The average house prices in Bulgaria increased 9.3% in the first quarter year-on-year, National Statistical Institute data showed.

In the end of the first quarter the average house price in Bulgaria was 988.2 leva/sq m versus 904 leva/sq m in the end of last year.

The highest growth in house prices was registered in Targovisthe, where they increased 16.3% last quarter, followed by Blagoevgrad – 16.2%, Varna – 16%, and Silistra – 15.8%.

In Sofia house prices were up 14.3% in the first quarter compared to the previous quarter.

The smallest increase was registered in house prices in Stara Zagora, which grew only 0.4% in the first three months of 2007.

House prices in Varna remain the highest in Bulgaria - 1,646 leva/sq m on average, followed by Sofia - 1,588 leva/sq m.

Burgas ranks third with 1,312.3 leva/sq m.

Ruse surpassed Plovdiv in the first quarter with house prices there reaching 1,050 leva/sq m. House prices in Stara Zagora remained high – 1,059 leva/sq m.

District centresQuarter prices - Levs/sq.mI quarter 2007 as % to IV quarter 2006
IV quarter 2006I quarter 2007Average904988,2109,3Blagoevgrad830964,3116,2Burgas1 297.21 312.3101,2Varna1 418.71 646.0116Veliko Tarnovo873,5890,2101,9Vidin586,5600,7102,4Vratsa703,5758,2107,8Gabrovo660,8702,7106,3Kardzhali671,7702,2104,5Kyustendil502,2557,7111,1Lovech609613100,7Montana717,5739,8103,1Pazardzhik646,3669,2103,5Pernik750853,5113,8Pleven797878,3110,2Plovdiv988,21 050.8106,3Razgrad594,8671,2112,8Ruse970,51 066.0109,8Silistra490,7568,3115,8Sliven711744,8104,8Smolyan790,1800,6101,3Sofia cap.1 389.81 588.0114,3Sofia418420,3100,6Stara Zagora1 055.81 059.7100,4Dobrich642,7704,7109,6Targovishte696,8810,6116,3Haskovo785,7826,5105,2Shumen723,8807,5111,6Yambol629,3645,2102,5