NOTE: This article was published in July 0f 2025. Since then, work has continued on common areas and apartments and many owners have moved in.
They’ve Done it! Coliving Semkovo is a reality!
A couple of years ago, we wrote about Coliving Semkovo and its ambitious plan. They aimed to repurpose a large communist-era hotel into a cooperative coliving village for digital nomads.
Since then, the project has made significant strides.
We revisited the site recently and there’s plenty new to share.
Renovation & Community Build-Out
- Renovation work has advanced rapidly, with Block A fully renovated and furnished. Furthermore, Block B’s first batch of units has been undergoing upgrades since spring 2025.
- Common areas like the coworking spaces, restaurant, gym, and lounge are shaping up nicely. Flooring, heating systems, and green-energy infrastructure (biomass heating + solar possibilities) are in progress. They finished the communal kitchen, and it is enormous with over a dozen cooking areas:
When we visited, few of the buyers had moved in yet, but the energy was palpable in the aftermath of an in-person owners meeting.
Renovations were well underway with many apartments and common areas already finished.
Coliving Semkovo is no longer just a vision but a living space. It is still evolving and under construction, but it is very much functional.
Land Expansion & Local Infrastructure
- The Coliving Semkovo coop is in the process of acquiring an additional ~18,000 m² from the forest ministry. This will ensure future privacy and room to grow. There’s even space for a potential 6,000 m² expansion.
- Local infrastructure: the local government massively upgraded the formerly treacherous access road. This was our biggest concern during our visit in the spring of 2023. And the municipality resolved it. And there’s even talk of a ski chairlift directly from the Coliving’s lower parking lot as part of the “Pearl of Rila” regional development initiative.
Growth & Occupancy
- Nearly €5 million in unit sales have been committed, with nearly 90% of the 225 units already sold.
- The owner community now spans roughly 112 people from over 30 countries, including a strong presence from the Sofia startup ecosystem.
- Most of the facility is still a construction site with Bulgarian renovation workers furiously renovating apartment units and common spaces.
Sales Deadline & Remaining Availability
- The coop recently made a strategic decision: apartment sales will close on September 1, 2025. After that date, the coop itself will buy any unsold units.
- As of early July 2025, only 26 units remain for sale.
What This Means for Prospective Buyers
| Opportunity | Details |
|---|---|
| Last chance to join during active sales | With the September 1 cut-off and limited inventory, now is the final window to secure a unit. |
| Cooperative governance | Buyers aren’t just acquiring property. They gain a vote in the co-op’s direction, budget, and operations. Each owner gets one vote, no matter how many units they purchase. |
| Strong momentum, growing community | With most units sold and key amenities taking shape, it’s moving beyond concept to reality. |
| Rising prices expected | With limited availability and growing demand, prices are projected to increase after summer. It’s anticipated that the secondary market for renovated apartments will be higher than the cost of purchasing now and renovating. |
Another Reason to Buy Now
The coop is doing a big push in July to sell the remaining units.
If you decide now, you’ll get a special 5% discount on the purchase price.
For most apartments, that means move-in ready after renovation, furniture, grid connection, legal etc. for €45,000–€50,000 – a rare opportunity in such an iconic building.
Bulgarian Digital Nomad Visa
One other consideration for non-EU citizens from places like much of North and South America, Australia, the UK and the Balkans is a new way to stay in Bulgaria long-term.
The Bulgarian parliament recently introduced a “nomad visa” that provides permanent residence. It is for everyone who earns at least €25,000 per year outside Bulgaria.
While not yet implemented, this could be a game-changer. It will help many non-EU citizens that want to spend more time in Bulgaria than the 90 days every 6 months that the Schengen visa waiver provides.
So if you want to make Coliving Semkovo your long-term base, the Bulgarian government just gave you the means to do so.
Operational Priorities
Part of the reason the coop set the September 1 deadline is so the community can shift from sales and renovation to operational priorities.
The coop has set out a list of priority operational items, such as an electrical sub-station to ensure adequate and reliable electricity.
Secondary priorities like getting the bowling alley and indoor pool operational.
And long-term priorities like expansion.
Things to Keep in Mind – The Rules!
The vision for Coliving Semkovo is now a reality. The Coliving Semkovo coop operates with a clear set of rules designed to protect both the community vibe and the long-term sustainability of the project. Buying into the community means abiding by the rules of the coop.
Here are a few:
- All owners agree to keep the common areas child-free (under the age of 18) to maintain a quiet, focused environment ideal for remote work and adult communal living. Children can be in your apartment (after all, you own it!). But it’s openly discouraged at this time.
- Pets are allowed. But any pet that becomes a nuisance or acts aggressively even one time will be asked to leave immediately.
- Owners pay for ongoing maintenance payments (estimated to be €800-2400 depending on size of the unit per year) to fund building upkeep, shared utilities, and common space improvements. This includes all coworking, as well as cleaning fees, and there is a dedicated team of cleaners to keep common areas clean every day.
- You can rent your unit out. But it you must do it through the official booking system managed by the coop. This is to ensure fair use, consistent guest experiences, and alignment with community values. The coop manages the system, and you set your price for rental. The booking platform rolls cleaning and management fees into an all-in advertised price.. You can rent your unit directly, but those guests would have to pay a coworking as well as a cleaning fee.
- You can sell your apartment. And you do not need any approval from the other owners as long as all your fees are fully paid. When you sell your apartment, you can either sell your coop share to the new owner or the coop will redeem it at nominal value. It will be up to the coop to decide if owners from resales will get new shares at nominal value or if the only way to acquire shares will be from the previous owner. You cannot keep your co-op share after selling the apartment.
Our Take
We’ve been big supporters of the Coliving Semkovo concept from the beginning.
We love the vision: a community-built space created by digital nomads, for digital nomads.
And we’ve seen firsthand how much progress has been made. The fact that it’s being shaped by the owners themselves is both inspiring and unique.
While we haven’t bought a unit, that’s simply a personal choice. We prefer the flexibility of renting, especially in such a remote location. But that doesn’t take away from our belief in what they’re building.
We’ll definitely keep visiting, and we’re excited to watch the community continue to grow.
Bottom Line
Coliving Semkovo is no longer just a bold idea. It’s becoming real.
Walking through renovated spaces and meeting early owners, it feels like a genuine co-working/co-living village in the Rila Mountains. The September deadline and dwindling availability create urgency, but they also reflect strong progress.
If you’ve been on the fence, this summer is your last clear opportunity to secure a unit before the coop takes over remaining inventory. After that, the project enters a new phase: community expansion and operational maturation.
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