There are many reasons why people choose to buy property in Northern Cyprus. Whether you’re drawn to the glorious year-round sunshine, the stunning beaches, the historic surroundings or the warm and welcoming residents, Northern Cyprus has something for everyone. Added to this is the fact that not only do the vast majority of the local population speak English, but many of the legal documents are also in English, which makes the entire buying process considerably easier.
make a deposit
After buyers have chosen a property, either as a private residence or as an investment property, the first stage is to make sure it is taken off the market by taking an escrow. For buyers already in Northern Cyprus, cash or credit card payments are accepted, but for buyers arranging deposit from the UK, a bank transfer is the best way to pay. Buyers should expect to pay approximately 10 percent of the property’s total price at the time of deposit, before obtaining their purchase permission.
get a lawyer
A purchase permit is a must for anyone involved in purchasing property in Northern Cyprus who is not a citizen of the country. The purchase permit acquisition process can take up to a year, and for peace of mind and to make the process easier, most people choose to hire a local attorney to assist them.
When choosing a lawyer, many people prefer one who is fluent in English, and fortunately, these professionals are not hard to find. The attorney will then provide help and support throughout the procedure, and many people choose to give them power of attorney to process the details of the sale when they themselves are not in the country.
Contract
When the contract arrives, it should be thoroughly checked before signing, otherwise buyers can sometimes experience problems later on. The solicitor will help by offering advice and going over the essentials including payment dates, property details, specifications and title deeds and once this is done the sale can begin.
Final payment
Once the purchase permit has been received, the final payment for the property can be made. Buyers can pay for this in cash, credit card or money transfer, but as soon as this has been confirmed the title deeds need to be signed in the buyers name. This is the final stage of the process, and all that is left to do after this is move into the property.
Mortgage Matters
People who want to buy a property in Northern Cyprus should be aware of the issues related to the mortgage before starting the buying process. It should be made clear that UK banks will not provide clients with a mortgage for a property in Northern Cyprus and as such it will often be necessary to seek other means.
The most popular route for most UK buyers is to re-mortgage your current property and use the equity to purchase the new property. This ensures a degree of protection for buyers as your mortgage is protected by UK law.
However, for buyers where this is not a possibility, it is sometimes possible to obtain a mortgage from the actual developer. If this is a possibility, many developers offer long-term mortgages of up to 70% of the property price, but potential buyers are advised to exercise caution and check the details thoroughly before signing such an agreement.
A Note on Surveying
As with any property, it is essential that potential buyers have the property inspected by a professional before signing any contract or paying a deposit. Even new buildings can reveal problems, and you should never take it for granted that everything will be fine.
Fortunately, it is not difficult to get in touch with a surveyor when buying property in Northern Cyprus, and they can do their job and inform clients of any updates while they are still in the UK. In addition to this, many surveyors can also act as supervisors of the development if it is in the construction stage, offering clients even more peace of mind.