Bansko Ranks 8th in the Top 30 Chart of Holiday Housing

The Bulgarian ski resort of Bansko ranks 8th in the top 30 chart of holiday housing according to a survey of Investment and Development Company Westhill Investments, the Monitor daily informs.
The biggest Bulgarian ski center is about to turn into one of the most wanted European ski resorts. Westhill Investment plans to build a luxurious complex in Bansko named Panorama Villas. The aim of the company is not only to build resorts but also to advertise Bulgaria as an attractive tourist destination.

Skiing

The next few years could see a boom in the Bulgarian holiday home market as the country takes its place as a great family ski holiday destination.

A new survey found that the demand for skiing breaks in Bulgaria has seen a significant increase, with resort Bansko entering into holidaywatchdog.com's top ten most popular family ski resorts.

The top 30 saw three other Bulgarian resorts named as popular destinations and the entry of the country into the EU next year is sure to see interest strengthened even more, website TravelConnect.co.uk reports.

Dominic Hicks, director of property investment and development company Westhill, advised investors on buying homes in the country.

He said: "The key to successful property investment is to maximise both rental income and capital growth.

"Too many people buy a holiday home because they like an area, without doing the maths, thinking they will get free holidays and have a money making asset."

But he urged Britons to realise the potential that Bulgaria has as a great skiing break destination, saying: "Most people don't appreciate what a great country Bulgaria is – the rich history, culture, cuisine and areas of outstanding natural beauty are largely unknown to Brits."

PROPERTY NEAR AIRPORT BECOMES MARKET HIT IN BULGARIA

The lack of industrial, retail and storage area properties in Bulgaria's coastal city of Varna would make the area near Varna airport a property market hit, Real Estate Association of Varna said as quoted by Dnevnik daily.

Areas there featured unoccupied agriculture plots, close to the city and to the roads, Dnevnik said. Several investors that would create working places were interested in the area.

The region could become a huge industrial complex in the forthcoming years, Dnevnik said. The region was the best one in Bulgaria regarding transport connections. An airport, a port, a railway station, a ferry complex and two highways were located nearby.

Nearly 50 per cent of the properties near Varna airport were for sale. Most of the sites were located on both sides of Hemus highway an were rather big, from 6000 to 25 000 sq m.

The highest price was 52 euro per sq m. The average price in October 2006 varied from 30 to 45 euro per sq m.

Bulgaria Set for Ski Tourism Growth

Bulgaria is set to become one of Europe’s top family ski resorts, a surprise survey result confirms.

A survey from Holidaywatchdog.com into the most popular family ski resorts has revealed a surge in demand for ski holidays to Bulgaria with the up-and-coming resort area of Bansko making a surprise appearance in eighth place. Three other Bulgarian resorts also featured in the top 30.

Bansko is located in the Pirin mountain range, which with its network of groomed slopes caters for all grades of skier, from novice to expert. The ski season opens in December, with snow guns allowing skiing down to the village well into April. The mountain peaks near the town, the numerous lakes and numerous old pine woods make Bansko a popular place for recreation, sport and tourism and is set to grow as a tourist destination in the coming years as Bulgaria joins the EU in 2007.

In recent years the town has also gained international popularity through the booming development of tourism and cultural events, such as the prestigious annual Bansko Jazz Festival. Bansko is a centre of winter and summer tourism. The summer season lasts from June to October. Banya, 5km away, is famous for its 27 thermal mineral springs.

Dominic Hicks, Director of property investment and development company Westhill, believes the Bansko region is well placed for tourism growth. So much so, that the company has decided to site its landmark Panorama Villas complex of luxury apartments, villas and penthouses in Bansko. Westhill’s development, with a ski storage area and heated boot room, is only 2km from the Bansko gondola ski station. A private shuttle service will to operate to and from the ski village.

“The key to successful property investment is to maximise both rental income and capital growth,” says Hicks. “Too many people buy a holiday home because they like an area, without doing the maths, thinking they will get free holidays and have a money making asset.”

Hicks believes most investors would be better off keeping their money in the bank, because they choose ski or beach destinations with very short letting seasons, but the Bansko region, with its winter and summer tourism options, differs. Westhill, by offering skiing, golf and spa facilities, offers a 10-month holiday season.

“We’re not just about selling our properties, we want to promote Bulgaria as a holiday destination,” Hicks continued.

“Most people don’t appreciate what a great country Bulgaria is – the rich history, culture, cuisine and areas of outstanding natural beauty are largely unknown to the Brits.”

Bulgaria Breaks New Record in Property Sales for 2006

Low prices, long-term investment prospects and changes in lifestyle have fuelled record-high property sales in Bulgaria for 2006, a realtor data shows.

The year-end count of transactions is forecast to reach 260,000 at a combined value of more than EUR 5 B.

The experts comment that following the massive 25% to 30% annual capital gains of recent years, Bulgaria's property market is now showing a much more realistic growth rate of 15% so far this year, setting the pattern for more predictable and sustainable long-term investment.

EU membership in January next year, the nationwide development of major tourism and infrastructure projects, the planned expansion of low-cost airline routes in 2007 and mortgage facilities remain the main attraction for making a property purchase in Bulgaria.

The trend to buy a home abroad has now moved to a new level with more and more people buying overseas with the intention of emigrating. Recent research findings show that over half of UK homeseekers aged between 18 and 29 would consider buying abroad and the UK Office of National Statistics has reported that some 198,000 UK citizens, almost 4,000 a week, left the country last year to live overseas. The number of Britons living in Bulgaria has doubled in the past year alone, with more than a thousand British families given residency here.

British snooker star loves Bulgarian property

Bulgarian property has been attracting the type of property investors who may have never considered buying property abroad. one such potential buyer , he has recently set his heart on buying a house in Bulgaria.

"Mr Maximum", as he is known in the snooker world because he holds the record for maximum 147 breaks, hopes to pot a house at Lighthouse Golf Course at Balchik.

Just 20 minutes away from Varna and the airport, Willie is hoping to buy a £180,000 three bed-roomed house with three bathrooms set right on two new courses designed by top players.

And according to the December issue of Quest Bulgaria, the lspecialist English monthly magazine about Bulgaria and Bulgarian property, he just needs the agreement of his second wife, the 1985 Miss Great Britain, Jill Saxby.

Willie, now 52 and from Leicester, went to the country on a whistle-stop tour having been persuaded by a property developer friend of his about the possibility of introducing snooker to the country.

"They play a game called pool billiards but snooker is unheard of," said the TV commentator and current World Senior Snooker Champion during his trip. "I hope to introduce the sport to this country and, perhaps, in the future hold a championship here.

"But while I was here I decided to look at some property. Spain and the other countries are so expensive - here you can't spend #30 on a dinner if you tried," Willie, snooker's former world number seven, adds.

"It might catch up with the other European hotspots eventually but at the moment it's so cheap," he said.

"The house I'm looking at is between two golf courses; Ian Woosnam has designed one of them and Gary Player the other; they are spending a fortune. The house has a small garden and a pool - ideal when we bring our five kids over here."

No mean golfer - he plays off a 10 handicap - Willie is planning ahead. "If I move here I'll play every day. But getting my wife to agree is the thing," he said.

"I've only been over here for a few days but from what I've seen, I love it and I think when I bring her out, Jill will too.

"Bulgaria is the new Spain and I like it very much. If I buy, it will be for summer use - a holiday home - and we're back again before Christmas.

"The other advantage is the travel. It's just 20 minutes from the airport so when the cheap flights start I'll be able to hop on an aircraft in the Midlands and be here in just a few hours."

And Willie, who owns a snooker club in his home town of Leicester, is looking to open a club in Bulgaria.

"Not a seedy back street beer hall like many think of snooker clubs, but somewhere nice where you can bring your friends for a drink, for food and of course for a game," he said.

Said Chris Goodall, MD of Quest Bulgaria, "Willie is just one of many celebrities who can see the attractions Bulgaria has to offer. Property prices are still good with the cost of living very cheap. And the country itself is beautiful with a great deal going for it."

View a huge selection of Bulgarian property.

Foreign Tourists tо Land in Plovdiv on Their Way to Ski Resort of Bansko

British and Irish tourists form more than half of all foreigners to land at Plovdiv airport this year, the local Struma newspaper reports.
It is the third consecutive season with no flights planned to and from Germany. It seems that the German tourists lost their interest in Bulgarian resorts in the recent years. However, the number of foreign tourists from other countries continues growing.
Plovdiv turns into a way stop for tourists going to Bulgarian winter resorts – Pamporovo, Bansko and Borovets. The growth of the number of flights realized by the airport in Plovdiv is expected to be more than 20% in comparison with the previous year. According to preliminary expectations the number of winter tourists arriving at the Plovdiv airport will reach 70,000.