---
title: "Real Estate in Bulgaria: Buying a House or Apartment"
url: https://bulgaristanvatandas.com/en/services/real-estate/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-23
description: "We find the right home, apartment or rental property in Bulgaria and handle the title deed, notary, rental and residence process on your behalf."
source: BulgaristanVatandas.com (https://bulgaristanvatandas.com)
---
# Real Estate in Bulgaria: Buying a House or Apartment
**Turkish citizens can buy apartments and houses in Bulgaria in their own name; land and agricultural plots, however, can only be bought through a company set up in Bulgaria. A purchased home can be rented out for regular income or used as proof of accommodation in a residence permit application. Owning a home does not by itself give a residence permit; residence needs a separate basis.**
For those who want to buy property in Bulgaria, we find the property that suits your budget and purpose, handle the title deed and notary procedures on your behalf, and support you with renting and residence after the purchase. With the experience we have gained in citizenship and residence files, we treat buying a home as part of your long-term plan.
## Why property in Bulgaria?
- **Property in an EU country:** Bulgaria has been in the EU since 2007, a full Schengen member since 2025 and has used the euro since 2026.
- **Relatively affordable prices:** prices per square metre are lower than in many EU countries.
- **Close to Türkiye:** cities reachable within a few hours from Edirne are popular for summer homes and retirement.
- **Rental income:** there is demand from students and workers in cities such as Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna, and for holiday lets in seaside towns.
## The right property for your purpose
| Your purpose | What kind of property? | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Living there yourself or a residence permit | An apartment in the city centre or with good transport | Suitability for address registration, fees and building condition |
| Rental income | An apartment near a university, business centre or the sea | Rental demand, occupancy, tenant profile and ease of management |
| Summer home | An apartment or gated complex on the Black Sea coast | Complex fees, winter use and maintenance |
| Retirement | A home close to healthcare and daily needs | Accessibility, floor and lift |
For those looking for a rental property, we research rent levels and demand in the area beforehand and show you a realistic expected return.
## What can foreigners buy in Bulgaria?
- **Apartments and buildings:** Turkish citizens can buy them in their own name.
- **Land and plots with detached houses:** non-EU citizens cannot buy land directly in their own name. For this, a company is set up in Bulgaria and the land is bought in the company's name. For details see our [company formation in Bulgaria](/en/services/company-formation/) page.
- **Bulgarian citizens:** if you are a citizen of Bulgaria or another EU country, you can buy any type of property, including land, in your own name. You can find out whether you are entitled to Bulgarian citizenship on our [Bulgarian citizenship](/en/services/citizenship/) page.
## The purchase process step by step
1. **Needs meeting:** we clarify your budget, city and purpose (living, renting, summer home).
2. **Choosing the property:** we find suitable options and show them on site or by video call.
3. **Legal checks:** title deed, the seller's authority, mortgages and liens, debts and fees are checked.
4. **Preliminary contract:** price, payment plan and handover date are put in writing.
5. **Notarial sale:** the sale takes place before a notary in Bulgaria and the title is registered.
6. **After handover:** utility and fee accounts are transferred, the property tax registration is made and, if needed, the property is rented out.
If you cannot be in Bulgaria, we can carry out most procedures with a notarised power of attorney. We also handle the [sworn translation](/en/services/translation/) of the power of attorney and documents.
## Costs
In addition to the property price, the following are paid:
- Property transfer tax paid to the municipality (the rate varies by municipality)
- Notary fee and title registration fee
- Translation and power of attorney costs
- Annual property tax and waste fee
Once you have chosen the property, we work out your total cost item by item.
## Does buying a home give a residence permit?
Owning a home in Bulgaria does **not by itself** give a residence permit. However, the home you buy is used as **proof of accommodation**, one of the documents most often requested in a residence application. Residence needs a separate basis: retirement, commercial representation, a company, family reunification or work. We compare the routes on our [Bulgarian residence permit](/en/services/residence-permit/) page. If you are retired, our article on the [Bulgarian retirement residence permit](/en/bulgarian-residence-permit-for-retirees/) explains the easiest route to plan together with buying a home.
## Managed rentals: let us run your home
If you own a home in Bulgaria but live in Türkiye or elsewhere in Europe, finding tenants, dealing with repairs and following up on rent can be hard. With our **managed rental** service we run your home from start to finish; you receive your net rental income and a report every month.
**What we do**
- **Preparation:** we prepare the home for letting, furnish it if needed and arrange professional photos.
- **Listing and tenant selection:** we advertise on the right channels for long-term, monthly (mid-term) or short-term letting and select tenants with ID and income checks.
- **Contract and handover:** we handle the rental contract, deposit and check-in and check-out inspections.
- **Maintenance and cleaning:** we take care of repairs, maintenance and, for short stays, cleaning with local teams.
- **Collection and reporting:** we collect the rent, deduct expenses, transfer the balance to your account and send a monthly income and expense report.
- **Official obligations:** we follow up on declaring rental income, property tax and, for short-term letting, the municipal registration and tourist tax.
**Furnished flats for people moving to Bulgaria:** clients coming to Bulgaria for a residence permit, family reunification or a representative office need a furnished flat that can be rented monthly in their first months. The flats we manage are offered to them first, so your home does not stand empty and the tenant immediately has the address needed for the residence application.
The management fee is a percentage of the rental income, depending on the type of letting and the condition of the home; we prepare your personal offer after seeing the property.
## Renting out
If you want to rent out the home you bought, we support you with finding tenants, the contract and declaring the rental income. Rental income is taxed in Bulgaria; for your tax situation in Türkiye we recommend consulting your accountant. There is a double taxation avoidance agreement between Türkiye and Bulgaria.
## Frequently asked questions
Can a Turkish citizen buy a home in Bulgaria?
Yes. Turkish citizens can buy apartments and buildings in their own name. Land or agricultural plots are bought through a company set up in Bulgaria.
Does buying a home in Bulgaria give a residence permit?
No, owning a home does not by itself give a residence permit. However, the home is used as proof of accommodation in the residence application. Residence needs a separate basis such as retirement, representation or family reunification.
Can I buy a home without going to Bulgaria?
Yes. You can view the property by video call and we can complete the sale with a notarised power of attorney. We still recommend seeing the property in person before buying.
What rental return can I expect?
The return depends on the city, neighbourhood, condition of the property and type of letting (long term or holiday). We show you current rent levels in your chosen area before you buy.
Can I buy with a mortgage?
Bulgarian banks may also lend to foreigners, but the conditions depend on the bank and where your income is earned. Most buyers pay in cash or with resources from their own country.