The problem is everything you own can evaporate. 5 years ago we had "the bank of the year" go insolvent in the most ridiculous way, followed by the dumbest cover-up you've ever seen.

Cheaper flats like 15k are almost certainly a scam, and unless you are paying a high monthly bribe for "maintenance" you may get a letter from the local authority that your papers are not in order and the building has to be demolished or otherwise fix your newfound legal issues with the land/permits. Things like that are very common in rural areas.

In bigger cities there are other scams and other rules to follow. Apparently another scam with fake POAs or corrupt judicial enforcers is picking up pace these days too.

That's a thing with corrupt, mafia-ridden places - high income will get noticed, unless you try to hide it continuously, effectively and consistently. Then why to have it in the first place. This is not some anonymous 10-million mega city, but place where people know people and foreigners stick out.

Politics being corrupt means that anytime you want law to protect you, there would be a hand expecting bribe. Also, usually medical care in such places tends to be subpar. Etc etc etc.

It might be a good investment, unless taxation on owned property is/will become bad. Unless you speak well local language, dealing with many things related to ownership will be a pain.

It's easy to ignore politics and live as a tourist if you re an expat. Being a native, with native family / friends always drags you back into local / national politics - in general it's harder to disentangle yourself.

As a Bulgarian who lives in the UK, I can 100% attest to this. I've found it extremely hard to disengage from the culture I've been so used to for the first 21 years of my life while being surrounded by it. Whenever I go back I only see the negatives - it's as if the country is ruined for me.

Because in any day your apartment can be turned into potato. Mafia can get eye on you, or government. Or more extreme for example Crimea occupied, ppl got to jail for nothing and nobody gives a fuck. Better to be in some bigger country with at least some law power. I would go to GB, Canada or Australia if i had a chance.

Crimea is Ukraine though. Putin might be bold enough to annex Ukrainian territory but I doubt he'd challenge an EU country.