A traduire ... Property in Sliven Bulgaria is excellent value for money. With all of the makings of a potential top city, impressive architecture, vineyards, spas, golf and a scenic backdrop, Sliven so far has not yet even boasted about its secret treasure.
It does little to market its wonders, letting people stumble on them instead. Fortunately, Sliven is gradually changing from a forgotten backwater into a vibrant cultural and tourist centre with excellent real estate and property opportunities.
A traduire ...
Plans are already underway to change the face of the city by introducing new shopping malls and office buildings but still preserving the original, well maintained Revival character of the city for which it is famous.
Sliven is a very beautiful town with a wonderful central pedestrianised area full of shops, cafes and restaurants, with inexpensive property in the city and surrounding villages.
One of its greatest assets is its strategic location, which offers convenient access to the south-eastern part of Bulgaria, the Black Sea and neighbouring Turkey and Greece. It has a well developed infrastructure and communications network, yet property in the area is comparatively inexpensive. There are also well established manufacturing industries like the large glass, textile and metal companies which dominate the business landscape.For anyone considering a move to Sliven or investment here, the opportunities are countless. Reminiscent of "an inland version of Varna", when Sliven gets its act together and starts its aggressive marketing campaign, this will be an area where tourists including Bulgarians from other areas, flock to spend time.
Sliven’s present economy centres around industries which have been there since the early 19th century. Indeed, Sliven used to be one of the country’s biggest industrial centres and played a key role in the Bulgarian National Revival. It has long-standing roots in textiles, machine-building, glass-making, chemical production and the food industries. With the rise of Communism in the forties, many industries were nationalised; this spurred a growth in construction and development. Industry prospered during the socialist era, but declined once it collapsed; many businesses and factories were shut down and there was little innovation. Fortunately, Sliven has picked itself out of the doldrums and again has started to thrive. There has been a massive surge in the local economy with increased investment, and the emergence of new industries and banking establishments. The traditional dairy industry is experiencing a large growth in business. The wine industry is now expanding rapidly, as you'll quickly witness from the thousands of acres of vines surrounding the town; with investment from leading wine producers like Vinprom and Vini Sliven. Sliven is also home to some lucrative heavy industry including a 3MM factory, which manufactures apparatus used to cut metals. The production of electric lights and machines is also a key business here. Most of Sliven’s light industry revolves around the stalwarts of textiles, especially woolen clothing and food.
We love Sliven because…
Simon and Joanne Wilkinson from Selby, Yorkshire moved to a village 12 km from Sliven two years ago. They were attracted by the beautiful mountain scenery as well as the opportunity to ski in nearby Shivachevo. The Wilkinsons are keen hikers and as Joanne tells, “We spend most weekends walking and in summer, when the weather is absolutely gorgeous, we go camping. In winter we ski in Shivachevo, it’s only a short drive away and is far cheaper than skiing in Bansko or Borovets.”
The couple own a small single-storey house, which they have renovated themselves (Simon was a builder in the UK) and as Simon explains this was not an easy task.
“We were living in a beaten up caravan on our land for what seemed like an eternity before the house was habitable. Winter was starting to set in and we were working flat out just to get one room heated. For six months we ate out nearly every day, because we didn’t have a kitchen and couldn’t face the hassle of cooking on a small two ring oven, which our friends had given us. There were times, I know, when Joanne was ready to pack up and go home.” Joanne continues, “It was tough and yes, I did lie awake at night questioning what we had taken on, but in the end it was well worth it. Our home is beautiful now and we have a massive garden where we are trying to grow vegetables and fruit; we also have six hens which produce some fine free-range eggs. I certainly wouldn’t swap this life for my old one.” Simon and Joanne find that dining out in Sliven is both inexpensive and provides a lot of choice in terms of cuisine. “There are plenty of international restaurants as well as lots of typical Bulgarian ones. The shopping is good too and there are lots of towns nearby, which we visit regularly for a change of scene.”
What your money buys
Cheap and cheerful: properties under 25,000 Euros
Renovations always carry a low price tag in Bulgaria, but beware; a restoration here doesn’t just mean a fresh lick of paint and some tender loving care. Bulgarian renovation projects can often cost you far more than you paid for the property.
We found a bargain property at only 6,100 Euros but in need of renovation 25 km away from Sliven with RealEstateBG. There is a paved road leading to the property making it approachable throughout winter. This is a one-storey house with three rooms connected by a corridor. There is a traditional outdoor kitchen in the garden making summer entertaining fun. There is also an agricultural building belonging to the property as well. The bathroom and the toilet are both outside. The house is fitted with all the necessary facilities, such as electricity, a septic tank and running water. Both the bathroom and wc are outside so you'd need to put these indoors. All interior works remain to be done. The garden is a large 1,200 sq.m with shrubs, trellis and vine.
