Fri, Feb 10 2012
Real estate fund Bouwfonds Property Development (BPD), part of Dutch financial group Rabobank is investigating the execution of a project in Bulgaria.
The fund is also interested in investment projects in Romania and other countries in the region, investor.bg reported.
BPD representatives said that it was early to make specific plans but a decision is to be taken within six months.
The company will focus on residential property projects and possibly on commercial property.
According to media reports, BPD intended to open an office in Romania by the end of 2007. BPS said that despite its interest in the country, nothing has been decided yet.
Bouwfonds was under the ownership of banking group ABN AMRO until December 1 2006 after which it was purchased by Rabobank for over 800 million euro. The company's net profit for 2006 is estimated to 189 million euro.
Established in the 60s, Bouwfonds currently operates in France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
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.