This being Arkadiusz Jamski’s second or third time in Bulgaria provides him a larger perspective of the realities of the Bulgarian property market. In Poland, he says, demand for residential space is continually increasing, as are prices – and supply is lacking. As differs from Bulgaria, however, the market is mostly local, without the great interest in holiday properties and foreign investors that this country is experiencing. “It’s mostly people who want to change from communist blocks to the new ones. The Polish people who went (abroad) to work are sending back money. It’s a good investment opportunity.”

Investment risk in Poland is less than in Bulgaria, Jamski says, as most investors in Bulgaria have invested in holiday homes, “which is good, but one day people will move to another resort”. In Poland, it’s permanent residents who drive the market.

For Jamski, Sofia wins out over Bucharest as a place to live, because it is not so industrial. He sees the demand for property – namely holiday, which he views as the main source of interest for investors – as continuing for a few more years, “like every Central and Eastern European country. Western Europe is a bit saturated”. But the industrial market is more sustainable, so for Bucharest, he finds that a positive.

“There is a lot to do here (in Sofia and the rest of the country) – refurbishment, small reconstructions, high-profile investment, cheap labour, educated workers,” he says.

A newish 50 sq m flat in the centre of Warsaw, where Jamski works as head of sales of CEPIF, a department of redNet Property Group, would rent for about 500 euro a month. Most new construction is designed on a livable scale – residential buildings are small and comfortable, usually about four stories. And people want quality, and they’re willing to pay for it.