Purchase of business property as early as in project phase is the new trend on the property market in Bulgaria.

Most of the developments are being sold out before the first sod is turned, Dnevnik daily reported.

Still, the property buyers demand all the administrative procedures do be done before the purchase.

The purchase of Mall Plovdiv by General Electric Real Estate and Quinlan was the last example of the trend, Dnevnik said. Mall Plovdiv was sold for nearly 100 million euro, according to Dow Jones.

Report of CB Richard Ellis said that foreign investment in Bulgaria and Romania registered an increase in 2006 and the trend was to continue in 2007.

The revenue from business property dropped to seven per cent in 2006 and will continue decreasing, the report said. In the same time, plot prices rose by 15 to 20 per cent since the beginning of 2007.