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FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE REALIZE BULGARIA IS NOT UKRAINE! STOP GIVING YOURSELF NATIVE STATUS IN BG! YOU GO TO CAFES NOT LOCAL RESTARAUNTS! THAT IS DISGUSTINGLY IGNORANT! NOT ALL SLAVIC COUNTRIES ARE THE SAME! YOU ARE THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT FINDS BOSTON SCARY! GET SOME CULTURE ALREADY! TOURIST! YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN CANADA IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TRY LOCAL CUISISINE OR PAY PATRONAGE TO BULGARIAN FOOD!
As a bulgarian living in Sofia, I can confidently say that rent prices here are crazy expensive for the average bulgarian. I live in a small studio and that's all I can afford! (with a decent salary for our standarts)
@@s7a7yC Agree, but they are still behind the property prices. That market is crazy now, because of covid, inflation burst, low interest rates and the expected transition to €. Unfortunately property is like a new type of currency which people use as alternative of paper and virtual (in bank) money.
Hey, Alina! There is one common trick when Bulgarians try to sell something - car, apartment, or apartment for rent. They tell you there is at least one more candidate for the estate in order to make you offer more money. But in reality there is no other candidates, they just want to trick you to pay a higher rent. I am not saying this is necessarily the case with that one particular apartment, but just be careful, don't overtrust and always try to negotiate for a lower price.
OK, but you saw the apartments. Why wouldn't there be at least another offer?. I don;t think she's on a panic schedule. She has an adequate home at the end of each day. We all will cross our fingers that this won't be a stage like getting residency. Her next travel vlog probably demands her completing the lease of an apartment.
I know she really nailed it. I'm used to her butchering Bulgarian words with a heavy Russian accent, so this was refreshing. Maybe she's started learning Bulgarian.
Alina the street and the buildings at 7:37 on your video are exactly what the street of my late aunt in an old part of Belgrade looked like. I am very impressed with the beauty of Sofia.
A city with old buildings, I would also consider them - the building may be dilapidated on the outside, but you can get a nice and special apartment with thick walls. Many new buildings have quite thin walls, and if there is a lot of life in the neighborhood..
Hello from CA. Congratulations u made a decision to Bulgaria and found an apartment! Reminds me when I moved to Tokyo and looked for an apartment with very few people speaking English. Finally found one with roommate and nothing like your lovely apt! Looking forward to more videos, esp from Eastern Europe following u from the beginning, all the best!
That restaurant looks really quaint. The second apartment looked really nice. Very little kitchen counter space. That would be the biggest thing I'd have to deal with. I'd have to put a table in there for extra counter space. Hope you enjoy the new apartment. Your videos are helping me try to decide my next destination abroad. Keep the videos coming. Eastern Europe is high on my list.
Thank you for the lovely and informative video as always. As somebody who would be interested in living in Sofia it was great to see such amazing units with beautiful designs. I personally think you went for the third one, my personal favorite is the first one x
Alina, first i have to say, that since i follow your videos for the past 3-4 years, I have the impression that you are a girl with such a strong and good intuition and I hope and believe that you will find a place which is just right for you and where you will be very happy. The second thing, I need to be completely honest here - I got a little bit angry, because as a real estate agents, they could have and should have offered you and find you a better deal!!! The mass price for such kind of apartments is around 600 to 750-800 euro/usd and we are talking about neighborhoods not only right next to the center, but some even in the main downtown. Ok, there is always some new buildings, some new fancy building complexes where the price is and should be higher, but for an apartment in the older buildings even in downtown, 1000 USD is a little bit pricy. The other moment that is important - the agency you work with. Some of them are dealing almost only with more expencive and high-priced estates and I think Galardo is one of them, while there is still a great variety of not so expensive, but beautiful apartments and not worse that the ones we saw . The third and most important thing - you should have no regrets for the desicion you've made. You are new to the city, still dont know it well, it is normal to want to be in the downtown and areas you are familiar with. Over the years you will get to know the city much better, you will become more confident, there are many neighborhoods right next to the center that are good for living, safe, with very convinient and fast public transport and if you for some reason in the future find your place high-priced or something else, you can easily move. I trully wish you the best of luck in your new home!
Fair enough, but I specifically asked for downtown and I told them the standard of apartment I am looking for. Of course there are apartments for less, but they do not look as good for my filming set ups and I like a multitude of great businesses as soon as I step out my door. If you take a look right now on any real estate website, you will not find a 2 bedroom (of the same quality of apartments that I showed) for less than 800 euro in the city center. I liked working with Galardo because they understand the quality I wanted, found great options for me quickly and were wonderful to deal with.
@AlinaMcleod that's amazing, we used the same agency lol. 😊 I'm actually in the center of the city, otherwise known as top center. It looks like we had the same requirements. Btw, love your content. I'm a travel creator too and sent you a DM on Instagram.
Thanks for taking us along. Really enjoying seeing your transition to like in Sofia. The last two apartments looked great! Thinking you put in a bid for that last one. That kitchen was stunning!
Alinochka, please make sure your apartment will looking to south or southeast, it’s always sunny & bright vs north side that mostly cold in a winter and gloomy …
I came across the wall frames of the deer couple behind you. I bought the same ones in Canada when I was living there! I brought them back to Colombia and put them in my living room as well, hahaha. 😄😄
Hi Alina! What a nice real estate agent! I think you either chose the second 2-bedroom apartment or the last one. The last one seems like "you" and was so cozy with chic aesthetics. However, you did like the second 2-bedroom which was smaller and in the same building as the first one you looked at. I look forward to seeing which one you chose!
I live in Sofia, and have lived in the same neighborhood "Doctor's Garden" as where most of these videos appear to have been taken. While it (and certain parts of Lozonets) are the most expensive in Sofia nevertheless, $1,000 USD for an apartment is too much, even in the center near the metro. I know foreigners who have similar apartments to one's shows in this video (renovated apartments, fully furnished, central location) but are paying no more than 700Euro/month
I'm from geo milev , born and bred in Sofia. 90s were hard and I certainly didn't enjoy most pc and the government agencies around the block. However she can get very decent accommodation for a fairly reasonable price, being like a short bus away from the city centre . Admittedly its no longer the early 90s and probably it would take more than 10-15 min to NDK but... I don't know. The ИЧС ( the department for foreigners at the local client ohridski uni which is in geo milev). English wouldn't be an issue as a lot of foreigners live there. We have a flat behind the central post office ( near the old Mr punch and stargalo) and I wouldn't live there even if you paid me( 2 min walk from slaveikov). Admittedly the mafia is no longer so present around there and shooting each other but still...
I hope you have a Bulgarian friend, who can complete the full picture for you, by providing the local perspective, experience of what is expensive, what to watch for, where is safe and where not. Good luck 🤞
Another beautiful video dear Alina, all these places are very nice, and my guess is the last place you showed us. Good luck in getting your favorite place! ♥
HI Alina, fellow Saskatchwanian here; nice to see you settling in a different country than our own "less-than-perfect" place. I would guess that the second aparment was the one you chose. Either that or the last one. Can't wait to see which it was. Good luck.
Zdraveite (Здравейте) pronounced hard, without the russian soft type of accent…, I’m very surprised from you, Alina :)! Have a great time here, and hope for new travel video soon!
Absolutely love exposed brick walls! The older, the better. Oh, and stone is even more amazing looking. I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of apartments in Sofia.
Of course all concrete building burrows in BG are not to be underestimated with their charm cosmopolitan views & locals. Further from downtown is where the real life & fun begins!
As a Bulgarian from Sofia I would say all of them are a bit too expensive so I would either negotiate or go with the one with the lowest price. On the note of which one you chose, I think the one with the two bathrooms. Anyway I wish you best of luck with your new home and new life, Alina!
The last one was best, not only because its original and cozy, but main reason I like it best is the LIGHT! A lot of windows and light in every room. So I guess you choose this one.
You are repeating the same mistake every expat does. In my first week in Bulgaria I was given a piece of very valuable advice that i ignored and it cost me a lot of money over the years: do not reason like a foreigner and do not compare prices to what's familiar from your country of origin. You can find apartments in slightly inferior location and slightly worse condition for half the price. The new country euphoria will wear off in three months; by then you'll be asking whether overpaying for stuff on the account of being foreigner was a good idea. And since you're checking out investment apartments you really should have a third party go through the contract. It is also very important that the landlord would be willing to get paid via bank transfer as opposed to cash, and go to the notary with you to sign a residence affidavit which you will need every year until you get your permanent residence. There is an enacted law that prohibits cash transactions if they exceed a certain amount per year and while it's not being enforced currently, it is not a risk you should take. Make sure at least your bedroom has air conditioning. Summers occasionally go into 40 degrees and you need to be able to cool it down. I would also suggest an inspection of thermal insulation with a FLIR camera, as Bulgarian construction is notoriously poor in this respect.
But if she is specifically looking for a luxurious place in a central location and is able to afford it, why should she make sacrifices? Some people have standards you know...
@milaenlommer9732 This is exactly how I reasoned about it and I even specifically wanted a guest bedroom. This isnt a question of being able to afford it, it's rather the realization that i never needed any of this in the first place because the initial euphoria wore off
I used to live in Gorna Bania near the Diplomatic Club (back then most foreigners lived in that area) the view of Vitosha mountain from my balcony was amazing. Traffic back then wasn't a problem. I used to take the bus in the 9 septembri boulevard (Boris II now) to downtown and it took me less than 20 mins. Downtown is more convenient and better if you like walking around. The nicest place back then was Vitosha Boulevard. Close to NDK, National Stadium, Alexander N cathedral, etc etc
They all looked nice.I would have gone with the second one. It matched the price you wanted to pay. Had an elevator and balcony. And you said you liked the layout.
Sorry I missed your live show the other day. I think your "must haves" was a realistic list given where you are now living and you found what I think is a prime deal. Loved the video as usual! 😄😀
So good to see you settling in and hope you find what you are looking for! I think prices are about the same in most every Capital City in the region. Prices are lower in smaller cities, but yes, there are trade offs, some good some bad. I chose a smaller city myself, more peaceful and layed back, and yes a bit cheaper. I Completely agree with finding an agent to help, it is worth the money and makes the process a lot faster and easier.
8:37 Wow! This apartment is really nice, This apartment has a beautiful living room and This apartment has a beautiful view of the city. I loved this apartment, Thank you so much for this video, Have a great day.
@@AlinaMcleod I wonder if you speak their language. What is the minimun salary in Bulgaria? Did you know that many pickpockets in west europe come from there?
@@Pedro-s3f2s did you know that this is not true? Ridiculous comment... Firstly, It is mainly romanian gypsies and this is very rare in Sofia, considering all of them are in Western Europe.
I know you can, but as I said outer areas or old renovation is not what I'm interested in. My apartment is a work expense so I can afford to spend a bit more than if I was just living there to save money.
Rent is pretty expensive, but have in mind that Alina is looking ar apartments in the best area of the city. That's the cream on the top location speaking, safest area with embassies and stuff. And the things she is doing are valid for Bucharest and Belgrade as well, so westerners who intend to move in the area should take notes.
A new building is under construction, near to the building where are the first two apartaments , so thеre will not be quiet in the near future for sure ;)
Hey Alina, the "agency" fee of 50-60% of one month's rent is pretty standard, but 100% sounds like they’re definitely overcharging you. Just curious-did you consider calling a second broker or agency to compare prices? They might have had more apartments to show you. After all, we’re living in a free country and we do what we can, how we can! :D Anyway, great video with such positive vibes. Thanks for sharing!
I did talk to a few different agencies but many were one months rent. Galia was personally recommended to me and found me what I was looking for super fast, with great English.
@@AlinaMcleod Well, I'm glad she helped you, but the maximum fee that I know agents ask for is 80%, normally it's 50%. They charge you 100% only because you are a foreigner.
From Toronto's chill to Sofia's blaze, Alina, a Ukrainian with a Canadian gaze, Seeks a furnished flat, two rooms wide, In the heart of Sofia, where her dreams reside. With a suitcase packed and a heart full of glee, She braves the Balkan charm, a modern odyssey. Navigating streets where Cyrillic signs gleam, She searches for a home, a Bulgarian dream. Landlords with stories and apartments galore, Alina's quest for a haven, a never-ending chore. From cramped quarters to palatial digs, She sifts through options, her brow furrowed in figs. But amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope, A cozy flat with a balcony to scope. Two bedrooms, furnished with taste and flair, A haven in Sofia, a place to declare. So Alina settles in, her heart light and free, A Ukrainian Canadian, finally at home, you see. In the heart of Sofia, her new chapter unfolds, A furnished flat, a story yet untold.
For all the amenities that come with the apt, apt in Sophia is a really good deal! An unfurnished one-bed room in major cities (NYC, LA, SF, etc.) in North America should cost you at least like $4000 or something! Are utilities also included in the rent you paid in Sophia?
Utilities are almost never included in rent prices in Sofia (and Bulgaria in general) so if you plant to rent here you should budget an additional BGN 100-300 (EUR 50-150) for electricity/water/heating with the lower range being for the spring/summer/autumn months and the higher for the autumn/winter/spring months, unless you use air conditioning in the summer (the summer in Sofia can be quite hot with temperatures reaching 38-40°C) in which case you should budget in the upper range of this numbers for the entire year.
People come to Sofia for work, which raises the prices. Another aspect of the Bulgarian rental market is that a TON of apartments are bought as investments (or speculation) and never make it to the rental market. Many new buldings are 80% dark.
IN Belgrade also.So many new building everywhere while at same time we have one the highest home ownership in the world and out population is shrinking last 30 years(like 15-20% ) . So who are people who buy all that apartments ,and they for sure not cheap compare to our salaries .SO i thing is money laundry ,you dont see many lights in that new buildings
@@dzonikg Many native people who emigrated to USA, for example, can't wait to retire and return home. I met a couple who bought a big house, although they still lived in a big house in USA.
We Bulgarians tend to always know there is a much better deal somewhere :D. Those apartments are really luxurious and fairly priced. Pretty interesting to follow your journey in Sofia! Enjoy!
I agree, locals have different feel than expat (in any country). I only switched my mind after several years as expat in ex Yugoslavia parts. But in general I tend to see 10-15 apartments before sign.
Well done, Alina 👍👍👍 All apartments are great, my choice would be one of the first two, but I guess you'll pick the last 😊 Also, CRAFT was a great remembering for me, been there in last October (my first travel back to Sofia since 2010), couple of great diners with friends at CRAFT 👍 Wonderful time!
Basically, you are paying mostly for the location. You can find similar or better flats for half the price that are just a couple of stops from downtown with the metro. The last flat's small bedroom and single toilet(without a sink to wash your hands!) look pretty bad. The furniture looks like it's from 50 years ago in the small bedroom. For what you are getting the price is insane, as it is with most of these downtown flats. But as we say in Bulgarian не е виновен тоя, който яде баницата, а оня, дето му я дава ;)
As long as you are happy, with what you like. That is all that matters. In the end you are the one that will be staying in that apartment. I was looking at a run down hotel in Koh Lanta on video. A Dutch couple saw that hotel when they were there on a holiday. Decided to go back to Amsterdam and sell up everything and settle in Koh Lanta. They decided to buy the run down hotel and do it up. I hope to see it when it is all finished.
Plovdiv also offers great rent prices and opportunities. The seaside also has some foreign companies pouring money in and opening job positions. Sofia is already at 1,3m population and it becomes a struggle for all of us.
Hey, I discovered your channel couple of days ago and I am sooooo interested in your journey over here. Wish you some great moments and experiences here. Waiting for more videos ^_^
The rent looks ok considering the area and the public healthcare. I wonder if the public healthcare includes meds and eye care, and about the rent increase limit laws.
All the apartments shown in your video are nice new or recently refursbished places. Good luck in your apartment hunting. Await your final choice 🤞 Good luck.
Alina, аt these rental prices, if you want to settle permanently in the country. Think about acquiring your own home. I would even advise you to think about a house with a yard. Paradoxically, a house with a yard, a garage and a small pool. It may be cheaper than a small apartment in the city center. Search the Internet, but search in Bulgarian, (it will not be a problem for you) because there may be two prices, for ours and for foreigners. 😉
I would personally go for apartment #2. If you weigh up all things like rent, size, layout and functionality it looks like its gonna cover your needs perfectly without breaking the bank :)
Was it the last one? ;) Love that each of these apartments were quite different. In Vancouver often some 1-2bdr apartments look similar in some way (if not furnished). Many are very dark if less pricey.
haha you will see in my next video! It is so nice to be able to rent a fully furnished apartment compared to Canada, technically saves you a lot of money in the short term than having to buy all your own furniture and lug it from place to place.
Well the apartments are very good , stylish and modern. I can not recommend you which one , but I could recommend which are nice neighbourhood in my opinion. Mostly it is south part of the city. I would recommend "Geo Milev" , Mladost 2, 4 , "Manastirski livadi", "Vitosha". First two are mostly old building , but the old ones are good. The second 2 are newer. It of course depends on you of course, but really do not recommend "Liulin", "Ovcha kupel", "Obelia", "Nadejda". One of the best option if you travel a lot , probably will be close to metro station, as it is the best transport in Sofia- cheap , quick and reliable. And as you said close to city center , excluding area of Women market- between street Hristo Botev and boulevard Slivnica. Hopefully you find your best place, keep us in touch. p.s. Have you considered buying an apartment. I have no idea but probably you can apply for mortgage , if you plan to stay more , it will be cheaper and you will build the home as you want.
I'm from Geo Milev and some bits of it are really nice with few shopping centres in the immediate area ( sky city and , er the shopping centre right on the junction between shipchenski proof and Nikolai kopernik) and another close by ( serdika). However from what I know the tube isn't built yet so that might be an issue. Yavorov is nice too but no tube either. However Geo milev is well connected with plenty of busses and two trams.
Interesting and I think it is more expensive compared with Romania. In Bucharest similar places will be max 800 USD. Maybe it will be wise to consider buying a small property, ideally a duplex to rent half. It can be a good investment. Also there are few regional gold traders to consider plus Turkiye close for more trade.
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Girl you can have this for the half the price or less in city center of Skopje, Macedonia 😢
Yeah, but then she’d have to live in Macedonia.
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💃💃💃💃
FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE REALIZE BULGARIA IS NOT UKRAINE! STOP GIVING YOURSELF NATIVE STATUS IN BG! YOU GO TO CAFES NOT LOCAL RESTARAUNTS! THAT IS DISGUSTINGLY IGNORANT! NOT ALL SLAVIC COUNTRIES ARE THE SAME! YOU ARE THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT FINDS BOSTON SCARY! GET SOME CULTURE ALREADY! TOURIST! YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN CANADA IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TRY LOCAL CUISISINE OR PAY PATRONAGE TO BULGARIAN FOOD!
As a bulgarian living in Sofia, I can confidently say that rent prices here are crazy expensive for the average bulgarian. I live in a small studio and that's all I can afford! (with a decent salary for our standarts)
Yes for the average wages it is very high. Sadly same for locals in Toronto. A ‘good’ job there barely affords you a 1 bedroom apartment.
@@s7a7yC Agree, but they are still behind the property prices. That market is crazy now, because of covid, inflation burst, low interest rates and the expected transition to €. Unfortunately property is like a new type of currency which people use as alternative of paper and virtual (in bank) money.
It's the same everywhere now.
I hope for some moves from the governments to avoid that issue, as empty properties lower the quality of the living, infrastructure and utilities.
As a bulgarian I can say rent in sofia is affordable. Its not expensive at all. Just work more and earn more money
Hey, Alina!
There is one common trick when Bulgarians try to sell something - car, apartment, or apartment for rent. They tell you there is at least one more candidate for the estate in order to make you offer more money. But in reality there is no other candidates, they just want to trick you to pay a higher rent.
I am not saying this is necessarily the case with that one particular apartment, but just be careful, don't overtrust and always try to negotiate for a lower price.
Insider info, good to know
I've experienced this in other countries in Asia and the Middle East as well.
Very good advice.
@TheBTG88 The world is one big village. 😂
OK, but you saw the apartments. Why wouldn't there be at least another offer?. I don;t think she's on a panic schedule. She has an adequate home at the end of each day. We all will cross our fingers that this won't be a stage like getting residency. Her next travel vlog probably demands her completing the lease of an apartment.
That "Здравейте" was soooo natural! OMG! 😍😍😍 We gotta make you an honorary citizen of Sofia someday!
haha thank you!
I know she really nailed it. I'm used to her butchering Bulgarian words with a heavy Russian accent, so this was refreshing. Maybe she's started learning Bulgarian.
Yes. The last apartment has a special spirit. It looks like home 🏡
It sure does!
Alina the street and the buildings at 7:37 on your video are exactly what the street of my late aunt in an old part of Belgrade looked like. I am very impressed with the beauty of Sofia.
A city with old buildings, I would also consider them - the building may be dilapidated on the outside, but you can get a nice and special apartment with thick walls. Many new buildings have quite thin walls, and if there is a lot of life in the neighborhood..
Hello from CA. Congratulations u made a decision to Bulgaria and found an apartment! Reminds me when I moved to Tokyo and looked for an apartment with very few people speaking English. Finally found one with roommate and nothing like your lovely apt! Looking forward to more videos, esp from Eastern Europe following u from the beginning, all the best!
Thank you so much! I know the Japan apartment hunt all too well lol.
That restaurant looks really quaint. The second apartment looked really nice. Very little kitchen counter space. That would be the biggest thing I'd have to deal with. I'd have to put a table in there for extra counter space. Hope you enjoy the new apartment. Your videos are helping me try to decide my next destination abroad. Keep the videos coming. Eastern Europe is high on my list.
Thank you for the lovely and informative video as always. As somebody who would be interested in living in Sofia it was great to see such amazing units with beautiful designs. I personally think you went for the third one, my personal favorite is the first one x
My pleasure! 🙂
Alina, first i have to say, that since i follow your videos for the past 3-4 years, I have the impression that you are a girl with such a strong and good intuition and I hope and believe that you will find a place which is just right for you and where you will be very happy.
The second thing, I need to be completely honest here - I got a little bit angry, because as a real estate agents, they could have and should have offered you and find you a better deal!!! The mass price for such kind of apartments is
around 600 to 750-800 euro/usd and we are talking about neighborhoods not only right next to the center, but some even in the main downtown. Ok, there is always some new buildings, some new fancy building complexes where the price is and should be higher, but for an apartment in the older buildings even in downtown, 1000 USD is a little bit pricy. The other moment that is important - the agency you work with. Some of them are dealing almost only with more expencive and high-priced estates and I think Galardo is one of them, while there is still a great variety of not so expensive, but beautiful apartments and not worse that the ones we saw .
The third and most important thing - you should have no regrets for the desicion you've made. You are new to the city, still dont know it well, it is normal to want to be in the downtown and areas you are familiar with. Over the years you will get to know the city much better, you will become more confident, there are many neighborhoods right next to the center that are good for living, safe, with very convinient and fast public transport and if you for some reason in the future find your place high-priced or something else, you can easily move.
I trully wish you the best of luck in your new home!
I'm an American who now rents a large 2 bedroom apartment by NDK in Lozenets and I'm paying less. Yes, I went through a real estate agent.
Fair enough, but I specifically asked for downtown and I told them the standard of apartment I am looking for. Of course there are apartments for less, but they do not look as good for my filming set ups and I like a multitude of great businesses as soon as I step out my door. If you take a look right now on any real estate website, you will not find a 2 bedroom (of the same quality of apartments that I showed) for less than 800 euro in the city center. I liked working with Galardo because they understand the quality I wanted, found great options for me quickly and were wonderful to deal with.
@AlinaMcleod that's amazing, we used the same agency lol. 😊 I'm actually in the center of the city, otherwise known as top center. It looks like we had the same requirements. Btw, love your content. I'm a travel creator too and sent you a DM on Instagram.
Thanks for taking us along. Really enjoying seeing your transition to like in Sofia. The last two apartments looked great! Thinking you put in a bid for that last one. That kitchen was stunning!
Alinochka,
please make sure your apartment will looking to south or southeast, it’s always sunny & bright vs north side that mostly cold in a winter and gloomy …
Hi, thnx for this tip, very helpful esp if in Northern hemisphere.
Very true!
In the summer, that mountain view is going to fry you.
Good luck, Alina! My guess is the apartment with the walk-in closet! 😄
Sofia looks amazing 👍
Only looks amazing 😀Sofia is a shithole.
Alina, great video.
I wish you good luck with the new apartment. It is very hard to decide ..., but I am sure you will make the right decisions.
I came across the wall frames of the deer couple behind you. I bought the same ones in Canada when I was living there! I brought them back to Colombia and put them in my living room as well, hahaha. 😄😄
Can't wait to see what you picked Alina. The ones you showed all look great especially for the price.
Hi Alina! What a nice real estate agent! I think you either chose the second 2-bedroom apartment or the last one. The last one seems like "you" and was so cozy with chic aesthetics. However, you did like the second 2-bedroom which was smaller and in the same building as the first one you looked at. I look forward to seeing which one you chose!
I live in Sofia, and have lived in the same neighborhood "Doctor's Garden" as where most of these videos appear to have been taken. While it (and certain parts of Lozonets) are the most expensive in Sofia nevertheless, $1,000 USD for an apartment is too much, even in the center near the metro. I know foreigners who have similar apartments to one's shows in this video (renovated apartments, fully furnished, central location) but are paying no more than 700Euro/month
The increase of the property prices in Sofia for the last 10 years is 2.5 times.
@@pavlinpetkov8984 , брокерчето знае :Д
@ 10years ago I paid 150euro rent for a 100m2 flat next to the Military Club and 50m away from the Parliament.
@@JustPassingByBaby , yeah, no way nowadays
I'm from geo milev , born and bred in Sofia. 90s were hard and I certainly didn't enjoy most pc and the government agencies around the block. However she can get very decent accommodation for a fairly reasonable price, being like a short bus away from the city centre . Admittedly its no longer the early 90s and probably it would take more than 10-15 min to NDK but... I don't know. The ИЧС ( the department for foreigners at the local client ohridski uni which is in geo milev). English wouldn't be an issue as a lot of foreigners live there.
We have a flat behind the central post office ( near the old Mr punch and stargalo) and I wouldn't live there even if you paid me( 2 min walk from slaveikov). Admittedly the mafia is no longer so present around there and shooting each other but still...
I hope you have a Bulgarian friend, who can complete the full picture for you, by providing the local perspective, experience of what is expensive, what to watch for, where is safe and where not. Good luck 🤞
Don't worry about my business!
Welcome aboard to your New and exciting life in Sofia.
I think your favourite is the last one. I also loved it. I am looking forward to it.
It is a lovely apartment you picked and I do hope you get it, fingers crossed. Thank you for showing us around!! 😊
Another beautiful video dear Alina, all these places are very nice, and my guess is the last place you showed us. Good luck in getting your favorite place! ♥
The lunch spot looked so cozy. There's something fun about being outside and seated next to those giant heat lamps.
I agree!
I think the first apartment is much better
You are smart and you know that you want and you need
Thank you Ania for the great video
They all looked great Alina. Can't wait to see what you picked. 👍😊
HI Alina, fellow Saskatchwanian here; nice to see you settling in a different country than our own "less-than-perfect" place.
I would guess that the second aparment was the one you chose.
Either that or the last one.
Can't wait to see which it was.
Good luck.
Awesome, congrats on the new place 👏👏
Zdraveite (Здравейте) pronounced hard, without the russian soft type of accent…, I’m very surprised from you, Alina :)! Have a great time here, and hope for new travel video soon!
Thank you very much!
Hoi, Alina, super interesting. Well done. Surprised I´am to see what Sofia has on offer. I´am sure you will do the right decision. Greetings, Markus
Thank you very much :)
Absolutely love exposed brick walls! The older, the better. Oh, and stone is even more amazing looking. I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of apartments in Sofia.
Of course all concrete building burrows in BG are not to be underestimated with their charm cosmopolitan views & locals. Further from downtown is where the real life & fun begins!
#2 would be a great choice. You cabn always add some design elements. It’s nice to have the full room and second bathroom for your guests.
Nice video. I wish you well in your new place. I hope it will be a happy home for you.
I would have thought the rents would have been cheaper. I paid less in Warsaw Poland, close to
city center but that was a few years ago.
Rents are cheaper in Edmonton by the look at those prices.
As a Bulgarian from Sofia I would say all of them are a bit too expensive so I would either negotiate or go with the one with the lowest price.
On the note of which one you chose, I think the one with the two bathrooms.
Anyway I wish you best of luck with your new home and new life, Alina!
The last one was best, not only because its original and cozy, but main reason I like it best is the LIGHT! A lot of windows and light in every room. So I guess you choose this one.
You are repeating the same mistake every expat does. In my first week in Bulgaria I was given a piece of very valuable advice that i ignored and it cost me a lot of money over the years: do not reason like a foreigner and do not compare prices to what's familiar from your country of origin. You can find apartments in slightly inferior location and slightly worse condition for half the price. The new country euphoria will wear off in three months; by then you'll be asking whether overpaying for stuff on the account of being foreigner was a good idea. And since you're checking out investment apartments you really should have a third party go through the contract. It is also very important that the landlord would be willing to get paid via bank transfer as opposed to cash, and go to the notary with you to sign a residence affidavit which you will need every year until you get your permanent residence. There is an enacted law that prohibits cash transactions if they exceed a certain amount per year and while it's not being enforced currently, it is not a risk you should take.
Make sure at least your bedroom has air conditioning. Summers occasionally go into 40 degrees and you need to be able to cool it down. I would also suggest an inspection of thermal insulation with a FLIR camera, as Bulgarian construction is notoriously poor in this respect.
But if she is specifically looking for a luxurious place in a central location and is able to afford it, why should she make sacrifices? Some people have standards you know...
@milaenlommer9732 This is exactly how I reasoned about it and I even specifically wanted a guest bedroom. This isnt a question of being able to afford it, it's rather the realization that i never needed any of this in the first place because the initial euphoria wore off
Good advice.
Alina knows Bulgaria better than many bulgarians. You can trust her. :)
Looks like to me the units shown do not have A/C
I liked the 3rd one! So stylish, but I think Alina went for the last one!
I used to live in Gorna Bania near the Diplomatic Club (back then most foreigners lived in that area) the view of Vitosha mountain from my balcony was amazing. Traffic back then wasn't a problem. I used to take the bus in the 9 septembri boulevard (Boris II now) to downtown and it took me less than 20 mins.
Downtown is more convenient and better if you like walking around. The nicest place back then was Vitosha Boulevard. Close to NDK, National Stadium, Alexander N cathedral, etc etc
They all looked nice.I would have gone with the second one. It matched the price you wanted to pay. Had an elevator and balcony. And you said you liked the layout.
Just started following your channel. Enjoying your channel. The rent is so reasonable compared to Saskatchewan where I live.
what?????/I live in Saskatchewan and i pay only 600 Cad for a 2 bedroom heated per month! Mind you it is a small town......
these rents are higher than the average rents in saskatoon and regina for a 2 bedroom
you can checkout the surva festival. It started yesterday and will continue until the end of tomorrow
Very interesting video, Alina
I think that the last one is very nice. Thank you Alina for sharing ⭐️💕🍀
Sorry I missed your live show the other day. I think your "must haves" was a realistic list given where you are now living and you found what I think is a prime deal. Loved the video as usual! 😄😀
Glad you agree, Stan! :)
I think you chose the second appartment. Good luck on your new adventure Alina 😊
Lovely apartment. Just hope you get it Alina. Thanks for the video.
So good to see you settling in and hope you find what you are looking for! I think prices are about the same in most every Capital City in the region. Prices are lower in smaller cities, but yes, there are trade offs, some good some bad. I chose a smaller city myself, more peaceful and layed back, and yes a bit cheaper. I Completely agree with finding an agent to help, it is worth the money and makes the process a lot faster and easier.
i'm also moving, put an offer in yesterday, it feels like mine! i wish you luck Alina!
8:37 Wow! This apartment is really nice, This apartment has a beautiful living room and This apartment has a beautiful view of the city. I loved this apartment, Thank you so much for this video, Have a great day.
Glad you liked it!
@@AlinaMcleod I wonder if you speak their language. What is the minimun salary in Bulgaria? Did you know that many pickpockets in west europe come from there?
@@Pedro-s3f2s did you know that this is not true? Ridiculous comment... Firstly, It is mainly romanian gypsies and this is very rare in Sofia, considering all of them are in Western Europe.
Good luck with that last apartment, I hope you get it!
A local here, these are more on the expensive side, you can find cheaper places still in Sofia.
I know you can, but as I said outer areas or old renovation is not what I'm interested in. My apartment is a work expense so I can afford to spend a bit more than if I was just living there to save money.
Thank you for sharing your experience in Sofia,you look amazing in that colour. Looking forward to seeing you next time 😊
Thank you so much and my pleasure ☺️
Wow! I am impressed by the high standard and quality of those apartments, so I would go with the second unit 😀
Rent is pretty expensive, but have in mind that Alina is looking ar apartments in the best area of the city. That's the cream on the top location speaking, safest area with embassies and stuff. And the things she is doing are valid for Bucharest and Belgrade as well, so westerners who intend to move in the area should take notes.
Glad you understand :)
I am just glad you are saying it correctly, sOfia not sofIa :)) best of luck with the apartment hunting
wow the apartment looks good. Safe travels.
Thanks Alina for that informative video and good luck in your choice of apts you want .have a great week.
Thank you!
I think it is standard practice, here in the states, to pay an agent’s fee (at least in major cities).
The lunch with your agent looked fantastic!
A new building is under construction, near to the building where are the first two apartaments , so thеre will not be quiet in the near future for sure ;)
Good luck ,whatever you pick up just watch your budget !
Hey Alina, the "agency" fee of 50-60% of one month's rent is pretty standard, but 100% sounds like they’re definitely overcharging you.
Just curious-did you consider calling a second broker or agency to compare prices? They might have had more apartments to show you. After all, we’re living in a free country and we do what we can, how we can! :D
Anyway, great video with such positive vibes. Thanks for sharing!
I did talk to a few different agencies but many were one months rent. Galia was personally recommended to me and found me what I was looking for super fast, with great English.
@@AlinaMcleod Well, I'm glad she helped you, but the maximum fee that I know agents ask for is 80%, normally it's 50%. They charge you 100% only because you are a foreigner.
i like the 3rd one anyway love your soothing voice and vlog
Second one is looking great
The one with the walk-in closet is my guess. They were all gorgeous but I was surprised with how expensive they were.
From Toronto's chill to Sofia's blaze,
Alina, a Ukrainian with a Canadian gaze,
Seeks a furnished flat, two rooms wide,
In the heart of Sofia, where her dreams reside.
With a suitcase packed and a heart full of glee,
She braves the Balkan charm, a modern odyssey.
Navigating streets where Cyrillic signs gleam,
She searches for a home, a Bulgarian dream.
Landlords with stories and apartments galore,
Alina's quest for a haven, a never-ending chore.
From cramped quarters to palatial digs,
She sifts through options, her brow furrowed in figs.
But amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope,
A cozy flat with a balcony to scope.
Two bedrooms, furnished with taste and flair,
A haven in Sofia, a place to declare.
So Alina settles in, her heart light and free,
A Ukrainian Canadian, finally at home, you see.
In the heart of Sofia, her new chapter unfolds,
A furnished flat, a story yet untold.
Bravo, Michael! I hope Alina sees your comment/ poem. 👍
haha that is FANTASTIC, thank you!
For all the amenities that come with the apt, apt in Sophia is a really good deal! An unfurnished one-bed room in major cities (NYC, LA, SF, etc.) in North America should cost you at least like $4000 or something! Are utilities also included in the rent you paid in Sophia?
Utilities are almost never included in rent prices in Sofia (and Bulgaria in general) so if you plant to rent here you should budget an additional BGN 100-300 (EUR 50-150) for electricity/water/heating with the lower range being for the spring/summer/autumn months and the higher for the autumn/winter/spring months, unless you use air conditioning in the summer (the summer in Sofia can be quite hot with temperatures reaching 38-40°C) in which case you should budget in the upper range of this numbers for the entire year.
Buddy, the average salary in Sofia is $1600 and these apartments are $1000-1100. With no utilities included. Do you really think this is a good deal?
Canadian cities are much cheaper than those. a media price of a 2 bedroom in toronto is 3,000CAD or 2,100USD
You’ll get good advice. Sitting here this morning smiling and saying ‘pulloat coach’ over and over eh.
And Thank you for Nomad Insurance.
People come to Sofia for work, which raises the prices. Another aspect of the Bulgarian rental market is that a TON of apartments are bought as investments (or speculation) and never make it to the rental market. Many new buldings are 80% dark.
The bigest advantage of Sofia is that it is not very far away from Varna :)
@@vesmog almost 1h by plane :D
IN Belgrade also.So many new building everywhere while at same time we have one the highest home ownership in the world and out population is shrinking last 30 years(like 15-20% ) .
So who are people who buy all that apartments ,and they for sure not cheap compare to our salaries .SO i thing is money laundry ,you dont see many lights in that new buildings
@@dzonikg Many native people who emigrated to USA, for example, can't wait to retire and return home. I met a couple who bought a big house, although they still lived in a big house in USA.
We Bulgarians tend to always know there is a much better deal somewhere :D. Those apartments are really luxurious and fairly priced.
Pretty interesting to follow your journey in Sofia!
Enjoy!
I agree, locals have different feel than expat (in any country). I only switched my mind after several years as expat in ex Yugoslavia parts.
But in general I tend to see 10-15 apartments before sign.
Well done, Alina 👍👍👍
All apartments are great, my choice would be one of the first two, but I guess you'll pick the last 😊
Also, CRAFT was a great remembering for me, been there in last October (my first travel back to Sofia since 2010), couple of great diners with friends at CRAFT 👍
Wonderful time!
That's awesome that you enjoyed it as well!
Basically, you are paying mostly for the location. You can find similar or better flats for half the price that are just a couple of stops from downtown with the metro. The last flat's small bedroom and single toilet(without a sink to wash your hands!) look pretty bad. The furniture looks like it's from 50 years ago in the small bedroom. For what you are getting the price is insane, as it is with most of these downtown flats. But as we say in Bulgarian не е виновен тоя, който яде баницата, а оня, дето му я дава ;)
As long as you are happy, with what you like. That is all that matters. In the end you are the one that will be staying in that apartment. I was looking at a run down hotel in Koh Lanta on video. A Dutch couple saw that hotel when they were there on a holiday. Decided to go back to Amsterdam and sell up everything and settle in Koh Lanta. They decided to buy the run down hotel and do it up. I hope to see it when it is all finished.
Plovdiv also offers great rent prices and opportunities. The seaside also has some foreign companies pouring money in and opening job positions. Sofia is already at 1,3m population and it becomes a struggle for all of us.
I loved your video on Pai, Thailand
Well, welcome to our neck of the woods! :D
Hey, I discovered your channel couple of days ago and I am sooooo interested in your journey over here. Wish you some great moments and experiences here. Waiting for more videos ^_^
Thank you so much!
@@AlinaMcleod Anytime Alina :)
Omg this video makes me want to have my own apartment 🤩🤩🥰🥰
The rent looks ok considering the area and the public healthcare. I wonder if the public healthcare includes meds and eye care, and about the rent increase limit laws.
You are the best ❤
All the apartments shown in your video are nice new or recently refursbished places. Good luck in your apartment hunting. Await your final choice 🤞 Good luck.
Alina, аt these rental prices, if you want to settle permanently in the country. Think about acquiring your own home. I would even advise you to think about a house with a yard. Paradoxically, a house with a yard, a garage and a small pool. It may be cheaper than a small apartment in the city center. Search the Internet, but search in Bulgarian, (it will not be a problem for you) because there may be two prices, for ours and for foreigners. 😉
Alinochka good luck in Bulgaria 😊
I would personally go for apartment #2. If you weigh up all things like rent, size, layout and functionality it looks like its gonna cover your needs perfectly without breaking the bank :)
Cool! Enjoy the journey
My guess is either you got apartment #2 or #4. Can’t wait for the complete tour of the one you chose. God bless
Thank you!
Why Sophia, why not Nessenar or amazing Plovdiv or even Bansko it’s really safe
Was it the last one? ;) Love that each of these apartments were quite different. In Vancouver often some 1-2bdr apartments look similar in some way (if not furnished). Many are very dark if less pricey.
haha you will see in my next video! It is so nice to be able to rent a fully furnished apartment compared to Canada, technically saves you a lot of money in the short term than having to buy all your own furniture and lug it from place to place.
Well the apartments are very good , stylish and modern. I can not recommend you which one , but I could recommend which are nice neighbourhood in my opinion. Mostly it is south part of the city. I would recommend "Geo Milev" , Mladost 2, 4 , "Manastirski livadi", "Vitosha". First two are mostly old building , but the old ones are good. The second 2 are newer. It of course depends on you of course, but really do not recommend "Liulin", "Ovcha kupel", "Obelia", "Nadejda". One of the best option if you travel a lot , probably will be close to metro station, as it is the best transport in Sofia- cheap , quick and reliable. And as you said close to city center , excluding area of Women market- between street Hristo Botev and boulevard Slivnica. Hopefully you find your best place, keep us in touch.
p.s. Have you considered buying an apartment. I have no idea but probably you can apply for mortgage , if you plan to stay more , it will be cheaper and you will build the home as you want.
I'm from Geo Milev and some bits of it are really nice with few shopping centres in the immediate area ( sky city and , er the shopping centre right on the junction between shipchenski proof and Nikolai kopernik) and another close by ( serdika).
However from what I know the tube isn't built yet so that might be an issue.
Yavorov is nice too but no tube either.
However Geo milev is well connected with plenty of busses and two trams.
Interesting and I think it is more expensive compared with Romania. In Bucharest similar places will be max 800 USD. Maybe it will be wise to consider buying a small property, ideally a duplex to rent half. It can be a good investment. Also there are few regional gold traders to consider plus Turkiye close for more trade.
I'm sorry for the off-topic, but what is the brand of your eyeshadow? And the shade too 😅Ty!
Haha thanks! It’s the Urban Decay original Naked palette with a whole mix of shades 😅
The practice of the agent fee is not one month rent, it is procent of the rent for one month
Yes I liked them all as well.. but I definitely need AC and Lift for sure..
Appreciate the summary. Profound 😮
All the best to you