Property Purchase Costs: What to Add to the Price
The price in the listing is not the final amount you will pay. Local tax, a notary fee, a registration fee and often an agency commission and loan costs are added to it. Here is how to calculate them in advance.
Property Guide •Published: 27 October 2026 •Updated: 30 October 2026 •Reading time: 4 min read •Views: 25
Why plan your costs early
Most buyers negotiate the price carefully but underestimate the costs surrounding the transaction. They are paid within a short period around the signing of the notarial deed and cannot be included in the price of the property. If you are buying with a mortgage loan, the bank also expects you to cover part of the value and the costs with your own funds.
Below, we divide the costs into mandatory ones, usual ones, and costs that depend on your situation. Wherever the law sets a percentage or a limit, we cite the source.
Mandatory costs
Local tax on the acquisition of property. The municipal council sets it at between 0.1 and 3 percent of the property's valuation (Art. 47, para. 2 of the Local Taxes and Fees Act). The basis is the agreed price, or, if it is lower than the tax assessment value, the tax assessment value (Art. 46). The exact percentage differs between municipalities.
Registration fee at the Property Register. According to the Tariff of State Fees Collected by the Registry Agency, the fee is 0.1 percent of the price on which the deed is charged, but not less than BGN 10. The Agency states the minimum as EUR 5.11.
Notary fee. It is determined under the Tariff of Notary Fees to the Notaries and Notarial Activity Act and depends on the material interest of the transaction. The notary may also charge costs for copies and checks. Ask the notary you choose for a written statement of costs in advance.
Usual but negotiable costs
Agency commission. Its amount is not set by law but is agreed in the brokerage contract. Clarify whether the commission is included in the price or paid separately, and when it becomes due.
Documents. The tax assessment certificate is issued by the municipality, and the cadastral map extract by the Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Agency. The certificate of encumbrances is issued by the Registry Agency. Each of them carries its own fee.
Legal assistance and translation. If you are buying from abroad or the transaction is complex (inherited property, co-ownership, new construction), the cost of a lawyer and translation often turns out to be the best insurance.
Costs when buying with a loan
With a mortgage loan, you add a property valuation by a valuer approved by the bank, property insurance, loan fees according to the bank's tariff, and the costs of establishing and registering the mortgage. The fee for registering the mortgage is also collected under the Registry Agency's Tariff.
An important restriction comes from the Bulgarian National Bank: from 1 October 2024, the ratio between the loan amount and the value of the residential property at the time of granting may not exceed 85 percent. This means that at least 15 percent of the value and all the costs of the transaction must come from your own funds.
How to make your own calculation
An example with hypothetical values: a property for EUR 120,000, a tax assessment value of EUR 70,000 and a municipal rate of 2.5 percent. The local tax is EUR 3,000, and the registration fee is 0.1 percent, that is, EUR 120. To these, add the notary fee according to the notary's statement, the agreed commission and the documents.
The rate in the example is only an illustration. Use the cost calculator in our property buying guide and enter the percentage from your municipality's ordinance.
- Check the local tax rate with the municipality where the property is located.
- Ask the notary for a written statement of costs.
- Specify in the agency contract the amount of the commission and the time of payment.
- With a loan, ask the bank for a full list of fees.
- Set aside a reserve for renovation, furnishing and the first monthly expenses.
Costs after the purchase
As an owner, you will owe an annual real estate tax – the municipality sets it within limits of 0.1 to 4.5 per thousand of the tax assessment value (Art. 22 of the Local Taxes and Fees Act) – and a household waste fee. In buildings under condominium ownership, contributions for the management and maintenance of the common areas are added as well.
Sources
- Local Taxes and Fees Act (Art. 22, 46, 47) – Ministry of Finance
- Tariff of State Fees Collected by the Registry Agency (Art. 2)
- Registry Agency – How to register a deed for real estate
- Bulgarian National Bank – requirements for loans secured by residential property (11.09.2024)
This article is not legal or tax advice. The information is general and current as of the publication date; the specific amounts depend on the municipality, the notary and the bank.
