Bulgaria Expects Boost in Winter Tourism with Increased Foreign Visitors
Bulgaria is expecting a boost in winter tourism this year, with about 3.1 million foreign visitors projected between December and March
Property prices in Bulgaria continue to experience significant growth, with data from the National Statistical Institute revealing a 15.1% increase over the past 12 months leading up to June 2024. In the second quarter of the year alone, prices rose by 3.4%.
This impressive rise positions Bulgaria among nine EU countries that have seen property prices increase by over 100% in the last 14 years, according to Eurostat.
In Knight Frank's Global House Price Index, Bulgaria ranks third for the past 12 months, surpassed only by Turkey and Poland, where property prices increased by 46.4% and 18%, respectively. Bulgaria's growth of 15.1% makes it one of six countries out of 56 analyzed that reported an increase of over 10%. Following Bulgaria are Taiwan (+11.9%), North Macedonia (+11.5%), and Colombia (+10.9%).
Additionally, three other European countries— the Netherlands, Greece, and Croatia—along with Mexico, are among the top 10, each seeing price growth exceeding 9%.
However, the global property market is not uniform, as 13 of the analyzed countries have reported declines in property prices. Hong Kong and Luxembourg experienced the most significant drops, at 12.7% and 10.9%, respectively. Other notable decreases occurred in Jersey, Finland, China, and several major European economies, including France, Germany, and Austria.
In a quarterly comparison, Lithuania's property prices fell by 5.3%. Conversely, price increases persisted in North Macedonia (+8.2%), Turkey (+6.5%), and Hungary (+5.2%), with Norway, Australia, and Poland also experiencing rises exceeding 4%.
By the end of 2024, Bulgaria is expected to rank second globally in property price appreciation, trailing only Turkey. Bulgaria's projected growth stands at 10.8%, while Turkey is anticipated to lead with 14.4%. Poland and Norway are expected to see growth rates of 9.3% and 8.3%, respectively. The most significant declines in property prices compared to the end of 2023 are anticipated in Finland, China, and Ukraine.
Two Bulgarian cities, Plovdiv and Burgas, have been ranked among the most affordable locations for purchasing homes in Europe
The decision to buy or rent property in Bulgaria's major cities, particularly Sofia, is influenced by various factors, with real estate experts suggesting that buying remains more advantageous than renting in the long term
In the second quarter of the year, the housing price index in Bulgaria increased by 15.1% year-on-year, slightly lower than the 16% rise in the first quarter
Sofia's office market has experienced moderate rental activity over the first nine months of this year
A recent analysis from the European Institute of Trade Unions, highlighted by the European Confederation of Trade Unions, reveals that
The Bulgarian real estate market has seen a notable increase in both prices and transaction volume in the past quarter
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