According to statistics, among the Russian-speaking Israeli citizens, Bulgaria is a leader in the number of requests for the purchase of real estate abroad. What are the reasons for the popularity of Bulgarian directions? What are the features of buying property in Bulgaria for holiday or permanent residence?
Why Israelis are buying property in Bulgaria?
Favorable conditions for seniors.
In Bulgaria, the state program "pensioners", according to which the sale of the pensioner gives the opportunity to obtain Bulgarian residence permit.
At the bilateral intergovernmental agreement between Bulgaria and the Jewish state, the Israeli pension remains fully or partially, even if the recipient resides on the territory of Bulgaria.
Attractive real estate prices.
The average cost of square meter of property in Bulgaria is € 500, while in Israel – 2,500 euros;
Low cost of living.
The subsistence minimum per person in Israel to 2018 was set at 450 euros, and the childless family of 670 euros. At the same time, in Bulgaria the poverty threshold for one person is € 164. It turns out that an Israelite with a small stable income at home, can comfortably live in any city or resort in Bulgaria.
Resorts for every taste.
Bulgaria opens up endless opportunities for recreation throughout the year: sea, ski and Spa resorts, numerous historical and architectural attractions.
Bulgaria ranks 3rd in Europe in terms of historical and cultural monuments and 2 in the world by number of mineral springs.
The temperate climate.
In contrast to the sultry routine "promised land", Bulgaria is situated in the temperate latitudes. In summer the temperature rarely rises above 30 degrees.
Attractive tax system.
Tax when buying property is just 2.5% of the cadastral value of the object.
The differences in the process of buying property in Bulgaria and Israel
The ban on the purchase of land by a private individual.
According to the Bulgarian law, natural persons with foreign passports, except for EU citizens, not have the right to acquire the ownership of the land. This limitation applies to the purchase of a private house or Villa.
There is a legal way to circumvent this restriction is to register Jur.face in Bulgaria and arrange land for the company.
The majority of transactions of purchase and sale of real estate are concluded with the intermediation of realtors.
Independent buying property in Bulgaria is risky and fraught with numerous risks, so 98% of transactions involving foreigners are committed by the Agency.
Attention! You don't pay the estate Agency for intermediation. All costs borne by the seller of a residential facility.
The difficulty of obtaining a mortgage in the Bulgarian banks.
Formally, the banks claim that they are working with foreign citizens, but de facto in most cases refuse to issue credit. If you want to buy real estate on credit, it is better to negotiate with banking institutions in Israel.
The presence of maintenance fees at the time while housing in apartment hotels.
Often a buyer has to pay the management company the maintenance fee for the maintenance of the residential complex (6-10 Euro per sqm per year). The management company will require the purchaser to sign a management agreement for the residential facility where the prescribed conditions of the facilities of the residential complex and the size of the maintenance fees.
Read more about maintenance feeThe stages of property acquisition
Opening an account in a Bulgarian Bank for transfer of the Deposit to the buyer.
Booking of the facility, the conclusion of a Deposit (reservation) of the contract, the Deposit in size (1000 – 2000 euros). In some cases, is a preliminary agreement.
Deed of settlement and the introduction of project cost minus the advance payment.
The procedure is carried out 20-30 days after signing the Deposit agreement
Registration of the deed of sale in the real estate register BULSTAT.
Procedure: you need to register the act within 7 days. The document urgently, you can get in 1 day.
Statement on the account in tax inspection at the place of residence and conclusion of contracts with utility providers.
Procedure: to register it is necessary not later than 2 months after the transaction.
The whole process of purchase and registration of property lasts 1-2 months
During this time, the buyer need 2 times to come to Bulgaria:
Object selection and signing of the reservation contract.
The transaction at the notary and filing of documents for registration.
Optional: receive a certified BULSTAT documents and contracts with service providers. This visit can be combined with your holiday in Bulgaria.
The Agency BolgarskiyDom offers remote registration of the transaction. For this you have to come to Bulgaria to select an object and issue to company representative a notarized power of attorney. Else do we have for you.
The company BolgarskiyDom 10 years has the foreign citizens services for the sale and management of real estate in Bulgaria. During this time we have successfully completed over 600 transactions, including with participation of citizens of Israel.
Our clients are from Israel
- Anatoly
- Location: Israel
- Transaction: April 2017
- Read more
- Boris and Margarita
- Location: Israel
- Transaction: June 2018
- Read more
The answers to the questions of the citizens of Israel about Bulgaria
Israeli pension consists of two parts: old-age benefits (Kitzvat zikna) and cumulative (for those who have the necessary seniority in Israel and who made required contributions to the pension Fund).
Important: When you move to Bulgaria for permanent residence a citizen of Israel, both parts of the pension are maintained.
People (mostly immigrants) who do not have the experience and contributions to pension funds will only receive the old-age benefit – (Kitzvat zikna) – about 400 euros per month. Typically the state additionally pays a social premium (hashlamat of ahnsa) to a living wage.
Important: For this category of pensioners when moving to Bulgaria for permanent residence, there remains only the old-age benefit (Kitzvat zikna). Social allowance (of alamat of ahnsa) is lost if the pensioner is absent in Israel for more than 72 days per year (maximum 3 months).
- The notary fees – 1% of project cost.
- Municipal tax on transfer of ownership (varies by region) up to 1-4%.
- Registration tax is 0.1% of estimated project cost.
- The cost of preparation of documents, translation and legalization of up to 100 euros
If you are planning a vacation in Bulgaria 1-2 months of the year, the remaining time can pass property to rent. This will help to recoup the maintenance fee and the cost of flights to Bulgaria. All issues with the rental organization can be solved through a reliable management company.
Read our article: How to rent property in Bulgaria to rent
Important! Under Israeli law rental income is taxable at the rate of 10%, even if they received abroad. A similar tax exists in Bulgaria. However, according to the intergovernmental agreement between Israel and Bulgaria on avoiding double taxation, the tax can be paid only in one country.
Bulgarian legislation allows to get a residence permit when buying property:
- Provided to retirees coming to Bulgaria for permanent residence.
- If the value of the object exceeds 300 thousand euros.
In most cases, the buyer and his family members can rely on multivisa with the right to stay in the country to 180 days a year.
There are other legitimate ways to obtain a residence permit in Bulgaria. Consult our Manager.
