Fri, Feb 10 2012
Current monthly rents for luxury flats with a garage or parking place in Plovdiv averages 350 euro, according to an analysis of rental trends at the turn of the year, carried out by Europolis real estate agency.
Two-room apartments in Plovdiv's downtown and in Kurshiaka neighbourhood are sought the most. Three-room flats do not enjoy high demand and their supply is limited anyway, managing Daniela Dimitrova said in a statement. A new construction apartment or a lavishly furnished one can let out at 250-550 euro a month and old brick or pre-fab flat, as well as flats that have not been re-furbished, rent out at 200-250 euro, she added.
There is a poor demand for unfurnished units on Plovdiv market, according to the Europolis report. Middle and low-quality units are not popular either, renting at an average of 175 euroa month and tenants insist on having at least basic kitchen equipment.
Europolis, which was founded in Greece in 1995, but now operates in Central and Eastern European countries, has chosen Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-biggest city, for the location of its first office in the country. The company manages 35 office buildings, logistics parks and trade centres in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Russia and Ukraine.
Apart from dealing in brokerage and property management, Europolis plans for Bulgarian market include a five million leva investment in land in the town of Rousse and the possible development of a holiday scheme in Karlovo.
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.