News from Bulgaria, page 4

According to the Registry Agency, 1,857 property sales were recorded in Nessebar and Sunny Beach in the third quarter of 2026, down from 2,951 a year earlier, a fall of 37.1%. Sales in Burgas dropped 14.3% to 2,047 (2,389 a year ago), Tsarevo lost 25.1% and Pomorie only 3.5%; Varna fell 26.3% (2,853 after 3,859). Nationwide, 45,312 sales were registered, 22.1% fewer than the 58,184 of the third quarter of 2025 and the lowest quarterly figure since at least 2005. Mountain resorts fell even harder: Razlog and Bansko minus 30.4%, Smolyan and Pamporovo minus 30.7%.

The Municipality of Sozopol has published building permit No. 143 of 5 October 2026 for villa buildings No. 89 and No. 90 with a shared underground car park; the site is regulated plot UPI XX-35010, cadastral plot 67800.35.137, in the Sveta Marina area within the Sozopol land register. The legal basis is Article 149(1) in conjunction with Article 149(6) of the Spatial Planning Act, accompanied by decision No. BS-100-PR/2024 of the Burgas environmental inspectorate RIOSV on the environmental assessment. Permit and project are available for inspection at the municipality's UTKSK directorate, 2 Han Krum Square, 2nd floor, room 24, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:30.

On 2 October 2026 the Municipality of Sozopol announced two public auctions with sealed bids for plots in the Rosenets district: plot No. 458 of 343 square metres at a starting price of 8,070 euros and plot No. 309 of 493 square metres at 11,600 euros, in both cases 23.53 euros per square metre based on a licensed valuer's appraisal. The bidding step is 5% of the starting price (403.50 and 580 euros respectively), the deposit 10%. Documents can be purchased until 12:00 on 19 October and bids submitted until 17:15 the same day; the auctions take place on 20 October at 14:00 (No. 309) and 14:15 (No. 458), based on municipal council decisions Nos. 878 and 879 of 30 July 2026 and Article 59(7) of the municipal property ordinance.

On 1 October 2026 the energy regulator KEVR set the natural gas price for October at 44.09 euros per megawatt-hour, 5.99% above the September price; the figure excludes network and transmission charges, excise duty and VAT. Bulgargaz supplies end suppliers and district heating companies at this price; the mix comprises the long-term contract with Azerbaijan, liquefied natural gas from tenders and the minimum withdrawal from the Chiren storage facility. The commission rejected an additional surcharge of 0.33 euros per megawatt-hour because the gas price determines more than 70% of the final price of heat.

Assessment: For owners on the coast the gas price matters mainly through electricity and heating costs in winter, since heating there is mostly electric. Anyone using or letting a flat year-round should calculate the service charges for the heating season now; the increase has run at around five to six percent for the third month in a row. I do not see this as an obstacle to buying, but as an argument for well-insulated buildings with their own heat pump.

According to the flash estimate of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) of 1 October 2026, the harmonised index of consumer prices in September was 0.1% below the August figure and 5.6% above September 2025; the national consumer price index fell 0.3% on August and also rose 5.6% year on year. Month on month, restaurants and hotels fell most at minus 4.3%, followed by recreation and culture at minus 3.3%; education rose 3.2% and transport 1.7%. The estimate is based on about 90% of the planned price observations, with final figures due on 14 October.

According to NSI data of 30 September 2026, the total index of industrial producer prices rose 3.0% in August compared with July and 17.4% compared with August 2025; on the domestic market the figures were 3.3% and 16.8%, on the non-domestic market 2.6% and 18.4%. Month on month, mining and quarrying rose 10.2%, electricity, gas and heat supply 5.3% and manufacturing 1.5%. Year on year, mining stands 97.3% above the previous year, energy 13.0% and manufacturing 10.4%; within manufacturing, basic metals rose 29.7% and chemical products 10.6%.

At its extraordinary session on 24 September 2026 the Nessebar Municipal Council unanimously (19 votes in favour) adopted decision No. 812 approving the division of the four municipal plots 11538.11.23, 11538.11.1, 11538.11.13 and 11538.11.14 in Sveti Vlas and the preparation of the development and subdivision plans for the Sveti Vlas-Elenite wastewater treatment plant; funding comes from the EU programme "Environment 2021-2027". Decision No. 813 (14 in favour, 5 abstentions) adjusts the boundary between Nessebar and Ravda and merges two plots totalling 8,131 square metres into one unit for Europa Street. Decision No. 811 authorises the mayor to approve the 2025 annual report, the 2026 budget and a state subsidy of 23,000 euros for 2027 in the Burgas water association.

The Municipality of Pomorie invites representatives of the tourism business to a meeting on the initiative to create and develop the POMORIE GEOPARK. The presentation covers the project concept, the structure and organisation of the geopark, and the opportunities and benefits for the local community, the tourism sector and local business. The meeting takes place on 07.10.2026 from 17:30 at the Dechko Stoev Municipal Art Gallery in Pomorie.

The Municipality of Pomorie informs all affected natural and legal persons about decision No. BS-43-PrOS/01.10.2026 of the Director of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Burgas, assessing the probable degree of significant negative impact on protected zone BG0002043 "Emine" for the conservation of wild birds. The subject is the investment proposal "Construction of one residential building on the plot with identifier 57491.8.137, locality "Ezika", town of Pomorie, Municipality of Pomorie", with developer Ismigyul Hasan. The zone was designated by Order RD-560/21.08.2009 (State Gazette No. 69/2009) and amended by Orders RD-76/28.01.2013 (No. 10/2013) and RD-721/28.09.2023 (No. 83/2023) of the Ministry of Environment and Water. The decision is available at www.riosvbs.com.

The Municipality of Pomorie has approved, by order No. RD-16-1694 dated 31 August 2026, an amendment to the detailed development plan for plots V, II, VII and VI (cadastral parcels 57491.601.300, 294, 302 and 303) in block 22 of the Kamenar district. The project and the order are available for inspection at the municipality's Spatial Planning, Construction and Environment department on Thursdays from 9:30 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 16:00. The order may be appealed within 14 days of notification before the Administrative Court of Burgas.

The Municipality of Pomorie has published a draft amendment to the zoning plan for plots UPI I and II (cadastral parcels 57491.501.20 and 57491.501.545) in zone 250 of the town of Pomorie. The draft is available for review at the Spatial Planning Department, 2nd floor, room 26, on Thursdays from 9:30 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 16:00. Objections may be filed within 14 days of notification.

Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute reports that the construction business climate indicator fell by 4.7 points in September 2026, to 9.3% from 14.0% in August. The overall economy indicator dropped 1.3 points to 15.3%. NSI attributes the decline to construction entrepreneurs' worsening assessment of order books, with economic uncertainty, labour shortages and material prices cited as the main obstacles.

Assessment: For buyers of new-build projects on the coast, the drop is a signal to scrutinise a developer's order book and completion timeline more closely before signing, since a weaker sector climate raises the risk of delays. For sellers of existing properties, bargaining power shifts slightly toward buyers for as long as the sector stays at this level.

Burgas municipality is tendering the EU-funded project LIFE22-IPC-BG-LIFE-SIP CLIMA-SUMP for 16 charging stations with 38 charging points, 13 fast and 3 slow chargers across 13 main sites plus four reserve sites. The budget is 415,000 euro excluding VAT, with the municipality co-financing up to 45%. Bids are due by 26 October 2026, with completion planned by 31 December 2027.

According to a BTA report dated 28 September 2026, a roughly 18-kilometre truck queue formed on the Maritsa motorway between Svilengrad and the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing, heading toward Turkey, with the Lesovo crossing also affected. The cause is higher trade volume: within 24 hours, 710 trucks were processed on the outbound lane to Turkey, reaching the crossing's maximum daily capacity. Border police are escorting the column to keep traffic moving safely.

According to a BTA report dated 25 September 2026, Bulgaria Air will for the first time operate the Sofia-Burgas route continuously through the 2026/2027 winter season. From 25 October 2026 the carrier flies on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using an Airbus A220-100. For Eurovision 2027, Bulgaria Air will raise frequency to up to two daily flights between 2 and 19 May 2027.

From October 1 to May 15, the short-term paid parking zone in Pomorie operates Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00, with free parking afterward, on weekends, and on official public holidays. The rule is based on Ordinance No. 23 of the Pomorie municipality. From October 1 to 31, residents of the Sveti Georgi district can apply for preferential paid parking outside this zone, and from October 1 to June 30 a paid parking subscription is available on Pomorie's car parks for up to two vehicles per applicant, excluding the MBAL hospital and the fishing port car parks.

The Pomorie municipal council approved four detailed development plans for electricity supply routes through Decisions No. 933, 882, 883 and 884. The projects include a 20 kV cable near Bata with a route length of 410.33 meters, and three low-voltage routes in the Lahana and Kosharite areas near Pomorie measuring 74, 274.62 and 103 meters, serving a total of twelve new residential and holiday buildings. The decisions were published in State Gazette No. 90 of 30.09.2026 and can be appealed within 30 days before the Burgas Administrative Court.

The average mortgage at United Bulgarian Bank (OBB) runs 25 years, with a debt-service-to-income ratio of 36.4% and a loan-to-value ratio of 68.5%, well below the ceilings the Bulgarian National Bank allows of 30 years, 50% DSTI and 85% LTV, Standart reported on 30 September 2026. The average new loan amount stands at around €150,000, up 25% year-on-year. According to OBB management, buyers consciously weigh their desired home against their family's financial security.

Assessment: The figure that matters for buyers is the loan-to-value ratio: 68.5% against a permitted 85% means a large share of buyers enter the market with meaningful equity rather than financing to the limit. That supports prices structurally, since it limits forced sales in a downturn. For your own purchase, the comparison is worth making: anyone needing well above 68.5% external financing is buying on a tighter calculation than the average Bulgarian buyer.

Bulgarian housing prices rose 15.5% year-on-year and 4.5% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of 2026, Forbes Bulgaria reported on 29 September 2026, citing Evgeni Vasilev of SORENDA Real Estate. He names accessible mortgage lending, high construction costs, sustained demand and a shortage of quality properties in good locations as drivers; a down payment on a property priced between €180,000 and €200,000 now runs to €40,000-60,000. Burgas stood out with a quarterly decline of 1.5%, while Plovdiv posted the strongest rise at 5.8%. Vasilev expects growth to slow rather than prices to fall.

Dimitar Nikolov, the mayor of Burgas, was honoured in three categories of the annual Mayor of the Year awards: Investment and Growth, Smart City, and Health and Demographic Policy. Among large municipalities with more than 100,000 residents, Burgas won these categories outright. Voting ran from 14 to 24 September, all 265 municipal mayors took part across 8 categories, and more than 54,000 people cast votes; the awards are organised for the 14th time by the platform Kmetd.bg.

Bulgaria Air will keep flying the Burgas-Sofia route three times a week in winter, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from 25 October 2026 with an Airbus A220-100. From 28 May 2027, easyJet adds a direct connection to Bristol, on Mondays and Fridays. Burgas Airport reached its millionth passenger of 2026 earlier than in the previous year, and Burgas and Varna combined counted over three million passengers since the start of the year.

The National Statistical Institute reports housing prices up 4.5% quarter on quarter and 15.5% year on year for the second quarter of 2026. Regionally the picture is mixed: Plovdiv gained 5.8%, Stara Zagora 2.9%, Varna 2.8% and Sofia 2.4%, while Burgas was the only one of the five large cities to fall, by 1.5%. In the first quarter of 2026 annual growth had stood at 14.8%, quarterly growth at 6.2%.

Assessment: The 1.5% decline in Burgas stands out against the national rise and deserves a sober reading: after several strong quarters, a single city can move sideways or dip briefly without reversing the medium-term trend. For buyers this means checking location and condition selectively along the coast rather than relying on a national growth figure. Sellers should anchor pricing to local closings of recent months rather than the national average.

The finance ministry's guidance for the 2027 budget procedure sets a projected minimum wage of 660 euro and a maximum social security contribution base of 2,400 euro. For 2028 it foresees a minimum wage of 680 euro and a base of 2,500 euro, for 2029, 710 euro and 2,600 euro. The basis is a new calculation mechanism with four equally weighted indicators: the consumer price index, median and average gross income, and gross value added per employee.

The National Revenue Agency reminds taxpayers that corrective returns for income earned in 2025 can be filed up to 30 September. The correction is possible once per return and covers both the annual return of individuals and the return under Article 92 of the Corporate Income Tax Act. Filing is electronic, through the pre-filled return service, using a personal access code or an electronic signature. Where the agency finds discrepancies against its own records, for instance on fees or proceeds from online sales, it sends a notice by e-mail.

The French group Schneider Electric has announced an agreement to acquire Bulgaria's Shelly Group. It is offering 70 euro a share for the stock it does not yet hold, some 1.2 billion euro in total. The acceptance threshold is 95 per cent of the share capital and completion is planned by the end of the first quarter of 2027. Founders Dimitar Dimitrov and Svetlin Todorov together hold about 57 per cent, and Dimitrov intends to reinvest part of his proceeds.

Kamchiya reservoir currently holds 201.594 million cubic metres, over 86 per cent of its volume. It supplies drinking water to Varna, Burgas and dozens of other settlements along the Black Sea coast. Yasna Polyana, which serves the southern shore, stands at 74.2 per cent. A year ago, after a long dry spell, both held about half; following the spring rainfall they briefly overflowed in March.

The eighth call for project proposals under the Euro-MED programme opens on 1 October and covers almost 20 million euro. It funds innovation, the circular economy, environmental protection and green urban space. Each project may receive up to 2 million euro and run for 24 months, and at least five organisations from five countries in the programme area must take part. The programme carries 80 per cent, Bulgaria adds 15 per cent of national co-funding and 5 per cent stays with the beneficiary; applications run until 14:00 on 13 November through the Jems system.

Assessment: The money does not go to private individuals, yet it works where a location is decided: green space, waterfronts, energy in existing buildings. For Burgas, Pomorie and Nessebar, 13 November is the point at which it shows whether the municipalities are bidding. I follow such programmes because their results read off the neighbourhood three or four years later and then sit in the price.

In Bulgaria 35,573 new passenger cars were registered from January to August 2026, 9.8 per cent more than in the same period a year earlier, according to the European manufacturers' association ACEA. Across the European Union the increase over the same period was 5.3 per cent. Petrol accounted for 26,239 vehicles, diesel for 3,135, battery-electric for 2,939, full hybrids for 2,328 and plug-in hybrids for 883. Union-wide, battery-electric cars now hold a 21.7 per cent share, against a good eight per cent in Bulgaria.

Nessebar municipality has installed free WiFi in the pedestrian zone of the old town. The transmitters sit on street lamps, reach more than 100 metres and carry up to 500 simultaneous users per access point. The network is free for residents and visitors alike, and a municipal welcome page appears on connecting. The scheme was carried out together with A1 and A1 Towers.

From 25 to 27 September more than 100 specialists from across the country meet at the International Congress Centre at Morska Gara in Burgas. The programme holds over 20 lectures, symposia, discussions and practical training sessions, among them imaging techniques. The meeting is deliberately cross-disciplinary, bringing together rheumatology, dermatology, orthopaedics and laboratory medicine. It is organised by the Black Sea Rheumatology Association, the rheumatology clinic of Burgas University Hospital and Prof. Dr Asen Zlatarov State University.