Welcome to my site.
Please let me introduce myself, my name is Mark Wright and for more than eight years now I have been in the real estate business, mainly within the UK, where I became an office manager with a leading estate agency group. After moving to Bookavets near Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria in March 2007 I did not work for several months, then for 10 months I worked for one of the largest real estate agencies in Veliko Tarnovo, helping train the English speaking Bulgarian agents, who deal with the International clients.
I am now working independantly locating properties for buyers, who are looking to relocate around Veliko Tarnovo, Resen, Hotnitsa areas. Working on their behalf, I can access far more properties and select only ones suitable to my clients thus cutting down time spent looking at non suitable abodes.
I live here with my wife Sally, and son Shane, (our daughter Teri, lives in Swindon Wiltshire.) in a large village called Resen, just north of Veliko Tarnovo. We enjoy a stress free lifestyle that we could only imagine whilst living in the UK., long hot sunny summers and cold snowy winters.
There are quite a few Brit’s within a few kilometers of us, but mostly we talk to our Bulgarian neighbours, slowly, as we do not speak fluent Bulgarian yet! The local people are very friendly and will often pass you small gifts like fruit and Rakia (local home made whiskey) We for our part return their friendship with home made cakes etc.
Our British friends are great, we meet up quite often to help each other with new products found, or general information we have gathered. Sometimes just for a coffee or beer!
I have found that many British come here looking to buy property, but do not know where to start. I have a few key questions that I like to ask, this gives me a real insight to what they are looking to achieve. As I have been through the process and now know the pitfalls, hopefully I can save others the heartache and stress of searching for the right property.
I can help with all the details required in buying property here, from setting up bank accounts to opening your company, this is required when you buy a house with land. I can source any kind, from land/apartment/house/office even hotels.
Let me know how I can help you.
If you have any questions about my service I can provide you with names and email address's of previous clients who would be happy to tell you more about me and the level of service provided.
Please read all the "post's" on my blog, at the bottom of each page you can click a button for "older post's" this just means "go to the next page". You should find a lot of useful information contained here. If you feel the need for anything else please let me know and I will be happy to oblige.
I am always showing people around properties for sale which require renovation works. Some have the ability to see the potential of a place others need a littile help. When veiwing here the properties are not looking the same as you would expect in the UK.
However after some work they really do look great, make sure you have the work done right the first time and try not to cut those corners to save a few quid.
Here are some pictures of houses that have just been renovated, you will see for yourselves how good they look.
So do not be put off by those overgrown gardens or the poor decor inside.
Many people drive over to Bulgaria. There are great debates as to which is the best route to take, everyone has a reason for the way they choose.
I like to use the Channel Tunnel, it gives me a small break from driving and it is right on the doorstep of Cite Europe shopping centre. It means I can go and get some goodies for the drive. Then on through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia and into Bulgaria.
I choose Serbia because the roads are so much better, this means a faster time, but beware, as Serba is not in Europe you will need to have insurance to cover you for your use of their roads. You can buy it on the border, it is usually around £100 for a month, this is the least amount of time you can purchase. Also Serbia is the only place where we had to pay a road toll, it was only 15 Euros in total, but you must have this in cash.
I use a sat nav system to keep me on the right track, I purchased it before we drove over and is so easy to use. I would recomend getting one to everyone making this journey. It saves all those conversations about who told who to take which road, which turned out to be wrong!
Things to remember before setting off.
A green card is vital, this shows you have car insurance for Europe.
A first aid kit, fire extinguisher, GB sticker, red warning triangle for breakdowns, headlamp beam deflectors to send your headlamp beams in the opposite direction to the UK.
Always check your oil, water, spare tyre and make sure your car is serviced ready for the long drive.
Equally important to remember, this is not a race, take your time, four days is still a lot of driving if your only used to doing 10 -15 miles a day! 500 miles is hard work. Enjoy the trip, stop off often and drink a lot of fluids.
Make sure you passengers have something to do, the driver must concentrate all day, so cannot be concerned by passengers being bored etc.
I would do the trip again, but I love driving so it makes it easier for me. The lady I have just driven over, only drives short distances so knew her limitations. We got on really well and enjoyed the trip.
Currency is the last thing to think about. Take plenty of Euros and some Lev, all countries take the Euro, Serbia does, but not in the smaller villages, as your not in the country long it is not worth getting any Dinar.
For those of you who still require the "fix" of UK television like myself, then I have news for you!
I have now found a company who can set up and install a satillite connection that will provide channels like, ITV, Channel 4, all the freeview channels and Sky Movies, Sports etc etc.
There is a one off cost for the dish, reciever and installation, then a monthly fee to get around 6,00 plus channels from all over the world.
Cost's depend on the package you require, you may even choose to go for just the freeview package and pay a one off fee.
If this sounds interesting to you then let em know and I will pass on contact details.
