How to make your property enquiry trouble free and successful?
The process of buying a property in Cyprus property can be easier, more enjoyable, less time-consuming and less expensive if you keep to the following simple steps. We will help you through the myriad details attending the actual purchase and help you assess Cyprus properties for sale that match your specifications. We have the best possible resources and communication systems available today to help you locate the homes on the market that match your specifications. Look at each step of the buying process in more detail.
Step 1 – Define the need of your perfect home
Your first step toward buying your home will be to get a clear picture of your needs, what you want your new home to look like and how it should function for you and your family. We will inform you about newly listed homes in your category and price range as soon as they hit the market. First, you should write down why you are looking for a new home. For example, are you currently looking for a retirement home where you can relax and enjoy sunshine all year round? Maybe you have recently got married and have outgrown your current residence. Or, maybe your job requires you to move to a new location. These factors will all have a bearing on how you approach your search for a Cyprus property.
Second, establish a time frame that you would like to stay within for buying your home. You should be able to come up with a rough guideline, which you can finalize at a later time.
Last, you most likely have a mental picture of what you would like your house to look like and what features it should have. It is very important to write these ideas down to avoid any ambiguity later in your home search. You should make at least two lists, one should be a list describing your dream home and the other should list the features of the home that are an absolute must have in order to buy it. In a perfect world, your new home would fulfill both lists 100 percent. It is more likely that you will end up blending the two lists into a schedule of prioritized items as you progress through the buying process.
Step 2 – Finance your home?
You need to have some idea of the price range that you can afford to spend on your property. Obtaining a mortgage for a property purchased in Cyprus is relatively straightforward and as Independent Mortgage Advisers, PropertyLink can assist and advise you on all the aspects of obtaining a mortgage tailored to your needs. The loan amount usually ranges from 60%-80% of the value of the property with a repayment period up to 25 years. Easy terms of payments and long-term in-house finance schemes are also available.
Step 3 – Area information
An important consideration for buying a property in Cyprus is the area in which you want to live. People do not only buy the house; they buy the area the house is in too. You will most likely want to consider things like what amenities are offered (shops, restaurants, tennis courts, parks, etc.), whether the Cyprus property is by the beach or maybe in a quiet suburb or village and, if you have children who are attending school or soon will be, what school district you will be in and how close the schools are. The information from your list of needs and wants for your home and neighbourhood can be incorporated into a broad search profile, which will then be narrowed down to specific areas dictated by the market in which you will be looking.
Step 4 – Check for listings here
On our website www.propertylink-cyprus.com Cyprus properties are displayed with external and internal photographs, floor plans, prices, locations, detailed features and much more! This will help you search for your ideal property. You are always welcome to contact us at www.propertylink-cyprus.com for any queries that you may have and our experienced staff will assist you.
Step 5 – Make an appointment
Searching online for a property in Cyprus is a good start and it will give you a good idea of the real estate market on the island. If you are not familiar with specific areas there really is no need to worry as one of our sales team will give you a tour of different locations so that you can familiarise yourself with the area. You can personally see and inspect several Cyprus properties that match your requirements and you will have the opportunity discuss and analyse each one, receive additional information on a house you are interested in and revisit properties if necessary.
Step 6 – Negotiate the offer
Once you have found the home you would like to purchase, it is time to make an offer for the property. Bear in mind that almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a house. This can give you a great deal of leverage in the buying process. Some of the things that you may have to negotiate are:
- The price
- Terms of Payment
- Repairs that need to be done
- Appliances and fixtures
- Landscaping
- Painting
- Occupancy time frame
The key to successful negotiating is keeping in mind that the end result must make both of you, the buyer and the seller happy. Otherwise, negative feelings will persist throughout the remainder of the process and someone may walk away feeling that they were not treated fairly.
Step 7 – Pre-close preparation
Once the negotiation process is over and a price has been agreed, you will need to pay the reservation fee which is about 1% of the sale price or a fixed amount i.e. €5,000. The reservation fee will enable the owner or estate agent to take the property off the market so no one else can put an offer on it. It also shows the owner that you are committed and this way you avoid gazumping. You will also need to contact your solicitor to make sure that all the necessary documents are being prepared, and that they are complete and accurate. If you require assistance in obtaining a solicitor to work on your behalf, PropertyLink will assist you with this. We can recommend highly reputable, independent and reliable solicitors to advise you through the purchase process and safeguard your interests.
Step 8 – Closing
The contract is then drawn up by your solicitor, and though the items below are not an exhaustive list, it should include the following 7 points in order for it to be a valid contract of sale:
- Reference to the vendor
- Reference to the purchaser
- The subject matter has to be described as accurately as possible. If it does not exist at the stage of signing the contract, for example if it is a Cyprus property to be built in the future, reference to subject specifications must be determined accurately
- The purchase price
- The terms of payment
- The delivery date and;
- The transfer date for the title deeds
Remember that the legalities of this phase are very important. If you have any questions or concerns, they need to be addressed right away.
Step 9 – After Sales activity
Now that you have bought a property in Cyprus you will need to have your local services such as electricity, water, and telephone set up. The owner, estate agent or your solicitor can help you co-ordinate the set-up of these local services. Also, you should already be aware of the expenses that are typically associated with owning a home. Management committee fees, landscaping costs, and annual communal expenses should be budgeted for throughout the year.
Step 10 – Moving in
When it is time to take delivery of your new home you will most likely need to shop for furniture, appliances and other relevant goods. Should you require assistance with this please ask one of our sales team for further information.
