Choosing the Perfect Building Plot in Bulgaria
Not everyone is ready to take on a renovation project, but if money is tight, then you may decide to consider buying a plot of land and building your Bulgarian dream house. With plots of regulated land costing as little as 10 to 20 Euros a sq m in some areas, then you may find this is the best way forward. Initially, you may decide to just buy the land and wait until finances permit you to start building. This is a safe way to ensure that you don’t overstretch yourself, but can still capitalize on the growing Bulgarian real estate market. There are several things you need to consider when buying a plot of land in Bulgaria. InvestConsult Ltd offers some practical help to assist you in your Bulgarian land purchase.
Location
The first thing to consider is finding the ideal plot for your needs, but before you start setting up a viewing trip, you need to do a little research. Consider first the location you want to buy in. Are you looking for sea views, flat open plains or a mountain landscape? Is the plot purely for investment purposes or a place where you intend to build a home for yourself? Do you want to be close to other people or are you looking for a remote retreat? The location of your land will have an impact on the price; the highest land prices are on the coast but if you move 10-20 km to the inland you will find significantly cheaper prices..
Ready to Build
Once you have decided on a location you need to look for regulated land as this means that the plot is suitable for building. It is possible to turn agricultural land into regulated land in some areas but this is something you need to research well before committing to buy. The process of regulating land will cost you time- it takes smething form one up to several years – and of course money. Regulated plots are usually close to mains electricity and water, but this is an aspect that you need to check. The further the distance to the source of these utilities, the greater the cost when you come to build. An isolated plot may offer privacy, tranquility and rural idyll, but you schould think also about the the security of the home which will be impossible if your home is outside of a village.
Proximity to Local Amenities
If you are planning to build a home for your permanent use, then your lands proximity to schools, doctors, the post office and shops is important. If you are intending using your home for holidays, then short drive to the the supermarket through the countryside is fine. Our advise is to look for a plot of land in a village close to a big city in Bulgaria – like Bourgas for example. There are many villages in 20km radius from Bourgas. If you build your home in Bulgaria in such location you will have access to all local amenities of the big city but enjoy the rural life.
Checking Access
If your plot is not located on a street or main road, then you need to check access rights. You may even need to construct a road to your plot and this could prove expensive. If your site is not easy to access, then it will also prove difficult to get materials there once building work commences. If large cement trucks cannot get onto the site then building work will grind to a halt and expenses will rise as you seek alternative methods of delivery.
Boundaries
The Lie of the Land
Sloping plots are much cheaper, but may be difficult to build on and this will add to your costs (but the landscaping of your garden will be unique and beautiful). Furthermore, the type of soil on your potential plot may also affect the cost of your build too. An incline may add a feature to your garden allowing you to add a variety of levels or an infinity pool or permit you to have unobstructed views of the countryside. However you need to determine where you can actually build and you should bear in mind that you will not be able to build closer than three metres to the boundary. This is shown on a plan detailing what is permissible in a local area as well as the size and number of storeys available. Once you are armed with this information, you can stake out the size and position of your home and see if it meets with your needs – in most cases a two storey house is permittet to be build in the villages. This is high enough in 99% of the cases.
Additional Considerations
Your plot will need to be big enough to include a septic tank. Bulgarian villages do not have common drainage systems and a large underground room has to be built as a septic tank. You will also need another smaller underground room for your water connection and meter. Consider also the location of natural water nearby. Whilst a spring or brook makes an attractive feature, they can prove to be hazardous if they burst their banks and cause extensive flooding. If you are considering building a swimming pool the plot schould be large enough for this too.
The secret to buying the perfect plot is not to rush to pay a deposit, but to research in detail how it best suits your needs and what exactly you are buying. Don’t be pressurized by over-enthusiastic agents who tell you the plot will not be available for long. Remember, should you lose this plot there will always be others.
We can help you finding the perfect building plot in Bulgaria and build your house in Bulgaria. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help you!