Can someone explain what actually happens on notary day when buying a flat in Bulgaria?

In Bulgaria the sale legally completes in a notary office in the district where the property is located - the notary is not just a witness but the person who checks title, drafts the title deed (notarialen akt) and registers the transfer. Here is the day in practice. Present: you (or someone with a notarized power of attorney), the seller, usually both lawyers or the agent, and - important for you - a certified interpreter. The notary is legally required to ensure you understand what you sign, so if your Bulgarian is coffee-level they will insist on a sworn interpreter; your lawyer arranges one for a modest fee. Bring your passport. The notary reads the deed aloud, the interpreter translates, everyone signs. Money: any payment above 10,000 euro must legally go through a bank, so the standard setup is a bank transfer executed on the day, sometimes from an escrow-style account your lawyer sets up - agree the exact mechanics with the seller in the preliminary contract. Costs on top of the price, payable by you unless negotiated otherwise: local transfer tax, usually 2.5-3 percent depending on the municipality; the notary fee on a statutory sliding scale, typically a few hundred to over a thousand euro; and a 0.1 percent registration fee. Budget roughly 4 percent all-in. The notary files the deed with the Registry Agency the same day, and you collect certified copies afterwards. One follow-up people forget: declare the property at the municipal tax office within two months for annual property tax. More in our guide at /guides/buying-property-bulgaria-foreigners.