How’s it going? Anything new going on in your life?

Last weekend when the weather was amazingly beautiful (in the UK), I sat out in my garden thinking…I wish the weather was like this all year long! And then my mind thought, ‘Well Kim…if you moved to Cyprus you could enjoy beautiful weather all year round!’

On this line of thought, I ended up sitting in the sun feeling miserable that I don’t live in Cyprus. There’s definitely something wrong with my thinking – eh?

Anyway…at work, we’ve recently updated our computer systems and I’m in the midst of writing a new guide – one specifically on emigration. I’m also about to launch a new website (for another business) and my ‘to-do’ list is at its all time high. Normally, I would suffer from heart-burn and freak out, but I’m simply taking my time and just getting things done.

Otherwise, things are going well… A few weeks ago I had my first golf competition. (One of my motivations for learning golf is so that I can enjoy a game at Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus!) Anyway – the course I played at is called Millfield and there were about 15 players. It was only my 6th time on a golf course, so I wasn’t expecting too much. On the first day, I scored 16 and then the second day I seriously improved and reached a score of 26 (Stableford). Overall I came in 7th place – can you believe that? I definitely have caught the golf bug – I love it!

Well…this month, I have quite a few interesting things for you. My good friend and co-worker Jackie Nicholls has written and excellent piece on how to find a job in Cyprus along with information on Coptic Storms in Cyprus. She’s also contributed various other bits and bobs no recent news in Cyprus (see below).

If you’re going to buy in Cyprus, please give me a ring. I don’t sell property but I know people that do…For over 4 years I’ve spent much of my life working in Cyprus and talking to property buyers – I know what to do and what to watch out for… So – pick up the phone and ring me on 0207 898 0549.

Local News Items……(from Jackie)

Recycling is now being taken seriously in Cyprus! Not to the extent of the UK, but recycling bins for each community are shortly to be provided across the island for everyone to use. I think it will be a while before each individual household gets its own bin though!

Water, water, water – oh how it has rained! Many of the local dams are now full to overflowing, but despite this, restrictions still apply and will do for the foreseeable future to ensure no shortages.

If you're interested, we have active Scouts and Brownies here in Cyprus! Not a lot of people know that ….

Hundreds of football supporters gathered in Paphos Harbour to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. This was a very emotional gathering. The organiser, Kevin Mulohan, said that people were still waiting for a formal apology from those responsible for the deaths.

Two red open-top double-decker buses are offering English-style coach tours in the Ayia Napa area. Great fun!

The weather is very changeable at the moment. While writing this, a horrendous thunderstorm occurred last night with torrential rain – unheard of in Paphos at the end of May!

Well. that's it for the introduction...I hope you enjoy the rest of the newsletter. Havea great month and give me a ring any time on 0207 898 0549.

Kim

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

How to Find a Job in Cyprus …. By Jackie Nicholls

So you’re coming to Cyprus to live but you need to work – how do you go about finding employment?

First of all, you need to do a lot of research - and probably most importantly, you need to be patient and have a financial cushion to support you while you are waiting for that perfect vacancy. Cyprus doesn’t have the excellent employment agency facilities as per the UK; it’s a bit behind the times in this respect so you’ll find yourself going along other routes to find a job.

So where do you start? Vacancies are advertised in the two leading English newspapers which are The Cyprus Mail and The Cyprus Weekly. If you intend looking for work before you arrive, it’s a good idea to obtain a subscription for The Cyprus Weekly, just go to www.cyprusweekly.com.cy. The usual procedure as per the UK is to send in your cv and wait for a response.

One of the easiest routes to gain employment in Cyprus is to transfer from a company in the UK who has offices here already. There has been an increase in the number of large accountancy and financial companies now located in Cyprus, so this is really worth exploring. For instance, Lloyds Bank are about to open a branch here in Paphos, Price WaterhouseCoopers have a presence to name a couple.

Many large corporate companies also advertise via the local papers previously mentioned for qualified professionals and if you are successful, then this is another easy route for a newcomer to the island.

Also, the medical/nursing sectors always have vacancies. There are a vast amount of private hospitals on this island now and more opening.They all employ English staff. Dentistry too, is in demand, as are physiotherapists, chiropractors and other medically related professions.

The beauty industry is overrun with hundreds of therapists, so if you are considering this as a profession in Cyprus, you will need to offer something very special in order to build your clientele. Also, you need to know that beauty and holistic treatments here are at least a third of the cost in the UK. Wages for this profession in an employed capacity are very low.

Qualified teachers for all subjects are always in demand for the numerous private schools in Cyprus. I would say this is probably one of the easiest sectors to gain employment in.

But how about other jobs? Don’t despair! The way most newcomers find work is by networking and word of mouth. There are always jobs to be found for English staff because we tend to be harder working and more reliable! For instance, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, Next, Peacocks and Early Learning Centre all recruit frequently - but by word of mouth.

Then of course, there are always jobs in the holiday and hotel industries for waiting staff, chefs, receptionists, administrators and so on. You will definitely be in demand if you have excellent customer service skills!

And of course, Cyprus is one of the most popular destinations in the world to get married, so there is an abundance of Wedding Co-ordinators who also need staff. (Do bear in mind though that holiday and hotel industry work does tend to be seasonal, but it can help you out until you find that permanent role you are looking for).

Fitness has also become a large industry here. Personal trainers are springing up everywhere along with gyms, keep-fit clubs, jazzercise, dance classes, yoga, you name it, we have it now!

And of course, there are always jobs in the property industry, although at the moment, this is quiet, so there are not as many vacancies as usual.

Due to Cyprus’s popularity for holiday homes, villa management skills are always in demand. So if you are an excellent cleaner, gardener or handyman, can look after swimming pools and are prepared to meet and greet at the airports you shouldn’t have any problems finding work. Don’t forget as well, all the major tour operators are here and they need staff, as do the airports, although this work tends to be on shift.

Probably the most important thing you do need to know is that salaries here are way below what you would earn for the same jobs in the UK so do bear that in mind.

Obviously if you can speak Greek you are at a huge advantage and this opens up many more opportunities!

What if you want to start your own business? Well, there are more and more English owned companies opening up so don’t be daunted. This has been particularly noticeable in the last year with so many people leaving the UK for a fresh start. The process is far less complicated than it used to be thanks to the EU; it just traditionally takes longer than it would in the UK. Also, there are now several good business networking groups in Cyprus, all who offer support to people starting up. Some are free to join, some charge a small fee and some are for women only.

All in all, it’s not difficult to find employment in Cyprus; you just have to go about finding it in different ways. Give yourself time and the world is your oyster!

Good luck with your job search, see you in Cyprus soon!

How a Guide Reader saved £11,504 being Smart

Paul and his wife Deborah had decided to buy a condominium in the USA. Their son had married an American girl and they were determined to be part of their lives and to get to know their new daughter-in-law.

Paul needed to send the equivalent of £135,000 to Florida at the end of September. Fortunately he had heeded the advice given on the Smart Currency website and phoned in early - June in fact - to discuss his needs. At that time, it was recommended that he look at reserving money (for purchase in the future) at that day’s exchange rate – Paul takes up the story:

“Who was to know that we were just about to fall over the precipice of the biggest recession in living memory? I was told by the Smart trader that, given how unpopular sterling was, the pound / dollar could go down the further along the year we went - he must have been psychic! His thoughts were that it may be best to arrange a ‘forward contract’ – to buy currency at today’s date for transfer in the future - as soon as possible, thus locking in the rate at the time to use at a given date in September. Suffice to say it’s the best piece of financial planning I have ever done,” says Paul gratefully; “not to mention that Smart made the whole transaction so simple, a couple of short pieces of correspondence and it was all set to go.”

Paul was able to reserve the US$ 264,600 that he needed to send to the USA at a rate of 1.96 GBP/USD on a forward contract from 02/07/08 to 26/09/08. In Sterling, the cost to Paul (when the contract matured in September) was fixed at £135,000 less the deposit paid. (US$ 264,600 ÷ 1.96 = £135,000).

Had Paul waited until September to buy the currency needed, which was his original intention, the rate would have been 1.84. This would have meant a cost of £143,804 (US$264,600 ÷ 1.84 = £143,804), making a loss for Paul of £8,804 over buying a forward contract.

Furthermore, this was not the only saving that Paul made. Had he traded with his high street bank rather than getting exceptionally good rates from Smart, it would have been approximately £2,700 more expensive for the USD purchased (or he would have received $5,292 less).

All in all Paul saved £11,504 by being Smart with his international payment for his overseas property!

Incidentally, with current rates at the time of writing at 1.46, if the requirement had been for now, and booking forward when Paul did, the saving would have been an outrageous £46,232 (US$264,600 ÷1.46 = £ 181,232 - £135,000 = £46,132).

These figures really bring to light the importance of using not only a currency company, but the right currency company – one where you get a really proactive service.

As soon as you know that you’re going to send money overseas, contact Smart Currency Exchange!

To read the latest market information on Serling and the Euro go to: http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com/Currency280509.htm

If you haven’t had a chance to discuss in detail what the alternatives are for your currency concerns then please give us a ring and we will be happy to talk about your possible options. Call on 0808 163 0102 or if you'd like to get a Better-than-Bank exhange rate quotation go to: http://www.smartCurrencyExchange.com/smartsquotation.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!
  

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

What is a Cyprus Coptic Storm – by Jackie Nicholls

When I first arrived in Cyprus, I used to hear a lot of people talking about Coptic Storms. Being new to the subject, I wondered what they were so I started to ask the locals.

One of my first questions was how do these storms occur? The answer was that they are usually the result of convection currents created by intense heating of the ground in Africa. The air over the sand becomes hot and rises, and in the Sahara, the Coptic wind is strong enough to move dunes!

I soon discovered that several times a year, Cyprus homeowners suffer these wind gales, which come from Africa. They pick up fine dust and sand from the Sahara and can be very destructive. Sometimes the gusts can even move large satellite dishes out of alignment and occasionally they bring a tornado with them, although this is rare. Depending on the severity, they can even strip all the leaves off trees and shrubs – although these rapidly recover.

The worst part is cleaning the dust and sand after a storm. Sometimes it is red, sometimes yellow. If it’s red, all your lovely white garden furniture will be same colour if you haven’t covered it - so will your car – it’s a real chore trying to get rid of it! And of course, you can’t just hose it away because of the water restrictions and risk of a fine if caught doing so! It’s very frustrating but part of life here. No wonder sales of outdoor furniture covers rise when summer ends …..

So what is the dust like? Well, the yellow dust smells of sulphur and looks really strange around the edge of the swimming pool. Sometimes the dust hangs around for a few days in the atmosphere. It’s even been known to cause flights to be cancelled when it’s really thick! I live half way up a mountain, and the only way I can describe what I see is a dense fog. It doesn’t really pose a threat to healthy adults, but those who are frail tend to stay indoors until it has cleared.

So, in order for you to get the best out of your visit to Cyprus, here is a copy of the Coptic calendar, which doesn’t really vary from year to year. Where severe gales are shown, Cyprus is probably best avoided!

The chart is fairly accurate within 2/3 days, most winds last between 2 and 6 days.

11 January Gale (very strong)
19 January Large Feeder Gale
28 January Gale
18 February Small sun gale (very strong)
10 March Equinox Gale (lasts about 6 days)
20 March Big Sun Gale (very strong)
25 March Wind Gale
29 April Sand laden winds (hot and sunny)
27 September Cross-winds
21 October Crusade
28 November Broom Gale (very strong)
6 December Gale
20 December Small Gale

I hope you find this useful when planning your trip – see you soon on our beautiful island!

A lovely property in Giolou

This spacious 3 Bedroom Bungalow is located in the beautiful small village of Giolou, 26 kms from Paphos and 12km from Polis. About 800 locals and approximately 15 expats live in the village, with the numbers rising in summer.

Giolou has three mini markets, three coffee shops and two churches: an 18th century traditional building and a bigger, modern church. There are two schools in the village.

Being built 368m above sea level, Giolou offers fantastic views out towards the sea at Polis and is usually fanned by a sea breeze to keep the heat down in summer. The nearby citrus groves and vineyards provide a lovely rural landscape, making this one of Cyprus’ prettiest villages. Another advantage of course is that, because of its quiet rural setting, it is virtually crime free.

The property includes 3 good size bedrooms, 2 bathrooms – 1 en suite, a large lounge/ dining room, separate kitchen and patio doors to the swimming pool. The bungalow is detached and completely private, with only 4 properties on the development.

Plot size – 700 sq metres
Covered Area – 129 sq metres.

Price € 274,000

If you would like to chat about this, or indeed any other property, please phone me on 0207 898 0549 or fill in the short form at: http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com/requirementsform.htm
and I will call you to discuss this further.

Readers question: “Kim, Cyprus seems to be in denial that there is a recession and refuse to lower prices. Why should I consider buying there?”

My response:
Yeah…it’s a bit crazy that some Cypriot companies have raised prices to compensate for lack of sales. I don’t like to say this…but many Cypriots have a serious lack of knowledge when it comes to business – especially in the area of ‘customer service.’ I’m not sure why, but they just don’t get the fact that businesses need to SERVE or ‘add value’ to a client…otherwise, they won’t get clients (and will subsequently go bust).

Even though it’s an issue, there a ways to avoid ignorant business owners. When it comes to property, if you’re dealing with a developer or agent that won’t negotiate or is charging high prices – WALK AWAY. There a several organisations in Cyprus that are providing good products for good prices – you simply need to know where to look. Also – there are several ‘motivated’ sellers…if you want to buy a resale property in Cyprus, this is the best time ever.

Give me a ring if you need help – I’m on 0207 898 0549.

Let Me Help you Plan your Cyprus Purchase…

Contrary to ‘the movies’, dreams usually come true only after a lot of hard work, planning and dedicated effort rather than just good luck…Here is an email from one of my readers that has recently started the planning process (abbreviated slightly):

Unfortunately, we have no definite time line. We want to have one [overseas property], BUT with 3 teenagers in school here in Cork, Ireland, our Dream of moving abroad must wait.

We have purchased the Guide from you and love reading through it. We just have to wait ...maybe not as long as we think....maybe, just maybe we can purchase sooner than we realize. If we can go on a holiday or two in the coming few years....then....hopefully we will know exactly the place where our Heaven lies!

It is so wonderful to get all your expertise in the Guide, so glad I fell upon your site and purchased it. We TALK, THINK and DREAM of (buying abroad) each and every day.

So thanks again for all your news and updates, keep them coming! Love hearing from you - well done!!!

Best Regards,

Paula and Michael.

Plan exactly what it is you want from your dream. Travel there and find out the location that suits you best. Factor into the equation things like access, transport, cost and so on and read the Cyprus Property Buying Guide if you have not already done so. To order your copy, go to:

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

If you have any questions after reading the Guide I’d be more than happy for you to ring me (or my associates) – we’re here to help! Please phone on 0207 898 0549 and either I or one of my colleagues will be delighted to have a chat and see if we can help you make your dreams come true.

Talking to people buying abroad on a daily basis gives The Overseas Guide Company access to well respected, tried and tested property professionals that have helped others. Perhaps we can help you too? Give me a ring!

Saving money abroad on mobile phone charges…

I have a mobile phone, I use it, I text, I phone…but I have to admit I’m not clued up on how they work nor do I understand the various fees and charges. And when I’m overseas I tend to turn my phone off or spend as little time on it as possible. I can’t help but feel a impending sense of doom after I take a call – all the while I’m wondering if I’m being charged 25p/minute or £2.50/minute?!

Well…there’s a service specifically set up for people that want to use their mobile overseas yet not be charged random high fees for doing so.

The service is called Sim4Travel and provides users with a special SIM Card…As I have just learned…a SIM card, also known as a ‘subscriber identity module’, is a smart card that stores data for mobile phone subscribers. This can include user identity, location and phone number, network authorisation data, personal security keys, contact lists and stored text messages.

A SIM card can be switched easily from one phone set to another. This can be useful in a number of ways. For example, a user that buys a new phone can install the current SIM card to associate the new phone with the same number and user preferences (such as saved phone numbers) as the old one. Also, if a phone's battery runs out, the user can easily install the SIM card into another person’s mobile without costing that person anything – you will be using your own credit.

With the SIM4Travel service, you swap your UK SIM for the SIM4travel SIM and that allows you to make and receive calls from abroad for a low cost and even for free. If you go on their website, the main benefits of getting a SIM4 Travel SIM are:

• Receive mobile calls for FREE in 36 countries
  
• Cut the cost of mobile calls in over 110 countries
  
• Call ANYWHERE in the EU for only 25p per minute
  
• Use the same number every time you travel
  
• Top up at anytime - direct from your phone

For £15.99 you can join SIM4travel and this comes with £10.00 of credit for pre-paid phone calls. So essentially, it only costs £5.99 to join the service and then you just need to top up your pre-paid credit whenever you want to use the phone. You can join SIM4travel and top up your SIM card either online or by phone.

Get more information on SIM4Travel on their website: SIM 4 Travel

Final points

Actually - I don't really have any final points. If you need information on anything to do with Cyprus, give me a ring on 0207 898 0549. Whether it's about property, living in Cyprus or even a simple question that you simply can't seem to get answered.

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