Hello there dear CBG reader,

Only a week away from Christmas – can you believe it? All my shopping is done and I’m ready for the parties to begin. On Sunday I made sugar cookies and used cookie cutters to create snowmen, reindeer and angels. While painting the cookies I listened to MTV’s top 20 Christmas #1’s and drank mulled wine - I’m definitely in the Christmas spirit. How about you?

Speaking about Christmas – have you considered what it would be like to spend the festive season in Cyprus? Imagine eating your turkey and then taking a stroll on the beach…Or consider the idea of eating outdoors under the warm sun. It’s not hot during December in Cyprus; however it’s pleasant enough to enjoy the sun and fresh air! In this month’s newsletter, Jackie wrote an article about the Christmas season in Cyprus to give you and idea of what it’s like.

So – what’s going on in Cyprus? Not much – it seems as if everyone is getting ready for the festive season and waiting for the New Year to begin. Stating that, I’ll let you get on with reading this months newsletter.

Have an excellent holiday season and enjoy your New Year’s celebration. In January I’ll send you my next newsletter to discuss the Cyprus property market predictions and ways to plan for your new home in the sun. Until then, have a great month.

Kind regards,

Kim

Cyprus Buying Guide
The Overseas Guides Company
Kim@CyprusBuyingGuide.com

What’s Christmas like in Cyprus? by Jackie Nicholls

“Well, as well as being sunny and warm, it’s a wonderful, festive time! But unlike the UK, there’s not much sign of Christmas until early December. Cyprus takes its time but it always gets there in the end - is that such a bad thing? I personally don’t think so!

I say that, but, for the first time, Cyprus knew Christmas was coming early this year. The new Paphos Shopping Mall, which recently opened, had a huge snowman on their roof and a huge Christmas tree in their car park; and, despite protests that it was all far too early, Christmas had suddenly arrived in November!

Actually, if you think about it, who really wants to think about Christmas when the weather is over 25 degrees and shorts, sandals and t-shirts are still the order of the day – along with swimming in the sea? Even now, in mid December, we are experiencing the most fabulous weather, reaching around 23 degrees some days. Now maybe you can understand why we prefer to leave thinking about Christmas until the last minute!

Christmas in Cyprus, up until a couple of years ago, was very much a last minute affair – you really wouldn’t – and actually still don’t – want to be searching for presents until just before Christmas Eve! But, traditionally, the realisation that Christmas is a few days away causes chaos and people just go crazy in the shops! It’s really tiring, especially if you are one of those
last minute shoppers and have to face the queues. But the atmosphere is very different to the UK - the laid back attitude comes into play and no one worries too much about anything. Cyprus residents prefer not to get stressed and to take the easy route in life!

Did you know that if you buy your presents in a supermarket here, you get them all wrapped in Christmas paper free of charge? And, if you are buying toys that need batteries for the children, the batteries are supplied free of charge too!

Anyway, the Christmas season usually gets into full swing around the 6th of December. The streets are decorated with beautiful displays, particularly in the towns.

Christmas in Cyprus is a religious festival and the Cypriots sing beautiful carols like we do, and also have candlelit church services. Christmas is becoming more and more popular in Cyprus, but popular although it is, Easter will always be the most important celebration on the island.

The Cypriots celebrate Christmas in their special way. Where we have Santa Claus, who brings gifts for Christmas Day, they have Saint Basil, who brings gifts on New Year’s Day. Presents are left under the Christmas tree, the same as in the UK. Instead of lovely elves helping Santa in his workshop, Cypriots have mischievous sprites that prey upon people during the twelve days of Christmas, from Christmas Eve to Epiphany Day on January 6th.

There is certainly no shortage of events to attend, in fact, often there are too many to attend them all! If you want a traditional UK Christmas it’s available - if you don’t, then there are plenty of traditional Cypriot events to attend. Whatever you choose, you are guaranteed a very warm welcome.

Finally, I think one of the greatest delights was when I visited my dentist this week. My husband and I came out with a lovely Christmas gift of two award-winning bottles of wine and a personally written Christmas card. Our dentist apparently does this for every patient she sees in December. I’ve never known this happen in the UK! Somehow it makes going to the dentist in December more bearable …..

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year from sunny Cyprus!

Come and see us soon!”

What is the difference between a bank and a currency specialist?

Over the past week I had an interesting conversation with a Cyprus Buying Guide reader who asked me what the difference is between a bank and a currency specialist like Smart Currency Exchange. So – rather than include Charles Purdy’s usual currency update I decided to give you the low down on the differences between a bank and Smart Currency.

This is what I discovered:

- Banks offer several services, which we’re all aware of – they include cheque and savings accounts, investments, credit cards, insurance, mortgages, travel money, loans and so forth.

- Smart Currency Exchange offers only one service – helping overseas property buyers to buy and transfer currency either abroad or bring it back to the UK. By focusing on one service only, the Smart representatives are able to devote far more attention to their clients, to provide them with more currency options and more ways to make the process faster, safer, less expensive and, overall, a whole lot easier than going to a high street bank.

- Banks and currency specialists buy money from the currency market at a certain rate and then sell it on to the end user (you), making a profit. On average, banks work to a margin of up to 4% more than the margin taken by Smart Currency. That means that if you’re paying Smart £100,000 for euros or US$’s you would pay a bank £104,000. In other words, you’d pay the bank £4,000 more for a reduced level of service! Don’t these banks really make you mad?!

When talking to Charles I said, ‘Let me see if I understand this. Going to Smart rather than a bank is like going to a specialist kitchen company rather than going to B&Q?’

Charles responded, ‘You have the right idea, however when going to a specialist kitchen company, most people pay more for the quality products and high expertise. With Smart, our clients not only get an incredible level of service and expertise but they also save a substantial amount of money. When comparing our rates against the banks’, many clients have estimated savings in the £10,000 range!”

I also asked Charles about the safety and security of using Smart versus a bank. Charles explained to me that all client funds that come and go through Smart are processed at the Bank of Ireland. The funds come in, are exchanged and transferred out. Furthermore, all funds held at the Bank of Ireland are 100% guaranteed by the Irish government.

Since I was on a roll and eager to find out more, I asked Charles about the terrible state of the Euro…is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Charles explained that no one can predict what’s going to happen. However, overseas property buyers can make sure that it doesn’t get any worse for them than it already is.

Apparently, you can reserve a rate today and pay for it later. As I write, I think the Euro rate is around 1.11 to the pound. Charles explained that clients can reserve money, say £100,000 worth at 1.11 today and then actually pay for it in 6 months time. It’s entirely possible that the rate will go down to, dare I say, 1.05. By reserving money now, you don’t have to worry about what you will be paying in 6 month’s time – you will have locked it in to 1.11!

Anyway – I found my chat with Charles to be extremely interesting. If you’re interested in more information on Smart Currency Exchange, check out their website on www.SmartCurrencyExchange.com – there’s loads of information on how the process works and what is involved. You can apply online and there are no costs or fees associated with the trading facility. It’s well worth your time to check it out.

To read the latest on Serling and the Euro go to: http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com/Currency181208.htm

Why overseas property buyers lose money...
...and how you can avoid it!

This 10-page educational report outlines:

• Case Study: When Property Buyer, Mr Reed, Purchased an Overseas Property, he Made Three Mistakes that Cost Him £10,256...learn how you can avoid them...
  
  
• How the Banks make HUGE profits from their long-standing unsuspecting customers
  
  
• Ways to safeguard yourself against adverse fluctuations in exchange rates (or in other words, helping you to keep your money in your pocket)
  
  
• The entire process of moving money from the UK to any overseas location, so that you're armed with all the knowledge you need to make intelligent decisions about your money
  
  
• How you can ultimately save £100’s and £1000’s so that you have ample money to buy furniture and white goods…
  
  
• More case studies of people that lost money due to foreign currency strengthening against the pound, so that you learn from other peoples mistakes rather than your own!
  

And just a couple remarks about the report from our readers...

"We have found your free report to be extremely helpful... Wendy Watson"

"I have read and absorbed the information in the stories outlining the mistakes which the uninitiated can make when transferring currency. It is very illuminating and essential that any one,like myself, who is in the process of buying an overseas property should be aware of. I would go so far as to say that every agent selling overseas properties should be compelled to advise their prospective purchasers that it is paramount that they use a currency expert such as yourselves. Regards, Eric Thomas"

To get a copy of the report at no charge go to: http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/freereport.htm

To get a Better-than-Bank rate go to: http://www.smartCurrencyExchange.com/smartsquotation.htm
or call Carl on 08081 630 102 freephone.

The Resort at Armou

About Armou Village
Armou is a peaceful, tranquil and traditional Cypriot village in a hillside location, enjoying panoramic views and refreshing breezes. It sits at an altitude of 1500 feet above Paphos, only 11km north east of the town. The drive up is a real pleasure at any time of the year - away from the hustle and bustle, Armou is a place for those who prefer a quieter location. This is the 'real' Cyprus, abundant in flora and fauna, with sleepy little hamlets like Marathounta nestling amid the rolling green hills nearby.

But it does suit all tastes, because although it enjoys peace and quiet, for those wanting a bit more ‘action’ or who want to venture out in the evenings, it is just 10 minutes drive to the local beaches or the many bars and restaurants around the old harbour in Kato Paphos. On one hand there are numerous historical sites, walks and monasteries nearby, on the other hand you have the tavernas in Armou and nearby Marathounta and Konia. There are 3 golf courses within a short drive drive and all of the services and attractions of Paphos are just a few minutes away.

This peaceful village has also spectacular mountain views and just the right atmosphere for perfect relaxation, so while the rest of the family are busy swimming, snorkelling and golfing you can indulge in some quiet investigation of the local cultural heritage or, better still, soak up a few rays while you sip a glass of wine with your feet up!

In terms of accessibility, Paphos airport is only a 20 minute drive away, Larnaca airport is approximately 90 minutes by car. From January to March there is skiing less than 2 hours away on Mount Olympus in the Troodos Mountains. This is very important, both for your own convenience, but even more especially if you are thinking of renting the property out at all.

The Resort at Armou
The property people we recommend on Cyprus (and who many happy Cyprus Buying Guide readers have used to complete their property purchases incidentally) are offering a luxurious project situated in the beautiful village of Armou. This Armou Resort comprises 46 magnificent apartments, with a mix of studios, 1 bed and 2bed apartments plus 2 maizonettes.

Elevated on the top of a small plateau in Armou village, the properties are carefully situated so that each enjoys an unobstructed Mediterranean sea view. It is designed in such a way that architecturally it blends into beautiful scenery, surrounded by skillfully landscaped gardens. At the heart of the gardens is a stone path leading to a central gazebo, complete with a shady seating area ideal for relaxation.

The paved poolside patios of the 3 swimming pools are ideal for outdoor entertaining or simply relaxing in the sun.

Exterior Features include lovely gardens, parking, large verandas, luxury specifications, a
small gymnasium and sauna, there are staff on site daily attending to the upkeep of resort plus it is an electronic gated site.

And here is the really exciting news: there is a very special pre-launch exclusive offer from our recommended property people on Cyprus. This includes:

• 10% initial deposit (less the reservation fee) payable within 30 days after the reservation

• 10% to be paid with the delivery of the property

• 10% rental guarantee for 2 years (5% per year) after the delivery of the property

• 2 years grace period possibility for the mortgages

There are many more photos if you would like to see them. If you are interested in learning more about this, or indeed any other property on Cyprus, please just call us on 0207 898 0549 or fill in the form at:
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/requirementsform.htm

MY Top 10 Reasons to Buy in Cyprus

Books and magazines often cite the top 10 reasons to buy a property in Cyprus. The list usually contains the well-known platitudes such as better weather, lower cost of living, healthier food, slower pace of life, local people that speak English, greater tax advantages and so on. I sometimes find myself getting annoyed by these lists as the authors often leave out the more interesting and exciting elements of moving to Cyprus. Listed below are my personal top 10 reasons for relocating to Cyprus:

1. A New Adventure
Moving to another country is not something that people often do in their lives. Packing up and relocating to Cyprus is a huge adventure and will surely be full of fun and exciting surprises. There will be new people to meet, new places to visit, a different lifestyle to adapt to and loads of new experiences. Many people hit a point in their lives where not much seems to be happening and they need something to bring out the kid in them. Moving to Cyprus provides them with a new lease on life and the possibility of an exciting and stimulating journey!

2. A Base to Explore Other Parts of the World
As a child I had the travel bug. As soon as I hit 16 years of age, I was fortunate to get my driving licence and a hand-me-down car from my grandmother. Growing up in upstate New York gave me a great opportunity to drive through NY or up into Canada. It wasn’t long before I had driven 24 hours non-stop to – no, not Tulsa, but Florida! The travel bug then enticed me further afield and I flew to California, Mexico and the Caribbean. Once I had moved to England, I realised that a whole new travel world had opened up and the thought of experiencing Europe was hugely exciting. The same goes for Cyprus; it’s considered the gateway to the Middle East – and a host of new adventures lie in store there. Living in Cyprus provides people with the opportunity to take a boat trip to Egypt, an easy flight to Dubai and even Russia is within your grasp.

3. Experience the Outdoors Year Round
There are very few countries that allow for year round outdoor activities and this makes Cyprus a very attractive destination. Cyprus is an excellent country to do a bit of bird watching or just take in the beautiful surroundings. Whether you enjoy a stroll on the beach, a walking trail through the mountains or a day trip to archaeological remains there are many things to do in the great outdoors.

4. Understand a New Culture
Despite the fact that Cyprus is home to many Brits and that most people speak English, its amazing culture remains unchanged. The various holidays, festivals and traditions are utterly unique and fascinating. And the great thing about Cypriots is that they welcome foreigners right into their homes to celebrate a birthday or enjoy a Sunday meal – their motto is definitely ‘the more the merrier.’ Indeed, the word ‘hospitality’ comes from the Greek word to be kind to strangers. The Cypriot culture is one where the children come first, the family unit is strong and love is shared. It’s endearing to see and fantastic to be welcomed into their world.

5. Learn a New Language
People often try to learn a new language using audio CD’s or taking classes in their country of origin. Doing so will get them started; however nothing’s better than practicing with people who actually SPEAK the language. When I first started visiting Cyprus I took lessons in Greek and then practiced in kiosks, at restaurants and in the villages. I was amazed by the warm response I received. Learning the language also allows you to connect with others in a way that shows appreciation for the culture as well as a desire to fit in.

6. Change of Social Circle
Cyprus is home to various social circles – there are loads of networks for business minded people, various Masons groups, Rotary Clubs, community boards, estate boards, golf clubs, diving groups, hikers, Harley Chapters and on and on. Whether you have a particular interest or just want to find people to chat to, there are loads of people eager to mix. Because of the warm weather, Cyprus is a country where people love to socialise and get out and about. It’s important to note, however, that it’s up to you to make the effort. You need to get out there and talk to people - they’re not going to come to you!

7. History Lessons
I’m convinced that it’s possible to spend a whole lifetime studying and understanding the history of Cyprus. It seems that every civilisation had an influence on the tiny country and there is a long history of occupations, wars and cultural exchanges. And the truly exciting thing is that, aside from learning the history, you can actually go out and look at it! From Roman ruins to burial sites to castles and walled cities there’s a huge range of historical remains that you can visit.

8. Start a Business
Provided that you do your research, test the market and come up with a product or service in demand, doing business in Cyprus can be extremely easy. The cost to market to the entire island is nominal. Imagine releasing a product in the UK or America – it’s quite difficult to get in front of a target audience and very costly. In Cyprus, it’s quite easy and inexpensive to take out adverts, do leaflet drops or get business simply by word of mouth. And once you consider the tax advantages, Cyprus looks very attractive indeed to the business minded.

9. Improve your Health
I often get the chance to meet Cyprus Buying Guide readers in Cyprus and I’ve frequently chatted to numerous people that made the move for health reasons. One reader, Carol, had a very serious heart condition and was worried about the medical facilities in Cyprus. She had done her research and determined that the hospitals would be able to assist with her serious condition. Strangely, since moving to Cyprus she hasn’t had any problems! Also, many readers have expressed that their allergies have disappeared or that their arthritis no longer plagues them. Perhaps it’s all the olive oil and warm weather?! Plus of course a more relaxed and stress free pace of life…

10. See your Family & Friends
Countless people have told me that they now see more of their family than they did before they moved to Cyprus. When you have a pad on the island of sun it won’t take long for friends and family to cotton on to the fact and visit! In fact, you might find yourself wondering when you’ll have time to sit back and relax.

There are many excellent reasons to relocate and it’s very possible to truly find a better quality of life. However, moving to Cyprus is a huge step and should not be taken lightly.

While planning for the move it’s extremely important to realise that it’s not all positive – nothing is, is it? Some people that move to Cyprus find that the summers are too hot or that they don’t care for the humidity. Others find if difficult to adjust to island life and the local attitude of ‘tomorrow, tomorrow!’

You’ll never see a top 10 list of why not to buy in Cyprus so it’s difficult to determine the things that people don’t like. In an effort to truly understanding Cyprus, take time to ask people that have made the move what they like and dislike. By doing so you’ll have a better chance of getting a balanced account. Best wishes with your plans to move to and/or buy a property in Cyprus!

If 2009 is going to be the year for you to buy in Cyprus, let us help you find an agent or developer that WILL have your best interests at heart. Give Kate, Claire or Elaine a ring on 0207 898 0549 and they’ll be happy to provide you with direction and suggestions… Keep in mind that we talk to hundreds of people each week who are thinking about buying in Cyprus – we know who the good agents are and who to stay away from!

http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com/requirmentsform.htm

Let me help you...

Learning the Language

We have discussed learning Greek before you buy that dream house: below is a link to a language learning resource with a good demonstration available before you decide whether to purchase or not. There are various levels to choose from and for really very reasonable prices. I tried the PC version which was entertaining and educational – I even managed to learn 6 new words in a few minutes.

The site is really worth looking at if you would like to enhance your language knowledge. Just follow the link below, click on the Greek flag and then follow the demo. (Let me know what you think!) Actually I loved the very useful way that they tweaked the memory – they relate a Greek word to an English word or phrase that you already know. So, for instance, the Greek for DUCK is PAPYA; they ask you to imagine a DUCK wrapped in PAPER…cute huh? By the same token, the Greek for GOOSE is HYEENA for so they ask you to imagine a HYEENA killing a big GOOSE…clever don’t you think?!!

Here is the link: see what you think… see what you think… Language

Insurance

One of the things I enjoy most is when we source a really reliable and professional service for you that comes highly recommended by fellow readers. Once again, the response we have to the overseas property insurance company I talked about before has had several readers writing back to tell us how great they are. Take a look at our website for them: just click on: Insurance Quote and you will find that getting a quote from them is simplicity itself.

Top Tip

A Cyprus Buying Guide Reader sent me some valuable feedback that I thought I’d share:

“Hi Kim,
As a UK lawyer I'd endorse your view [on getting a lawyer independent from the seller]. A lawyer who is recommended by the SELLER'S agent (never forget whose interest they are looking after, the vendor's) will be tempted to be less vigorous in protecting your interests than someone who is totally independent. We are currently buying and found our independent Cyprus lawyer fantastic in advising over terms of contract (hugely improved on the proposals as to staged payments and persuaded the sellers bank/lender to resile (rebound) from a position where they'd have kept their security on the property post completion-until registration's complete in 3/4 years, with us at risk of losing our money/property if the builder went belly-up during that time. I wouldn't be confident of an agent recommended lawyer doing this. Most of us are less familiar with the buying processes abroad and so, even more, need the protection of a good lawyer fighting our corner.

Feel free to refer to this if you wish, Keith LW”

Cyprus Property Buying & Investment Guide

If you haven't already purchased our excellent FULL Guide...why not get a copy today?

The completely educational guide covers the start to finish process of buying a property in Cyprus. Every step is outlined starting with the initial idea to b.uy in Cyprus all the way through to areas, how to b.uy lan.d, investment options and many top tips. This guide is for anyone thinking about or currently in the process of buying property or lan.d in Cyprus.

In the course of three years our Guide has been graded a 9 out of 10 and we’ve received huge amounts of positive feedback.

There’s a money-back guar.antee if you don’t like the Guide so there’s no risk in buying one – please get yourself a copy to ensure you know what to do and what not to do when buying in Cyprus.

More information about the Guide got to: http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com/guide.htm

And to end...

Well – that’s it for this month. I’ll be around during the festive season, so if you get bored and want to talk about Cyprus property or Cyprus in general, send me an email or ring on 0207 898 0549 – let’s make that New Year’s resolution a reality! If I’m not around, Kate, Elaine or Clare will be happy to speak to you.

Big Smiles,

Kim
Cyprus Buying Guide
The Overseas Guides Company Limited.
mailto:Kim@CyprusBuyingGuide.com