Housing Finance Policy

Text bolded/green below shows notes and variable definitions when you roll over. If you cannot see the notes, please download an Excel version from the Research Center, which includes notes. Also, a PDF featuring variable definitions is available in the document list under "Definition of Hofinet Variables".

 

A. Legal and Regulatory Framework

A.1 Legal and Regulatory Framework
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Basis of the legal system: Civil, Common, Islamic, Other? (Describe)CivilCivilCivil
CIA World Factbook
A.1.1
Are there specific laws that deal with mortgages? YesYesYesA.1.2
Registration/Transfer of titles:A.1.3
Does the law clearly define different types of property rights?YesYesYes
Bulgarian Obligations and Contracts Act
A.1.3.1
Typical number of days needed for the transfer of title191111 days
WDI
A.1.3.4
Can liens be effectively enforced? Yes 
Invest Bulgaria Agency
A.1.4
Number of months until lender acquires the property in case of foreclosure on a single-family residential property?20  
IMF FSAP Report
A.1.4.1
Main causes of inefficiencies (legal, judiciary, administrative, cultural, etc.)  Due to political and economic conditions, banks are employing a 'wait and see approach' instead of acquiring properties
IMF: Bulgaria Staff Report for 2013, pg=PA19, lpg=PA19, dq=bulgaria+foreclosure+cost, source=bl, ots=YhfdD6hfsW, sig=jPYMmuVeXV9vusK6t66myqBIpQk, hl=en, sa=X, ved=0ahUKEwjWjMnSserPAhVBcD4KHfMTCqkQ6AEINTAE#v=onepage, q=bulgaria%20foreclosure%20cost, f=false
A.1.4.3
Are there disclosure requirements for mortgage lending?YesYesYes
World Bank
A.1.8
Is there specialized legislation covering:A.1.9
Issuance of covered mortgage bondsYesYesYes
ECBC
A.1.9.1
Issuance of RMBSYes  
ECBC
A.1.9.2
B. Housing Finance Subsidies
B.1 Subsidies to Housing Finance Institutions
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Are there subsidized funding sources for mortgage lenders?No  
Staff Research
B.1.1
B.2 Subsidies to Households
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
Are there subsidies to households on housing finance?No  
Staff Research
B.2.1
Reach of subsidies in 2.1.1 to 2.1.4 ?B.2.2
C. Taxation
VariableEnd of 2017End of 2016End of 2015SourcesVar ID
What taxes apply to Residential Real Estate?C.1
Tax on property (home-owners) YesYesYes
Global Property Guide
C.1.1
Property transaction taxes (purchase/selling)YesYesYesC.1.2
Tax on capital gains on property YesYesYes
Global Property Guide
C.1.5
back to top | Country Data:
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Notes: "Mortgage Bond Law" passed in parliament in 2000. (IME 2000, page 2)
Notes: 0 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 0 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 0 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 0 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 0 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: -1.17
Notes: -10.30
Notes: -14.07
Notes: -14.75
Notes: 19.17 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 22.68 percent of all loans were in Euro. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2003
Notes: 25.35 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 32.37 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 33.96 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 34.20 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 36.71 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 42.98 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 45.14 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 47.15 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 49.76 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 49.91 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 54.44 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 56.35 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 57.24 percent of all loans were in Euro
Notes: 75% for properties over EUR 100,000 and usually around 60 to 65% for brand new properties.
Notes: a tax rate of 0.1 - 0.45% is levied on the value of the property, depending on rates set by the municipalities
Notes: A tax rate of 0.1-0.45% is levied on the value of the property
Notes: A tax rate of 0.1-0.45% is levied on the value of the property
Notes: Actual lending rate is 102.52%. (Value too large to be entered in cell)
Notes: Actual lending rate is 213.02%. (Value too large to be entered in cell)
Notes: Actual lending rate is 291.06%. (Value too large to be entered in cell)
Notes: Average of QoQ growth in HPI Index published by National Statistics Institute.
Notes: Average of QoQ growth in HPI Index published by National Statistics Institute.
Notes: Average of QoQ growth in HPI Index published by National Statistics Institute.
Notes: Average of QoQ growth in HPI Index published by National Statistics Institute.
Notes: Bulbank is the largest mortgage lender in Bulgaria
Notes: Bulbank: 85% maximum DSK Bank: 80% maximum
Notes: Capital gains tax is levied at 10%. This tax may be exempt if: 1) owner sells one property that was held for more than three years; 2) owner sells two properties that were held for more than five years
Notes: Capital gains tax is levied at 10%. This tax may be exempt if: 1) owner sells one property that was held for more than three years; 2) owner sells two properties that were held for more than five years
Notes: Capital gains tax of 10% This tax may be exempt if: 1) owner sells a property that was held for more than three years 2) owner sells two properties that were held for more than five years
Notes: Estimate from a World Bank report -- few banks offer products for people with incomes lower than BGN 1000 -- which is roughly 2nd decile
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage, Tenant rented at reduced price or free
Notes: Figure is the national percentage.
Notes: Figure is the national percentage.
Notes: Figure is the national percentage.
Notes: Figure is the national percentage.
Notes: Figure is the national percentage.
Notes: Funding of mortgage loans is based largely on deposits. Although mortgage bonds are being issued, they are not used as primary funding source by banks.
Notes: Inflation rate was actually 4027.83% (however this exceeds the value bounds possible for data entry)
Notes: Inflation rate was actually 549.21% (however, this exceeds value bounds possible for data entry)
Notes: It is estimated that seven major banks at national level have disbursed around 85% of all mortgage loans. Market share by AUM is as follows: Unicredit (20.22%), DSK (12.64%), First Investment (9.61%), sourced from thebanks.eu
Notes: Loan application fee - 0.1% of the amount of the loan
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: Table: tps00155. National monthly minimum wages
Notes: The denominator (Total Credits Outstanding) comes from the BNB's total liabilities series.
Notes: The interest rate was actually 180.0% (however, this exceeds value bounds possible for data entry)
Notes: The main form of public support to households is social housing
Notes: The rate was actually 114.31% (however, this exceeds value bounds possible for data entry)
Notes: the RMBS market is extremely small
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: Total Income (Post Tax, Post Transfers), Average household income for Sofia (capital city)
Notes: transfer tax is levied at rates ranging from 0.1% to 3%, depending on the municipality
Notes: Transfer tax is levied at rates ranging from 0.1-3%, depending on the municipality
Notes: Transfer tax is levied at rates ranging from 0.1-3%, depending on the municipality