Where is the best place to look for rental properties and what are the normal regulations if different from everywhere else?

I'd like to rent so I can have a look round for something to buy, but although I would require more flexibilty because, hopefully, buying wouldn't take me too long and tying up to a rental contract for 6 months or a year would seem a bit of a waste.

Slightly problematic in that when you look for places to rent on the web it comes up with mainly holiday homes...

Might be worth having a word with Willowsend he has a fantastic villa for rent but not sure how his booking are no harm in asking. Have a look here [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... illa-45807

He is also one of our sponsors for the Silistra Orphanage

Thanks,
I did see that one before but it looks at around £300 per week - if I end up staying a couple of months I may as well buy a place before buying - if you see what I mean.
Good to have such a sponsor though!!!

weasle wrote:

Where is the best place to look for rental properties and what are the normal regulations if different from everywhere else?

I'd like to rent so I can have a look round for something to buy, but although I would require more flexibilty because, hopefully, buying wouldn't take me too long and tying up to a rental contract for 6 months or a year would seem a bit of a waste.

Slightly problematic in that when you look for places to rent on the web it comes up with mainly holiday homes...

We considered renting a property before coming here to buy, but we have four dogs which would have presented a problem with landlords not wanting dogs living in their home, also was there secure fencing to stop the dogs escaping. If you are renting for the Winter period, not knowing how warm or cold the property would be could also present a problem. In hindsight if we had considered the same scenario again without the dogs, we would stay in a hotel and rent a car, that way there is no cleaning to do and no heating to worry about, no buying of food and cooking. Staying in a hotel would give you more freedom and time to find the area to live and your new home. Obviously there are many hotels in Sofia, but there also many hotels in Veliko Tarnovo, we don't know about hotels in the rest of the country, but every large town should have one.

I think the hotel idea is very good maybe for a week or so, but if maybe thinking of say a 3 month stint would a hotel still be a viable proposition for that length of stay, especially when adding on restaurant meals etc every day?

Personally I think that say the cost of a 6 month rent compared to a holiday rental would give you the flexibility of just walking away during the 6 months and still be better off.
Obviously you would make the landlord/owner of the property aware of this which 'might' who knows this 'might' even produce a refund of 'part of the unused tenancy' but maybe not all.

But yes I suppose what you are really looking for is for people to tell you what the going rate could be for a long term rent of maybe 6 months.

I have seen this type of question asked in the past, but no-one seems to give a sensible or reasonable reply.

Maybe pinpointing an area might help too.

We thought about renting first too, but had similar problems. In the end a week (actually, two days would have done) in a hotel was enough. If we hadn't felt this house was the right one immediately we would have gone home and tried again later, but there was a good feeling when we got out of the car and the welcome we got from the neighbour seemed (and was) genuine. None of the others were even considered.

I thought about pinpointing an area but then thought it might restrict my options even further.

Going backwards and forwards isn't really an option for me as things stand.

I'm starting to think that I really might be better buying a cheapy with the basic utilities and taking it from there.

Some people on here have recommended areas that I have been browsing - although I can never remember the spelling when I go back to look again!

Hotels are a good option for a couple of nights in an area, if you want to stay longer ask around for private rooms, usually in someones house, like a B&
B, you can get them from 10 Leva a night, it also gives you an insight to the real Bulgaria. If your coming "
out of season"
check some of the Hotel booking sites, there are some bargains to be had.
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etc etc

I think the thing to do is draw up 2 lists. Pro's &
Con's, then mark each one out of 10, 10 being a MUST HAVE.
Which may not be quite as easy and straightforward as you think.

Maybe start with dividing BG into sections of probable and preferred areas.
(Mine starts with a line across BG where a preferred property would be south of a line drawn beneath Plovdiv, mainly because I'm hoping the winters might not be as bad as being further north and also hopefully closer to Burgas airport because I 'think' the winter flights might be more frequent.)


So, a few starters to consider:
1. Airport access especially for friends and family, not forgetting you might be the one doing all the ferrying around!
2. Coastal area, such as access to Sea and Beaches, do you want to be travelling half the day just to go to the beach?
3. I would even forego a property if there was not a decent/reliable internet service available.
4. Privacy, although I'm not into gardening I like my privacy and do not want to be bumping into people every time I go to sit outside in the garden, so nothing to small.
5. Want or Need, how may guest bedrooms do you really want/need?

weasle wrote:

I thought about pinpointing an area but then thought it might restrict my options even further.

Often the choice of location can depend on various other factors that are important to you.

For instance, is it important for you to be in or near a town with all facilities (hospitals, etc.)?
What kind of property would you like (apartment, rural house, town house) and in what area (coast, countryside, mountains)?
Would you like a lot of land to grow fruit and vegetables, keep animals, or just a small garden?
Do you need to travel back out of Bulgaria (if so, proximity to one of the airports is a must)?
Climate? Some places down near the Greek and Turkey borders can be very hot in summer (some folks just can't cope with the extreme heat)
Is it important for you to be near other ex-pats, or are you happy to be the only 'outsider' in a village or town?

Also, and most importantly, what kind of budget will you have? This can be the main factor (for instance, properties on the coast can get very expensive, very quickly, whereas the inland rural areas are much cheaper and you get 'more bricks for your money!).

Maybe if we kick a few of these thoughts around, then our members can better suggest regions / towns that would better suit your needs. At least that way, you have a starting point!

Phil-H wrote:

So, a few starters to consider:
1. Airport access especially for friends and family, not forgetting you might be the one doing all the ferrying around!

Great minds think alike Phil ... I was just typing up a similar list!

Check out these sites they are in BG but use google translate, the rents in our area are between 400 and 600 lev a month, if you need any help with translation send me the link in a message and i'll make a call for you.
You can also find your house to buy direct from Bulgarian owner.

[url:3vz13iee]http:
//www.
alo.
bg/obiavi/imoti-naemi/apartamenti/?region_id=27[/url:3vz13iee]

[url:3vz13iee]http:
//www.
address.
bg/bg/%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B5%D0%BC/%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8-%D0%BE%D1%82-%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%80%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5.
html?city=153&
etype=247&
pricefrom=&
priceto=&
areafrom=&
areato=&
sortBy=1&
offerno=&
floorfrom=&
floorto=[/url:3vz13iee]

[url:3vz13iee]http:
//prodavalnik.
com/nedvizhimi-imoti/apartamenti-c536[/url:3vz13iee]

[url:3vz13iee]http:
//www.
obiavi-bg.
com/%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8-(%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8)___220[/url:3vz13iee]

[url:3vz13iee]http:
//www.
homes.
bg/?go=apartmentsrent&
type=1&
search=1&
advanced=&
fromhomeu=1&
Neighbourhoods=&
regiontype=1&
locationId=28&
offersfrom%5B1%5D=1&
offersfrom%5B2%5D=1&
offersfrom%5B3%5D=1&
furnitureId=0&
price=&
currencyId=1[/url:3vz13iee]

Thanks for all your thoughts and experiences on this - but the last post does bring up another point: climate
How bad and long are the winters and how hot and short are the summers.
I was very surprised to learn that some friends returned from Croatia early this year because it was too hot. Not what I would automatically assoicate with Croatia.

Okay, so it ended up not being the last post by the time I posted my post.
I'll go look at those links - on the last post (I bet someone else has posted now!)

That's all going to depend on the location.
I used to have some Russian pictures of MEGA deep snow in the cities, but I don't think even in the worst areas get it that bad.

But in general from what I have read is that the winter period might be quite severe but does not last as long as here in the UK, south of my Plovdiv line it is said they have 300 days of sun (estate agents that is), I just hope they are right.

But lets face it, once snow is down on the ground the feel good factor starts to kick in and personally I don't think it feels quite as cold.

I do think it's a different kind of cold abroad.

I've found this - I don't know if it's for sale or rent and it sends google translate berserk - Oh, it appears to have gone berserk here as well - let's see if it works

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