Saturday, 31 July 2010
Not a fair cop
Recently the Bulgarian police have had a major crackdown on prostitution, the girls have been arrested on the road and several pimps arrested.However one case of mistaken identity has led to a raid from hell with one girl seriously injured when a family, including former police employees, was targetted and a girl seriously hurt amid allegations of police brutality.The police apparently tried to pay off the family to avoid what has become a major scandal.So what started out as a rational exercise to counter a very great bulgarian problem has now been messed up.
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Spirit of Burgas Festival 13-15 August
This years Spirit of Burgas Festival is nearly upon us and it's an exciting line up with the first night being headlined by the Progidy.The festival is recognised as one of the twenty best festivals of its kind and is located on the central beach.Further info can be seen at www.spiritofburgas.com.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Kaliakra countdown
Kaliakra Rock Fest 2010 starts on July 23 and, for those who are already in north-east Bulgaria by the seaside, the festive mood must be reaching a high point in anticipation of three days of heavy rock music.
For others, who are yet to make the trip to the coast, it would be a sound idea to start thinking of accommodation and travel arrangements to Kavarna as time is running out.
The first day of the festival will feature Leave's Eyes, Epica, Doro, Tarja and Atrocity as headliners. On the following day, July 24, the line up consists of Korpiklaani, Destruction, Sodom, Kreator and Autumn Sun.
Finally, on July 25, are Voivod, Primal Fear, Annihilator and Accept.
Anyone under 18 will only be admitted on the grounds of the festival with a guardian and only after a declaration form is signed by the guardian.
Single day event tickets cost 40 leva, while a three-day package ticket is at 90 leva. Tickets are available at M-Tel, Orange Centre, Fonex, Technomarket, Multirama, Office1 Superstore and www.ticketstream.bg.
For others, who are yet to make the trip to the coast, it would be a sound idea to start thinking of accommodation and travel arrangements to Kavarna as time is running out.
The first day of the festival will feature Leave's Eyes, Epica, Doro, Tarja and Atrocity as headliners. On the following day, July 24, the line up consists of Korpiklaani, Destruction, Sodom, Kreator and Autumn Sun.
Finally, on July 25, are Voivod, Primal Fear, Annihilator and Accept.
Anyone under 18 will only be admitted on the grounds of the festival with a guardian and only after a declaration form is signed by the guardian.
Single day event tickets cost 40 leva, while a three-day package ticket is at 90 leva. Tickets are available at M-Tel, Orange Centre, Fonex, Technomarket, Multirama, Office1 Superstore and www.ticketstream.bg.
Monday, 19 July 2010
St Marina
BULGARIAN ORTHODOX HONOR ST MARINA
The Orthodox world, including the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, mark Saturday the Day of Saint Marina.
According to the Golden Legend, she was a native of Antioch, daughter of a pagan priest named Aedesius. Marina was scorned by her father for her Christian faith, and lived in the country with a foster-mother keeping sheep. Olybrius, the praeses orientis (Governor of the Roman Diocese of the East), offered her marriage at the price of her renunciation of Christianity. Upon her refusal, she was cruelly tortured, during which various miraculous incidents occurred. One of these involved being swallowed by Satan in the shape of a dragon, from which she escaped alive when the cross she carried irritated the dragon's entrails. The Golden Legend, in an atypical moment of skepticism, describes this last incident as "apocryphal and not to be taken seriously" (trans. Ryan, 1.369). Marina was sentenced to death and murdered in 304 A.D. 304.
The focal point of the celebrations in Bulgaria is the second-largest city of Plovdiv and the St. Marina church in the city where the miracle-making icon of the Virgin Marry arrived from Jerusalem Friday evening. The icon, which will remain in Plovdiv until July 21, was met by hundreds of believers and was blessed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew.
St. Marina is a very popular and honored Saint by Bulgarians – it is said that she is the patron of health and visits the dreams of people, who believe in her to give them predictions about their future and advice how to avoid illness and bad fortune.
St. Marina is also considered to be the patron of waters and the protector of the Southern Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria. This is why July 17th is also the Day of the southern Black Sea town of Sozopol.
In Bulgaria, July 17 is also the name day of women called Marina and Marinka, and men called Marin and Marincho.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Surprise Surprise !
TOP BULGARIAN MODELS, SINGERS SAID TO MAKE MONEY AS PROSTITUTES
Top Bulgarian models, singers, and beauty pageant winners are also working as high-class prostitutes, a popular model has admitted.
Thus, a number of the popular Bulgarian beauties make about BGN 30 000-40 000 monthly by providing escort services to wealthy men, revealed model Katrin Vacheva in the “Code: Criminal” talks show on the Pro.bg TV channel.
According to Vacheva, many top models, pop-folk singers, and even former holders of the Miss Bulgaria title, who are featured on the covers of erotic Bulgarian magazines are featured in a catalog from which wealthy men, including businessmen, bankers, Members of Parliament and other politicians, can pick them and pay them for sexual services.
“When you become Miss Bulgaria or win some other pageant, your price goes up, and you become desired by higher-class gentlemen,” said Vacheva, who was severely beaten by a player of the Bulgarian football club CSKA Sofia in March 2010.
According to the authors of the Pro.bg talk show there are wealthy men in Bulgaria who become “collectors” of top girls, i.e. they aspire to use the services of every single girl featured on the cover of an erotic magazine.
Commenting on the same topic, Evgeniya Kalkandzieva, a former Miss Bulgaria and head of the largest Bulgarian agency for fashion models, confirmed she had heard of a catalog offering sexual services of top models but said she never saw it.
“There are rumors that a number of the Bulgarian model are also dealing with prostitution but I haven’t seen anything. There are over 100 fashion agencies in Bulgaria. Apparently, there is not enough work and money for all them. This means that some of them might offer their girls as company to wealth and powerful men,” said the 1995 winner of the Miss Bulgaria title. She also pointed out that the low fees that Bulgarian models get – between BGN 50 and BGN 300 – for their appearances might have driven many of them to offer paid sexual services.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
The good times roll...well nearly anyway
Mortgage loans for foreign nationals and Bulgarians working abroad are back on the Bulgarian banking market in response to reviving demand, banks and credit consultants said.
Tihomir Toshev, executive director of credit consultant Credit Center, said interest in this type of loans was zero at the time when the crisis was at its worst, forcing lenders to withdraw such offers.
Other consultants say that banks are imposing new requirements, such as targeting borrowers from specific nationalities and financing the purchases of a property whose construction the lender has backed.
UniCredit Bulbank said on July 13 2010 that it had launched mortgages for foreigners and Bulgarians working abroad, who could choose from among a list of 22 projects financed by the bank.
Tihomir Toshev, executive director of credit consultant Credit Center, said interest in this type of loans was zero at the time when the crisis was at its worst, forcing lenders to withdraw such offers.
Other consultants say that banks are imposing new requirements, such as targeting borrowers from specific nationalities and financing the purchases of a property whose construction the lender has backed.
UniCredit Bulbank said on July 13 2010 that it had launched mortgages for foreigners and Bulgarians working abroad, who could choose from among a list of 22 projects financed by the bank.
If you go down to the woods today you could be in for a big surprise...
A woman was attacked by a Bulgarian brown bear on the morning of July 14 2010 and was in a serious condition in hospital, Bulgarian media said.
The incident occurred at about 9am between the villages of Malka Arda and Oryahovets in south Bulgaria, in the Municipality of Banite, according to Malka Arda mayor Rossen Iliev, local news agency Focus said.
Two sisters had gone into the forest to collect mushrooms when they encountered a brown bear. One of the women managed to escape but the other one was cornered by the animal and attacked, suffering several "serious blows". The woman was taken by a paramedic unit to a hospital in Smolyan, the report said.
Police units, forest rangers and the village mayor went to the scene and were investigating.
In May 2010, a brown bear killed a man near the Smolyan village of Koutela, which prompted to the authorities to order the bear killed, Environmental Minister Nona Karadjova said. The minister said that such events are rare and that this was an "exceptional case".
Reasons for the fatal incident were cited as the "extreme proximity between the man and the bear". It is speculated that because bad weather made visibility difficult, the man ventured too close to the animal. Last year, there were three incidents between brown bears and humans, none of them were fatal.
The Bulgarian brown bear is, in effect, the (Ursus arctos arctos) a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), and found across northern Eurasia. The brown bear is also known as the "common brown bear", and colloquially by many other names.
The animal is widespread in Bulgaria. Bears are found on Vitosha Mountain, close to Sofia as well as Rila, Pirin, the Rhodope mountains, the Lozenska Mountain and Bulgaria's spine, the massive Stara Planina range.
The Bulgarian brown bear is a protected species, and their killing is authorised only if they have been proven to attack humans.
The incident occurred at about 9am between the villages of Malka Arda and Oryahovets in south Bulgaria, in the Municipality of Banite, according to Malka Arda mayor Rossen Iliev, local news agency Focus said.
Two sisters had gone into the forest to collect mushrooms when they encountered a brown bear. One of the women managed to escape but the other one was cornered by the animal and attacked, suffering several "serious blows". The woman was taken by a paramedic unit to a hospital in Smolyan, the report said.
Police units, forest rangers and the village mayor went to the scene and were investigating.
In May 2010, a brown bear killed a man near the Smolyan village of Koutela, which prompted to the authorities to order the bear killed, Environmental Minister Nona Karadjova said. The minister said that such events are rare and that this was an "exceptional case".
Reasons for the fatal incident were cited as the "extreme proximity between the man and the bear". It is speculated that because bad weather made visibility difficult, the man ventured too close to the animal. Last year, there were three incidents between brown bears and humans, none of them were fatal.
The Bulgarian brown bear is, in effect, the (Ursus arctos arctos) a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), and found across northern Eurasia. The brown bear is also known as the "common brown bear", and colloquially by many other names.
The animal is widespread in Bulgaria. Bears are found on Vitosha Mountain, close to Sofia as well as Rila, Pirin, the Rhodope mountains, the Lozenska Mountain and Bulgaria's spine, the massive Stara Planina range.
The Bulgarian brown bear is a protected species, and their killing is authorised only if they have been proven to attack humans.
Crime Fighters !
JOINT POLICE UNITS WITH ROMANIA PATROL BULGARIAN BLACK SEA RESORTS
Joint Bulgarian-Romanian police units have started patrolling Bulgaria’s top Black Sea resorts Albena and Golden Sands.
The joint police patrols are under a project of the Interior Ministers of Bulgaria and Romania, and designed to help alleviate any issues encountered by the increasing numbers of Romanian holidaymakers along Bulgaria’s northern Black Sea coast.
Two senior officers from the Romanian police arrived in Bulgaria last night for coordination meetings with the regional Bulgarian police directorates in the northeastern districts of Dobrich and Varna.
The first four Romanian police officers have already joined their Bulgarian colleagues.
The Romanian policemen are wearing their national uniforms. They will help the Bulgarian officers when dealing with Romanian tourists; the police powers will be exercised only the Bulgarian policemen.
These principles of joint work were laid down in a document signed at the end of June by the Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry Kalin Georgiev, and the General Inspector of the Romanian Police Petre Toba in Giurgiu.
The authorities of Bulgaria and Romania have come to an agreement for joint police patrols in the Bulgarian Black Sea resorts after an enormous number of Romanian tourists stormed the Bulgarian seaside in the recent years.
The Romanian holidaymakers prefer the northern Bulgarian sea resorts Albena and Golden Sands. About 1 million Romanian tourists are estimated to have visited Bulgaria in 2009. Meanwhile, in the spring of 2010, a number of Romanians have become the victims of crimes such as car theft in the Bulgarian resorts.
The agreements also provide for similar joint patrols on Romanian territory. However, those are not likely to be needed as the number of Bulgarian tourists in Romania is much more modest.
Uncles Comment: Sounds ok in principle, but basically if your car gets stolen it gets stolen.Having police of your own nationality is of limited help.More bi-lingual police would help though.
Joint Bulgarian-Romanian police units have started patrolling Bulgaria’s top Black Sea resorts Albena and Golden Sands.
The joint police patrols are under a project of the Interior Ministers of Bulgaria and Romania, and designed to help alleviate any issues encountered by the increasing numbers of Romanian holidaymakers along Bulgaria’s northern Black Sea coast.
Two senior officers from the Romanian police arrived in Bulgaria last night for coordination meetings with the regional Bulgarian police directorates in the northeastern districts of Dobrich and Varna.
The first four Romanian police officers have already joined their Bulgarian colleagues.
The Romanian policemen are wearing their national uniforms. They will help the Bulgarian officers when dealing with Romanian tourists; the police powers will be exercised only the Bulgarian policemen.
These principles of joint work were laid down in a document signed at the end of June by the Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry Kalin Georgiev, and the General Inspector of the Romanian Police Petre Toba in Giurgiu.
The authorities of Bulgaria and Romania have come to an agreement for joint police patrols in the Bulgarian Black Sea resorts after an enormous number of Romanian tourists stormed the Bulgarian seaside in the recent years.
The Romanian holidaymakers prefer the northern Bulgarian sea resorts Albena and Golden Sands. About 1 million Romanian tourists are estimated to have visited Bulgaria in 2009. Meanwhile, in the spring of 2010, a number of Romanians have become the victims of crimes such as car theft in the Bulgarian resorts.
The agreements also provide for similar joint patrols on Romanian territory. However, those are not likely to be needed as the number of Bulgarian tourists in Romania is much more modest.
Uncles Comment: Sounds ok in principle, but basically if your car gets stolen it gets stolen.Having police of your own nationality is of limited help.More bi-lingual police would help though.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Website is back
After a few days of website problems, I am relieved to announce that my property and building website is now back in the land of the living.Please have a look for the latest offers and bargains.I needed these problems like a hole in the head as we approach peak season !.Click on the title to access.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Placido Domingo in Balchik
The Bulgarian town of Balchik negotiates a concert of one of the most popular tenors in the world, Placido Domingo, the town mayor announced Thursday.
Domingo has agreed to visit Bulgaria for 3 days and entertain the Bulgarian audience on September 4. However, the organizers have not confirmed the exact date yet.
A stage and 3 000 seats are the only requirements of the singer's team. The choice for the stage fell on Balchik's historical palace, which serves as a stage for many other concerts and festivals.
Details for the program of Domingo's concert and his stay in Bulgaria will be known in 10 days.
In the meantime, Balchik will enjoy other opera stars who will participate in the city's first Summer Music Festival “Balchik Classic Days”. The forum will be held August 5-15 and will emphasize on the Mediterranean music.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Flood Warning
The situation with the level of the river Danube in the Bulgarian stretch is still critical, even though in most sections it subsided overnight by six cm.
Levels of the Danube river are threatening north-western Bulgarian town of Lom with flooding. The river at Lom reached as high as 870 cm on Friday morning, which has obstructed activities in the town's port.
Homes in some neighborhoods are starting to get flooded by underground waters. There is danger that drinking water in Lom can be contaminated by flood waters.
Constant monitoring of the level of Danube is under way in Russe, Bulgaria's largest town on the Danube river, Vidin and Silistra.
The level of the river has been steadily rising for the last few weeks and the weather forecasts are troubling, with more rain coming this week. Local authorities are also keeping an eye on nearby tributaries flowing into the Danube.
Lom and other Bulgarian towns on the Danube suffered considerable damage from floods in 2005.
Uncle's Comment : The situation is dire in Romania where several people have died and the government and the Met Office are at daggers drawn.
Levels of the Danube river are threatening north-western Bulgarian town of Lom with flooding. The river at Lom reached as high as 870 cm on Friday morning, which has obstructed activities in the town's port.
Homes in some neighborhoods are starting to get flooded by underground waters. There is danger that drinking water in Lom can be contaminated by flood waters.
Constant monitoring of the level of Danube is under way in Russe, Bulgaria's largest town on the Danube river, Vidin and Silistra.
The level of the river has been steadily rising for the last few weeks and the weather forecasts are troubling, with more rain coming this week. Local authorities are also keeping an eye on nearby tributaries flowing into the Danube.
Lom and other Bulgarian towns on the Danube suffered considerable damage from floods in 2005.
Uncle's Comment : The situation is dire in Romania where several people have died and the government and the Met Office are at daggers drawn.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Sale of the century !
Stressed-out city executives looking to get away from it all have the chance to buy their own rural village in New Zealand, complete with a pub and population of 40. Skip related content
Otira, a hamlet on the rainy west coast of New Zealand's South Island, is on the market for $NZ1 million (475,645 pounds).
Current owners Bill and Christine Hennah bought the rundown village in 1998 after passing through and "feeling sorry for it," Christchurch-based newspaper The Press reported on Friday.They paid $NZ80,000 (37,253 pounds) for the hotel or pub, school, railway station, town hall and 18 houses making up the village near the Arthur's Pass National Park that dates back to 1923.
The village developed when the Otira railway tunnel was opened, and during its heyday was home to about 600 workers and their families.
But the couple, now aged in their 60s, say they no longer have the energy to run the hotel. They are asking $NZ350,000 for the hotel or $NZ1 million for the whole lot.
"We need someone to build it up again. There is a lot of potential and opportunity," Christine Hennah told The Press.
Uncle's Note: Sounds like a bargain !.
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Anti corruption drive produces results
The Bulgarian Interior Ministry have launched a police operation codenamed "Border", which is currently aimed at ending corrupt police practices on the Kapitan Andreevo border frontier checkpoint with Turkey, Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov was quoted as saying by Dnevnik daily on June 30 2010.
According to Tsvetanov, authorities observed that people crossing the border had been harassed and coerced into paying bribes by Bulgarian border police.
Several companies that frequented the border crossing were "tagged" by Bulgarian police in order to collect evidence. "The systematic abuse has been going on for years. We have received numerous complaints in the past from EC countries and no one did anything about it. We will put an end to it," Tsvetanov said at a press conference.
The investigation revealed that some officers regularly took small bribes ranging from five to 20 euro from people crossing the border. During the investigation controlled checks were administered on certain transport companies, drivers and tourists, while all bribes were meticulously documented, the report said.
The operation is being conducted by units from the Internal Police department along with the Interior Ministry and the chief directorate for combating organised crime CDCOC.
According to Tsvetanov, authorities observed that people crossing the border had been harassed and coerced into paying bribes by Bulgarian border police.
Several companies that frequented the border crossing were "tagged" by Bulgarian police in order to collect evidence. "The systematic abuse has been going on for years. We have received numerous complaints in the past from EC countries and no one did anything about it. We will put an end to it," Tsvetanov said at a press conference.
The investigation revealed that some officers regularly took small bribes ranging from five to 20 euro from people crossing the border. During the investigation controlled checks were administered on certain transport companies, drivers and tourists, while all bribes were meticulously documented, the report said.
The operation is being conducted by units from the Internal Police department along with the Interior Ministry and the chief directorate for combating organised crime CDCOC.
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Bargains
British holidaymakers would be far better off financially if they went on holiday in Bulgaria rather than Brighton - on the south coast of England - according to a survey by Tesco Travel Money, even once the cost of flights is factored into the overall price.
The survey includes the costs of accommodation, car hire, meals and expenses but not air fares.
The survey reveals that a week in Sofia would cost a family of four 1221 pounds, while a seven-night break in Brighton would set them back 2209 pounds.
Bulgaria works out cheaper than any other country quoted in the survey which, ironically, placed Iceland as the most expensive destination, ahead of Italy, Spain, Croatia, France, Portugal, Greece and the UK - in that order.
Poland, Hungary, Cyprus and Slovenia are all ranked as considerably more expensive than Bulgaria.
Holidays in Turkey and Cyprus would also be cheaper for a British family of four than a stay in Brighton, according to the survey. The figure for Brighton came out at between 390 to 2209 pounds more than buying the equivalent items in Bodrum in Turkey, currently a popular resort for British holidaymakers.
The survey includes the costs of accommodation, car hire, meals and expenses but not air fares.
The survey reveals that a week in Sofia would cost a family of four 1221 pounds, while a seven-night break in Brighton would set them back 2209 pounds.
Bulgaria works out cheaper than any other country quoted in the survey which, ironically, placed Iceland as the most expensive destination, ahead of Italy, Spain, Croatia, France, Portugal, Greece and the UK - in that order.
Poland, Hungary, Cyprus and Slovenia are all ranked as considerably more expensive than Bulgaria.
Holidays in Turkey and Cyprus would also be cheaper for a British family of four than a stay in Brighton, according to the survey. The figure for Brighton came out at between 390 to 2209 pounds more than buying the equivalent items in Bodrum in Turkey, currently a popular resort for British holidaymakers.
Bulgarian surprise at Wimbledon
Bulgaria's best tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova won 6:2, 6:3 against Venus Williams of the US during their quarter final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London.
There will be no all-Williams final at Wimbledon after the No. 2 seed Venus Williams lost to the unseeded Bulgarian player.
The Court One crowd gave Pironkova a standing ovation as she went off - but the 22-year-old actually walked off ahead of the beaten Venus Williams.
"It seems like a dream. Coming here, I never thought I'd play this well and reach this part of the tournament. I'm very happy, “ Pironkova told BBC.
“I think I played pretty well. I'm happy with my game. She also did well, but I have one win over her and I actually thought I could win and I was going for it. I love this tournament. Every time I come here I enjoy it, the atmosphere and everything. I can imagine people are really happy in Bulgaria and maybe I'm on the news there…"
“This is a fabulous effort by Tsvetana Pironkova. Venus struggled to keep the ball in court, but the American has been rattled by the bravery of her opponent,“ BBC commented.
Four years ago Pironkova, aged then 18, kicked out Wimbledon champion Venus Williams out of the prestigious Australian Open. Williams, seeded 10th, fell 2-6, 6-0, 9- 7 to Pironkova, appearing in her first Grand Slam tennis tournament and ranked 94th.
Sofia Property bottoms out
Sofia Residential Property Prices Mark Negligible Decrease in H1
Properties
The average asking sales prices for residential property in the Bulgarian capital Sofia continued to fall, though slightly, in the first part of 2010, data of realtors shows.
Prime neighborhoods have a negligible, average decrease of 3% for the first half of the year, while the year-on-year comparison shows an average decrease of 17%, according to a report of Colliers International.
The average asking sales prices in prime neighborhoods such as the Doctor's Garden, Lozenets, Ivan Vazov and Iztok stabilize in the beginning of the year. On year-on-year basis, the average decrease is around 15%.
The emerging areas Vitosha, Bukston and Manastirski Livadi saw a decrease in the average asking prices of 5-6%, with an average 19% year-on-year decrease.
The fall in prices is due to soft demand, Colliers experts say.
Developers remain flexible; willing to offerattractive schemes for installment payment, finishing works or parking spaces as well as rent-to-buy opportunity.
Buyers are careful and have high expectations from the developers. Few, if any, transactions are closed on the asking sales prices.
Buyers' budgets remain limited – buyers are rarely willing to exceed prices above EUR 1,000/sqm. The average threshold of a one bedroom apartment is EUR 40-50,000 with EUR 70-90,000 for two bedroom apartments, depending on the neighborhood.
Experts point out that the positive development in macroeconomic indicators such as unemployment and GDP give ground for moderate optimism in terms of the demand.
"Encouraging development in consumer confidence, together with the availability of mortgage financing further creates the prerequisites for a recovery of the residential market,“ reads Colliers report, adding that the light at the end of the tunnel is certainly visible.
The supply in the first half of 2010 grows very moderately, according to Colliers report.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute, the number of construction permits issued for Sofia for Q1 2010 fell with 26% compared to the same quarter in 2009. The average number of units per residential building is 2.6 for Q1 2010, compared to 4.2 in 2009 as developers ambitions dwindle. O
The number of newly completed units in Sofia almost halved in Q1 compared to the first quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, no large-scale projects were started during the first six months of the year, but some residential projects have obtained fresh injection of financing, and have resumed construction.
Properties
The average asking sales prices for residential property in the Bulgarian capital Sofia continued to fall, though slightly, in the first part of 2010, data of realtors shows.
Prime neighborhoods have a negligible, average decrease of 3% for the first half of the year, while the year-on-year comparison shows an average decrease of 17%, according to a report of Colliers International.
The average asking sales prices in prime neighborhoods such as the Doctor's Garden, Lozenets, Ivan Vazov and Iztok stabilize in the beginning of the year. On year-on-year basis, the average decrease is around 15%.
The emerging areas Vitosha, Bukston and Manastirski Livadi saw a decrease in the average asking prices of 5-6%, with an average 19% year-on-year decrease.
The fall in prices is due to soft demand, Colliers experts say.
Developers remain flexible; willing to offerattractive schemes for installment payment, finishing works or parking spaces as well as rent-to-buy opportunity.
Buyers are careful and have high expectations from the developers. Few, if any, transactions are closed on the asking sales prices.
Buyers' budgets remain limited – buyers are rarely willing to exceed prices above EUR 1,000/sqm. The average threshold of a one bedroom apartment is EUR 40-50,000 with EUR 70-90,000 for two bedroom apartments, depending on the neighborhood.
Experts point out that the positive development in macroeconomic indicators such as unemployment and GDP give ground for moderate optimism in terms of the demand.
"Encouraging development in consumer confidence, together with the availability of mortgage financing further creates the prerequisites for a recovery of the residential market,“ reads Colliers report, adding that the light at the end of the tunnel is certainly visible.
The supply in the first half of 2010 grows very moderately, according to Colliers report.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute, the number of construction permits issued for Sofia for Q1 2010 fell with 26% compared to the same quarter in 2009. The average number of units per residential building is 2.6 for Q1 2010, compared to 4.2 in 2009 as developers ambitions dwindle. O
The number of newly completed units in Sofia almost halved in Q1 compared to the first quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, no large-scale projects were started during the first six months of the year, but some residential projects have obtained fresh injection of financing, and have resumed construction.
On a happier footballing note..
WEST HAM are lining up a £6million bid for Mexico's highly-rated midfielder Efrain Juarez.
The 22-year-old, who can play in central midfield and at right-back, is keen on a switch to the Premier League.West Ham officials are trying to keep the move under wraps, but boss Avram Grant is keen to wrap up a deal quickly.
Now the Hammers are hoping to finalise the switch in the next few weeks following Mexico's exit from the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the club has launched an ambitious £10m bid to sign prolific Nice striker Loic Remy, 23, a target for Arsenal.
PC News
BULGARIA, ROMANIA INK POLICE COOPERATION DEAL TO PROTECT TOURISTS
The Interior Ministries of Bulgaria and Romania have signed a cooperation agreement providing for the transfer of police officers from one country to the other.
The deal was signed Monday in the Romanian Danube town of Giurgiu by the Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Interior Kalin Georgiev and his Romanian counterpart Petre Toba. It was initially announced earlier in June.
The document provides for joint traffic police activities in the border regions and for joint patrolling to ensure the keeping of public order.
The major rationale for the Bulgarian-Romanian agreement is the large number of Romanian tourists visiting the Bulgarian Black Sea coast where some of them have been the victims of crimes such as car theft. According to the Bulgarian government data, about 1 million Romanian tourists visited Bulgaria in 2009.
Thus, the police cooperate deal will allow Romanian police officers to help their Bulgarian partners primarily with respect to cases whether Romanian visitors are involved. The document also provides an opportunity for sending Bulgarian policemen to Romania but the scale of such a measure will likely be much smaller because of the fewer Bulgarian visitors to Romania.
The Interior Ministries of Bulgaria and Romania have signed a cooperation agreement providing for the transfer of police officers from one country to the other.
The deal was signed Monday in the Romanian Danube town of Giurgiu by the Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Interior Kalin Georgiev and his Romanian counterpart Petre Toba. It was initially announced earlier in June.
The document provides for joint traffic police activities in the border regions and for joint patrolling to ensure the keeping of public order.
The major rationale for the Bulgarian-Romanian agreement is the large number of Romanian tourists visiting the Bulgarian Black Sea coast where some of them have been the victims of crimes such as car theft. According to the Bulgarian government data, about 1 million Romanian tourists visited Bulgaria in 2009.
Thus, the police cooperate deal will allow Romanian police officers to help their Bulgarian partners primarily with respect to cases whether Romanian visitors are involved. The document also provides an opportunity for sending Bulgarian policemen to Romania but the scale of such a measure will likely be much smaller because of the fewer Bulgarian visitors to Romania.
Monday, 28 June 2010
Russian News Part 2
A big rise of Russian investment in Bulgarian real estate along the Black Sea coast has been reported by private Bulgarian television channel bTV on June 25 2010.
About 100 000 Russians have purchased property along the Bulgarian coast. According to Yuri Salovyov, Russian general secretary to the Russian embassy in Varna, this means that more than 300 000 Russians regularly spend their holidays in the country, given that they normally arrive with their families.
"Multiply that by the amount of money invested in real estate itself, and the tax collected by the state, in addition to the fact that many Russians don't simply spend their holidays here, but they live here, and one can see the contribution to the Bulgarian economy," Salovyov said.
Russians generally tend to choose property along large resorts on the coast, or the Bulgarian mountains, but they also settle occasionally for a quiet, rural way of life in small villages, the report said.
"The great demand for real estate, which initially came from the UK and other English-speaking countries, is being steadily replaced by Russian-speakers," said municipal mayor Avren Todorov.
"Many Russians are seeking to buy single family homes facing the seafront or flats in the cities, as many of them have decided to outsource their business to Bulgaria and move here permanently," real estate agent Stefan Atanassov told the bTV.
About 100 000 Russians have purchased property along the Bulgarian coast. According to Yuri Salovyov, Russian general secretary to the Russian embassy in Varna, this means that more than 300 000 Russians regularly spend their holidays in the country, given that they normally arrive with their families.
"Multiply that by the amount of money invested in real estate itself, and the tax collected by the state, in addition to the fact that many Russians don't simply spend their holidays here, but they live here, and one can see the contribution to the Bulgarian economy," Salovyov said.
Russians generally tend to choose property along large resorts on the coast, or the Bulgarian mountains, but they also settle occasionally for a quiet, rural way of life in small villages, the report said.
"The great demand for real estate, which initially came from the UK and other English-speaking countries, is being steadily replaced by Russian-speakers," said municipal mayor Avren Todorov.
"Many Russians are seeking to buy single family homes facing the seafront or flats in the cities, as many of them have decided to outsource their business to Bulgaria and move here permanently," real estate agent Stefan Atanassov told the bTV.
Friday, 25 June 2010
Russian news
RUSSIAN REAL ESTATE OWNERS IN BULGARIA UNITE TO FORM OWN NGO
Russian owners of properties in Bulgaria have registered a non-governmental organization to protect their interests as a staggering number of Russians have acquired real estate in the country in recent years.
The new “Association of the Russian-Speaking Owners of Real Estate in Bulgaria” named “Alyosha” has been registered in the Black Sea city of Burgas but also has a branch in Varna, announced Thursday its Chair Alexander Anisimov.
Anisimov presented the new NGO together with the Russian Federation consul in Varna, Yury Solovyov, who said that even though there is no precise statistical information about the number of Russian property owners in Bulgaria but that they are estimated to be at least 300 000. Many of them own properties along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
A number of “the Russian-speaking” property owners are from other former Soviet Union republics such as Ukraine or Armenia.
Several days ago Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Yury Isakov said the Russian property investments in Bulgaria amounted to more than EUR 1 B.
According to the founders of the NGO of Russian-speaking property of owners in Bulgaria, its goal is to defend the property and social rights of its members and to assist them with various legal procedure when acquiring or selling Bulgarian real estate.
Its Chair Anisimov announced that five Russia citizens have already filed suits over problems with Bulgarian construction companies. The future owners made advance payment but did not receive their completed apartments within the deadline.
The NGO is going to help investigate whether the Russians have been defrauded or whether the construction companies went bankrupt. It is also starting to compile a list of unfair construction firms and of other providing high-quality services.
“Medical help is a huge issue for the Russians residing in Bulgaria. Most of them don’t know whom to turn to when they get sick,” Anisimov explained saying that the NGO will also employ two doctors which will work on call for its members.
At the same time, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the number of Russian tourists in Bulgaria is on the rise as the Bulgarian consular offices issued 10 000 more visas to Russians in the first have months of the year compared to same period of 2009.
The 100 000th Bulgarian tourist visa for a Russian citizen was issued on June 22. In comparison, in 2009 this number was not reached until July 13.
Russian owners of properties in Bulgaria have registered a non-governmental organization to protect their interests as a staggering number of Russians have acquired real estate in the country in recent years.
The new “Association of the Russian-Speaking Owners of Real Estate in Bulgaria” named “Alyosha” has been registered in the Black Sea city of Burgas but also has a branch in Varna, announced Thursday its Chair Alexander Anisimov.
Anisimov presented the new NGO together with the Russian Federation consul in Varna, Yury Solovyov, who said that even though there is no precise statistical information about the number of Russian property owners in Bulgaria but that they are estimated to be at least 300 000. Many of them own properties along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
A number of “the Russian-speaking” property owners are from other former Soviet Union republics such as Ukraine or Armenia.
Several days ago Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Yury Isakov said the Russian property investments in Bulgaria amounted to more than EUR 1 B.
According to the founders of the NGO of Russian-speaking property of owners in Bulgaria, its goal is to defend the property and social rights of its members and to assist them with various legal procedure when acquiring or selling Bulgarian real estate.
Its Chair Anisimov announced that five Russia citizens have already filed suits over problems with Bulgarian construction companies. The future owners made advance payment but did not receive their completed apartments within the deadline.
The NGO is going to help investigate whether the Russians have been defrauded or whether the construction companies went bankrupt. It is also starting to compile a list of unfair construction firms and of other providing high-quality services.
“Medical help is a huge issue for the Russians residing in Bulgaria. Most of them don’t know whom to turn to when they get sick,” Anisimov explained saying that the NGO will also employ two doctors which will work on call for its members.
At the same time, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the number of Russian tourists in Bulgaria is on the rise as the Bulgarian consular offices issued 10 000 more visas to Russians in the first have months of the year compared to same period of 2009.
The 100 000th Bulgarian tourist visa for a Russian citizen was issued on June 22. In comparison, in 2009 this number was not reached until July 13.
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