There is no difference in the expenses made for buying an office by a mortgage in Bulgaria and leasing it, according to non-banking financial institution Creditex, part of the Bulgarian unit of Dutch-based TBI Financial Services.

The company anticipates pick-up in the Bulgarian business property market due to changes in the ratio between selling prices and rents.

Around 16 percent of Creditex’ loan portfolio covers investment properties. While lease prices are lower than in 2008 and loan interest rates are higher, the purchase of an office through a bank loan costs as much as it rents for.

“Coming out of the crisis would lead to a gradual increase in rents and selling prices of not just offices but also of manufacturing and warehousing space,” according to Krasimir Gumnishki, business lending manager of Creditex. “The companies that will have managed to purchase their own site by this time will save money from rents in the future and could make a capital profit, too.”