Prices for residential real estate in Bulgaria grew by an average 18,6% in 2007 over the previous year due to the developing market and brisk demand, realtors said. The average price paid for residential properties across Bulgaria stood at EUR 737/m2 in 2007 compared to EUR 624/m2 in 2006, shows data of Address real estate company. Capital Sofia, which boasts the highest salaries in the country, continues to benefit from the real estate boom and recorded the highest rise in prices last year - 25%, reaching an average price of EUR 835/m2. The port city of Varna retained its lead in the price ranking and commanded the highest residential property prices - BGN 852/m2, a 19% increase over the previous year. The property market of the second-biggest town of Plovdiv is the third-biggest price riser, recording an increase of 14% in residential prices year-on-year, followed by the costal port of Burgas (11%) and the northern town of Veliko Tarnovo (9%).