Once occupying little more than an empty space which just so happened to border a nine-kilometre long beach, the government's decision to transform Sunny Beach into a holiday resort for Eastern Europeans who were not allowed to travel beyond the Iron Curtain has proved to be a hugely successful one.

Combining an average summer temperature of around 21.5oC with the aforementioned beach, Sunny Beach quickly became the summer destination du jour for Communist Europe. And after the fall of Communism the resort began to appeal to Brits and other Europeans, too – the combination of sun, sea and sand along with the cheap cost of living in Bulgaria appealing to holidaymakers on a budget. As a result Sunny Beach has quickly become one of the more 'westernised' areas of Bulgaria. However, while today it would be easy to write Sunny Beach off as little more than an over-commercialised resort, the type of which are ten-a-penny in somewhere like Spain, the area's natural and scenic surroundings offer those who do find the razzmatazz of the resort's centre a little too much on occasions a very different lifestyle. Surrounded by the picturesque slopes of the Balkan mountains and green forests, you are never far from a tranquil spot offering great views and clean air. Elsewhere, just two kilometres south of Sunny Beach sits Nessebar, a UNESCO protected old town which is a more than pleasant place to spend a day or two.

As an already fairly popular holiday destination, Sunny Beach tends to attract investors who are either looking for a holiday hideaway or an investment property. Sometimes, as in the case of Brit Brian Hughes – who purchased a one-bedroom apartment at the Sunnyholidays complex near the Nessebar Sports stadium in Eastern Sunny Beach for £32,000 – it is a combination of both these factors that appeals. "Our property was purchased as a holiday destination, but mainly for investment," he confirms. "The property is under a rental agreement for next season with 7 per cent guaranteed from a major holiday company, organised through the sellers."

For those who are interested in making money from their purchase, Sunny Beach's burgeoning tourist market should certainly offer those who purchase the right home in the right area the chance to fulfil their wishes. "The popularity of the resort will undoubtedly increase in the coming years," explains Phil Grimes of Select Property Overseas. "Flights are becoming more frequent, more people are discovering the area and many people are returning each year, some more than once. "With apartments now being completed, friends and family of owners are staying and discovering the area for themselves instead of hearing about it. These visitors are also telling their friends about their holidays and encouraging them to visit." Grimes continues: "Easyjet recently announced their first route into Bulgaria, initially travelling to Sofia but undoubtedly travelling to the coastal airports from next year. This will change the tourist market completely as people will now be able to travel and stay independently which means that they will be able to visit at different times of the year, for differing lengths of holiday and at a cost lower than at the moment."

However, as with buying a property anywhere in the world, the key to making the most of your property's investment potential will be its location. So what areas should you look to buy in? "The front line is always going to be a popular spot and a good investment, but they are simply not making these anymore, and there are few available," says George Stefanov of Login Bulgaria. "The developments in what is effectively the second line, along both sides of the main commercial avenue of the resort itself will probably stay at current levels; in other words, be reasonably successful even in a not so successful peak season. "Many of the newly developed ones on the third line, though, are unlikely to bring in the return promised, especially if they lack – and they usually do – the adequate number of facilities needed to make them stand out." Not that Stefanov thinks that this should put you off looking for a home in Sunny Beach. "My advice would not be 'don't buy', but 'be careful about what you buy'." Hughes largely echoes Stefanov's views. "Among my top tips for those interested in Sunny Beach would be to take your time in choosing, as location is important," he says. "There are some great deals to be had if you know what you're buying for (investment or home)."

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Article published October 2007