Fri, Feb 10 2012
Investor interest in business property in Bulgaria grows. Most investors plan developments like retail centres, real estate agents said.
Bulgaria faces numerous problems related to retail and office space, investor.bg reported.
Figures for Bulgaria show that 160 sq m of retail space is available in Bulgaria per 1000 people. In comparison, 1000 people in Poland enjoy 520 sq m of trade area.
Concerning office space, the situation is similar. An employee should have on the average 22 sq m of office space. In Bulgaria, employees have only eight sq m.
Bulgaria also lacks storage facilities meeting the international standards. The problem is similar concerning logistics centres.
The shortage gives investors the chance to develop in the business property segment, agents said.
Various companies have researched opportunities for the execution of such projects in Bulgaria but specific plans have not been presented yet.
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.