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Property for sale in Cyprus - A Buyer's Guide

Last updated at 13:25 GMT, Tuesday, 9 September 2008

Buying a home in Cyprus is now easier than ever before, with property for sale in Cyprus coming on the market every single day and plenty of help along the way. So whether you intend to move to Cyprus to start afresh, or simply want to buy a second home for holidays on this spectacular island, purchasing a property is as easy as pie. Here are five steps that you must remember and that by doing so will make things run even more smoothly.

1) Have an idea
Before you rush out and buy a property you need to have an idea, a dream, as to the kind of property you are looking for. Taking a moment to think about exactly what you want will help make things a little easier in the long run. You ask yourself specific questions such as how many bedrooms you need, whether you want to live in southern or northern Cyprus, whether your house is going to be lived in all year round, or whether it is for the summer only. If you are stuck for clues, then you can simply visit an overseas property company and estate agent, such as Unique Homes, in order to get the ball rolling.

2) Choose your property
After you have got an idea of the kind of home that you are in the market for, it is a simple matter of choosing the property that you want. This is both the most rewarding part of buying a property for sale in Cyprus but can also take the longest time. Finding the property that has that 'just right' feel can take a while. Once again there are websites that can help and you have a free way to view houses in a way that you never could in the past. Some websites give pictures and three dimension tours that are almost like visiting the property “in the flesh”, however, at some point, you are going to have too...

3) Take a look
Another rewarding part of the whole process of buying a property abroad is visiting the property in the person.  Luckily with so many budget airlines you can get to and from Cyprus fairly easy and with very little cost. Companies such as EasyJet are offering flights to and from Cyprus for less than £100 depending on whether you are travelling during the week, and at what time of year you decide to fly. House hunting off-season works out a lot cheaper.  Viewing properties can be the most exciting part of the operation. It is a good idea to have a few lined up to see in one go though to further reduce expense. Remember that not only is it crucial to examine all of the properties, to ensure that you are getting exactly what is being advertised, but it is also important to check out the surrounding area to make sure that it is going to live up to your expectations.

4) Give the owner an offer he can't refuse
Once you have found your perfect property you are going to need to make an offer to the seller. It is perhaps easiest to do this with the help of an estate agent or solicitors. Every aspect of the process is negotiable and being prepared to barter can help secure a very good overall price. You can not only negotiate the price of the property but also the terms of the agreement itself, for work that may need to be done on the property and such things as when you can move in.

5) Close the deal
Finally you need to take care of payment and paperwork. It is common that placing a reservation fee reserves property for sale in Cyprus. Often this fee is 1% of the property price and once this is done the house is taken off of the market and no one else can make an offer. Once again you will need the help of a solicitor to then prepare the necessary documentation. A contract will be drawn up providing a detailed description of the property, the agreed price, when monies need to be paid and when the deed will exchange hands.  Other costs will also need to be considered before you can move in including the price of connecting phone line, water and electric rates and so forth.

Initially buying a property for sale in Cyprus may seem a daunting task but if you follow these steps carefully and accept the expert advice of your solicitor then things needn't be difficult. In fact buying your dream home can be a dream in itself!