CYPRUS

Getting There

There is a good selection year - round of both scheduled and charter flights from most major airports around the UK to Cyprus, with extra flights during the high season.

Flyglobespan now fly direct from Aberdeen to Paphos Airport - flights start from1st May 2007 

HEALTH

The standard of Cypriot healthcare is generally very good, and English is widely spoken in hospitals & clinics.

Visiting Brits will be given emergency treatment, but subsequent treatment will need to be paid for.

Private healthcare is very reasonable & probably the best choice for anyone spending a considerable amount of time there.

Average Property Prices

One bedrioom Apartment £68,000

Two bedroom Apartment £102,000

Three bedroom Villa £163,000

Four bedroom Villa £205,000

Visa / residency issues

Any EU citizen can stay for up to 90 days in Cyprus without a visa.

Those wishing to spend longer will need a residence permit, which can be obtained from the local Cypriot authorities.

This is a fairly straightforward process for anyone coming from an EU member state.

That said, anyone wanting to stay permanently will need somthing called an "Alien Registration Cerificate. Proof of residence, funds & identity are required for this.

The Buying Process

The legal system in Cyprus has been mainly based upon the British Legal System. Our lands registry in Cyprus is an advanced and reliable system thus making the purchase of property more secure with regards to the issue of tiltle deeds.

When a property has been chosen, a buyer puts down a deposit of between £1,000 - £2,000. This represents a legally binding purchase agreement.

Contracts are then drawn up, outlining the conditions of sale, and at this point a further deposit of (usually) 30% of the purchase price is payable.

The contracts are then sent to the land regisrty and the buyer must make a written application to the Council of Ministers in Cyprus for approval to transfer the ownership of the property into the buyers name.this is only a formality as no one from the UK has ever been denied approval.

You can move into your new property while waiting for the approval to come through. Buyers need to present bank & character refrences with the application.

Population 780,133

Capital - Nicosia

Languages - Greek & Turkish

TOP TIP

while low prices are attracting certain buyers to the Turkish North of the island, would be purchasers should be aware that buying land or a home in the North brings with it considerable more risks, than in the South, most notably where the issue of clean title is concerned.