How did we buy our home in BULGARIA? | Q & A

How much did we pay for our Bulgarian property? How did we find it? How easy was it to purchase and why Bulgaria?
We're Phil and Kayleigh, a husband and wife living in rural Bulgaria with our two children, Alex and Ember. It's always been our dream to live a more self-sustainable life off grid. So, we've sold all our belongings, escaped the rental rat race and bought a plot of land. Complete with a derelict house and 3 barns, we hope to create our new life mortgage free. We've faced lots of hurdles already, so hang on tight as we show you highs and lows of moving abroad and starting again.
Follow Us:
Instagram / offgridwiththeudens
Facebook / offgridwiththeudens
Kofi ko-fi.com/offgridwiththeudens
Work With Us:
[e-mail]
Links:
Ves from Ideal Homes BG
www.idealhomes-bg.com/en/home...
/ @veselinvalchevidealho...

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks everyone for your likes, comments and messages. We've been living over here for a while now and release a new video every other Sunday - so make sure you subscribe and hit that notification bell so you don't miss what we are up to! 😊

[@khankrum1]

I was attracted to living in a picturesque area, of which Bulgaria has many, but as I am a pensioner I chose to be in a village near to Veliko Tarnovo to be near to medical facilities, and above all, flat. I also decided to make my own site " Pensioner Prepper" because I saw the crisis was on the way and wanted to show that Prepping is easy even on a modest income. Bulgaria is definitely the place to be. Learn from the locals, they are old hands at it.

[@bevneesam7994]

What's the name of your site plz

[@iftikhkhan253]

Do you have any problem to buy halal food in Bulgaria??

[@hayriyevalentinova2765]

Hi guys l! As a Bulgarian mother of two living in UK I admire your courage to have moved to Bulgaria with your young child . I want to say a big Congratulations for your new property! I wish you the best in your new chapter!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Hayriye Thank you so so much. We know it's not going to be easy but it's going to be a great adventure. Thanks again for your kind words and taking the time to comment 😁

[@Crosshatch1212]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens at least you wnt need to eat bugs .

[@alternativelivingbulgaria]

Thanks for the shout-outs! We're so so happy to have been able to help you guys. You already know how much we love you all, but we truly wish all the best for you and we can't wait to see how this progresses ❤️

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hey you two lovely people! Thanks so much for the kind words it means a lot to us and to know we have friends for life just round the corner. Thanks for everything you’ve done for us so far….. 😁😁 x

[@simplelivingbulgaria3662]

We've been here 3 years now and loving it...looking forward to seeing your journey

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks very much indeed. So far we are loving it too 🤩

[@t3m3lkov85]

The moment you utter a Bulgarian word you become one of us! Beware of the power of Rakia. As you start trying to speak Bulgarian, you are surely going to be invited to a dinner and subsequently try out the local Dqdo's (grandpa) homemade Rakia. Your head won't hurt, but getting drunk is a sure thing! Anyways, welcome to Bulgaria, may your days be pleasant and healthy! Fun fact: Saying hello in Bulgarian (Zdravey - "Здравей") literally means "Be healthy"! Also another cool thing: If you want to start a garden - ask the local Baba (grandma) for some local seeds (as a worst case scenario she will reffer you to someone or to a specific sort). Local tomatoes literally taste better than honey and they are cultivated specifically for the region! I sure can't wait to seed my own garden and eat some real tomatoes, not those plastic-like-tasting that they sell in the supermarket! And don't be shy or pass up on the tip, you will make the Baba's day by asking her about those things!

[@e-bikerbulgaria]

Rakia, from the village still seen many an expat return home from over consumption. Less so these days with the strict new alcohol laws that prohibit unlimited distillation. Welcome to the Eu. And not to forget the home made red wine, супер!

[@jshaw4757]

Your message just gave me so much hope for the moment..cheers

[@jshaw4757]

I would ALWAYS ALWAYS make sure babas seeds were treated like gold dust before my own crops 🤣🤣

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Haha it honestly feels like we do. We’ve certainly found the ferocity of the local Rakia! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@ingevansand9180]

Pink tomatoes... yummy

[@ededwards9328]

Hi guys, enjoyed your video! My wife and I are from the UK, we've lived in Plovdiv for just over 3 years, hope everything works out for you, we'll enjoy watching your adventures!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Ed thank you so much I’m really pleased you enjoyed it. Great to have you following along. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 😀

[@mimi64231]

l love Plovdiv, this is my favorite town. All the best from Poland.

[@leeabrahams4366]

Look forward to seeing how you do with the Reno and what your plans are for the land etc... with the cost of living in UK love to know your equivalent budget for living in Bulgaria and how you plan to be sustainable with work/off grid, Good luck and well done for taking plunge and making a change!¬

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thank you for the positive comment, really appreciate it. We will be doing a video at some point soon covering this. Thanks for watching 😁

[@nancylear2031]

Great Video . We've been here for over ten years and love love BG.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks for the comment. That's great to hear! We love it 😁

[@seamusblack5876]

Really appreciate this info Thank You 😀

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Our pleasure thanks for the comment and positive feedback it means a lot 😁

[@Jesus-Histler]

Fast forward to 11.20 Joe @ "Alternative living Bulgaria"

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

👍

[@user-mk7xy2ql2c]

Great video. Keep on sharing and jealous of your nice weather

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks so much!

[@mariabatcheller5195]

You guys!!! Well done for making the move. How exciting for you all. Can’t wait to see the progress :)

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hey Maria. Thanks very much! Hope you guys are keeping ok. 🙂

[@josemanueldacostadiogo5574]

Nice one injoy it all the best to all.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks very much it means a lot ☺️

[@Bri-wi8kq]

Great news and hearty consultations on your new home. Love both your videos and your choices! Loving the dream guys. Wishing you the very best. Bri

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks so much we really appreciate it.

[@bevneesam7994]

Wow... enjoy the journey guys:) what a super little family

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks Bev! It's certainly all about enjoying the journey 😊

[@trayanhristov2178]

Great video guys hope you’re enjoying beautiful motherland Bulgaria ❤️ hello from London 👋🏻

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Trayan we are absolutely loving “the motherland” haha I hope you’re managing ok in the big smoke! Thanks for your comment.

[@davidmoore9385]

Good luck on your adventures , I've been here 15 years and it's been a up and down trip, crazy times ahead , enjoy it.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Yes I think we're expecting much more ups and downs in the future. 😁 Thanks for the comment.

[@petergrauwels]

Love your vlog ..courage..attitude and mindset...keep it and all will fall in its place..well done guys..💪💪

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks so much Peter this means a lot! Absolutely a positive attitude is half the battle. 😁 Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@feroh.833]

I love the fact that your Boy ist part of the game! Such a Talent 😎

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Haha thanks so much. He absolutely loves it! 😁 Cheers for the comment.

[@yanbu000]

Great video and perspectives on the UK "rat-race" and how one never gets ahead. Last year I finished 40 years of the US version of that same rat race. I think as the global financial catastrophes is roll in and roll out, we will see more ex-pats rolling in to Bulgaria. WELCOME!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Absolutely. I’m glad you managed to get out! Thanks for the comment. 🙂

[@johnjones888]

Good luck to you guys

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks so much. 🙂

[@Rob-100]

Hi phil i hope you are well your mum put me on to your channel and i have loved watching a few clips keep them coming so i can follow your progress and good luck with learning Bulgarian.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Robin - thanks for following along! We're getting there with the Bulgarian 🙂👍🇧🇬

[@danyt125555]

Great content guys best of luck with the renovations 💪. Out of curiosity what do you do for a living in BG? Congrats again on the house!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Taylor thanks so much it means a lot. Kayleigh works for a UK company online. I ran my own business back in the uk but will now mainly be focusing my efforts on the property. ☺️

[@KingstonHomeMaintenance]

Hi there guys, just found your channel, thank you for the information regarding the process, I am retiring from the construction trade here in the UK and hoping to get out to Bulgaria to look for a project myself. I am like you and would prefer the country rural life but also just with a short drive to a town. Much appreciated, thank you

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

You're welcome. It's good to research and hear other people's experiences. I would highly recommend subscribing to 'Our Derelict Dream' on KZbin. They speak alot about the process of buying a property and getting a new D visa on their channel and I know they are going to be doing a Q and A soon - might help you? 👍🙂 Thanks for watching

[@Jina-cy5su]

Hi welcome to Bulgaria

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi. Thank you so much! 😁

[@777epp]

I'm Bulgarian and my partner is Irish . We bought a property last year and our plans were to move there this summer from UK ( still are actually ) . We are both very excited and we're looking to be self-reliant . Although I'm slightly worried about the current situation in Bulgaria but my partner is all for jumping into it. Wishing you all the best !

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Sounds exciting! Thanks for the comment and best of luck with your move and project. 🙂

[@r.a.3984]

I moved in Bulgaria last March and … nothing wrong with the situation tbh as before I moved the cost of living in the UK was really …. Hard for me as a single one, but I’m managing it here in Bulgaria! Your partner will be able to find a job for a second just because he speak English even in a call Center (not massive salary, but still secure job)

[@khankrum1]

I am confused. I have lived in Bulgaria for 11 years. To what situation are you referring to,???

[@ourderelictdream]

Thank you for the shout-out!! 👋 Literally everything you talk about resonates with us! X

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hey guys🙂 Absolutely I like to think most people moving here have a similar sort of mindset. Hope you're all doing ok.

[@stairstoeternity]

You seem like good people.It would be great to meet you in person.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

We like to think so 😊😊 thanks for your comment.

[@happy8294]

Thanku

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

No problems. Thanks for watching! 😁👍

[@thewheallons]

Thanks for such an informative vlog. Love that you put in a cheeky offer and it got accepted. It is mad the cost of houses in the UK compared to Bulgaria. I have been watching Alternative Living Bulgaria's vlogs. Trying to get a remote feel for the place. Bulgaria looks stunning, it is the language that concerns me. Trying to get things sorted when I would probably struggle to remember the words for hello and thank you. You said that you bought the property as a company, but what about a visa to live in Bulgaria. Is that part of you setting up a company? Clearly as you said your family thought you were mad for buing in Bulgaria, they don't live out there. Did you know anyone in the country before you moved there? Sorry it is starting to turn into an interogation! Have a great week, hope the weather is still being kind to you, blowing a gale here in Wales. Emma

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Emma thanks for your comment. No we didn’t know anyone out here before we came. We are firm believers in jumping both feet in and finding our way from there haha. We’ve met some wonderful people out here already though which we are very proud to call friends. Unfortunately residency is a totally different ball game to buying a property out here, we will at some point be doing a video on this though. The language is tricky but far from impossible, again immersing yourself in it means you can pick up a fair bit. Oh and don’t worry we had thunder lightning and rain today haha.

[@mimi64231]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens Don't worry about it, Polish language is more difficult. All the best from Poland.

[@SilverfoxJB]

We are a family of Brits living in Malaysia. Now admittedly we live in a gated community on a new estate with all mod cons with a communal swimming pool, gym etc. for far less than we could in the UK and it's always sunny. But, even so. Our rent for the year is more than you paid for your property. We are seriously considering coming to Bulgaria while we still have some finances left. What's the visa situation for Brits? (If you have done a video on that please post a link, I will be looking through your videos but it would help). Many thanks for an informative vlog and good luck for the future.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hey thanks for commenting. We actually know a few families who have recently moved to Malaysia. This video was made a while ago and we received our residency status before the Brexit cut off. Things are very different now but not impossible. There's lots of people who have done videos on the new processes - don't pay for information when it's freely available. 👍

[@regmcm]

Great Video, We are currently in the process of buying a property in Yunets a small village between Varna and Burgas that needs a bit of TLC, Not as much as yours mind! We are also looking at alternative sources for power and heating, and we have enough land to be "semi" self sufficient so will be following your story with interest! Lived in Spain for 12 years and currently living in turkey so used to being an Expat! Are you currently living in the van? We thought about buying a small caravan to live in until the house is habitable and also for security.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Mick, best of luck with your purchase. Great to hear you will be following along with our journey. Being self sufficient as much as possible is a huge drive for me. Yes we have been living full time in the van for about a year now it's a great solution as accomodation while building. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 😁👍

[@premkumaran8896]

Thanks so much for the informative vlog. Surely answered some of the questions we had, especially about the additional cost of purchase apart from the property price itself. If I may ask, what school plans do you have, as in what options are available? We have a one year old and are currently looking at the areas around Varna for a move in 2024/2025. We were planning on making several trips but Corona has surely put a dent in our travel plans.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks for the comment. We are planning to home educate Alex at the moment however most of the larger villages and smaller towns have their own school. To be honest we will probably do an entire video on this subject at some point in the future. 🙂

[@iosilver9920]

I'm about to drive over and buy a place through Joe at Alternative Living Bulgaria. He is such a great bloke and so knowledgeable. Maybe we'll bump into each other soon! Great videos and info.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hello. Yes I'm sure we will there's quite a little community over here of people that have bought through joe now. Are you bringing your defender in your profile pic? (I'm a bit of a land rover nut) glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the comment.

[@iosilver9920]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens that's a friends Defender, mine got written off a few years ago and are now too expensive. I've got a Volvo XC70 now and plan to do a bit of laning in that!

[@mikelawton1920]

We bought a property in Veliko Tarnovo region Bulgaria 7 years ago. Still renovating! It has been worth it. Wish you guys the best of luck. What area are you in? Mike & Sabrina : )

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi guys, yes we've heard the work never stops and it certainly feels that way already. We are in the Haskovo region. Thanks very much for the kind words and leaving a comment it means a lot to us all. 🙂

[@davidstorton910]

Good reason to move ... NICE

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks 😁👍

[@pavelivanov2064]

The best place to spend eternity! Welcome, bulgarian brother and sister!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks so much. We do love it here! 😁😁

[@tonychowles6416]

Well done guys. I've been living in BG for several years and watched several videos about buying in BG and yours is the most watchable by a mile. Who is that kid? Does he have an agent? 😀

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Tony thanks so much this is really great to hear. We like to keep things light hearted and upbeat as best we can 😁. Alex definitely needs an agent! Haha. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@JulianScouser]

Nice videos. Are you planning any on your residency status and application process at all?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks for watching. No, our residency application, although eventful was before the rules changed so the path we took is now irrelevant. I suggest taking a look at the YT channel 'Our Derelict Dream' who are offering lots of very up to date information and have helped many.

[@leesparkes1524]

Great video guys 👍 really informative and sure to help out a lot of people. Thanks for the shout out! I was waving at the TV like a nutter 😆

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

🤣🤣 I thought you might 🤣

[@chainedaddiction]

Interesting info. I’m planning a two week trip to Bulgaria Nov 23. Planning to buy a property to spend my retirement years. It’s just me and some cats. I’ll probably do some solar projects etc. I’m looking for basic run down fixer home with farmable land I can pay cash for. I understand about the setting up the company part, I just need to do it.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

We would highly recommend watching an upcoming video from our friends at 'Our Derelict Dream'. They are going to be releasing a Q and A all about buying property over her. Alot of what we have mentioned here in this video is no longer applicable 👍

[@uteschneider3349]

​​@@OffGridWithTheUdensHallo, Ich habe ihren Kanal gerade erst entdeckt. Sie haben wirklich ein sehr schönes Grundstück, können weit in die Ferne schauen. Wirklich ein Traum zu einem guten Preis❣ Ich hoffe, mir gelingt es auch, irgendwann so zu leben. Schade, daß ich die englische Sprache nicht kann, es scheinen mehr Engländer als Deutsche in BG zu leben. Vielen Dank für den Hinweis auf den anderen englischen Kanal. Zum Glück hat YT eine Übersetzungsfunktion. :) Wie groß ist ihr Grundstück und wie groß ist das Haus?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

@@uteschneider3349 Wir haben knapp 2 Hektar Land, 3 Scheunen und ein altes Haus. Früher war es ein familiengeführtes Weingut.

[@uteschneider3349]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens Ah, ein ehemaliges Weingut. Welcher Boden ist dort? Haben Sie schon darüber nachgedacht? Falls es nicht so wächst, wie Sie möchten, sollten Sie vielleicht auf die Düngung achten. Aber ich bin keine Expertin, kann nur von meiner Erfahrung berichten. Meine Eltern hatten einen Garten auf einem ehemaligen Weinberg, an dem Fluß Elbe in Deutschland. Leider ist kein Gemüse gewachsen. Wein wächst nämlich am besten auf duchlässigen Boden , aus klitzekleinen Gesteinssplittern. Das Einzige was in dieser Weinbergs Erde wie verrückt wuchs, waren Sauerkirschbäume auf der Seite des Berges, die nicht nach Süden ging. Es gab immer große und sehr viele Sauerkirschen. Der Nachbar benutze immer Dünger und Stallmist. Deshalb konnte er auch viel Gemüse ernten.

[@dobspatto4830]

Can you by a allotment garden with a nice big shed on it. Cheers Neil.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Neil thanks for the comment. I don't think allotments are a thing out here as everyone has a decent sized garden so they grow all their veg etc on their own property. I also haven't seen anything like allotment gardens around the city's either. Cheers.

[@superliegebeest544]

In the summer it's alright. But in the winter. It's boring cold wet and u Def need to be ready having food and firewood ect. My best friend moved to Bulgaria. 8 years ago. He bought his second house next door. And he is farming for his own food. Now. He likes it but I says it's rough out there

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks for the comment. We've actually released alot more videos since this one. I can safely say we love it here and it was the best decision we made moving here. We won't be needing firewood this winter, but maybe future ones. 👍

[@terrycostin2719]

Absolutely loving your videos always informative and entertaining👍🏻 So what are you going to call your donkey when you get one?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks Terry! No comment about the donkey! Haha. 🙂

[@dwonthemove]

Excellent video .. very helpful ... Did you get residency when you bought or will you have to leave after 90 days...

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi David. We didn't automatically get residency when we bought the house but I we will definitely do a video on residency at some point. Thanks for your comment.

[@mattdyer4533]

Hi guys, new subscribers and loving all the Bulgarian content. Myself, wife and x 3 kids are currently considered the move away from the Uk and find your Q&A very informative. What do you do to make a living out there.? Thats the question we’re asking ourselves..

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Matt 👋 thanks for taking the time to comment. I, Kayleigh, work remotely and Phil does not work over here as of yet. We are doing all of the work ourselves, so we can keep our costs down. Our renovation will take a long time because we will be on a very minimal budget each month, but that's ok with us. ☺️

[@mattdyer4533]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens Thank you for the reply, glad your doing well. Our situation is we’d be able to afford a property out there, it’s just the cost of living while renovating and relocating. We’d need a source of income to sub-stain our Bulgarian life eventually. Both of our current jobs are manual jobs (Teaching assistant) and (Car Paint Sprayer) here in the Uk.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

We know of lots of people here who teach online, many don't require a teaching qualification. I would suggest looking into the visa situation first and see if you are eligible. Check out Our Derelict Dream' - they have more information on the latest visa requirements post Brexit 👍☺️

[@mattdyer4533]

Out of interest, how much would you need to earn on average in Bulgarian Lev, to comfortably sustain a family with no mortgage in the Bulgarian countryside.?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

@@mattdyer4533 it all depends on how you want to live and what you are willing to compromise on to be honest. For some perspective though, we have no savings, inheritance or secret income. We live week to week and manage fine 😊

[@r.a.3984]

The power is coming from water dams, atomic power plant, yes some huge coal power plants as well but many solar and wind farms as well. Good choice of Bulgaria, I moved to Bulgaria last March after 6 years in the UK and one year in USA. I bought flat in Varna for like a week I came for holiday in 2021 for 2 weeks and the second week I decided I wanna move back here so it happen xd easily I found job with English (home office) if you interested can explain u in private so the life here is bit more slow but more calm. Hope you like it and I hope you will make a small British colony here ❤ much love from the Bulgarian east coast guys!

[@catscatscats7129]

Just come across your channel and subbed! Good luck with the whole project! May I ask what you intend to do about education for your son? Will he go to a local state school? If so what about the language?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Kayleigh used to be a teacher back in England and Alex has always been home educated so far. However, we intend to flexi school from September. It's the best age for absorbing new languages 😊

[@catscatscats7129]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens Good luck with the journey. I look forward to following it.

[@CelineAdobea]

thank you for sharing 🙌🏾❤

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

No problems thanks so much for watching😁😁

[@bamboozle999]

Great video. I was just wondering if there are yearly maintenance costs / admin required for the upkeep of the registered company? Cheers

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi, thanks for your comment. We haven't yet owned our company for a year so are unsure about on going costs however, we understand that we have to file 2 years of tax returns to show the company is dormant as far as I know after that it can just sit there.

[@bamboozle999]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens Great, thanks for the info.

[@SeeDoTravel]

I'm very much attracted to the idea of doing this myself, I'm just curious of what you guys do for work to fund this lifestyle of living in Bulgaria thanks

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks for the comment. Kayleigh works online for a UK company which will be our main income. While I'm pretty handy so I'm sure there will be bits and pieces of work around for me but mainly I'm planning on working on the house and land.

[@ruralbulgarialiving5732]

😎

[@momorangelova3790]

The price for one liter donkey milk is 50 euros, i hope i am doing a good job here supporting the gorgeous hostess 😀

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Donkey milk? Not quite sure I understand 🫣

[@momorangelova3790]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens Yes donkey milk, sorry i am leaving in Germany and sometimes i am writing german words instead of English ones, sorry, but yes I have read it.

[@raymondbolhuis5819]

Hi there, thanks for another informative video! Question, i'm seriously looking for a propperty somewhere in bulgaria. My list of requirements is pretty much the same as yours (and so is my budget ;) Big question, is there anything for sale that you know of in your area? Thx, and good luck there!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Raymond, to be honest there’s nothing we know of similar for sale. However there are lots of places on the market. Like we said it took us 2 years to find this one. The best thing you can do is keep looking or come over here and have a proper hunt around. You’d be amazed what you might find. 🙂

[@mkaymtube]

Thanks for the info. We're currently applying for the d visa but it's really complicated. Did you have to get the d visa or did you get in before the brexit rules came in?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Mick yes thankfully we managed to do it before the Brexit mess. I've heard the D visa can be a nightmare! Sorry I can't help you anymore with it all. Best of luck to you though I hope you get there in the end. 👍

[@catherineadams2528]

😀So good to see and hear you. Your video's are so good and make me smile. As I said Phil you will need 2 donkeys not 1 and I am sure A. will love them as much as he does M&M. Hope to see some more work being done soon. Take care and stay safe. (From a very cold and windy UK)

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Catherine. Well I can't see us getting one let alone two! Haha 🙂

[@move2bulgaria890]

Hi guys, I love the video, we had a very similar experience buying a house in Bulgaria. The only difference for us, I am originally from here. If you have any questions or concerns you would like to share please do drop me a note. Good luck with it all! Yordan

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Yordan thanks very much, very kind of you. 🙂

[@The_Mitchells]

Great to hear about your experience and costs etc. Such a steal!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hey guys!! Hope you’re all doing ok. It certainly was a steal. Thanks for the lovely comment. Hope you find what you’re looking for too. 🙂

[@greendragon3696]

Thanks for getting back real quick happy living xxx

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

No problems. Best of luck with it.

[@boyanmetodiev6878]

👍

[@nickob55]

good info, I am single very well established in BG and can easily live on £8k per year in BG and can have a few holidays included, I do roadtrips with my BG neighbours either domestic or up to Serbia, N Macedonia, Croatia Albania and on average are looking at no more than £15 per night pp.Also like visiting wineries, BG has great wine.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Great to know! Thanks very much, yes my mum is a sort of a wine connoisseur and she said some of the wine we bought back was some of the best she'd ever tasted. Thanks for the comment 😁

[@johnbruce6450]

wow guys, sorry to say this but for the cost of setting up a business and the agent fee, i mean wow, the agent i had gone through setting up a business and buying properties off of was a fraction of what you guys paid. but i guess the good thing is, you got what you needed in the end, bonus point, your agent joe can sign for other properties on your behalf for the next 10 years i believe? i mean that is if you intend on buying another property lol

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi John. Thanks for the comment. We were, and are still, very happy we went through Joe. Sure his fees might be slightly higher than some others but the contacts, advice and information he has In our local area is worth its weight in gold. We have become very good friends with him and his family and for the amount of work he had to do I still think it's incredible value for money. We also signed a power of attorney just incase we had to drop everything and head home and I know that was extra as well as a preliminary contract for buyers and sellers piece of mind. Cheers. 👍

[@trabantdelux]

Lovely channel! Donkey meatballs - delish!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks very much for the kind words. Haha I don't want a donkey but I'm not sure id go that far 😂

[@trabantdelux]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens we love the animals in any shape or form. But Kebapche and Kyufte are the perfect form to see how sweet they are.

[@archangele1]

Are you a citizen or still working on becoming a citizen of Bulgaria? From what I could find, to become a citizen one needs to live there for a while as well as have a working knowledge of the Bulgarian language.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks so much for the comment. We are not Citizens yet no. You are correct about living there full time for at least 5 years I think to qualify. We do have residency though which allows us to stay there far longer than the usual 90days in every 180.

[@archangele1]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens How easy was it to buy a property and do you pay property taxes on your house? I am curious because I have wanted to leave the USA where I now live and really like Bulgaria. I looked at the areas around Stara Zagora as well as farther east around Varna. Bulgaria has so much to offer. It is a beautiful country.

[@dobspatto4830]

Or can you rent an allotment. Cheers. Neil.

[@evonneanderson7488]

wow big money

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks for your comment.

[@ltop9641]

Hi, in which part of BG is your settlement ? Good luck with your project. 🌞

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi we are in the south east of BG. Thanks for your comment 🙂

[@hristohristov3878]

Wellcome to Bulgaria and good luck, me and my family bought a house near Plovdiv to escape the city and tbh if I can afford it , I will leave Plovdiv and go live in the village. Life in the village is calm, eco and farming your garden is pretty fun.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Hristo we haven’t visited Plovdiv yet but it’s definitely on our list, we’ve heard lots about it. We certainly wanted the village life, life in the uk is far too hectic. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@FilipinaYordanova]

Congratulations to your new home. I live in Bulgaria close to Danube River and I love it

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thank you very much. We love it here. 🙂

[@Kikistravels]

I've just bought a derelict property so looking to getting into it

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Excellent welcome to the club. Thanks for watching.

[@amarie3309]

Pretty area Do you have water? Where there bad wildfires in that area 2023? What’s your strategy?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks for commenting! Check out all our recent videos as they give alot more answers on all of these questions - Including our experience with wildfire last year.

[@nataliebrady6428]

Funnily enough I am researching both Ideal Homes and Alternative Living Bulgaria, so this is very reassuring! Also following Lee & Emily from OurDerelictDream! I'm now adding you guys to my Bulgarian resources!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Great stuff thanks very much for the add! 🙂

[@drholidayinn5810]

Congratulations, seems like a dream. How strict are the rules on said company? Do you have to hire bulgarians? Could it be like a website run by me?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Things are a little different to when we arranged our residency and recorded this video. We would highly recommend looking into legal advice and asking around for further information 👍

[@MarkKrupa]

Thanks for sharing costs and being specific!🙏🙏

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks for the comment Mark. I know how frustrating it can be to watch something and they go quiet on the costs or exact charges etc. We always try and be as honest and up front as we can. Cheers 👍

[@tessahugo1906]

Hi, I really enjoyed listening to all you A & Q..lots of advice for buyers..Love your little boy. He is so cute. Cape Town South Africa

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Tessa that’s so cool. Yes I certainly feel he steals the show sometimes haha. I’m glad you found the video informative and enjoyable. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@indaytep7002]

Hello guys, it's nice to meet you, that place is perfectly for family

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks for the comment. Yes we think there's a lot of potential here for us as a now family of 4. We have a lot of plans! 😁.

[@albinlin1987]

omg! that giving me hope to get my own place! thanks for all the infos. HELLO from London :-). More brit on his way lol

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Haha great! I'm glad you found value in our video. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 😁

[@marketstallfacts4723]

Excellent video. I may be a convert to Bulgarian living from you. Thank you.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Haha that's great to hear! Thanks for the comment! 🙂

[@faceofdead]

Welcome to BG. Rental life in the UK or other western countries is hell indeed. Here is lot cheaper and calmer. Hope there are no gypsies in your village (watch out). I love your positivity and smiles. See you around!

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Thanks so much for the comment. It certainly is a much nicer place to be. The more time goes on the worse it's getting here (UK) too! Cheers. 😁👍

[@jamessearle2339]

Hi thanks for the video i am looking to retire to Bulgaria i am from the uk. could you give me some advice about how to go about it please i am looking to sell my house in uk and move over. Thanks for your help Jim ;]

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Jim thanks for the comment. To be honest so much has changed already since we bought out here that I think you're best speaking to Joe from 'alternative living Bulgaria' or Lee and Emily from 'Our Derelict Dream they have far more up to date info than we do and can help you out a lot more. Best of luck with your plans! 👍

[@WelshfamilylivinginBulgaria]

Have you got residency? And can you advance me on how to get residency I am from uk and own a home in vt thank David

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi David we will be doing a video on this soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that🙂 thanks for your comment.

[@taospencer1403]

There's quite a few listings on eBay for derelict looking houses in Bulgaria, how would you know if their genuine though?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Tao thanks for the comment. It's very difficult to know with ebay etc. You need to put your trust in the seller 100%. My advice would be don't buy anything without seeing it in the flesh first. Best of luck. 👍

[@1clashcityrocker]

Hi, firstly congratulations on making the brave move! We would love to be able to pick your brains on the does and don'ts on relocating to Bulgaria. If you ever get 5 minutes.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi! Thanks for commenting. Of course, drop us an email or message through our Instagram account and we will be sure to get back to you as soon as we can. 👍

[@samlyons3552]

does google translate work accurately with Bulgarian to English & visa versa ?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Sam. It's pretty good to be honest and definitely will get you out of trouble. It does struggle with some of the more unique dialects though and some of the people in our village speak very fast. But generally it's a bit of a lifesaver! Thanks for the comment 😁

[@heidispeer1917]

Hallo 👋🙋‍♀️💖

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi! Thanks for the comment 😁😁👍

[@brianpace7974]

How easy or hard is it to get a D visa in U.K.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks for your comment. Unfortunately we can’t help you with this as we have had no experience with it. Best of luck to you though.

[@yukselustundag241]

Hello, where is the location and how big is the garden?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks for the comment. We are in the south east, Haskovo region and the land is 7500m²

[@yukselustundag241]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens thanks for quick answer, I know Haskovo and you just select the rigth place!

[@davidmoore9385]

How are you getting on with your resident permit /visa

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi David. We have managed to get residency. We picked up our cards a few weeks ago 😁 cheers.

[@davidmoore9385]

You could plant acacia trees

[@mcmurdostation7134]

I might passed it, but how big is your whole land?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi we have 7500m² in total. Thanks for the comment.

[@chrisputman582]

What part of Bulgaria do you live? The closest village?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi we are in the south east of Bulgaria, near Lybimets and Svilengrad thanks for the comment 😊

[@vickycook3161]

what are the stages of residency now after brexit...? ...which area are you in?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Vicky we are in the Haskovo region in the south east. To be honest I'm not sure on all the residency routes now as the route we chose is not an option anymore. I know you need a type D visa and then you can apply for residency after that. But there could be other options too. Thanks for the comment.

[@graceakinje4965]

Is it possible to obtain mortgage. My child is in the university so I want to buy an apartment

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

We can't provide any advice like that I'm afraid - lots of useful groups online that might be able to share their experience on mortgages though. 🙂

[@greendragon3696]

How hard or easy is it to get a d visa xx

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks for your comment. Unfortunately I can shed no light on this as we haven't had to do it. Best of luck to you, I know there is a lot of information online finding it is the trouble. 🙂

[@thetruthunearthed7476]

At which minute they talk about the price?

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi thanks for the comment. We run through the prices in the last 2 or 3 minutes of the video.

[@alwayslearning7672]

Even though you will try to be self reliant, how will you earn some money? Or make a living? I would like to do something similar but I have know idea how to earn some money, which I will need eventually. I see a lot of people work online or are retired so they have an income.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hello. Kayleigh works online for a UK company so we will have an income that way. I'm also planning to do some building type work. Yes we will never be totally self sufficient but if we could be a lot less reliant that would be great, and of course off grid from the start.

[@alwayslearning7672]

@@OffGridWithTheUdens Best of luck.I will follow along.I'm thinking a lot and even have the money saved to buy now.But I'm nervous as I will only have savings for the first year.I would need to figure out how to earn a bit fast.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Sorry for the delayed reply - comments were hidden from us for a while! Please keep us updated on your journey

[@mariannegathier7574]

I really like the video and your way of living. I just wish you would include the welfare of other people in your view of life. Two sisters inherit a property with land from their dad and the asking price is 15,000 levs. Why make a "cheeky" offer. I know they could have rejected the offer but I think for them the 5,000 levs would have made an enormous difference.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi Marianne. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate what you are saying but would like to clarify that we would not have been able to afford the full asking price - it was also the very first property we had made an offer on in Bulgaria. We do not have any hidden savings or other income streams. I understand how this could have been misinterpreted. We have the utmost respect for the previous owners and have met them again since purchasing the land. ❤️

[@mariannegathier7574]

Thank you very much for replying. I've only just found your youtube channel and subscribed (of course 🙂). I'm from the Netherlands but lived in the UK for 25 years and I know how absolutely appalling the housing situation is for ordinary, hard working people. Sadly, it's rapidly going the same way in the Netherlands. I just want future buyers who go to countries like Bulgaria to at least consider if the asking price of the property they're interested in is fair and reasonable. If it is pay it. If you don't have the money yet come back later when you do. Having said all this: I am happy you got the property and a chance to have the kind of life you were looking for.

[@mrms2067]

What area of Bulgaria are u In

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Hi We're in the south east Haskovo region. Thanks for the comment 🙂

[@channin]

wow 10,000 Lev. You wouldn't even get a garage in central london for that.

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

I don't think you'd get a garage anywhere in the south east to be honest. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@shoiku4734]

Same as in Singapore. Joint ownership. If there are 3 owners, all must be present during the signing & all the official meet ups. 10,000 Lev?? Anybody can afford to pay that. I have seen other people's savings of US$7200 & news reports of even more (above $100,000).

[@OffGridWithTheUdens]

Interesting! Thanks for the comment. 🙂