I'm professional electronics engineer and went to Varna, Bulgaria for
land investment.I purchased some lands and made contacts with people.
I enjoyed the stay and Varna is undergoing infrastructure revolution,
ie motorway, new housing estate (which I bought some land), shopping
mall, nuclear power station, airport enlargement and so on. Brussel
has approved Euro membership (Jan 2007).

I have keen eye on Varna and looking into possibiliy of long term
relocation in Varna. I can sell my home and transfer assest into Varna
where I can buy decent home with remaining to live reasonably
comfortably and work there.

I also learned that while the cost of living is very low and tax is
very low, the wage is also very low compared to UK or european
standard.

Now I faced with difficult choice:- Should I stay in UK, earning £35K
and suffered high taxation, boring place to live. Or relocate to Varna
and start new career, more challanging place, better food, but with
lower income 8K to 10K Euro, but I may earn more by property
investment or other job type.

I trying to understand how the Bulgaria change with European, what
kind of schedule and how this affects taxation, employer, employee for
the next 10-20 years. I also trying to understand how to benefit from
this relocation and the risk factor.

I am 40 year old, partial hearing, professional electronics engineer in Tewkesbury.

---

Clarification of Question by riscy-ga on 09 Oct 2006 22:20 PDT

In addition to those question, what kind career change I should need
to adapts. I have good experience with electronics, computer, safety
compliance (IEC/EN) and home rental in UK. What kind of market I
should aim for and how to get message across to employer of my skill?

---

Request for Question Clarification by hedgie-ga on 07 Nov 2006 05:27 PST

It all depends on what kind of an Englishman
 and what kind of European you are.

If  you are like Bryan, don't do it.
It is true that there is NO PLACE like England.
I say DO it (unless you are a neocon).

New EU countries have high growth rate, thing are much less boring and
more cheerful than in US, improving, rather then getting werse. I
guess UK is similar
to US, not just in politics. The real estate prices grow faster in new
Europe and you do not have to sell your UK home right away.
 You need to be ready for the Culture Shock.

You said nothing about your personal situation. 

I can give you some facts on one of countries which entered EU recently --
to provide a possible preview, of what to expect - but only you can decide. 

Do you want that, a bit expanded, as an answer?

If you go ...

There may be no way back!

So many English folk go through the same thought processes as you and
then find that they can no longer get back into the UK housing market
because of the huge differential in prices.

I've lived and travelled all over the world and - yes - I've even been
to Bulgaria so please believe me ... There's NO PLACE like England
with all it's faults. I have never wanted to live anywhere else, long
term.

If you are bored here then, for sure, you will soon get bored in Bulgaria.

Boredom is simply a state of mind.

Don't do it!

Bryan

I don't know if you would get bored with Bulgaria, but once settled
there, you very well could discover that many things you take for
granted in England cannot be assumed in Bulgaria.  One doesn't
discover this as a tourist: hotels around the world cater to western
European and North American customers and provide most of the services
they expect;  persons and organizations dealing with foreign investors
also do so.

I suggest that you get as much information as possible.  One way to start is here:
http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-bulgaria

Also the many other sites you can find with the search terms:  expat bulgaria

Really find out how much you could earn there and what that translates
to in living quarters, etc., etc.
And try to make an honest assessment of how adaptable you are  -
within the constraints of your potential living standard there.  Count
your family and friends  - how many new true friends have you found in
the last couple of years? (the choice will be limited in a foreign
country) -  what do you actually do in your free time;  how much
experience do you have with foreigners on a daily basis;  how much
time have you actually spent abroad  - any of it off the tourist
routes;  interest in/experience with/knowledge of foreign languages
and cultures;  and so on.

Some people do blossom into a new character when the opportunity
arises, but most of us remain ourselves, especially if we have spent
all our lives more or less in one place.

Bryan makes a good point:  "Boredom is simply a state of mind."  There
is a good likelihood that you would take it with you, rather than
leave it behind.

Nonetheless, good luck, and do a lot of homework.