Is KONAK a bad area?

@derekhandyman

If you don't get any replies, have a look on street view. It only takes you down the main routes through the villages and it won't tell you everything you need to know, but it will give you some idea. Ive used it to check out quite a few villages and written them off as a result.

Thanks @grumpyoldbird. I have checked street view on quite a few villages. Only problem is that the photos where done in 2022 and doesn't show if a gypsy settlement has formed since then. Was hoping someone lived close and knew about the village.

@derekhandyman

I understand. It's very difficult to find that kind of information. I think I've found demographics in the past on Numbeo. I'm not saying it'll be available for every village, but its worth a try.

@derekhandyman gypsy settlement? Blimey what is that mate? Dont think you ever stepped foot out here have you. Gypsys round my way got gaffs nicer than what us expats can afford.

@mickeyhart

It's not like that in every village though. I know someone in Troyan and her village has quite a few gypsies. They follow the work, so they go to the cities for months over the winter. The houses are run down, because they don't have the money to repair them. They'll quite often move into empty houses, if they've been left empty for a while. I'm not speaking for Konak, because I don't know anyone there.

Difference is I live in Bulgaria. Konak Troyan, I might have been there having a natter with the locals. The ones tapping away on their computers have never stepped foot here.

    Is Konak a bad area to buy? There seems to be quite a few houses for sale at very cheap prices. Just wondering if it has a gypsy problem or if the village is dead.
   

    -@derekhandyman

did you go to Konak? Is there such a thing as a Gypsy settlement? I live in Bulgaria and not seen hide nor hair of one. Maybe update your post its a bit unfair on the village to leave it like that no? Now the only info anyone gets about Konak is a post about a gypsy problem by someone who never set foot there!

You've never seen a gipsy quarter/getto/village in Bulgaria? I guess that you don't get out much in that case.....

@JimJ

Derekhandyman is asking about Konak.

Knackered is good are non as baba tonker are

    Knackered is good are non as baba tonker are
   

    -@lambertp146

Your post appeared on my phone immediately below an ad offering the opportunity to "learn a foreign language today"; can't get more apposite than that!

@JimJ knackered good area

@JimJ yes that be good to lean Bulgaria

@lambertp146

Are you having trouble with the forum? Can we/I help in a way?

No

    Knackered is good are non as baba tonker are
   

    -@lambertp146

What you mean its knackere. Have you been to Konak whats it like?

Looking to buy a few properties in Konak, never been but looks like things could be re established and was once a beautiful town.

im from the UK so unsure why gypsy settlement would be a problem? gypsy culture is respected where im from?

@Shurge

Well, that's as may be - but what might pertain in whichever corner of the UK you're from isn't necessarily relevant to the Balkans.  If you respect the local Romany culture, they might, perhaps, reciprocate in kind: suck it and see, if you're so minded - but be prepared to have your illusions shattered...

I mentioned UK gypsy culture as an example that not all gypsies are bad? not sure how they are in Konak

surly if i own properties, they will move away when i start development? if not legal action?

It's wisest to visit first and form your own impression of a village before buying. I was blessed to buy a house unseen online in what turned out to be a nice village, but that was taking a huge chance. Some villages have high unemployment, poverty, and a significant crime rate.

Not specific to Konak, but there are many stories of people leaving their renovated village house to go back to the UK for a few months and then returning  to find an empty shell, even the wiring stripped out of the walls for the copper. If you live there full time and are able to integrate well with the local people and employ a good security company, you may be less likely to have problems with theft.

However generally if villages have a lot of extremely cheap houses, it's likely to be because there are issues. Check it out first.

Whatever you may believe regarding the "respect" shown to Roma culture in the UK, they are often regarded very unfavorably in the Balkans. To assume that's due to prejudice would be very short-sighted, not to say unsafe.

I'm not sure why any gypsies in the locality would "move away" if you started renovating a property, and I don't follow your mention of "legal action". The legal system isn't what you might be used to in the UK - and my experience tells me that the majority of Brits don't really have much of a clue about how the British system functions either.

It's pretty rare for stolen property to be recovered here, and even rarer for the culprits to be apprehended and convicted. The BG legal system is ponderous and unreliable, and you'd be wise to avoid coming into contact with the courts at all costs, so don't assume that you'll get any satisfaction from legal action, even if you have a strong case.

As Jane says, cheap property is usually cheap for several reasons, one being that no Bulgarian wants to have the "wrong kind of neighbours"; you'd do well to follow the same reasoning. It's always a struggle moving to a new country and there's no sense  in stacking the odds against yourself...

    I mentioned UK gypsy culture as an example that not all gypsies are bad? not sure how they are in Konaksurly if i own properties, they will move away when i start development? if not legal action?        -@ShurgeWikipediaRecently, houses in Konak have been bought by citizens of foreign countries: Great Britain (two families); France; Ireland.Today, a little over 100 elderly residents live in the village of Konak - Bulgarians, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and almost all of them are over 70 years old. Only one Turkish family lives in the village, there are no Roma at all.Wikipediahttps://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BA_(%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE)More Brits than gypsies then.

More Brits than gypsies then.
   

    -@mickeyhart

It's sometimes rather difficult to tell the difference....

Oh dear! Sounding more and more like Konak is a place to avoid!

Any of you lot been to Konak whats it like?

Mickey, which Wikipedia site did you get that information from? I can't find it on either the English or Bg Wikipedia. The only online source I found with that same information is a seller trying to flog property there.

Note, I'm not trying to say Konak is a bad place. I actually have no idea. Just verifying the information source.

@janemulberry

As the link given is broken this is the BG page Konak (village) Wiki won't give which nationalities live in a place.

Thanks! I searched the Bg wiki, but for some reason it didn't come up for me. It does say word for word what Mickey copy/pasted.