Bulgaria has the same climate as the south of France or Italy and has joined the EU in 2007.

Prices have been increasing ever since and especially the coastal resorts at the Black Sea keep growing like mad.

Have a look at the website of the largest real estate company in Bulgaria, they have very nice offers

http://www.bulgarianproperties.com/?property=416

Some of those places in Eastern Europe are doing rather well and becoming very popular as tourist destinations now.

I have some friends who`ve gone to Slovenia for a 3 week break, and another who`s gone to Croatia. I would imagine that properties out there will rise in value.

Indeed, but being fast is essential. In Slovenia for example, prices at the coast have already reached the same levels as in Italy.

Buying land is still impossible for non-Bulgarian citizens (unless you form a Bulgarian Limited which isn't very costly at all) but it's perfectly possible to become an individual owner of apartments for example.

So it's easier to buy an apartment then buy just plain old land in Bulgaria?

Isn't land probably a better long term investment?

Very hard to say of course. The limitation on land-buying is a sort of protection for the local population, it's hard to say what the duration of this protection is. Once Bulgaria has catched up economically with other European countries the limitation will probably be lifted...

Now worldwide real estate investments have crashed and investments into real estates are no longer profitable.

But buying individual properties for residence is different matter completely.

UE blocked 600 milion dollars for Bulgaria. Prices will drop in 4 months - 1 year.