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(if you don't already receive a monthly announcement that our Cyprus newsletter has been published, you can sign up to our list here) In This Months Issue You'll Find: A Message from Jackie (and a small note from Kim) Recommended Resource – A new blog that concerns the cost of your overseas property (or cost to emigrate) Renting your holiday home out for some extra cash? Protection for you and your Overseas Property Come and collect your Full Version FREE Emigration Guide HOT OFF THE PRESS - No petrol at the pumps! I hope you’ve been keeping nice and warm - believe me; during January and February it’s been cold in Cyprus. Not compared to the UK, I know, but it feels cold to us. Although we’re getting towards the end of our winter here, (although most Brits wouldn’t term it “winter”), we’ve had the wettest January for 6 years, and only 2 weeks ago, it was absolutely pouring, blowing a gale and we had hailstones, thunder and lighting. The good news is the dams are full – actually, they are overflowing in Paphos. This now means no water cuts in the summer which is great. Snow is now on the Troodos Mountains. If you haven’t been to the Troodos at this time of the year, you really should go. But you only have a couple more weeks left; our ski season is very short. It’s so picturesque there, especially on a sunny day. You almost feel as though you can “pick” the clouds, they look like fluffy cotton wool balls and the snow is like a soft carpet covering everything. It’s definitely a photographer’s paradise. I don’t ski because I just know that, to my husband’s delight, I’d spend most of my time on my rear end, collapsed in a heap with a soaking wet backside! So I just pull on my waterproof boots and thermal clothes, take my camera and enjoy the scenery instead. Luckily, winter in Cyprus only lasts around 3 months, (mid-December to mid-February) so we are quite fortunate. Unless, of course, you are very high up in the mountains, in which case it’s a bit longer. Anyway, that’s enough about the cold! Our warm weather is about to arrive, and very shortly we’ll be back in flip-flops and shorts again. I can’t wait. Easter is coming soon and this year it’s the same dates as the UK. For Cyprus, this is the biggest celebration of the year, and without a doubt, it’s my favourite time. Apart from the most amazing events everywhere, the island looks beautiful, with almond blossom, wild cyclamen in abundance and it’s still lovely and green. The temperature is nigh on perfect, and those balmy evenings are back again. Sheer bliss. By the time Easter arrives, we’re all hoping the roads will have improved. I mentioned about the road works in Paphos last month, and things don’t appear to be getting any better. Honestly, driving around in my little car I’ve been shaken and stirred more than a Vodka Martini. Apparently, the works are part of a 20 million euro programme in conjunction with the EU, so it’s not an overnight job. But, like everything here, it will all be okay – eventually. Important note: If you have visitors or rental clients coming over to Paphos, then I strongly advise you to get someone to meet them from the airport. It will be almost impossible for them to follow any map you may have provided - there are diversions absolutely everywhere and it is chaos. At the moment, these start from the main roundabout at the end of the motorway into Paphos itself. The new marina at Limassol has finally been given the green light to go ahead. At a cost of around 350 million euros it will provide an amazing facility and is expected to welcome its first yachts in the autumn of 2012. Also included will be residential, commercial, recreational and cultural developments. So, if you are looking for a good investment, this could be the area for you. A new public transport system is planned for Nicosia; let’s hope it’s the first of many across the island, because they are sadly lacking. Better traffic management, improved parking, bicycle lanes and tram lines are all being looked at. What Nicosia really needs immediately is a “Park and Ride” facility – well, you never know. That’s it for this month. Remember I’m here to help answer any questions you have, so please keep them coming, it’s always great to hear from you. Jackie PS: Kim and little Sienna are blossoming – read her update:
Kind regards, Jackie and Kim Cyprus Buying Guide
Top 10 Tips – Medical Care in Cyprus The medical services in Cyprus are very good, and should you need treatment, you will definitely be dealt with quicker than you would in the UK, even at the Government/State Hospitals (which are the equivalent of the NHS). Here are my Top Tips: 1. Whether you are coming to Cyprus on holiday or to live, I cannot stress enough that you need to sort out what you are going to do about medical treatment BEFORE you visit or emigrate. 2. Remember - the old E111 form for travellers is no longer valid; it was replaced with the new EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) in January 2006. 3. You should obtain your EHIC before leaving the UK – you have to present this to get free or rebated medical expenses. Don’t travel without it.. The EHIC is available free of charge through most UK post offices or apply online at www.ehic.org.uk You can also contact them on 0845 606 2030 and get them to send you one. Expect to wait 7 days for an online application, 10 days if you phone in and 21 days through the Post Office. Every family member (individual traveller) needs their own card - that includes children – and you will need the name, date of birth and NHS or national insurance (NI) number of everyone you are applying for. Just a note here: I took this information off the EHIC website: when I went to my Post Office they no longer offer this facility and, when I applied online, I had to pay a fee of £9.95. 4. Important Note: Being in possession of an EHIC card does not mean you are insured. There is no substitute for travel insurance, so make sure you obtain it. 7. Coming here to live permanently? To get free health care, make sure you obtain the relevant “E” form from The Department of Health in the UK before emigrating. 8. If you aren’t eligible for an “E” form, then you should consider taking out a private healthcare insurance policy. Alternatively, you can just pay cash for your treatment as and when you need it. 9. If you are going for the private insurance option, make sure the policy is in plain English. If it’s a British policy, you will be able to pay in sterling. If you choose the cash option – which means you are paying for all your medical treatment, remember you will be footing the bill for every doctor’s visit, every prescription, every procedure, hospital accommodation… and so on. 10. Medical care here is very good. You don’t have to wait for treatment. Best of all, there is no MRSA either! You are welcome to phone the OGC Resource Team if you have any questions on this or any other Cyprus related topic – they are standing by to take your calls. After years of talking to people buying in Cyprus they are a real font of information. Alternatively if you want someone to help you find a property, or need any other recommendations, such as lawyers, property insurance and suchlike you could fill in the form at;
Recommended Resource – A new blog that concerns the cost of your overseas property (or cost to emigrate) I have exciting news about a new way that you can get current, updated educational articles about what the currency markets are doing. Why should you care? Well – if you’re going to emigrate or buy a property overseas you will most likely need to change your GBP into the local currency. When doing this there are specific ways to save money and avoid risks…The new blog was specifically created to help educate people about how to go about those ‘ways’. To view the recent monthly forecast on what the rates are doing and will be doing, check out: http://smartcurrencyarticles.blogspot.com/2010/02/january-has-been-interesting-month-for.html There you will find both a regular monthly newsletter and other articles that are aimed to educated the general public on avoiding exploitation by the banks. The information will give you a run down on what’s happening with the economy, both in the UK and worldwide, discussed in layman's terms that are both helpful and simple to understand. You will also find Charles Purdy’s conclusions as to whether now is a good time to buy, sell or hold tight on your euro or US dollar each month – Charles is the director of Smart Currency and has been dealing with currency, and indeed investing in property abroad himself, for many years. Charles received a wonderful email from a gentleman named C. Scott recently. It was in response to this monthly newsletter – that, and of course the wonderful service that Colin received when he actually used Smart to transfer his currency abroad. Here’s what Colin had to say:
If you haven't opened a Smart account yet it’s the number 1 recommendation that the OGC makes when it comes to saving money and avoiding unnecessary risks. Call on freephone 0808 163 0102 (+44 0207 898 0541) or fill out the online Account Form at:
OGC Resource Centres March Top Tip: Always Use a Solicitor Speaking to our many readers on a regular basis as we at OGC do, it is not surprising that many of them eventually come to feel like close friends. I am in regular contact with one such couple and, over the years, I shared with them many of the highs and lows of buying a property abroad. When I first spoke to them they had bought a home in Crete, with lovely views of the sea, and were excitedly planning regular visits accompanied by their grandchildren. You can imagine their horror when they visited their property as it neared completion only to discover that a block of flats had been erected in front of their home, totally obscuring their view. I must say I was utterly heartbroken on their behalf. So…our recommended lawyer to the rescue! Sadly he found that the contract they had signed meant that they were locked into the purchase of the house – how I wished he had been able to look at this earlier…But he did check the rest of the contract to make sure all was well and then offered his services on an ongoing basis – they needed to use him for making out a Greek will for instance. The story has a reasonably happy ending in that they have become accustomed to the house and plan to extend the patio – the grandchildren love it! The key point however is that it’s absolutely 100% necessary to get yourself a solicitor – no matter what country you’re buying in. Even if it’s not “normal procedure to use a solicitor”, you’ll want to make sure your money and assets are protected. If you need a recommendation, the OGC Resource Centre may have someone on our books in the area you plan to buy in. The couple mentioned above sent this to me:
Perhaps we can help you too? Please contact the OGC Resources Team – you’ll get them on 0207 898 0549. You are under no obligation to use our recommendations and there is no cost involved.
Renting your holiday home out for some extra cash? You may have bought a property abroad to stay yourself during holidays. You may however from time to time consider renting it out. Here are a few vital tips to remember:
If you want a home with these qualities already built in, then I suggest you run them by your estate agent from the beginning of your search if you have not yet bought. And if you need any help – with estate agents, IFAs, insurance brokers or suchlike just call the OGC Resource Team 0207 898 0549 - there is no cost or obligation to use our recommendations
Protection for you and your Overseas Property Let’s face it, there has been a real backlash against having your money in the bank, and even pension schemes no longer give the security they once did. More and more people are turning to the tried and tested option of property – more specifically, property abroad. Property in the UK is an expensive commodity and, looking around, it becomes clear that you can get far more for value for money outside the UK. So far so good, but buying abroad brings its own set of problems, and one of them is insurance. Good insurance is absolutely essential, both if you are living in your new home on a permanent basis or if you are only holidaying there. Add to the mix the fact that you may be renting it out and it has the potential of becoming a bit of a nightmare. But you can relax…we have the name of an excellent UK company that specialises in insuring homes abroad. First recommended to us by one happy OGC reader and then another and another. I’m sure we’ve now received hundreds of recommendations to this same company. Not only that, but all policies, claims etc are in English – for me that is absolutely vital. TO find out more information, simply follow the link below and fill out the short quote form. It will take 2 minutes and you are never under any obligation to use the service. Go to: IntasureCome and collect your Full Version FREE Emigration Guide We at the Overseas Guides Company would love to meet you personally – it’s great to put a face to the many people that we talk to on the phone every day. We will be at stand 94 of the Emigrate Show at Sandown Park in London on the 6-7 March – why not come and chat to us about your plans to emigrate or to buy a property abroad? Subject to final confirmation, on each day there are expected to be about 20 presentations given by migration experts on the various destinations, so it really should be very interesting. We will be handing out our newly published Emigration Guide for free (normally £12.97) to the first 100 lucky visitors to our stand. (For the full low -own of what can be found in the new Guide go to: http://www.emigrationguide.com) It is reckoned that last year over 200,000 skilled workers and professionals left the UK for pastures new and for years we have been working to ensure that such a move is a well researched, safe and happy one. Many are the pitfalls that await the unwary and that’s what we hope to save you from: unprofessional, less that trustworthy people who may not have your best interests at heart. From years of chatting to people who have successfully done what you plan to do, and indeed in many cases having done the same thing ourselves, we are in a position to support you with recommendations and assistance. There is no cost and you are under no obligation to accept our recommendations but you never know – it may just prove the best decision you ever made. I have a number of tickets to give away – the tickets are usually priced at £12 so it’s quite a saving. They are available on a first come first served basis, with maximum 2 tickets per person. Give the OGC Resource Centre a call on 0207 89 80549 and I will post them to you. Pop those dates in your diary and I hope to see you there!HOT OFF THE PRESS - No petrol at the pumps! 4/5ths of the island of Cyprus is without petrol as of Wednesday 24th February. The petrol stations across the island have all closed in protest at the Government insisting they drop their prices. This is causing absolute chaos – and, what’s more, it’s destined to last for 8 days. The petrol stations have been shut since Tuesday and already the effect is being felt, particularly in Paphos. A small independent garage here tried to open, but the owner was rapidly attacked by the supporters of the campaign and he was forced to close. There is no backing down on either side, so the strike looks set to continue. I ventured out today and already there are far less cars on the roads. And it's not only the locals who will be affected. Tourists here on holiday may start with a full tank of petrol when hiring, but what happens after that? And how about the food supply chain? It will be interesting to see what happens next. Log on to The Cyprus Mail website, www.cyprusmail.com for up-to-date information on the crisis. That’s it for this month! Let us help make that overseas dream come true: just call me or the OGC Resource Centre on 0207 898 0549 and we will do all we can to help. Warm regards, Jackie (and not forgetting Kim!) Cyprus Buying Guide (if you don't already receive a monthly announcement that our Cyprus newsletter has been published, you can sign up to our list here)
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