes more tourists and domestic holiday-goers. For property purchasers, the ski resort of Bansko is arguably the most important town in Blagoevgrad as it is an international tourism destination in both the summer and winter months. This makes for great rental potential in some of Bansko’s modernised and well-priced properties.
House Sales Bulgaria helps those looking to buy and sell property in Bulgaria. Find out more at http://www.housesalesbulgaria.com/.
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