Fri, Feb 10 2012
Apartment prices in Bulgaria's capital continued climbing in the first months of 2007. Rent prices, however, experienced different trends.
In bigger cities, rent prices increased gradually, 24 Chassa newspaper reported. In Sofia, some rent prices decreased, mostly for smaller apartments.
Price decreases vary from eight to 20 per cent. Similar percentage increase is registered concerning other types of apartments.
Monthly rents for one-bedroom apartments exceed 200 euro. In more luxurious districts, the prices are even higher. Some districts like Belite Brezi, Izgrev and Lagera registered a rent decrease for smaller apartments.
Price variations in the rent market hinder agents from drawing predictions and evaluating the condition of the market, 24 Chassa reported.
In most bigger cities the rental values remain much lower than the ones in Sofia. In the coastal cities of Varna and Bourgas, the monthly rents for two-bedroom apartments vary between 205 and 300 euro.
Average market prices of homes in Sofia fell by one per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010, according to the Raiffeisen Real Estate Index, as quoted by Klasa daily.
Proportionately, the number of transactions in leva increased as people reacted to speculation that the euro would disappear.
Nearly all banks are ready to finance between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of the price of a home, provided it is a good building in a large city, Bulgarian daily says.
Property prices in Bulgaria were five to 10 per cent lower in 2011 than in 2010, while initial estimates for this year are that they will remain largely unchanged, with transactions remaining at ‘crisis levels’.
Bulgaria’s capital city Sofia ranks 17th, report says, quoting Global Property Guide.