Residential property prices in Sofia went up by 6.9% in the second quarter of 2008, compared to the first quarter of the year to 2,312.5 leva per sq. m, data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) show.

Thus, Sofia retained its top spot in terms of highest residential property prices, followed by Varna where price went up by a mere 1.8% on a quarterly basis to 2,137.33 leva per sq.m.

Residential property prices in Bulgaria marked a 5.9-percent increase in the second quarter of 2008, compared to the first three months of the year.

Kyustendil saw the highest price growth of 14.9% to 779.33 leva per sq. m. Plovdiv ranked second with an increase of 13.2% to 1,491 leva per sq. m.

Rousse, which traditionally occupied the top spots in the last few quarters, saw a residential property price growth of only 1.0%. The average price in the city stood at 1,749.17 leva per sq. m. compared to 1,732 leva in the first quarter.

Residential property prices in Shumen and Smolyan jumped by 12.7%, while the increase stood at 12.4% in Veliko Tarnovo.

Targovishte saw the only decline in residential property prices over the period. The prices in the town went down by 2.9% in the second quarter of the year. Blagoevgrad recorded the smallest residential property price growth of 0.6% in the period.

Regional citiesAverage priceChange %
Q1Q2

20082008
TOTAL1 299,951 376,295,9Blagoevgrad1 295.171 303.000,6Bourgas1 647.001 698.003,1Varna2 099.332 137.331,8Veliko Tarnovo1 146.671 289.0812,4Vidin905,65933,673,1Vratsa950,67988,54Gabrovo863,5886,52,7Kardjali819,67843,172,9Kyustendil678,5779,3314,9Lovech828,47882,996,6Montana857,33903,675,4Pazardjik836,17869,334Pernik1 160.831 199.173,3Pleven1 233.831 358.0010,1Plovdiv1 316.831 491.0013,2Razgrad880932,56Rousse1 732.001 749.171Silistra698,83715,832,4Sliven952,171 011.506,2Smolyan872,32982,9312,7Sofia-city2 163.172 312.506,9Sofia677,83714,335,4Stara Zagora1 376.501 500.179Dobrich855,33890,334,1Targovishte937,3910,54-2,9Haskovo1 060.671 084.172,2Shoumen956,171 078.0012,7Yambol851,17892,174,8

* Data by NSI