Yulson Homes

I live here for months at a time as a single woman, when I first came here a few years ago I was surprised that early in the morning there'd be a Roma man smelling of alcohol outside my gate which happened until someone must have told them that I wasn't rich and I did have a husband problem solved.

I've also found Bulgaria safe travelling alone - usual sensible precautions apply. I was a little concerned before my first visit to stay alone in the house there, but there've been no problems at all. The best security for a property left empty is to befriend the neighbours and ask them to keep an eye on things.

I don't know Osikivo or that estate agent, though I've seen their listings on ebay. The area between Veliko Tarnovo and Popovo has a number of expats so hopefully someone on the forum will know the area and the agents. I think there's also an active Facebook group for expats in the Popovo area which might be helpful.

I shouldn't laugh @kath9483 but my God! To be honest, I would find it a little disconcerting to find a man outside my house every morning but at least he moved on. I might potentially wear a wedding ring.

Pleased to hear that Popovo has a number of expats. I will certainly try and integrate myself and the children into the local community also. I think I'll have a few weeks with people staying with me so that I can get used to the noises of the houses etc before a night alone! I must sound like a wimp but it is quite rural!

Would/should I find a trustworthy independent translator for the contracts? The agent does seem to do things right but I could be wrong of course.

Would/should I find a trustworthy independent translator for the contracts? The agent does seem to do things right but I could be wrong of course.        -@Grimsby girl

I would, it is recommended. I would not want to sign anything that I didn't understand. Even if the agent comes across a trustworthy. After all, it's their job to sell and make money so they could say anything just to get a sale. 

My 1st house came with the deeds translated to English ... There are some online advertised  or just go to Bulgarian embassy  London site and they have registered  translators for when you do your long stay visa .  They can do it online for you if you can scan it to them .. may cost you £200 pounds but peace of mind right

You can scan to your phone Adobe one is good on playstore

Phil

That's great to know about the embassy. I'll take that route.

I have heard horror stories of contracts being produced in English but the signed Bulgarian contract was something completely different. My biggest concern will be that they transfer it all over once fully paid after the 12 month term.

I don't want to sound negative though as I'm very excited and have a very good feeling about it all

Here is the list Phil was talking about http://bulgarianembassy-london.org/consular-services/sworn-translators

This is the list from the American Embassy  https://www.mfa.bg/en/embassies/usagc3/1935

@Grimsby girl

I use COT security in Samokov quite cheap only 250lv a year but the place in Byala is very safe... 

Had my place in Samokov broken into  when we were down on the coast for our summer hols .. but luckily they ran off when they worked the window open with a chisel  soon as the window opened the house alarm went off . They left there tools and coats on the ground . COT arrived shortly after ... I really enjoyed burning there clothes lol

@Grimsby girl

You have to be careful coz some of these houses are owned by a family  and if they all inherited it they all have to agree to sell... You see a lot of derelict houses and I get the feeling that a lot of them are just left to fall into disrepair because it only takes one to say no

Thanks for sending the list over @simcity. That's really great and much appreciated 😊 I'll make contact with a couple of them and see if they'll be happy to check documents for me.

Hahaha Phil, I'd feel the same!

Do you leave your property for long periods of time? I'd have to vacate mine for 3 months at a time due to the UK visa situation, although I'm sure that family will make use of it whilst I'm away!

    Thanks for sending the list over @simcity. That's really great and much appreciated 😊 I'll make contact with a couple of them and see if they'll be happy to check documents for me.
Hahaha Phil, I'd feel the same!
Do you leave your property for long periods of time? I'd have to vacate mine for 3 months at a time due to the UK visa situation, although I'm sure that family will make use of it whilst I'm away!
   

    -@Grimsby girl

Get to know your neighbours and bring back gifts for them from the UK.. They will only be happy to keep an eye on the property.

@Grimsby girl

If the contract is in Bulgarian, definitely get it translated! To get a preliminary look at it without paying anyone, Google Lens is a useful app that can be set to translate anything you can photograph with your phone. I bought on pay-monthly with a different agent, and their contract was in two columns, Bulgarian one side, English on the other. It clearly laid out the property price, payment schedule,  their responsibilities and mine, and what the arrangements were for the notary transfer of ownership after I made the final payment. As pay-monthly is basically the same as a rent-to-buy scheme, there's probably a clause about the rights to the house reverting to them if you miss payments. One thing to check as suggested is who actually owns the property now.

As Phillip said, there can sometimes be these messy situations with inherited property where one family member ties to sell a property that is jointly owned. But most of the derelict village houses are because the grandkids who inherited all live and work in the city. The agents I bought from actually buy the houses themselves then sell them on, so no risk of a messy situation, and they showed me the notary paperwork from when they bought the property. No harm verifying the current ownership if you have concerns.

It does take some getting used to the sounds that are "normal" for a different house. Having another adult with you for your first stay is a good idea.

For my first trip, I wasn't sure which hand Bulgarians wear wedding rings on (in some parts of Europe it's the right hand, not the left) so I wore rings on both ring fingers. Not knowing what I might encounter on my first trip alone to the village house, I didn't even wear my real wedding ring but bought cheap rings to wear, just in case they got stolen. Of course, second trip, knowing things were safe there, I wore my real ring!

Generally, I think there's less crime against the person in Bg than in the UK. Opportunistic thefts from empty houses and pickpockets on public transport in touristy areas are probably the main things to watch out for. Be very careful with your bags on buses, in bus stations, and in busy public places. When we were last there, Veliko Tarnovo also had some aggressive beggars, who look to be related to the ones in Paris and London who fake polio-distorted limbs. There's a strong resemblance both in facial features and the disabilities they fake. Hubby thought I was horrible when I refused to give to a beggar in Paris who appeared severely disabled, until ten minutes later he saw the guy, miraculously healed, sitting behind the building talking on his mobile phone. I'd fallen for the same con when I worked in London and the next morning saw the woman strolling to her begging place along a back street, crutches slung over her shoulder with one hand and a Starbucks in the other.

The first two times I visited our village house an older man who probably drank a little more than was good for him used to sit on the seat right outside my gate for part of the day and always wanted to chat, but I don't think he was trying to start anything. It was just a comfortable place for him to sit, and the guy who did the local equivalent of a Meals-on-Wheels delivery to another house in the street used to stop the van and give him food, too. I wanted to offer him food as well, but didn't want it to be misinterpreted. I did wonder if he was homeless and perhaps sometimes slept in my shed, where one room is set up as a bedroom, with a bed, clothes hanging hooks, and a woodstove. But I saw no signs of it had been used recently, so he probably had a house somewhere else in the village.  I haven't seen him this year so sadly he either didn't survive the winter or he's gone into care.

    @Grimsby girl
You have to be careful coz some of these houses are owned by a family  and if they all inherited it they all have to agree to sell... You see a lot of derelict houses and I get the feeling that a lot of them are just left to fall into disrepair because it only takes one to say no
   

    -@philip Mckay

Partly true but a lot of the time there are no jobs in the area, so they moved to the city where the work is.

Thanks Jane - that is such useful information. I'll check the current ownership. I have a feeling that it is the company's property and, if that is the case, I will check their notary paperwork.

I will speak with them about how they are going to set the contract up. One side Bulgarian and the other English, would allow me to check that it's accurate.

Massive thank you for all of your help so far 🙏

I do wear a wedding ring Grimsby Girl but in the English fashion maybe Bulgarian s wear their wedding rings on a different finger or hand. Thankfully when husband put in an appearance the attempts at courtship stopped.

@Grimsby girl

How are you getting on, are they proper estate agent?

@Grimsby girl two properties in Bulgaria I am from England I will give you advice buying from announcing place if you can that's my advice to you ion two houses in Bulgaria I bought my houses off eBay but you have to be careful who you buying them off I was in places is the best fins if you can do it because they saw everything out with you once you bought your property

@Grimsby girl

Hi...How did you get on in osikovo,we are looking at a property there and looking for any helpful information you might have on Village

Thanks

@Grimsby girl. Hi you don't have to worry regarding Yulson homes Sonny Edwards has a good reputation and is a honest guy.

I'm selling my house and buying one with this company I've had a property here in Bulgaria for 16 years and live here permanent now so now worries. Hope that helps

@Grimsby girl morning.  I know this is an old thread, but how did you get on with Osikovo?  I'm heading over next month and looking at a property there.  Cheers James 🍻.