The rising home prices, especially in the big cities, are making people look for alternatives. One of those is buying a land parcel in the outskirts and building your house there.

If you have decided on this opportunity there are two options in front of you regarding the location – buying a plot in the suburbs or in a nearby village.

As far as the capital city is concerned, the most popular such locations are the neighborhoods in the foot of the Vitosha mountain – Boyana, Dragaletvzi and Simeonovo, as well as the fast growing Manastirski Livadi and Malinova Dolina. But most popular and fast developing is unfortunately synonymous to most expensive.

Another important thing is to make sure whether the parcel is regulated and if there is water supply and electricity available. The size of the plot should be of at least 700-1,500 to allow for a decent house and a garden to plant flowers and grow vegetables as Bulgarians love to.

If you insist on living in one of the so-called posh neighborhoods in Sofia (Boyana, Dragalevtzi, Simeonovo) you will have to pay an average of 264 euros per square meter. In Manatirski Livadi and Malinova Dolina the sq. meter runs at around 331 euros.

The price is significantly lower in Gorna Banya area – 124 euros/sq.m.

If you don't mind traveling, you may settle in one of Sofia's satellite villages. The price in those depends on the view. A parcel near the lake of Pancharevo costs around 118 euros/sq.m. This is also the average for land in German, Kokalyane and Pasarel and is the highest around Sofia.

Parcels situated on the other side of Sofia's ring road, in the area of Bojurishte, Ivanyane and Malo Buchino are quite cheaper – at 55 euros/sq.m.

In the north, in the villages of Negovan, Svetovrachane and Novi Iskar it is even lower – 40 euros/sq.m.