The relatively low cost of living in Cyprus has an added appeal for the potential buyer, offering a full and inexpensive lifestyle. Recent statistics pointed to Cyprus as one of the most inexpensive countries in Europe. The local markets flaunt a wealth of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, and Cyprus' modern supermarkets are fully stocked with a large range of local and imported goods. The local population is Greek speaking. Cyprus was once a British colony resulting in over 80% of the population speaking English. Street signs, direction signs, and shop signs are written in English. Knowledge of German, French, Russian is increasing with the Island tourist trade.



With the increasing complexity of the property market and the constant introduction of new concepts and measures new for the island (although not so in the European countries) it is advisable that the potential purchaser seeks professional advice prior to concluding a deal in order for hardships and disappointments to be avoided. This advice is specially useful to the foreign purchaser who has to encounter the problem of different laws and local attitudes. For this reason this firm has prepared the following tips which may be useful to the local property purchaser.

Solar heating is an economic alternative and its adoption is relatively inexpensive, having a payback period of approximately 5 years.If you will have a garden, it is advisable to drill a borehole for watering as the water charges rise more than proportionately with consumption. This will cost around C1,200 for the borehole and the pump, although it will depend on the depth of the borehole. The drilling of a borehole requires a Government permit first.

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.

Check whether your neighbours keep any animals in their yard since if they do the smell may be unbearable. Check also the distance from the town, the access, whether there is a telephone service, the nearest doctor, the frequency of the local post etc. Bear in mind that the cottage may be eligible for an improvement grant from the Government, if it is of historic interest. Your architect can advise you on this.