Bulgaria's accession to the EU has given overseas property investors 'confidence' in the market, it has been claimed.

According to BuyAssociation, the property advice website, while the eastern European country was already popular with investors the fact that it is now a member of the EU - having joined in January this year - means buying property in the country is now a lot easier.

"It means that the property laws will start coming in line with the rest of Europe," Paul Collins, property editor for BuyAssociation, commented on the development.

"It means there is a possibility that things will become a lot easier to buy and there is some security in the market, because obviously it's got the support of the rest of Europe as well."

Mr Collins believes the popularity of Bulgaria as a location for property market investment stems from increasing prices in Portugal and Spain as well as Bulgaria's warm climate.

Beach properties along the Black Sea coast, ski developments and Sofia apartments are said to be particularly popular.