Before visiting
Cyprus for my very first time, I purchased one of those glossy
travel books to learn about the history, culture, geography and
general information.
I suggest
that if you've never been there…getting a general book with
loads of pictures is a great place to start. It gives you a feel
for the geography and sites…
This is terrible
to admit, but I honestly didn't know where Cyprus was located
previous to taking an interest in the country (I let you in on
a little secret…I'm American, but don't hold that against
me).
Anyway, I
knew it was somewhere in the Mediterranean, but didn't' know where.
Although I've lived in the UK for over 8 years, my formal education
was in America and boy, did I miss out on Geography!
I now know
that Cyprus is located below Turkey and off the left coast of
Syria.
Any way, the
travel book was outstanding as far as giving me a feel for the
country however, "Buying a Property: Cyprus" gave me
all the practical information needed to seriously understand the
overall buying system.
Within the
book, the authors describe:
- The various cities
- How to select a property
- The purchase process
- Financial implications
- The legal system for buying property
- Issues regarding living there (retirement, working, health,
pets, shopping…)
- How to let your property out
"Buying
a Property: Cyprus," was created in conjunction with 'The
Sunday Times,' so I was somewhat concerned that the text would
be very factual and a *boring* read, yet the authors wrote with
personality and colour!
I found myself
reading the book at the coffee shop and really enjoying the content.
I'm not kidding.
The authors
also included case studies from people that have purchased in
Cyprus - these are GREAT as they enable the information to seem
real to life rather than just details.
The book is
very well written for anyone who is looking to retire overseas
or possibly emigrate, HOWEVER if you're looking at Cyprus with
the eyes of an investor it doesn't cover this angle. There is
no mention of buying to sell and very little about buying to rent.
The rental element is discussed but from the prospective of finding
an agent to help let out the property.
Other than
not covering the investment angle, the book has a few pictures
of Cyprus inserted in the middle of the book which the called
a 'Photo Essay.' The pictures are nice, but I would have liked
them throughout the book and added in conjunction to what they
were talking about.
Overall, I
highly suggest 'Buying a Property in Cyprus,' for anyone that
wants a good overview of the buying process including the financial,
legal and ancillary aspects. This book is especially suited to
people who are considering retiring in Cyprus.
Kim's Book
Rating: 7 out of 10
