June 22, 2009

Cyprus Villa - Peyia, Coral Bay, Paphos

Check out this excellent video on Villas in Cyprus. Situated in Peyia on the west coast of Cyprus in the Paphos region, it provides the perfect base for any relaxing holiday. Coral bay has the only sandy beaches in the area and these have been awarded the blue flag for cleanliness and facilities.

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Which is the Best Resort in Cyprus?

1016664_staying_on_sicily.jpgPaphos (Pafos)

A curious mixture of worlds, Paphos is sometimes described as being divided into two halves. The division of this south-western city comprises Kato Pafos (lower Paphos) and Ktima (upper Paphos). The former is the more developed of the two, there are more crowds, more music, more bars and more luxury hotels (Cyprus has seen tremendous growth in recent decades, Paphos no less than anywhere else) than Ktima. Yet it also houses the most intriguing archaeological sites and it's easy to forget the encroachment of the modern world as you explore them in the quiet of the day. Ktima, meanwhile, boasts a more traditional view of Cypriot life; with beautiful colonial architecture and regional food to enjoy, there is less of the hectic buzz that categorises an evening in Kato Paphos. Despite their differences, both offer a very real and undeniably exciting experience of modern Cyprus.

Limassol (Lemesos)

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus, and holidays here offer attractions matched by few other resorts on the island. The nightlife is famously exuberant (some might say raucous), and the restaurants are second to none. Divided by a busy main road, north of which sit all the attractive cafes, shops and plazas, south of which is a long and popular local Mediterranean beach, Limassol is a vibrant centre of Cypriot life. Some may describe it as a little rough in parts, though it is never threatening. If you like your cities to have the undiluted flavour of life on their streets, then Limassol is not to be missed.

Pissouri

A charming fishing village turned resort, Pissouri is nevertheless a fine choice for your luxury holidays in Cyprus. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, the modern town offers villas to rent along the beach or higher up on the hill, from which you can view mile upon mile of spectacular Mediterranean coastline. Located only 30km from Limassol, Pissouri offers a quiet, relaxed and beautiful alternative the more urban diversions of the regional capital. With around half of the residents being local Cypriots and the remainder being visitors from all over Europe and the world, there is an international flavour to the town, but certainly not to the detriment of its distinctly local character.

Kouklia

A small and famously beautiful village in the district of Paphos, Kouklia is surrounded by rich farmland that produces, amongst other things, grapes, olives, citrus fruits and avocados. While not an immediate choice for holidaymakers on the island (the luxury hotels of Cyprus tending to locate in larger towns), there are many fine villas to be found in the area, making it a great choice for those in search of something a little quieter and a little alternative, but with all the atmosphere that Cyprus is famous for.

Kyrenia

Kyrenia is famous for its picturesque stone harbour, filled with colourful sailing boats and overlooked by the imposing bulk of Kyrenia castle. A highlight on the itinerary of many Cyprus holidays, the town can suffer from overcrowding in the height of summer, but arrive at any other time of year and you'll discover a delightful destination which combines the charm of the modern island with the arresting architecture of a past age. Unmissable in any extended trip to Cyprus.

Jane Wilkinson is head of Marketing for Cadogan Holidays. This multi award winning travel company can arrange bookings for the very finest luxury hotels Cyprus has to offer, as well as a wealth of other inspirational experiences in a selection of other top destinations.

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Top Five Beaches to Visit on a Holiday in North Cyprus

10.jpgThe Mediterranean has sun, sea and sand in abundance, and boasts some of the world's best beaches. Several of these are in North Cyprus, and if you go on holiday there you're in for a treat. The problem is that you are spoilt for choice. With so many beaches on offer, which ones should you visit or stay close to? We count down the top five to help with your choice.

5. Silver Beach, Famagusta

Silver Beach is south of the ruins at Salamis, and those who want a varied holiday in North Cyprus can combine the joys of this beach with the history and culture on offer in this famous area. The beach is also varied in terms of activities, with a reef that is great for snorkelling and exploring; there are huge numbers of fish and interesting types of marine life to be discovered among the ancient jetties in the cove. The cove is also suitable for younger children due to the shallow shelving of the sand, so the whole family can enjoy the area at any age.

4. Glapsides Public Beach, Famagusta

A short drive from Nicosia, Glapsides Public Beach is great if you are staying in the capital and looking for an accessible beach. It has excellent facilities, with local a mini market, bar, restaurant and showers, as well as dolphin rides designed to make any holiday to North Cyprus special. The beach is busy, but the atmosphere is friendly, with the beach's users being mainly young people and families. There is also dance and club music played by DJs on the beach for people who like to party in the evenings.

3. Alagadi Turtle Beach, Kyrenia.

Alagadi Turtle Beach is for those who want to experience the natural side of North Cyprus beaches. Holidays to Kyrenia are enhanced by visiting this beach, where you can see green and loggerhead turtles come and lay their eggs in the summer; there are cordoned off areas of the beach where you can enjoy the sea and sand as usual while protecting the ecology of the local area.

4. Escape Beach, Kyrenia

Escape beach is interesting from an enjoyment and historical perspective. The beach is known as Yavuz Cikarma Plaji, the area where the Turkish Troops landed during the Peace Operation in 1974, but is now carefully landscaped with lush grass and beautiful flowers.

On the beach proper there are a plethora of water sports available, from jet skiing to banana ride, canoeing to pedal boats and from snorkelling to scuba diving. The beach also has a volleyball area, restaurant and bar, with all the facilities you could ask for. The beach has an incredible mix of activities and history for you to enjoy on your Holidays in North Cyprus.

1. Karpaz Beaches

Our number one beach is less one specific beach and more a series of remote beaches. The Beaches in Karpaz are more secluded, and appeal more to those on luxury holidays to North Cyprusbecause of their isolated and much more exclusive nature. Each beach in the area has its own charm; the beach at Kasa was an ancient harbour called Karpasia; Yeni Erenkoy is a public beach with showers and hot food available; and there are small coves along the Karpaz peninsula itself that offer utter seclusion. Karpaz has the greatest variety of beaches available, and staying on or near the peninsula gives you complete choice while on holiday in North Cyprus.

Sarah Arnesen is the Marketing Manager for Anatolian Sky, a company offering incredible holidays in North Cyprus. They provide holidays to the entire Anatolian region, including Asia Minor, Cyprus, and Turkey itself.

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June 12, 2009

Buying Cyprus Property

6.jpgBuying a vacation property has become more than just trendy – it has become an important part of anyone's financial portfolio. People from Western countries are increasingly snapping up vacation properties in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and other choice locations in warmer climates.

One island that is seeing renewed interest is Cyprus. Being a relatively new member of the European Community, Cyprus property are also seen a surge in demand because English is widely spoken as a second language.

Being part of the EEC is expected to be a precursor to increased property prices, making Cyprus an excellent long-term investment for real estate. The stable economy is expected to continue to grow as a result.

Investment properties in Cyprus are like tax havens

The exciting news for any property investor is that Cyprus is almost like a tax haven within the European Community. There is no inheritance tax or gift tax, pensions from abroad are taxed at a flat rate of just 5%, interest earned on foreign capital imported into Cyprus is tax exempt, and investment income remitted to Cyprus by foreign nations is taxed at a flat rate of 5%. Even the corporate tax rate is a flat 10%. Cyprus also has signed double taxation agreements with many countries, including the United Kingdom. A Capital Gains Tax of 20% is payable on the sale of immovable property in Cyprus, but no capital gains tax is payable on gains from investments. Personal income tax rates range form 0 - 30%.

Interestingly, there is increasing demand for Cyprus properties from non-traditional sources, including the Middle East, Russia and its former states and United States, as well.

According to Glen Young of SunSeaker Properties, the island has the dual benefits of being popular for both retirees and vacationers. Retirees buy property in Cyprus for their own use, largely to bask in the warm Mediterranean sun and escape the snow and cold winds of winter. The attraction of Cyprus as a second home (or a new first home) is helped by a skilled work force, relatively affordable prices and a friendly, welcoming population.

But Cyprus is also a popular travel and leisure destination, with regular affordable flights from major European cities. Visitors look for quality accommodation, such as villas and apartments can offer. This makes Cyprus property a good investment, earning an income until the owner wants to sell and cash in…or until the owner decides to retire and use the property for his own purposes.

Of course, over 320 days of sunshine certainly don't hurt land values on this Mediterranean island.

Unlike in many other sunshine destinations, the legal system in Cyprus is mostly based on the British legal system and is designed to safeguard the property purchaser. This makes it particularly attractive to UK investors. Once the contract of sale is signed and a deposit is paid, the contract is registered at the land registry office. This procedure protects the purchaser's ownership rights until the title deeds are issued and transferred to his or her name. The contract in the hands of the Land Registry cannot be withdrawn by anyone, and therefore the property cannot be leased, sold, transferred or mortgaged. Only the purchaser himself can alter this status.

Cyprus investment properties might require some patience

With so much going for it, even Cyprus is not perfect. Sometimes it does take patience to buy property in Cyprus. As with many sunny locations, the bureaucrats don't always see the need to rush and paperwork can take longer than an eager buyer would sometimes like.

In the case of buying property "off-plan", it can often take a couple years for the development to be completed…meaning that the buyer might need some bridge financing until the property can be let and income starts rolling in. Mortgages, usually up to 75%, are readily available, and the wise investor will look for one that requires only 30% to be paid down over the period of construction, making financing affordable to average investors.

With a little planning and patience, Cyprus properties are easy to obtain and promise to carry a positive return on investment. Sooner or later, everyone retires; it's never too early to stake out an investment property on your favorite Cyprus beach.

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Purchasing Cyprus Property

1028189_villa_canizzo.jpgMany people are jumping on the opportunity to own property in Cyprus. A beautiful, island destination, Cyprus has lured potential property owners with more than its charm. The economy is booming. Tourism is on the rise. And property values are expected to spike dramatically in the near future.

If you have read about all that Cyprus has to offer and are dreaming of owning Cyprus property, there are some practical considerations that you should make. Fortunately, there is an abundance of information about purchasing properties in Cyprus. You should take advantage of it. Learn all you can before making a decision to buy property in Cyprus and think about the following practical considerations:

• Do you plan to move to Cyprus or simply purchase a holiday home on Cyprus? How you will use the property will determine what type of property you will buy and how much it will cost to keep it maintained. If you choose to purchase a vacation property, you will have to pay a management company to maintain the property. Of course, you could rent the property out to make some extra money when you're not using the home.
• Can you afford the property? A second home can be very expensive. Make sure that you know all of the cost involved. If you plan to move, there may be additional expenses that come along with living in a foreign country. Make sure you understand all of these costs fully.
• Can you make a living on the island? The economy on Cyprus is booming, but will you be able to make a living. If you posses certain trade skills, you should find out if these are in demand on the island before you make the decision to relocate.
• How long with you hold onto the property before you sell it? You should always have a financial plan for the future. If the property is an investment, have a clear idea of how you will manage your investment.

There is a great demand for housing on the island of Cyprus. If you plan to develop vacant land, you will need to understand all of the legal aspects of developing Cyprus property. For example: It is not uncommon for it to take up to five years to receive a property title/deed for your property. You will still be able to develop and sell your property; however, you will need to understand how to legally do so.

There are also a few non-resident restrictions that you will need to consider. Currently, non-residents are only allowed to own one piece of property on Cyprus. This could present challenges if you planned to parcel off land, develop it, and sell each parcel individually.

While there are many practical considerations that you need to make before buying Cyprus property, it is not that much different from purchasing property elsewhere. You should always do your research and make all real estate purchases with both eyes wide open.

Steven Clarke - Marketing Manager for http://www.cypruspropertyclub.co.uk Cyprus Property Club brings buyers and sellers of properties in Cyprus together and contains 1000's of Cypriot properties for sale across all the top locations including Peyia, Kato Pafos, Oroklini.

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Why Has Cyprus Become The Hottest Place To Buy Property

36.jpgSo why should you go and buy a property in Cyprus?

Simple it's Europe's number one spot for holiday makers, plus it makes great sense to invest in your future. Cyprus properties are now the hottest items in the real estate market for Europe. Over the last 5 years analysts have been predicting this trend will keep rising and the last 4 years they have got this right.

In fact if you had bought a Cyprus property 5 years ago for around 150,000 euros it would now be worth somewhere in the region of 300,000 euros, and in some places even more, plus your not paying for it if you rent it out, now is that not easy money?

How hard is it to get a mortgage on a Cyprus property? Well most Cyprus banks will lend you the money with out any problems, in fact if your a none resident and need to raise capital for your investment property it as never been easier than now.

What we have been finding over the last 5 years or so are more and more English people are getting fed up with the English weather, which is driving more and more people abroad. So the market for rented property is booming. You will find more investors investing there money in properties abroad because there know that there capital is more secure and it has a better investment future with house prices rising higher than in the UK.

Investing in Cyprus properties has become a great exciting new opportunity. If you could roll back time say 10 years ago, how many of us would have bought a property in Spain or South of France? I guess everyone would have because guess what you would now be sitting on a nest egg worth around half a million pounds and even more in some places.

The property prices in Cyprus are approximately a third of the cost of properties in Spain now, but this will change over time.

So just why should you buy and rent a property in Cyprus? Easy, it's become the number one place to go for family holiday, it has over 300 days a years a clear blue sky's, some of the best beaches in the world, it cheap to live there, very friendly people and the best of all property prices are very cheap and are doubling in prices within 5 years, which makes sense for a great investment.

Buying real estate in Cyprus has never been easier and if your looking for more FREE information on Cyprus Property or you would like to talk to some about it make sure you visit cyprusinformer.com out. It has to be one of the best review sites on the internet for information on purchasing and renting property in Cyprus.

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Top Tips For Buying Property in North Cyprus

13.jpgWith many top quality developments now being completed, there has never been a better range of property for sale in North Cyprus, or a better time to invest.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #1: Do Your Research Online

When considering buying any property in North Cyprus, always research your options online first. Most orth Cyprus property developments have websites complete with glossy site maps and impressive floor plans, which only tell half the story. For the full picture, join a North Cyprus property online forum, where real buyers compare experiences of purchasing at specific developments. You can post questions, or just browse the post titles to see which North Cyprus developers keep their promises, and which don't! Best of all are the independent North Cyprus web sites that offer independent reviews of developments alongside comments from their forum members.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #2: Pick Your Area

North Cyprus is a beautiful country with several distinct areas, each with their own particular appeal. If you are buying a home for yourself, decide what you want most; walking distance to a sandy beach, or a mountainside location with views over the sea. The same applies to considering possible rental markets or investment potential; golf tourists will wish to be close to the new course at Esentepe, while couples with young children will prefer to rent a holiday home right next to a beach. Make a short list of one or two areas that interest you, then check your online forums for local insights, such as good schools, top restaurants or problems with water supplies!

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #3: Visit North Cyprus

At this stage, don't take an inspection trip organized by a developer; you need to be free to follow your instincts. Armed with your short list of areas, spend the first two days simply driving around and getting the feel of the places you are interested in. Drop into the local café for coffee, and chat to the locals. See for yourself which developments are actually busy with residents or workmen, and those that are standing empty or half-finished.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #4: Estate Agent Days

Visit local estate agents and get details of properties in your chosen areas. Only accept details on properties within your price range and arrange viewings for any properties that tick all the boxes. Follow the estate agent in your own car to any property viewings, so if you don't like them, you can swiftly move on.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #5: Understanding TRNC Deeds

You must ensure your property comes with a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) freehold deed. Due to the division of Cyprus in 1974, these come in four formats;

1. Pre 1974 Turkish Freehold Title, for land or property owned by a Turkish Cypriot before 1974.
2. Pre 1974 Foreign Freehold Title, for land or property owned by a foreign national before 1974. These titles are internationally recognized.
3. TRNC Exchange Title, for land or property given to a Turkish Cypriot in exchange for land and property they owned in south Cyprus before 1974, and have relinquished their rights to.
4. TRNC TMD Title, for land given to Turkish Cypriots for military or government service, or to settlers.

All four titles are acceptable, with the first type commanding around a 30% premium.

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #6: Save Money with 'Nearly New'

If you want to buy a North Cyprus property you can move straight into, consider resales at recently completed developments. Your property should be already sorted with all utilities, minor snagging issues ironed out, and yet the property should still be in excellent condition. Unlike new build properties, where your money may be tied up for two years with no return, a resale property can be enjoyed or rented out as soon as you get the keys!

North Cyprus Property Top Tip #7: Get Professional Advice

Buying any property is a major financial commitment, so don't be pressured into signing any agreement. Always employ your own, independent solicitor to advise you and act on your behalf, never one suggested by a property developer. With a complex buying process, new tax laws and various permits to be gained, a good North Cyprus solicitor is well worth the modest fees they charge. Again, online forums are good sources of feedback on reliable firms - and those to avoid.

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May 8, 2009

Exclusive Limassol Villas

The Limassol Villas are situated in the East Coast of Limassol, near the beach. This sought after location offers tranquility, the sandy beaches and Marina close by. This exclusive project consists of 10 Villas designed with a modern concept, each of which are on 3 levels with their private s/p offering spacious plot sizes at competitive prices.

The Limassol Villas can be accessed by an electric entry system giving full privacy to the selective homebuyer. There is a choice of 4 and 5 bedroom villas all of which have 3 bathrooms and 1 GWC, central heating and solar heating is also included.

For more information make sure you watch this video!

 

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North Cyprus Property World

North Cyprus Property World is a leading North Cyprus real estate company. They have some of the finest villas and apartments for sale in North Cyprus. Make sure you watch this video!

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April 30, 2009

North Cyprus Vacation Property Guide

766162_kids_on_swimming_pool.jpgBuying a vacation home is a big deal. No matter where you decide to purchase, you need to make sure that you are fully informed and prepared for the purchase you're going to make. Buying a vacation home in North Cyprus is a great alternative to many common, overpopulated vacation destinations. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus offers an island feel like no other. In addition to tourism, they also have five universities that are growing every year, along with a housing market that is booming. This is your North Cyprus vacation property guide; everything you need to know about buying a vacation home you can learn here.

There are plenty of different types of vacation homes in North Cyprus. Whether you're looking to spend under GBP 100,000 on a cute little apartment or cottage, or have unlimited funds and want a multi-million dollar sprawling estate, there's something for everyone in this island country. Most of the homes in Cyprus are owned by vacationers and part-time residents, so you will have plenty in common with the people that you meet. You can find beach-front homes, city apartments, country cottages, and more in the North Cyprus vacation property guide.

When you decide to buy a vacation property, you need to know that you're financially stable enough to afford a second home. You also need to research mortgages in Cyprus and make sure that you understand all the different laws and rules involved in buying property here. Although home purchases are relatively similar, there are slight differences in home purchases in each different company that may make a difference in your home loan. If you're fortunate enough to be able to buy a home outright, then you won't have to worry about the ins and outs of mortgages and the North Cyprus vacation property guide.

You need to find a realtor and a mortgage that meet your needs. Even if it takes a little longer than you wanted to get things in order, it's better than rushing into something and getting a bad deal or making a bad investment. No matter what you decide when looking for a vacation home in Cyprus, taking time to educate yourself will be your most important goal. An informed buyer is much better prepared for something of this magnitude than an uninformed buyer. If you know enough, you'll be able to find the perfect home and a great investment with very little effort.

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