Being tempted by the cheapness of a property isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be as it probably means re-wiring a whole house, installing plumbing system, let alone a new bathroom and kitchen and getting things just right so you can call it your home and put your own stamp on it. Furthermore, having to deal with builders, electricians and plumbers in a language you don’t understand can lead to frustrations. But these aspects don’t outweigh our freedom to live rustically by growing our own food and being out in clean, fresh air, away from the stresses and complications of modern life.

But what happens when you do decide to renovate? Many people I know have bought their property years before they made the permanent move to the area and this allowed them the time to renovate the building to their specifications so when they did plan to come out, they only had to bring their worldly goods and move straight in. The minor remaining jobs were completed after they moved. Of course, there are plenty of options to buy a fully restored house but where is the fun in that when you could be designing and getting creative with your new home?

Just in the last ten years, larger towns and cities have seen a huge increase in supermarkets, shopping malls and imported goods, even in the less touristy districts. Access to private medical insurance, business opportunities and education has become common practice providing a relief to the concerns of thousands of expats descending here.

Bulgaria is not without its problems, socially and economically, but these issues are slowly being addressed to the benefit of both the Bulgarian people and expats wishing to join this friendly nation. Having spent time here for more than five years, our initial decision to buy a home here has not been regretted once; in fact, the more we stay here, the more we enjoy living in our newly adopted country.