The last two years of living in a global pandemic have radically changed our way of life and worldview, and thus our dreams and aspirations for the future. If before that, young and active people in Bulgaria perceived having a well-paid job and their own home in a big city as a token of success, and the villages continued to become more and more depopulated, today things are a little different. Living in a house with a yard away from city noise and dirty air have turned out to be a far more desirable place, and the pandemic proved that it does not exclude a good working position performed from a distance. A dream that many Bulgarians have already realized. This was shown by the data presented during a business forum at the end of March in Sofia with the participation of experts in the field.

In the last two years alone, the population in Bulgarian villages has increased by 200,000 people, half of whom (52%) are of working age. In 2021, the number of newly registered residents of small settlements has increased by 108,550 people, and the forecast is that in 2022 it will increase by another 90,000 Bulgarians, says Borislav Borisov, chairman of the Association of Bulgarian Villages. According to him, the demand for houses near major cities exceeds the supply 10 times. Good infrastructure and distance of up to 80 km to a big city turn out to be key factors when choosing a place. Ready-to-move-in properties with a yard of at least a decare or newly built ones in gated communities, as well as vacant plots for construction are preferred. Clean air, closeness to nature and the feeling of "safe" freedom have become an increasingly important criterion when buying a property for active Bulgarians.

"The biggest advantage is peace of mind. This is something that for me matters most. You are much more physically active than in the city and you can, if you wish, grow your own food,"says Tsveta Yordanova, a former deputy mayor of the village of Komarevo near the town of Berkovitsa in Northwestern Bulgaria.

About two years ago, Tsveta made the final decision to return permanently to her native village and together with her husband Bogdan they are now part of this positive trend. As the biggest shortcoming in her new way of life, Tsveta defines the lack of young people with whom to communicate and whom she can count on for help. The legacy of the past decades, in which small settlements were massively depopulated, is still being felt. According to her, here comes the important role of the local municipal authorities which have the task to make the specific place pleasant to live in and adequate to the needs of its residents.

But village life is not cheap at all. Similar to real estate prices in Sofia, which have jumped 29% in the last two years, rural real estate has doubled in the last 12 months, brokers say. The war in Ukraine has not yet affected the market, but rising inflation in our country and the uncertain future have made demand much more restrained. Most houses for sale require major or partial repairs, which in today's market situation requires significant funds. The maintenance of such a property is sometimes many times higher than that of an apartment in the city.

That is why it is good to "try" this way of life before starting to buy a property. Initiatives such as "Property for rent, without rent" offer just that.

One must have a desire and an inner need for a connection with nature in order to take such a step in one's life, those who have chosen to live "quietly" are categorical. One of them is our colleague from Vidin radio Gennady Velov. At the end of last year, he bought a property in the Vidin village of Sinagovtsi, where he now spends much of his free time with the idea that his permanent home will soon be there.

"One of the reasons to stop at Sinagovtsi is because of the construction of the new highway, which will pass nearby and will provide a smooth connection with Vidin, where I work. With the construction of the highway I will be able to get to the city faster than if I come from one of the inner districts in it. The disadvantages are the lack of entertainment and close medical care. The property needs renovation, and currently the building materials are at a very high price. In general, the renovation of the house and the construction of the highway will run in parallel, and I hope that their completion will coincide within the next few years."

And while walking the path of his dream, Gennady Velov is adamant that this is the future - to live outside the city! "The city is a place for work, for administrative tasks, to shop, but life outside it is better!"

English version Rositsa Petkova