REAL ESTATE FOR SALE (€ Euro 40,000)
Villa - House for sale in Kardjali Kirkovo Kardjali Bulgaria

This house is, reluctantly, for sale by the British owner. I originally bought this substantial house/villa to convert into a small hotel as it is only 2 kilometres from the Makaza border crossing into Greece which was scheduled to be open soon - but will not now be open until 2012 (the Greek side are dragging their heels - all the Bulgarian road infrastructure is in place right up the border so the project is definitely going ahead). It is a heck of a lot of house for only €40,000 (which is pretty much what I paid for it). For someone who can afford to hang on until the border opens in 2012 I would imagine that it would be an excellent investment with good business potential. Alas I need to free up the cash for another project I have elsewhere in Bulgaria, so my loss will be your gain. The house is in excellent condition and construction was just reaching completion when I bought it - it was lived in by the son and daughter-in-law of the household, who has now moved to the big city. All that needs doing is repair of doors and windows; painting; re-installation of toilet and shower etc. (which the owners kindly removed!) and general tarting up. The grounds are substantial, not too badly overlooked by neighbours (I had envisaged putting in a high wall for further privacy) and a large swimming-pool would fit in perfectly.

The house is right on the village square of Shumnatitsa, which is a prosperous little village with a couple of Roman bridges and delightful walks. The friendly village bar/restaurant/shop is immediately opposite and the town of Kirkovo (with hospital, fire station, builders' yards, hotel, supermarket etc. etc.) is only a ten-minute drive away. The Makaza highway is literally two minutes from the front door (though the mountains shield any potential noise) and from there into Greece will be a matter of minutes once the border is open. From there to the AEGEAN coast (so much nicer than the Black Sea) is only 60 kilometres. Once the border is open this area will boom and I just know that I am going to regret selling this house!

The house itself is currently the Tardis in reverse - a classic piece of bodged Bulgarian design with just three bedrooms upstairs and a tiny shower/toilet room; sunroom; large landing area and small balcony. Downstairs is just one huge barracks of a room, not divided up. Total floor area of both floors is 133 square metres and, if divided up sensibly, would make a spacious and substantial home. On the side of the house is a solid lean-to annexe that would convert beautifully into a kitchen and one further bedroom. In the garden is a sizeable one-storey brick annexe of 40 square metres that would convert into a further two or three bedrooms. At present the house has an outside staircase but this could easily be brought inside. Potentially the two stories plus two annexes could convert into five to eight letting bedrooms with en-suite, plus restaurant, kitchen and utility areas. I have full architects plans of the house both as it is stands and as it might convert into a modest hotel. I would imagine that conversion costs would not exceed €60,000 if done soon - in which case you could have yourself a small family hotel right next to a potentially busy international border for only €100,000! Or you could just tart it up a bit and use it as a holiday home for the family with access to Greek facilities at Bulgarian prices.

It's breaking my heart to sell this place but I need the money elsewhere...boo hoo. But I'd like to see it go to a good home with a family who might appreciate it and treat the friendly locals kindly. Skiing isn't my bag, but if it is yours the skiing areas of Bulgaria are only an hour's drive to the west - and you will be able to get to the Greek Aegean coast in an hour or so in four years' time, so who needs the Black Sea? Although the Brits. haven't 'discovered' this area yet - as they prefer to go with the other sheep to the Black Sea Coast and the skiing areas - over 1.2 million Greek people come north to holiday in Bulgaria every year. A substantial number of them will soon be passing very close to the door of this house and might be interested in breaking their journey.