Building a Rural Life in Bulgaria - Land, Property, and Prices

SOFIA, BULGARIA - Buying property seems obscenely expensive in our day and age, especially in urban centers. In some places, the countryside isn’t much cheaper. If someone has a dream of making a small, self-sufficient farm, or even goals of establishing permaculture, Bulgaria won’t just be a more economical option, but also a more fitting and fertile place than the vast majority of Europe or North America.

Getting property
The average price for a hectare of arable land in Bulgaria, in 2016, was put at €3,937 by Eurostat (although in one region it could be as cheap as €1,165). House prices vary widely in different regions. The houses in the area around Sofia, the capital city, tend to be the most expensive, as they are often used as villas for the wealthier inhabitants of the country.

However, there are certain aspects of the Bulgarian housing market that lead to lower prices of country houses. Sometimes as low as several thousand euro. First, the country’s job landscape changed quite recently. Bulgaria used to have a large industrial and agricultural landscape that supported country life. This is now changed, with most people being unable to find jobs outside of the major cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas, and many others going abroad.

Villages that used to house 1000-2000 inhabitants now have populations of 100-200 people, most of whom are elderly. This is another aspect that drives down prices. Many country houses are inhabited by older people. When these people pass away and there’s nobody to take care of the property, many families opt to gain some quick money and sell their house and land.

Another aspect of the housing market dates back to the period of redistribution of land during the communist regime. It may seem unusual for every family in a country to own a house in the province, but in Bulgaria, that’s the norm rather than the exception.

Gardening, farming, animal husbandry
The land in Bulgaria is fertile, and pretty much every house has the potential to produce food. Even some of the outskirt neighborhoods of the bigger cities like Sofia sport а scenery that’s not out of place in any village. That includes fruit gardens and chickens.

Many properties you find may even have a ready garden or planted trees. Of course, the conditions of the houses vary on a case-to-case basis.

Mobile houses
With the cheap prices of land, you can easily set up a mobile home. Some of the places in the country are so ignored by the local authorities that it’s unlikely that you’ll have much problem staying even if you don’t own the land. But don’t do anything that may be illegal or disruptive to the local order.

Community, markets, and setting up
Bulgaria tends to be a close-knit country with many different communities set up. People barter around for good to this day. Not because they can’t afford the fruits of capitalism, but because those fruits are of lesser quality than the produce of someone you may know. Getting homegrown and homemade vegetables, milk, meat, alcohol, and other items of country life isn’t as difficult or as expensive as it may be in other developed countries.

There are plenty of communities set up on the internet – mostly on Facebook and some forums. Bear in mind, however, that the people who operate in these communities may not speak the best English.

Level of comfort
Many of the houses that are being sold often lack heating, full plumbing, and may even lack electricity. This is perfect for someone who wants to get away from the modern world, but not so perfect if you’re looking to get a comfy villa for a weekend relaxation. Seeking a house nearer to major city centers may be preferable if you want to enjoy the fruits and comforts of civilization.

Internet coverage, however, tends to be good in most places, with 3G and 4G networks covering almost the entire country, except for some pretty extreme and isolated places.

Bulgaria has everything you need for a traditional, simple country life
That’s why so many older people continue to live it to this day. It’s undeniable that this lifestyle is dying, but that may only clear the path for those willing to enter it on their own accord. If you’re one of those people, then Bulgaria may be the perfect place to set up.

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