Buying and selling

From the first offer to the handover of keys: the sequence, the notary, the land register, the incidental costs and what to check before a deposit.

Buying and selling

From the first offer to the handover of keys: the sequence, the notary, the land register, the incidental costs and what to check before a deposit.

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Which building standards apply on the southern coast, and how do they compare with Germany?

Bulgaria builds to European standards. Structure and earthquake resistance follow the Eurocodes (EN 1990 to 1999, Eurocode 8 for…Read the answer →Buying process →

How does buying property in Bulgaria work?

The purchase follows clear steps. First a written preliminary contract (предварителен договор) setting out the property, price and…Read the answer →Buying process →

What taxes and additional costs apply when buying?

Buying involves, among others, the municipal transfer tax, the notary fee under the statutory tariff and the registration fee of the…Read the answer →Buying process →

Is property on the southern coast suitable as an investment?

Many buyers purchase for personal use, holidays or for letting. Whether a property is suitable as an investment depends on location…Read the answer →Buying →

Can I buy without travelling to Bulgaria myself?

Yes — the notarial purchase can be handled via a notarised power of attorney issued abroad with an apostille. Svetlana coordinates the…Read the answer →Buying process →

What should I consider when buying an apartment in a gated complex (operator model)?

Many apartments on the southern coast are in gated holiday complexes with a pool, garden and reception. Two things set them apart from…Read the answer →Buying process →

House, ordinary apartment or complex — which brings the fewest ongoing obligations?

If you want to keep dependencies and ongoing charges low, the order is clear. The first choice is a house on your own land: full…Read the answer →Buying process →

How do I protect my deposit before the notary appointment?

Never pay a deposit without legal protection. Two routes are common. First, a written preliminary contract (predvaritelen dogovor)…Read the answer →Buying process →

Am I liable for the previous owner's unpaid property tax or waste fees?

Before completion the seller must show that no local taxes or fees are outstanding on the property. The basis is the tax valuation…Read the answer →Buying process →

What warranty applies to a new build from the developer?

New builds carry statutory minimum warranty periods under Art. 160(3) to (5) of the Spatial Development Act (ZUT) and Art. 20(4) of…Read the answer →Buying process →

Can I freely let my apartment through Airbnb or Booking?

Not without registration. Short-term letting to tourists legally counts as accommodation under the Tourism Act (Zakon za turizma)…Read the answer →Buying process →

How do I sell my property on the southern coast?

Start with an honest valuation — the Valuation page offers real market data per location. Svetlana then discreetly markets to her…Read the answer →Selling →

Does the notary check the property before the purchase?

Ownership yes, encumbrances no. The notary checks whether the seller is the owner and whether the special requirements of the…Read the answer →Buying process →

I do not speak Bulgarian — how does the notary appointment work?

Smoothly: if a party does not understand the language, the notary brings in a sworn translator who renders the deed in full — only then…Read the answer →Buying process →

Why do you meet the notary so often in Bulgaria?

Legal life in Bulgaria relies on the notary far more than Western Europe: powers of attorney, declarations of consent, a car sale or…Read the answer →Buying process →

When is the best time to buy property?

Coastal prices move with the seasons: in high summer, demand and sellers' expectations peak. In our experience the best time to buy is…Read the answer →Buying →

Can a purchase be challenged afterwards?

This used to be a real problem and has become much rarer today — but it has not disappeared. If someone sells a property where third…Read the answer →Buying process →

Can a Russian owner sell and receive the proceeds?

The sale itself runs like for any owner, through notary and register — including by power of attorney without travelling. The real…Read the answer →Selling →

Why do bank and notary ask about the origin of funds?

This is European anti-money-laundering prevention: banks and notaries are legally obliged to document the origin of funds in property…Read the answer →Buying process →

Do Turkish citizens need a visa — and can it work without travelling?

Yes, Turkish citizens need a visa for Bulgaria; the Bulgarian embassy in Ankara and the consulate general in Istanbul are in charge…Read the answer →Buying process →

Can I sell without travelling to Bulgaria?

Yes. The usual route is a notarised power of attorney to a trusted person or lawyer: you execute it either at the Bulgarian mission in…Read the answer →Selling →

What is Act 16 — and why does it matter when buying?

Act 16 is the use permit of a building — the final stage of construction acceptance in Bulgaria. Without it a new build cannot be used…Read the answer →Buying process →

What is a PUP (detailed development plan) and when do I need it?

The PUP (detailed development plan) determines what may be built on a plot — use, density, height, utilities. Before any land purchase…Read the answer →Buying process →

Buying off-plan — what should I watch out for?

Buying off-plan means paying in instalments as construction progresses — usually along the acceptance stages Act 14, Act 15 and Act 16…Read the answer →Buying process →

What happens to my Bulgarian property in case of inheritance?

Within the EU, the deceased's habitual residence generally determines the applicable inheritance law; a will can opt for the law of…Read the answer →Selling →

Is the gain taxed when I sell my property in Bulgaria?

In principle the sale gain is taxable in Bulgaria. For private persons, however, the law provides exemptions — among others for a…Read the answer →Selling →

What are the risks with illegal or unpermitted buildings?

A building erected without a permit or contrary to the development plan is illegal under Art. 225 of the Spatial Development Act (ZUT)…Read the answer →Buying process →

Why do areas in old notary deeds differ from the cadastre — and how do I check?

Old notary deeds often predate today's cadastral map; the Cadastre Act (ZKIR) refers to such discrepancies as "incompleteness or…Read the answer →Buying process →

What setbacks, height limits and use restrictions apply — and why do they differ by municipality?

The Spatial Development Act (ZUT) sets the baseline: low-rise residential buildings must keep at least 3 m from the side boundary and 5…Read the answer →Buying process →

How does Bulgarian inheritance law work — and what differs from Germany?

Under Bulgaria's Inheritance Act (ZN) children inherit in equal shares; alongside children the surviving spouse receives a share equal…Read the answer →Buying process →

What do I need to know about electricity — especially for commercial letting?

Bulgaria separates two electricity markets: households remain, for now, on the regulated market at low official tariffs (in 2025…Read the answer →Buying process →

What happens at the notary appointment when buying property in Bulgaria?

A notary appointment in Bulgaria can feel different from what buyers from Germany or other Western European countries expect. In…Read the answer →Buying process →

What should I check when buying a house without a sewer connection?

Ask to be shown where the wastewater actually goes. What is permitted is a collection pit, not a soakaway that discharges into the…Read the answer →Buying process →

Which building-management documents do I need before buying an apartment?

Before you sign, ask for three things in writing: the latest maintenance-fee receipt, written confirmation that nothing is outstanding…Read the answer →Buying process →

May I let my apartment to holidaymakers, and what has to be registered?

Yes, and you may do so as a private individual without registering a business. Register the property before your first listing: guest…Read the answer →

How do I pass on a property in Bulgaria?

Decide yourself which succession law applies instead of leaving it to chance. Under the EU Succession Regulation you may expressly…Read the answer →

Do I need a building permit to renovate?

Not for everything. Painting, floors and a bathroom refit that leaves structure and services untouched count as routine maintenance and…Read the answer →

Can a foreigner get a mortgage from a Bulgarian bank?

It is possible, but conditions differ markedly between banks, so approach several in parallel and compare in writing. The framework…Read the answer →Buying process →

May I drill my own well on my plot in Bulgaria?

Yes, on three conditions: you are a private individual, the plot lies within the boundaries of a settlement, and the water serves…Read the answer →

Do I need a permit for the well?

For private use you do not need a water abstraction permit. What you do need is prior notification: the director of the competent basin…Read the answer →

How much water may I take from my own well?

Up to 10 cubic metres a day, free of charge. For a house and garden that is normally more than enough. Anyone who wants to take more…Read the answer →

What is the correct order of steps for a well?

Notify first, drill second, register third. In detail: you file form УГ1 with the basin directorate and wait for the reference number…Read the answer →

What does registering the well cost?

There is no state registration fee for wells used privately. You do of course pay for the drilling itself, and prices depend on depth…Read the answer →

There is already a well on the plot. What then?

For existing wells that are not yet registered there is a catch-up procedure using form РГ2. The deadline runs to 28 November 2039; it…Read the answer →

Which well documents should I ask to see before buying?

Two documents matter: the notification with its reference number and the registration certificate from the basin directorate. With both…Read the answer →

What happens if a well was drilled without notification?

The Water Act provides for penalties. We do not quote a figure here: the amounts in circulation contradict each other, and without a…Read the answer →

Which renovations need a permit in Bulgaria?

It depends on the type of work. Under Art. 151 of the Bulgarian Spatial Planning Act (ZUT), routine repair (painting, plastering…Read the answer →

Does the gas price raise coastal property costs?

The gas price rarely affects flats directly, but it is more likely to affect commercial units. On 13 October Bulgargaz applied for a…Read the answer →Investing →

How high is inflation in Bulgaria?

The statistics institute NSI reports annual inflation of 5.7% for September 2026. The monthly figure is minus 0.2%, and the average for…Read the answer →

How many construction bankruptcies in Bulgaria?

The statistics institute NSI counts 225 new registrations and 12 bankruptcies in construction for the third quarter of 2026…Read the answer →Buying process →

What changes for building permits in Sofia?

On 23.04.2026 the deputy mayor of Sofia, responsible for urban planning, met 50 representatives of member companies of the…Read the answer →Buying process →

What applies after building permit No. 184 in Laka?

The Municipality of Pomorie has announced building permit No. 184 of 08.10.2026 for a residential building on plot UPI X…Read the answer →Buying process →

Still a question? Talk to Svetlana

This information is for general orientation only and does not replace legal, tax, banking, construction, notarial or compliance advice.