Quality: In all advertisements for the sale of flats you will find the word luxury. What is luxurious accommodation may be far distant from what you will get however. If the flat you are buying is not ready, have your property surveyor go through the specifications of the materials and finishes so that he can explain their meaning to you.

Upon signing a contract, the Purchaser is liable to pay stamp duty which amounts to 0.115% of a purchase price up to CY 100.000, and then at a rate of 0.2% on any purchase price in excess of CY100.000.Land registry fees are payable when the owner ship of the property is transferred. This is on a sliding scale, ranging from 5% to 8% depending upon the value of the property.

Reliability: Be very careful to whom you are giving your money. A developer's past performance is the best form of guarantee but if you are afraid that the block will not be completed (and it is not the first time such a thing happened) ask for a bank guarantee. It is most important for you to deposit the sales contract with the Lands' Office within two months of the purchase, so that you will have some form of a right to claim and/or seek specific performance if something goes wrong.

The Minister of the Interior may grant a permit only if the Immigration Control Board confirms that the applicant falls under one of the following categories and meets the necessary criteria. (a) Farming. He possesses adequate land or a permit to acquire it and at least CYP250.000.(b) Mining. He possesses a mining permit and at least CYP200.000. (c) Trade. He has capital of at least CYP150.000,(d) Retirement. He has a secure income of about CYP5.000 per person and he and hid dependants will not work.

There is an increasing tendency by the local and the foreign market (in particular the British market) to acquire old village houses which are subsequently improved/converted into modern residences.Before the "craze" of village cottages started, there were some real bargains for this nature of property. Nowadays cottages of character and colour are relatively expensive and they may amount, together with the repair improvement bills, in excess of what a new villa of the same size would cost.