Hello, my name is Stanislav Todorov. I am the owner of Hamali.BG, a removals and transport company. We carry out transports from all over the United Kingdom — London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, Edinburgh — and from other European countries to Bulgaria: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo and the whole country — and back again. You can get a fast, accurate quote for your move directly through our Hamali.AI calculator.
Alongside logistics, I have in-depth knowledge of the property market — a sector I invest in out of personal interest and as a source of additional income.
Over my years in business I have come to understand the problems European citizens face when they decide to settle in Bulgaria: choosing the property, choosing the region, and daily life once they arrive. That has given me experience I am glad to share.
Why I am writing this
First, I want to help you move to Bulgaria with confidence. Second, I can assist you in finding a property in the city of Sofia, the Sofia region and the Pernik region — both in town and in the countryside. These are areas I know in detail. If you have questions, write to me at info@hamali.bg — I am happy to answer.
1. The importance of the agent
If you are looking at Sofia or the area around the capital, working with an estate agent is essential. For a foreigner it is important that they speak English, and correspondence by email is preferable to phone calls.
The website Imot.BG is the main source of property listings in Bulgaria. If you ring the number on each individual listing, you will reach a different agent every time — that is not the right approach. Instead, let a single agent select properties for you: your commission stays the same either way.
2. Commission and fees
Agency commission on a purchase or sale in Bulgaria is generally between 3% and 3.6% including VAT. On top of that come around 4% in state fees and notary costs. In total, budget roughly 7.5% of the listed price to cover all associated costs.
Please note: These percentages are indicative — they vary by municipality and by case. Ask your agent and your notary for a detailed breakdown before committing to anything.
3. Tax valuation and market price
In Bulgaria the gap between a property’s tax valuation and its actual market price can be significant. Raise this early with your agent and your notary, and make sure the transaction is registered at its real value: this is what protects your title deed and your future resale.
4. Region, infrastructure and neighbours
Look at the infrastructure leading to the village: almost everywhere, the smaller internal roads are in poor condition. Look for a connection to the mains water supply, and ask your agent to check whether water runs short in summer. Mains drainage is rare in our villages — homes are usually fitted with septic tanks or their own small treatment systems.
- In some district towns hospital provision is limited — worth considering depending on your circumstances.
- Find out how many food shops there are in the village.
- Settle neither too close to the town nor too far from it: if the need arises, you must be able to get there quickly.
- Look closely at the neighbourhood — certain animals or certain habits can become a nuisance day to day.
- When viewing, drive around the village once on a weekday and once on a public holiday. Cars parked on a holiday mean city dwellers return to the village — a sign of life.
Bulgaria itself
The air, the climate and the temperatures vary considerably from region to region. Bulgaria has everything: two seas (the Aegean is closer to Sofia than Varna or Burgas), mountains and plains, the healing air of Sandanski and Velingrad, the maritime climate of the Black Sea, thermal springs, four distinct seasons — and welcoming people.
A future article will be devoted to rural properties, which I am exploring professionally. See you soon!