Be careful with Bulgaria....

[Jain and Chris]

Hi Alexander

"All ,so called "English estate agents " are the same people - "investors' , been "burned " time ago from another "Estate bla . bla . bla" now getting smart and set up agency.How can people , who have just come to Bulgaria from another part of the world to become such "established in 15 years experts " , i am a bulgarian , who lived 12 years in Europe and i know how to see thinks from "in & out .Thank You for the time."

You sound like an agent or touting for business yourself????

Nobody should be "getting smart" and setting up an estate agency - that takes experience, structural engineering know-how, legal understanding... but I agree with you, not only English but also Bulgarians are doing this - this is short term gain and not to be supported.

[alexander ivon]

Thank You for good understand.I wish more people like You become guests in Bulgaria and make it popular as a positive destination.Maybe all those "hot arguables" on forums will help out for better.Cheers Alexander!

[Jain and Chris]

Hi Alexander

Let's get things right in Bulgaria.

Get the cowboys to saddle up and ride out of town. Get legislation in place and enforce it to get estate agents and developers to do the right things.

I hope too that Bulgaria will do this, we are doing our bit by endeavouring to put pressure on various bodies here to undertake these measures... hopefully we will get these changes made, along with EU policy which will apply to real estate industry in Bulgaria very very soon

Cheers

[jez]

Hi,

I would urge everyone to avoid using Bulgaria Revealed like the plague!

They were awful for me and added no value whatsoever to our purchase. Lots of empty promises and now the land that they promised would be part of our "communal garden overlooking the beautiful Pirin Mountains" has now been developed and we have another apartment block being built 5 metres in front of our balcony. Also the apt was over 12months late and we did not receive any financial re-imbursement.

Everyone in our building (48 apt owners) feel cheated and the investment has been completely ruined by the new building!

Regards,

Jez

[rabarbaro]

Here I am...
still in troubles ! I've been to BUlgaria last week to see with my eyes...
the resort looks pretty nice ( not yet finished...far from being finished....but the area is georgious...) but still, lot of things that doesn't match !
First of all I've signed a POA with an attorney, saying that they take care of everything, deed, act 15 and act 16....
Now they say "it's written that we CAN do it for you, not that we do it !"
Obviously I've already paid them ! They signed the deed on my behalf and the complex it not yet finished...
No act 15, neither 16...
I have the deed, in bulgarian only. I asked to a translator to have it in english so I've found out that in this deed there is written half of the price paid...
SO the lawyer has to give me back the money I paid for the taxes....
609 euro of refund that nobody had told me about...
Not yet got !
They say ( the lawyers ) that they work is finished as I've the deed....
but I have a deed and don't have the apartment...as is not finished...
I could go on for hours....
And this should be the biggest bulgarian builders....
You can see the site at Saint Thomas Residence
NOw I'm worried about many things...first of all Bullstat, taxes and so on...
How it works ? What should I do ?
It all so "messy"....

[thetravelbug]

Daniela,

Please contact me. I think I might be able to help but need to know your complete situation from start to finish. If it is the same development, then I may have contacts with the actual builder and might, I say might, be able to try and sort this. I also have a good independent lawyer (currently suing Platinum Developments on behalf of the 20 British waiting for money from Platinum for 3 years now!) and she can help sort out all paperwork.

Please do not panic. I get calls for help with problems like this all the time. Can all be resolved in one way or another.

Rachel

[Jain and Chris]

Hi there

Are you using the lawyers the developer or agent recommended?

What did your PoA say? In this PoA did you allow them to sign the notary deed on this and pay all the monies before Act 16?

I think your problem may not lie with the builders but more the agent/lawyer.... you need to check the PoA you gave them and find out what it said precisely.

As a separate aside, what are you worried about concerning Bulstat and taxes, etc????

You have made several posts in as many days... so clearly you do have a problem but perhaps you would kindly say what help you expect and then we can probably assist.

Hoping to hear back from you

[rabarbaro]

Originally Posted by Jain and Chris

Hi there

Are you using the lawyers the developer or agent recommended?

What did your PoA say? In this PoA did you allow them to sign the notary deed on this and pay all the monies before Act 16?

I think your problem may not lie with the builders but more the agent/lawyer.... you need to check the PoA you gave them and find out what it said precisely.

As a separate aside, what are you worried about concerning Bulstat and taxes, etc????

You have made several posts in as many days... so clearly you do have a problem but perhaps you would kindly say what help you expect and then we can probably assist.

Hoping to hear back from you

I've read the POA many times, it says nothing in details...it says that they act on my behalf for notary deed, act 15, act 16.
Is not mentioned that they could sign the deed before act 16 but is not even mentioned the opposite....
..you are right... :-) I've a problem...
I try to right a "resumè" and post it...
thank you

[Jain and Chris]

Ah.... that might be where the problem lies. The fact that the PoA is too "open" without sufficient detail to control them? So, maybe not enough detail? Omission or too much detail can cause many problems.

If you would like to post the resumé of this, then please can you make sure that it is completely factual so that there are no legal issues for the totallyproperty forum.

Meanwhile, I would strongly recommend you take independent legal advice from a recognised independent lawyer conversant in property laws in Bulgaria, provide them with all the documentation you have and see what they have to say.

I'm really sorry for what you are going through.

If you would like to talk to the lawyer who writes for our magazine, then please pm me and I'll send you details.

All the best and if you need anything else, please do just post on here.

Jain and Chris

[thetravelbug]

Daniella - now had time to read in more depth about your issues. Do not completely understand as you seem to say you agreed to buy an apartment for 35,000 E and then they upped it to 61,500 Euros which really seems impossible to believe, particularly given you MUST have signed a contract stating what you were buying. And not unusual for terrace not to be included but again need to check this first. Areas can change a little on paperwork depending on what is included - read small print or ask.

As for apostiling notarised documents at embassy this is entirely normal if doing paperwork outside Bulgaria but your lawyer should have explained this.

For a studio apartment you appear to have a hugh terrace! Not saying this is a bad thing just seems very big.

Lawyers usually charge 3 to 5% of purchase price but not sure what you actually paid.

Annabel - they cannot sell your apartment if you have notified them of snagging (finishing work to be done) and they have not done that. If penalty clauses in contract for late completion can try and get money back. But they usually squirm out of it saying weather or municipality caused delay.

Flora - if you own house and everything above land can buy land from council for minimal amount. This happens because under communism they were given plots and could build on them but did not actually own land. Had similar situation and no problem to legalise and get yours.

Jez - Helped friend get out of purchase with Bulgarian Revealed couple of years ago. Apartments awful - miles away from ski lift and poor finish and poor service.

Rachel