Comprehensive legal services for buying and selling, lease, due diligence and investment in real estate — for Bulgarian and foreign clients in Sofia and across the country.
Full assistance with the purchase and sale of residential, commercial and holiday properties.
Learn more →Thorough review of ownership, encumbrances, permits and the legal status of the property.
Learn more →Drafting and review of preliminary contracts — protecting your interests before the final deal.
Learn more →Lease agreements, property and landlord verification, protection in landlord-tenant disputes.
Learn more →Advice on property investment, residency through investment and tax planning.
Learn more →Assistance with searching for and evaluating the right property
Review of ownership, encumbrances, permits
Signing and depositing earnest money on agreed terms
Transfer of ownership before a notary
Filing with the Property Register and municipal declaration
We work with clients from across the EU, the US, the Middle East and Africa. In addition to Sofia, we operate in the ski resorts of Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo, as well as on the Black Sea coast — Sunny Beach, Burgas, Varna, Balchik and Golden Sands.
Since 1 January 2014, EU citizens can freely acquire real estate in Bulgaria, including land. The moratorium from the Accession Treaty has been lifted.
Foreign individuals from third countries cannot own land directly (constitutional restriction). The solution is to register a company in Bulgaria through which full ownership rights are acquired.
EU citizens can freely purchase buildings and apartments. EU nationals have also been able to buy land (including yards) since 2012. Non-EU citizens cannot own land directly but can do so through a Bulgarian company.
The main costs include a local transfer tax (0.1% to 3% depending on the municipality; 2.5% in Sofia), notary fees (up to 1.5% on a sliding scale), a Property Register inscription fee (0.1%), and legal fees.
Yes, a preliminary contract is legally binding under Art. 19 of the Obligations and Contracts Act. In case of non-performance, either party may ask the court to declare the contract final. The customary deposit is 10% of the purchase price.
Legal due diligence covers a 10-year chain-of-title review, encumbrance and mortgage checks at the Property Register, litigation searches, zoning and planning compliance, and verification of the seller's tax status.
Notary fees are calculated on a sliding scale based on the certified material interest. For a property worth BGN 200,000, the fee is approximately BGN 1,300. The minimum fee is BGN 30 and the maximum is BGN 6,000 for transactions exceeding BGN 500,000.
Contact us for a free initial consultation.