禁漫天堂

@manager85

Hi Claire, while there is some people buying Land, that's a pressure sales tactic to get money or a fast decision from you. There's empty houses everywhere in BG. It's best to scoop the kids up for a holiday and have a wee look tbh.

As for the village, it's literally the middle of nowhere, tiny village with 1 shop. The next village over also only has 1 shop. 33 km to the next biggest "town" with a few more shops.

Depends what you actually want or are looking for tbh. If you drive, it's 30 minutes to the town, and probably same distance to a town with a beach.

It's not really a place for 4 kids to live long term because of the lack of facilities in the area but as a holiday home, it might work?

Best of luck on your hunt.

I looked at the Village (hardly to say that there is something) on the map ( actually I haven't heard about it) and I see that this is located in less developer area, remote from almost everything.

I respect your desire for solitude, but you need to think a lot for some very important amenities like the healthcare.

You are 30 minutes away from Dobrich and 1,5 h to Varna (where you can find better sercuvices. It's not only the matter of big shops. Even homeschooling will resolve the problem of nearby school. But having so distant hospitals? Think about if some emergency happens. Internet and airport are your last care.

@manager85

Kuwait? Seems exceedingly unlikely. :-)

Also... have you checked that you have a straightforward way of qualifying for legal residence?

Bulgaria, in general, pretty great and still very affordable vs. other EU options. I like it a lot, and we're very happy here. However, I think the neighboring non-EU countries (Serbia, Turkey, Albania) are now cheaper, and have easier residence options.

I agree with the others. Though it's a nice rural area, close to the coast and not too far from Varna airport, it's a very small village, with practically nothing there. Google Maps says it has a shop, but there's nothing like a shop to be seen in that location on Street View. Our house is in a different part of Dobrich province, and though we have decent mobile internet and the option to get landline, unfortunately many of the smaller villages have no mobile signal at all. It may be possible to get landline internet, but that's going to be tricky to get connected until you are legally resident in Bulgaria.

There's been quite a bit of foreign investment in the Dobrich area generally, but that's agricultural land, not village properties. Kuwaiti-owned companies buying farmland around the village is a possibility, but buying actual village properties is unlikely. Though generally, investment in an area is a good thing as it will bring up the level of services available. Many Bulgarian villages are literally dying because of shrinking populations, just a handful of older people still living there. Shops and schools close, bus services are dropped, medical services that used to be available disappear. If the electricity or water goes off, there's no rush to fix it.

The great thing about Bulgaria is that there are plenty of properties available, including many on pay monthly. You don't need to rush into buying. Think hard about what you want. For us, because we're older, having a village shop, decent internet, and a bus service was important to us. Something we didn't consider and should have done was better access to health care. For the village you are considering, it's going to be a long drive to get to the nearest GP or hospital,聽 and they may not speak English. Also be aware that village houses can be very, very basic -- leaky roof, dirt floors, no real bathroom. Generally, agents will put a rosy glow on the condition and it will be worse than you expect. Think about how much renovation work you are willing to take on and how you will budget for that.

The other thing that you seriously need to look at before buying anything if you intend to move there eventually is getting a residence permit. No matter what the estate agents imply, Brits can't just move to Bulgaria anymore. There are very specific options for getting a D visa, the first step to residency. Without that, non-EU citizens can stay 90 days per 180. If you Google D visa for Bulgaria, you'll find useful information to help you consider your options. We're still in the UK, waiting till I meet the easiest requirement for a long stay visa. 718 days till I can apply, not that I'm counting!

Bulgaria is a beautiful country with (mostly) friendly and welcoming people. It's a completely different way of life. We love it there and can't wait to move permanently. But there are also a lot of challenges to consider.

@S25 - Sean

聽 Hi聽 . Thanks so much for this , and whilst retirement a good few years off . it will be a place I need to go with the kids in tow.. so although beach on door step , which is ideal .. id stil need to entertain them .. would kavana be better area ? for kids you think ? god its a hard one isnt it .. and the hard sell was working with me lol . so thanks for the reality check.. id like a beach on one side.. lakes and mountains and fishing on the other .. we dont want much do we us northern mancs lol ... yet bulgaria does actually have it all x

@gwynj

Hi , it will be a holiday home for a good few years , as the flights in the summer and school holidays too expensive for 5 of us . probably take 5 years to get it to how i want it . im 51 now and my retirement plan starts at 55 , however i will stil have kids under 18 so unsure now you mention it how long I could stay if they cant stay with me anyway ... long term and thats 10 year plan, i聽 plan to hope to be permanent as kids then grown聽 except my youngest will be 19 then and she can decide which she wants to do .. , i seen you was active on all the threads and added you as a contact lol .. as you are very informative on all the help questions. Thansk for my help x

@janemulberryg

Thank you for your time in this reply , I need a pay monthly and want a house to do up but not falling down lol.聽 I have 10k deposit and want to clear off in 2 /3 years and still trying to work how the monthy plan works. I definitely need a village with some infrastructure and shops and for kids to get out and do things, Maybe kavana a better location ? i am struggling with maps haha .聽 It feels so big and I dont know where to start with areas . My boys like mountains and fishing and I want a beach , bulgaria has it all x

@manager85

There's nothing wrong with setting big goals! And it makes a huge difference if you're looking for somewhere to be a holiday home while the kids are still at school and somewhere to be your own home once they're older but mostly off doing their own thing, rather than somewhere suitable to live full time with younger children. But you may need to decide which you want most, coast or mountains. Getting both could be tricky as they're a fair distance apart!

Kavarna and Balchik are right on the coast, Balchik is said by my Bulgarian neighbours to be the best place on the coast. They're not big towns but should have most of what you need. Problem is, anywhere in a larger village or small town truly close to the coast could be outside your price range. Still, it's worth checking the various agents and seeing what they have. Somewhere between Dobrich and Balchik might be affordable and work for you -- easy access to the coast one direction, and in the other direction Dobrich, a decent sized small city with everything one is likely to need and good access to Varna.

But it's a fair way from the coast to the mountains, probably at least 90 minutes drive, maybe more. A more affordable option could be to look at somewhere more central, say to the east of Veliko Tarnovo, a lovely historic city, where there are more lower-priced properties with mountains nearby, but the coast is 3 or 4 hours away.

For the visa issue - if you can get a work pension at 55 and it's more than the Bulgarian minimum wage (currently 拢559 a month) you shouldn't have any problem getting a retirement D visa. It's not age based, the sole requirement is a big enough pension. Other income from remote work, renting out a UK house or similar doesn't count, they just want to see a guaranteed pension income. Then once you have your D visa and residency, you can apply for family reunification for any children under 18. I don't think that will work for older kids, so they'd be limited to 90 days per 180.

Bulgaria does offer lots of options, but possibly not ALL the options at once!

@manager85

Jane is spot on with areas and info. I'm a fellow Manc' totally get the need to be away from the drab n dull of the city suburbs.

Dobrich and midsize towns just outside Burgas might be more suitable for what you're looking for.

As for mountains, fine for summer trips but would be harsh to live up there. Last week I was on the trains up through mountain regions, thick with snow and bitterly cold. Was lovely out the window but the entire time I was wondering how on earth the locals survived up there 馃ぃ

Thanks again for all this info.

ive booked my flights and by chance a fellow brit has contacted a facebook post with a pay monthly on a reno projet in Kavarna , so I think things happen for a reason .. and maybe this could tick the boxes to near a town with a lidl ( im an aldi girl usually lol)聽 and close to the coast聽 I think I need to think about what I want as Jane said as long term I need what suits me .聽

I have 3 lads who are fishermen , do you know where the nearest ponds / lakes and rivers to fish coud be. And sean im with you non the nice snow from behind a window lol .聽 Diving to the mountains wold just be like me driving to a hike in Lakes I suppose .

So Sean no looking back on the manc life .. dare i say ' DONT LOOK BACK IN ANGER ' hahahah.. couldn't help it lol x

@manager85 Pmsl馃ぃ, yeh exactly right.

Couple years ago I did 6 months hiking and camping round the lake district. The difference in BG is the sheer scale and wildlife factor, they have a lot of what Britian has lost.

If you enjoy Cumbria, the Rhodepe's and Rila mountain ranges will blow your mind. There's cheap hotel accommodation scattered about but way less populated with tourists, so you can actually enjoy the peace and quiet. I seen tons on cross country train journeys while closing on a property deal in the south, with agents in the north,聽 so can't advise on fishing spots and the likes. I'm yet to go back and explore all the areas for leisure tbh.

It's been 3 years in the making, deciding on the right areas to consider buying, saving, hoping and then finally getting stuck in to making it happen.

Look out for posts from Jim and gwynj on here, they'll likely know the best lakes and fishing spots. 2 great guys who know tons of helpful info.

@S25 - Sean

Thanks Sean, ive added Gwyn as contact as i seen how informative he was on another thread . New to the site and apprecaie tthe time you have put in to help xxx

@manager85

Any time Claire, you'll find most people in here are a great bunch who always help each other. It's a good community to be part of.

Wish ya best of luck on your travels. Hope you and the kids find the dream property 馃檹

@manager85

No Aldis in Bg, but Lidl, Kaufland, and Billa are decent substitutes!

I hope the house you've found on FB is what you're looking for! If you're going in March, be sure to take some warm clothes. It can still get quite cold even on the coast, especially mornings and nights. Stuff you can layer and peel off as the day warms up work well.

I imagine on the coast there would be plenty of sea fishing the boys could try. The Dobrich area doesn't have a lot of lakes and because it's dry the rivers tend to be on the small side. But there are some beautiful lakes further north, near Shabla and Durankulak.

Have fun and enjoy your trip!

@manager85

Here are two sellers of pay-monthly properties (village houses) who are long-established and reputable, with many clients on this forum. I suggest they are both worth a peek to see what kind of property / price is typical.

BulgariaDirect on RightMove

Mowlem on RightMove

RightMove is a big property portal with lots of Bulgarian listings. There are many other decent agents, not just the two mentioned. (But most of the others will need cash sales.)

@S25 - Sean

Thanks sean, sure ill need you again lol x you too xx

@gwynj

Thanks so much Gwyn. Ill look at these now. Found the Mowlem one didnt know about the other pay monthly agent. Thank you.聽 To聽 hard to pull money out in uk to buy outright with interest rates , so if I can grab one on pay monthly and pay off 18 months then I can save for the work to be done. x

That's how I bought mine. The agents Gwyn linked to, Bulgaria Direct and Mowlem, have both been selling houses in Bulgaria for years, and most buyers report they are reliable and helpful. I used Bulgaria Direct. They have fewer properties in the Dobrich region at present, focusing more on the South and along the Danube, but contacting them might turn something up. The Danube would certainly make your boys happy - lots of fishing there!

I have heard good reports about Black Sea Villas as sellers, too, though I have never contacted them about a property.

And there are plenty of sellers and property groups on Facebook, as well, some who specialise in coastal villages.

@janemulberry

Thanks Jane , i seen a prevuous post by you on roofers . did yoi find one in the end and are happy with the result ? do you recommend roofers / tilers / joiners/ windows聽 lol !聽 also anyone who does the white render on聽 ?

I know not even got one yet .. but the house in Kavarna聽 as long as its no gypsys there ..migght be short list . But its a reno job. lol Claire x

I found excellent roofers who did a great job. They do all types of building work, so I hope to get them back to build a summer kitchen for me. But they're based in Toshevo. I think Kavarna might be a bit far for them to travel, it's an hour's drive.

The other catch is that they don't speak English and though I'm learning, my Bulgarian still isn't at all good. I needed to communicate via Google Translate and my helpful neighbour. I don't have their contact details as she did all the calling for me.

Kavarna is a big enough town that hopefully you'll find someone there, or the local area Facebook expat groups may be able to recommend someone. I'm sure there's someone active on the forum in Kavarna, but I can't remember who! Maybe start a new thread asking for "Builders in Kavarna" or similar, which might get his attention. Also, a forum search for Kavarna might bring something up.

You're definitely out of luck on the Aldi front, I'd say. 馃榿

They opened several shops in Greece in 2008, apparently as a stepping-stone to branch into other Balkan countries.聽 However, that only lasted about 18 months: Lidl totally and deliberately obliterated them in Greece, and Aldi pulled out 15 years ago. I haven't heard any more about their Balkan Aspirations since then...

@janemulberry

Having been looking at many property agents for the past week, I found that those were also the most expensive in fees and on studying their properties I found them a little overpriced in comparison. Although we don鈥檛 want the payments set up so perhaps that would make a difference.

Yes, I am sure it's possible to get cheaper properties, especially if one speaks Bulgarian and can use the Bulgarian language websites. I was fine with paying more than the market value for the convenience of the pay monthly offer and for the excellent support provided. By the time I finished paying, the market price even unrenovated was more than I paid, anyway!

I'd been looking for Bulgarian property for many years before committing to buy, and discovered that many of the properties listed on other sites are no longer for sale, or if still available may have been on the market a long time, so were no longer in the condition as shown. Also, when looking at prices, fees need to be factored in. Bulgarian Properties, for example, charge the buyer a minimum fee of 2000 EUR. Most charge at least 500 EUR. Bulgaria Direct and Mowlem don't charge an additional agency fee, only fees for the notary and other options the buyer can choose to use them for or arrange themselves, like setting up a company and bank account. They also offer a discount to buyers who don't wish to use pay monthly but are ready to buy immediately.

It all depends what one wants and how much cash one wants to spend upfront, so it's great to have a range of options! The original poster is clear that she specifically wants a pay monthly offer, and I assume she also wants to deal with sellers who speak and write fluent English and will guide her though the purchase process. Which is why those particular agents were recommended to her, first by Gwyn and seconded by me.

I hope your property search is successful!

There are several FB groups offering properties for sale, some of them clearly aimed at millionaires who are looking for loss-making transactions for money laundering. I was particularly taken by a renovated village house with a traditional outside staircase and ceilings so low that even the pictures made me duck. Still, it was difficult to resist buying a whole 2-bedroom property for a giveaway 鈧�170k+...馃槀

Was that all? Wow, bargain!

I tend to stay off Facebook, though a friend has found a few possibles at realistic prices there,聽 Most she linked me to seemed to have been vacant a while -- Brits who've returned to Blighty and first put the property up at an optimistic price hoping to make a profit or at least get back what they paid, and over time dropped their price in the hope of getting anything back on what they spent at all.

But there's a lot of overpriced wishful thinking there as well.

@janemulberry

There's an "absentee Brit" one going at the moment. The owner apparently did a lot of renovation, and stockpiled materials and fittings ready for the final stage. He's now selling at well below what he's spent as - surprise, surprise - "gypsies" broke in and stripped the place. He's angry at the burglars but even more so at his neighbours, who he apparently believes should be his personal security guards! One does wonder if the marauders were indeed Roma or perhaps folk rather closer to home who didn't appreciate his attitude (not that that's any excuse).

He hasn't posted any updated photos and it isn't clear just what state the place is in at present, but it's fairly cheap (鈧�30k) and might be a quick and easy renovation project.

Hmm, I'm definitely not looking for another reno project, the two I already have are more than enough! If we buy anything else, I'd be looking for a town apartment in either Toshevo or Dobrich, Varna now being well outside my price range.

But even if I was looking for another house, I doubt I'd choose to buy anything that's been stripped, or buy from an angry seller. From what you say, I suspect he'd be a challenge to deal with. I hope this isn't the house that Claire, the original poster, is planning to look at!