Polina Stoykova to Euronews Bulgaria: International Interest in Bulgarian Property Is Set to Grow

Bulgaria's property market is entering a more balanced phase, with price growth slowing but no signs of a market crash. At the same time, the country's entry into the eurozone is creating new opportunities to attract international property buyers and investors. These were among the key messages shared by Polina Stoykova MRICS, Managing Director of BULGARIAN PROPERTIES, during an interview with Euronews Bulgaria.

The discussion explored the outlook for Bulgaria's housing market in 2026, property prices, affordability, changing buyer preferences and the opportunities emerging for international buyers.

With extensive experience working with overseas clients across Bulgaria, BULGARIAN PROPERTIES is observing growing interest in the country not only as a holiday home destination, but also as a place to relocate, retire or invest.

Bulgaria Offers Property Opportunities for Every Budget and Lifestyle

One of Bulgaria's greatest advantages is the diversity of its property market. From affordable rural houses and traditional village properties to modern city apartments, seaside residences and mountain holiday homes, the country offers opportunities to suit a wide range of budgets and personal goals.

"Bulgaria offers an enormous variety of properties that can meet almost every type of demand. We even have a selection of properties priced at around ˆ10,000," Polina Stoykova explained.

According to her, international buyers often approach the Bulgarian property market with greater flexibility than local purchasers.

Rather than arriving with a fixed location or property type in mind, many overseas clients are willing to explore different regions and opportunities depending on their budget, lifestyle preferences and plans for the future.

Some are looking for inexpensive village houses that they can renovate and personalise, creating a second home or a permanent residence at a relatively modest cost.

Others are considering retirement in Bulgaria, attracted by its beautiful countryside, peaceful surroundings and the opportunity to enjoy a different pace of life.

For buyers seeking a more active lifestyle, Bulgaria also offers established seaside and mountain resorts, vibrant cities and an increasing selection of contemporary residential developments.

This variety means that international buyers are not limited to the capital or the country's best-known holiday destinations.

Where Are International Buyers Looking in Bulgaria?

BULGARIAN PROPERTIES operates nationwide, providing the company with a broad perspective on overseas demand across different regions and property segments.

Foreign buyers are active in several distinct areas of the market:

Sofia and other major cities: Apartments for permanent residence, relocation and rental investment.

Black Sea coast: Holiday apartments, seaside homes and properties suitable for personal use or letting.

Mountain resorts: Ski properties, holiday homes and apartments in established destinations such as Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo.

Rural Bulgaria: Affordable houses, renovation projects and countryside properties offering privacy, space and a quieter lifestyle.

Smaller towns and villages: Alternative locations for buyers looking beyond the larger cities, often with more accessible property prices.

While Sofia has become considerably more expensive in recent years, Bulgaria's regional markets continue to offer opportunities at very different price levels.

"Sofia is certainly no longer the inexpensive property market it once was, and its prices are increasingly comparable with European levels. However, Bulgaria as a whole still offers an exceptional range of options," Stoykova noted.

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This geographical and price diversity remains particularly appealing to international buyers who are willing to consider locations beyond the most established markets.

Eurozone Membership Could Bring a New Wave of International Buyers

Bulgaria's adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026 marks an important milestone for the country's economy and property market.

According to Polina Stoykova, the impact on international property demand is only beginning to emerge.

"Now that Bulgaria is part of the eurozone, many people are exploring opportunities to buy property and invest here. I believe we are yet to see the full extent of this interest."

The common currency makes property prices and transactions easier to compare with those in other eurozone countries, while eliminating exchange-rate considerations between the Bulgarian lev and the euro.

For international purchasers, particularly those from other European countries, this creates a more familiar environment in which to evaluate Bulgarian property opportunities.

BULGARIAN PROPERTIES is also observing interest from international media organisations planning programmes and productions about buying property in Bulgaria.

Such attention is expected to further increase the country's visibility among prospective overseas buyers.

Stoykova believes the profile of international demand could broaden over time, with more buyers considering residential property investments in Bulgaria's major cities alongside the traditional holiday home and rural property markets.

"I expect investment interest to strengthen and to see more international purchases in the larger cities. We are working actively in this direction," she said.

Bulgarian Property Prices: Slower Growth, Not a Market Crash

For international buyers considering whether to enter the market now or wait, the outlook for property prices is particularly important.

Polina Stoykova emphasised that the Bulgarian property market remains fundamentally stable, despite the slowdown in transactions compared with the exceptionally active previous years.

"There are no signs of a market crash. The market is quite stable. What we are seeing is simply a slowdown in price growth, which is entirely normal after so many years of rapid increases."

According to BULGARIAN PROPERTIES' market observations, annual price increases that previously exceeded 20% have moderated to approximately 10–15%.

Quarterly price changes are now generally within a range of 0–5%, indicating that prices are beginning to stabilise around their recently achieved levels.

The strong growth of recent years was supported by several factors, including rising incomes, low mortgage interest rates, low unemployment and expectations surrounding Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone.

Many purchases were brought forward into 2025, before the adoption of the euro, contributing to exceptionally strong activity and a peak in property prices towards the end of that year.

The market is now moving into a more balanced phase.

Stoykova expects this period of moderation and relative price stability to continue into the first half of 2027, although the outlook remains dependent on wider economic conditions.

Is Property in Sofia Still Affordable?

Sofia has experienced some of the strongest property price increases in Bulgaria, and finding an apartment below ˆ2,000 per square metre has become increasingly difficult.

According to Stoykova, properties offered below this threshold are now exceptional opportunities, generally associated with the earliest stages of new residential developments.

Much of the market is priced above ˆ2,500 per square metre.

Nevertheless, she pointed out that housing affordability should be assessed in relation to local incomes, rather than property prices alone.


BULGARIAN PROPERTIES monitors an affordability indicator measuring how many average monthly salaries are required to purchase one square metre of residential property.

In Sofia, this ratio recently reached approximately 1.5 before improving slightly to around 1.4.

By comparison, during the previous major property boom in 2008, approximately three average monthly salaries were needed to purchase one square metre.

Although Sofia is no longer a low-cost capital, the relationship between housing prices and local earnings remains considerably more favourable than during that earlier market peak.

Should International Buyers Purchase Now or Wait?

One of the central questions addressed during the interview was whether prospective buyers should postpone their plans in the hope of lower property prices.

Polina Stoykova's advice was to remain active in the market and focus on finding the right property rather than trying to predict the lowest possible price.

"Waiting should be about finding the right property, rather than expecting to buy at a significantly lower price."

She explained that buyers with specific requirements regarding location, property type, size or other characteristics may still find that the selection of suitable homes is relatively limited.

When a property meets their needs and budget, it is important to recognise the opportunity.

This advice is especially relevant to international purchasers, who may be searching for a particular lifestyle rather than simply the lowest price.

Whether the goal is a retirement home in the countryside, an apartment near the sea, a mountain retreat or a rental investment in Sofia, identifying the right property and carrying out the necessary checks remain more important than attempting to time the market perfectly.

BULGARIAN PROPERTIES: Connecting International Buyers with Opportunities Across Bulgaria

The interview highlighted the continued importance of international demand to the Bulgarian property market.

With nationwide coverage and extensive experience assisting buyers from around the world, BULGARIAN PROPERTIES works with clients seeking permanent homes, holiday properties, retirement destinations and investment opportunities.

The company provides access to properties across Bulgaria, including major cities, seaside and mountain resorts, rural communities and emerging residential developments.

Its services support overseas buyers throughout the purchasing process, from identifying suitable locations and properties to arranging viewings, negotiations and assistance with the legal and practical aspects of a transaction.

As Bulgaria becomes increasingly visible to international audiences following its entry into the eurozone, the company expects new opportunities to emerge across different segments of the property market.

The key message is clear: Bulgaria's property market is entering a more balanced period, while the country's appeal to international buyers continues to develop. For those looking to relocate, retire, purchase a holiday home or invest, Bulgaria offers a combination of property choice, lifestyle opportunities and a wide range of price levels.

Watch the full interview with Polina Stoykova on Euronews Bulgaria (in Bulgarian):




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