Looking for an apartment

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA WHEN LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT?

Another long post…

If you follow my Facebook page or Instagram, you probably saw my recent posts with different price ranges – €50k, €70k, or €100k – and the comments with actual apartments, you may have noticed that the price could be similar, but the apartment size or interior may be almost twice as different.

So, what is the most important when looking for an apartment? Location? Size? Ready-to-live condition? My answer would be – everything, depending on your priorities.

Let’s look at each aspect.

LOCATION

Sunny Beach is a seasonal resort. There are no widely known “dodgy” locations like you may find in some other cities or towns (I have lived in Ireland for 20 years – I’ve seen this myself). A good or less desirable location is usually defined by the distance to the sea, accessibility by public transport, and proximity to amenities.

Also, when it comes to Sunny Beach – and Sunny Beach is known as a party destination – location defines how quiet your area will be. First-line promenades, popular restaurants, and bars nearby may lead to more noise. If your preference is to go to bed earlier and wake up to hear nature in the mornings, this may not work for you.

Location is also very important depending on whether you plan to stay in the apartment yourself or use it for short- or long-term rental. To sum up: central nightlife zones are busier and noisier but stronger for short-term summer rentals, while quieter southern and northern areas are usually preferred by families, retirees, and longer-term owners or renters.

Talking about seasonality, another important question is the infrastructure outside the summer season. Some areas remain active during the year, with people living there and shops remaining open. In other instances, infrastructure may become quite limited.

When you purchase an apartment, location cannot be changed. You choose your location depending on the budget and lifestyle you are looking for.

COMPLEX

This is another aspect you cannot change or significantly influence after the purchase.

Most complexes were built 10 – 20 years ago. Some may still look almost new, while others may appear a bit “tired”. It is very important to know whether the complex is managed by a good management company and what is included in the maintenance fees.

These are important questions to ask during the viewing – whether live or online – and it is equally important to see the common areas. We have seen many complexes where one building may be 10 years newer, but the inside condition looks worse than another complex built 10 years earlier.

Most managed complexes have yearly maintenance fees, and these fees can vary significantly. It is important to understand why the fees are higher or lower and what exactly is included.

If you buy in a new complex or directly from a developer, questions should also be asked about future maintenance. New complexes often look more attractive, but a strong management company (and often higher maintenance fees) usually means the complex will continue looking good for many years.

If you are looking at the apartment as an investment and plan to rent it out short- or long-term, some management companies may want to regulate rentals within the complex. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In many cases, they help manage the apartment, prepare it for guests, and maintain standards across the complex.

SIZE OF THE APARTMENT

If you purchase a 60 sq.m. 1-bedroom apartment, there is no magic wand to turn it into a 100 sq.m. 2-bedroom apartment later – especially if the apartment is located in the middle of the building.

The layout of the apartment is also extremely important and depends on your personal priorities. If we take 60 sq.m. as an example, the layout could be completely different:

• a huge spacious studio where you feel like living in a large open-plan space;
• a 1-bedroom apartment with a 40/20 sq.m. split between living room and bedroom;
• or even a compact 2-bedroom apartment with a 30/15/15 sq.m. layout, where the main living area is smaller but provides two private bedrooms – useful for families with children.

Interior OF THE APARTMENT

This is very subjective – but it is also something you can change and influence.

Yesterday I received a comment saying: “This apartment looks awful, look at the beds…”. In reality, bed covers are probably one of the easiest things to change.

Bed covers, cushions, curtains – let your imagination go free. Even beds, tables, chairs, or entire kitchens can be replaced. Today’s market is full of different options depending on your budget and creativity.

Depending on your time and availability, the entire design of the apartment can be transformed, including wall colours, lighting solutions, and furniture style.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST – PRICE

You may see apartments within the same or very similar price range, but with completely different descriptions and features. The reasons are usually all the factors mentioned above.

If you are happy with a location a bit further from the sea and do not need many amenities within the complex, you may be able to focus on larger space, bigger apartment size, or even more rooms. However, from a rental perspective, the ROI period may become longer.

If you want stronger rental potential, easy beach access, and your own holidays close to restaurants, promenades, and nightlife, you may need to compromise on apartment size.

If you are interested in more information or detailed reviews, we can look at different options together during a 1:1 consultation.